Apparatus for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact

Apparatus positioned at a guardrail lead end portion for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact, said guardrail having an elongated top edge, an elongated bottom edge spaced a predetermined substantially uniform vertical distance from said top edge and opposed side surfaces extending between said elongated top edge and said elongated bottom edge, said apparatus comprising:

• an impact terminal;
• a support structure supporting said impact terminal at or adjacent to the guardrail lead end portion, said support structure extending from said impact terminal;
• a guardrail engagement structure supported by said support structure, said guardrail engagement structure defining an interior, a guardrail receiving opening communicating with said interior receiving the guardrail lead end portion, and a guardrail discharge opening communicating with said interior, said support structure and said guardrail engagement structure operable upon vehicle impact on said impact terminal to move along said guardrail and cause said guardrail to pass through said guardrail engagement structure and exit said guardrail discharge opening, the guardrail engagement structure comprising a chute having inner chute surfaces defining said interior, said inner chute surfaces having a generally rectangular configuration along substantially the full length thereof whereby said interior has a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration along substantially the full length thereof, said chute twisted between said guardrail receiving opening and said guardrail discharge opening, said guardrail being in frictional engagement with said inner chute surfaces, and said chute applying torquing forces on said guardrail during passage of said guardrail through said guardrail engagement structure to cause twisting of said guardrail from a first guardrail orientation whereby said guardrail exits said guardrail discharge opening in a second guardrail orientation with said elongated top edge and said elongated bottom edge displaced sideways relative to one another and vehicle collision impact energy is absorbed.