Obstacle protector means
AssigneeStaat der Nederlanden
InventorTheodorus J. M. van Schie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An obstacle protection arrangement composed of a series of interconnected deformable segments, each comprising a U-shaped support member and a box structure containing crumpling tubes. Both sides of the arrangement are formed by overlapping flank members such that during a front collision there will be dissipation of energy by deformation of the segments, whereas during a side collision the arrangement behaves like a rigid girder.
Claims6
An arrangement for protecting an obstacle, the arrangement comprising a deformable spatial structure wherein a dissipation of energy is brought about a deformation resulting from a collision with a moving object, the deformable spatial structure comprising:
- a straight series of segments, the segments being interconnected along a central axis lying in the direction of anticipated motion, each segment including:
- at least one inverted U-shaped support member standing on the ground and positioned transversely to the central axis:
- a box-like structure fastened to the U-shaped member;
- a plurality of crumpling tubes disposed within the box-like structure extending in the direction of the central axis;
- and
- a pair of flank members affixed on both sides of each segment, the flank members having free ends slidingly overlapping the flank members of adjacent segments;
- the support member of the last segment viewed in the direction of anticipated motion being fixedly secured to the ground;
- a horizontal guideway parallel to said central axes disposed on the ground and receiving only the support member of the first segment to allow displacement of the first support member only in the direction of the central axis;
- and wherein
- the segments are coupled to one another so that under lateral forces acting thereon, the deformable spatial structure behaves like a rigid girder supported at the last segment end, but is collapsible under head-on collisions along the central axis.
An arrangement for protecting an obstacle, the arrangement comprising a deformable spatial structure wherein a dissipation of energy is brought about during a deformation resulting from a collision with a moving object, the deformable spatial structure comprising:
- a straight series of segments, the segments being interconnected along a central axis lying in the direction of anticipated motion, each segment including;
- at least one inverted U-shaped support member standing on the ground and positioned transversely to the central axis;
- a box-like structure fastened to the Ushaped member, the box-like structure including upper and lower plates, both of which are bent outwardly from each other;
- at least one rod mounted vertically between the upper and lower plate;
- a plurality of crumpling tubes disposed within the box-like structure extending in the direction of the central axis, the crumpling tubes of each successive segment when viewed in the direction of anticipated motion providing increasing deformation resistance;
- and
- a pair of flank members affixed on each side of each segment, the flank members having free ends slidingly overlapping the flank members of adjacent segments;
- the support member of the last segment being fixedly secured to the ground;
- a horizontal guideway parallel to said central axis disposed on the ground and receiving only the support member of the first segment to allow displacement of the first support member only in the direction of the central axis;
- and wherein
- the segments are coupled to one another so that under lateral forces acting thereon, the deformable spatial structure behaves like a rigid girder supported at the last segment but is collapsible under head-on collisions along the central axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.