Collision attenuator

A train collision attenuator for mounting to a leading end of a leading rail car rollably supported on a railway, said attenuator comprising:

• an energy absorbing assembly having a leading surface, said energy absorbing assembly dimensioned and configured for attenuating the force of impact between a moving train and a pedestrian and between a moving train and a vehicle located in the path of the moving train as the pedestrian or the vehicle impacts against said leading surface,
• a mounting assembly adapted to secure said energy absorbing assembly to the leading end of the leading rail car, and
• said attenuator is adapted for mounting to a leading end of the leading rail car proximal a train coupling mechanism of the rail car,
• said mounting assembly includes a lifting mechanism wherein said energy absorbing assembly is adapted to be moved up and away from the train coupling mechanism from a deployed position to a retracted position in less than approximately 2.5 seconds.

A train collision attenuator mounted to a leading end of a leading rail car rollably supported on a railway, said attenuator comprising:

• an energy absorbing assembly having a leading surface, said energy absorbing assembly dimensioned and configured for attenuating the force of impact between a moving train and a pedestrian and between a moving train and a vehicle located in the path of the moving train as the pedestrian or the vehicle impacts against said leading surface,
• a mounting assembly adapted to secure said energy absorbing assembly to the leading end of the leading rail car,
• said energy absorbing assembly comprises a first energy absorbing section located adjacent said leading surface, said first energy absorbing section is dimensioned and configured for attenuating the force of impact between the moving train and the pedestrian, said first energy absorbing section having an energy absorption coefficient of approximately 25 to 500 ft-lbs/ft3, and
• said energy absorbing assembly further comprises a second energy absorbing section dimensioned and configured for attenuating the force of impact between the moving train and an automobile, said second section having an energy absorption coefficient of approximately 500 to 4000 ft-lbs/ft3.