Damped crash attenuator

A method for protecting a truck or fixed structure from damage resulting upon impact of a moving object with the truck or structure, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a movable displacement structure to the truck or structure, the displacement structure having an expanded position and a contracted position,
• providing a hydraulic cylinder to expand the displacement structure from its contracted position to its expanded position,
• arranging a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the moving object on the displacement structure, and
• arranging at least one deformable member in connection with the displacement structure and in a position in which it is caused to deform upon movement of the displacement structure from its expanded position to its contracted position whereby such deformation is effective to dissipate at least some of the impact energy of the moving object and reduce the velocity of the moving object.

A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object, comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted to a truck or stationary structure,
• a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,
• a movable displacement structure coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame,
• a hydraulic cylinder for displacing said displacement structure from the second position to the first position, and
• at least one deformable member coupled to said displacement structure and which is deformed upon movement of said displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of at least some of the impact energy of the object received by said bumper.

A method for protecting a truck or fixed structure from damage resulting upon impact of a moving object with the truck or structure, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a movable displacement structure to the truck or structure, the displacement structure having an expanded position and a contracted position,
• arranging a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the moving object on the displacement structure,
• arranging at least one deformable member in connection with the displacement structure and in a position in which it is caused to deform upon movement of the displacement structure from its expanded position to its contracted position, and
• arranging a die assembly having a respective aperture having a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the at least one deformable member such that deformation of the at least one deformable member is caused by forcing the at least one deformable member into the respective aperture.

A method for protecting a truck or fixed structure from damage resulting upon impact of a moving object with the truck or structure, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a movable displacement structure to the truck or structure, the displacement structure having an expanded position and a contracted position,
• arranging a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the moving object on the displacement structure,
• arranging at least one deformable member in connection with the displacement structure and in a position in which it is caused to deform upon movement of the displacement structure from its expanded position to its contracted position, and
• arranging a die assembly having a respective aperture having a different shape than the shape of the at least one deformable member such that deformation of the at least one deformable member is caused by forcing the at least one deformable member into the respective aperture.

A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object, comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted to a truck or stationary structure,
• a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,
• a movable displacement structure coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame,
• at least one deformable member coupled to said displacement structure and which is deformed upon movement of said displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of at least some of the impact energy of the object received by said bumper, and
• a die assembly having a respective aperture through which said at least one deformable member is forced.

A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object, comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted to a truck or stationary structure,
• a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,
• a movable scissors mechanism coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame, and
• at least one deformable member coupled to said scissors mechanism and which is deformed upon movement of said scissors mechanism from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of at least some of the impact energy of the object received by said bumper.

A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object, comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted to a truck or stationary structure,
• a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,
• a movable displacement structure coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame, and
• at least one deformable elongate rod coupled to said displacement structure and which is subject to cold working upon movement of said displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such cold working causing dissipation of at least some of the impact energy of the object received by said bumper.

A method for protecting a truck or fixed structure from damage resulting upon impact of a moving object with the truck or structure, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a movable displacement structure to the truck or structure, the displacement structure having an expanded position and a contracted position,
• arranging a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the moving object on the displacement structure,
• arranging at least one deformable member in connection with the displacement structure and in a position in which it is caused to deform upon movement of the displacement structure from its expanded position to its contracted position, and
• maintaining the deformable member continually in connection with the displacement structure during the movement of the displacement structure relative to the truck or structure.

A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object, comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted to a truck or stationary structure,
• a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,
• a movable displacement structure coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame, and
• at least one deformable member coupled to said displacement structure and which is deformed upon movement of said displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of at least some of the impact energy of the object received by said bumper,
• said at least one deformable member being maintained continually in connection with said displacement structure during the movement of said displacement structure between the first position and the second position.