Energy absorbing system

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• and
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force,
• wherein the shock absorbing means is linearly translatable in a direction parallel to the vertical axis, and
• wherein the shock absorbing means is expandable in a substantially orthogonal direction relative to the vertical axis.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• and
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force, wherein the shock absorbing means has a 50,000 pound resistance.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• and
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force,
• wherein the shock absorbing means is connected to a rotating means for rotating about the fixing means, and wherein the rotating means comprises a bearing sleeve.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• torque protection means for adding structural strength to the shock absorbing means to resist deformation due to the torque upon the shock absorbing means.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• torque protection means for adding structural strength to the shock absorbing means to resist deformation due to the torque upon the shock absorbing means;
• and
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force.
• wherein the shock absorbing means is connected to a rotating means for rotating about the fixing means.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• restraining means connected to the shock absorbing means, for absorbing forces and for transferring forces to the shock absorbing means, and through the shock absorbing means to the support means.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• restraining means connected to the shock absorbing means, for absorbing forces and for transferring forces to the shock absorbing means, and through the shock absorbing means to the fixing means,
• wherein the shock absorbing means is connected to a rotating means for rotating about the fixing means, and wherein the restraining means comprises cable extending substantially horizontally in a wave pattern with vertical amplitude, having peaks, valleys and midpoints, wherein tangents of the wave midpoints are at least 90 degrees from tangents of the peaks and valleys.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• fixing means for fixing a vertical axis;
• shock absorbing means connected to the fixing means, for absorbing tensile forces while rotating around the vertical axis;
• threshold force securing means connected to the shock absorbing means, for preventing expansion of the shock absorbing means until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• torque protection means for adding structural strength to the shock absorbing means to resist deformation due to the torque upon the shock absorbing means;
• and
• restraining means connected to the shock absorbing means, for absorbing forces and for transferring forces to the shock absorbing means, and through the shock absorbing means to the fixing means,
• wherein the shock absorbing means is connected to a rotating means for rotating about the fixing means.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a bearing sleeve rotatable about an axis of the stanchion, wherein the shock absorber is connected to the bearing sleeve;
• and
• a shear pin connected to the shock absorber which prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a securing mechanism that prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• a bearing sleeve rotatable about an axis of the stanchion, wherein the shock absorber is connected to the sleeve;
• a restraining net connected to the shock absorber;
• and
• a shear pin connected to the shock absorber which prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force.

First and second energy absorbing systems each of the first and second energy absorbing systems installed on an opposite side of a roadway that intersects railroad tracks in a railroad crossing safety system and comprising:

• ground retractable restraining means for restraining automobiles from crossing the railroad tracks, the restraining means extending across the roadway between the energy absorbing systems on each side of the roadway;
• shock absorbing means for absorbing forces applied to the restraining means, the shock absorbing means being mounted on the fixing means to rotate around the vertical axis;
• and
• a threshold force securing mechanism connected to the shock absorber preventing expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• wherein the restraining means comprises horseshoe cable.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a securing mechanism that prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• means for retracting at least a portion of the system into the ground.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a securing mechanism that prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• means for retracting at least a portion of the stanchion into the ground.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a securing mechanism that prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• and
• a bearing sleeve vertically slidable on the stanchion, wherein the shock absorber is connected to the sleeve.

An energy absorbing system comprising:

• a stanchion;
• a shock absorber;
• a securing mechanism that prevents expansion of the shock absorber until acted upon by tensile forces of at least a minimum threshold force;
• a bearing sleeve rotatable about an axis of the stanchion, wherein the shock absorber is connected to the bearing sleeve, is hydraulic and is in its compressed state;
• a ground retractable restraining net connected to the shock absorber;
• wherein the minimum threshold force exceeds a static tensile force exerted by the restraining net in a quiescent state upon the shock absorber;
• and
• wherein the minimum threshold force is less than dynamic tensile forces that the net would exert on the shock absorber when an automobile collides with the net at substantial speed.