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US 7,802,829 B2Granted
Trailer mounted crash attenuator
AssigneeTraffix Devices, Inc.
InventorGeoffrey B. Maus
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTraffix Devices, Inc.
InventorGeoffrey B. Maus
Estimating the term…
A trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator is disclosed for attachment to a host vehicle, which comprises an anti-rotational attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes. The internal support tube has a connector on its front end for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each have an anti-rotation support pad on a their front ends. At least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. A backup frame is disposed on a rear end of the attachment system, and a crash attenuator unit is disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility. When the crash attenuator is impacted by an errant vehicle, the anti-rotational attachment system is actuated to prevent the trailer mounted crash impact attenuator from rotating relative to the host vehicle.
A crash impact attenuator for attachment to a host vehicle, comprising:
An attachment system for attaching a trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator to a host vehicle, comprising an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes, the internal support tube having a connector on a front end thereof for attachment to a receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each having an anti-rotation support pad on a front end thereof, wherein the internal support tube is comprised of a telescoping construction, having an internal fixed tube and an external telescoping tube, said system further comprising a shear pin disposed in said internal support tube, said shear pin being adapted to break upon impact on the crash impact attenuator by an errant vehicle, thus releasing the internal support tube to telescope to a collapsed orientation, so that the external support tubes move forwardly to engage a stop plate on the host vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Characterised by arrangements for particular functions: for protection in case of crash, collision, impact or the like
Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type: hook or hook-and-hasp couplings
Characterised by the mounting: mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle
Characterised by the mounting: resiliently mounted
About 1 year 10 months of term left · ends 2 Sep 2028 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to attenuators which are particularly adapted for the absorption of energy in the event of an impact between an errant vehicle and a second, typically stationary or slow-moving vehicle, in the hope of minimizing injury to the occupants of both vehicles, and, more specifically, to trailer-mounted crash attenuators.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a trailer attenuator attachment system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the trailer attenuator attachment system of FIG. 1 engaged to a truck prior to impact by an errant vehicle;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, showing the system after impact by an errant vehicle;
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a telescoping anti-rotation attachment system 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The system 10 comprises a backup frame 12, a pair of external anti-rotation support tubes 14, and an internal telescoping support tube 16.
Anti-rotation support pads 18 are disposed on the distal end of each of the external anti-rotation support tubes 14, and an adjustable eye assembly 20 is disposed on the distal end of the internal telescoping support tube 16.
The trailer attachment system 10, in a preferred embodiment, is made of A-36 steel and weights approximately 660 lbs. The overall dimensions are approximately 25 in.×54 3/16 in.×74 in. During normal operation, the system 10 attaches to a pintle hook on a truck, using the eye assembly 20, which in one embodiment comprises a 3 in. lunette eye. This eye is a standard component for trailers where the truck pintle hook is connected for attenuator transport. This eyelet should be a 20,000 lb. minimum standard trailer eyelet.