Energy absorbing vehicle barrier
AssigneeEnergy Absorption Systems, Inc.
InventorsSean Thompson, Aaron J. Cox, Patrick A. Leonhardt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy absorbing vehicle barrier includes a frame defining a compartment. In one embodiment, the frame includes a nose. An energy absorbing cartridge is disposed within the compartment. A retaining device is coupled to the frame, with the retaining device disposed above and extending over at least a portion of an upper surface of the cartridge. The retaining device may contact and engage the upper surface of the cartridge when the barrier is impacted by a vehicle. In this way, the retaining device substantially prevents movement of the cartridge in at least a vertical direction during the impact. Methods of using and assembling the barrier are also provided.
Claims21
An energy absorbing vehicle barrier, comprising:
- a frame defining a compartment and comprising a laterally extending component, wherein said frame is collapsible in a longitudinal direction from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to a vehicle impact;
- an energy absorbing cartridge disposed within said compartment, wherein said energy absorbing cartridge is engageable and deformable in said longitudinal direction by said laterally extending component of said frame from an initial configuration to an impact configuration in response to said frame collapsing in said longitudinal direction from said first configuration to said second configuration;
- and
- a rigid retaining device coupled to said frame, said retaining device being disposed above and extending over at least a portion of an upper surface of said cartridge;
- wherein said retaining device is adapted to contact and engage said upper surface of said cartridge in response to said vehicle impact, said retaining device adapted to remain rigid during said vehicle impact and thereby substantially prevent movement of said cartridge in a vertical direction during said vehicle impact as said energy absorbing cartridge is deformed by said frame from said initial configuration to said impact configuration.
A method of arresting a vehicle, said method comprising:
- providing an energy absorbing vehicle barrier, said vehicle barrier comprising at least one frame defining a compartment having a laterally extending component;
- an energy absorbing cartridge disposed within said compartment;
- and a rigid retaining device coupled to said frame, said retaining device being disposed above and extending over at least a portion an upper surface of said cartridge;
- impacting said barrier in a longitudinal direction with said vehicle;
- collapsing said frame in said longitudinal direction in response to said impacting said barrier with said vehicle;
- engaging and deforming said energy absorbing cartridge in said longitudinal direction with said laterally extending component of said collapsing frame;
- and
- restraining said cartridge in at least a substantially vertical direction with said retaining device during said impacting said barrier with said vehicle and said deforming said energy absorbing cartridge with said collapsing frame without substantially deforming said retaining device, said retaining device and said frame thereby substantially retaining said cartridge within said compartment during said impacting said barrier with said vehicle and said deforming said energy absorbing cartridge with said collapsing frame.
A method of assembling an energy absorbing vehicle barrier, said method comprising:
- assembling a frame to define at least one compartment, said frame having at least two opposing sides extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and a laterally extending component extending between and coupled to said sides, wherein said frame is collapsible in a longitudinal direction from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to a vehicle impact;
- placing a cartridge within said compartment, wherein said cartridge is engageable and deformable in said longitudinal direction by said laterally extending component of said frame from an initial configuration to an impact configuration in response to said frame collapsing in said longitudinal direction from said first configuration to said second configuration;
- and
- attaching a rigid retaining device to said frame above an upper surface of said cartridge, said retaining device adapted to remain rigid during said impact and thereby substantially prevent movement of said cartridge in a vertical direction during said impact as said energy absorbing cartridge is deformed by said frame from said initial configuration to said impact configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.