Highway crash cushion and components thereof

In a highway crash cushion of the type comprising an array of diaphragms, a plurality of energy absorbing elements disposed between the diaphragms, and an array of fender panels extending alongside the diaphragms, the improvement comprising:

• a single rail disposed under the crash cushion and anchored to a support surface;
• a plurality of guides, each coupled to a respective one of the diaphragms and substantially centered with respect to the respective diaphragm;
• said guides mounted on the rail to slide along the rail and to restrict movement of the respective diaphragms with respect to the rail in both lateral directions;
• said rail substantially centered with respect to the diaphragms;
• wherein the rail comprises a plurality of interconnected rail segments;
• wherein each rail segment forms a central protrusion at one end and a central recess at the other end, and wherein the protrusion of one rail segment is received within the recess of an adjacent rail segment.

In a highway crash cushion of the type comprising an array of diaphragms and a plurality of energy absorbing elements disposed between the diaphragms the improvement comprising:

• a single rail disposed under the crash cushion and anchored to a support surface;
• a plurality of guides, each coupled to a respective one of the diaphragms and substantially centered with respect to the respective diaphragm;
• the guides mounted on the rail to slide along the rail and to restrict movement of the respective diaphragms with respect to the rail in both lateral directions;
• the rail substantially centered with respect to the diaphragms;
• at least some of the diaphragms each coupled to a respective leg assembly extending beneath the respective diaphragm on both sides of the rail to support the diaphragm on the support surface.

In a highway crash cushion of the type comprising a diaphragm and at least one energy absorbing element disposed adjacent the diaphragm, the improvement comprising:

• a support structure comprising a single rail assembly disposed under the crash cushion and comprising a first end and a second end, the support structure being anchored to a support surface between the first and second ends and being substantially centered with respect to the diaphragm,
• a guide coupled to the diaphragm and substantially centered with respect to the diaphragm,
• the guide mounted to slide along the support structure and to restrict movement of the diaphragm with respect to the support structure in at least one lateral direction,
• the diaphragm coupled to a leg assembly extending beneath the diaphragm on both sides of the rail assembly to support the diaphragm on the support surface.

In a highway crash cushion of the type comprising a diaphragm and at least one energy absorbing element disposed adjacent the diaphragm, the improvement comprising:

• a support structure comprising a single rail assembly disposed under crash cushion and anchored to a support surface, said single rail assembly substantially centered with respect to the diaphragm,
• a guide coupled to the diaphragm and substantially centered with respect to the diaphragm,
• the guide mounted to slide along the support structure and to restrict movement of the diaphragm with respect to the support structure in at least one lateral direction, the guide mounted to slide along the support structure without extending below a lower surface of the support structure,
• the diaphragm coupled to a leg assembly extending beneath the diaphragm on both sides of said rail assembly to support the diaphragm on the support surface.