52results about "Crash attenuators" patented technology

A truck mounted attenuator (TMA) is constructed to minimize length during use in a horizontal position and height in a vertical transport position, as well as to minimize wind resistance and buffeting at highway speeds. A modular construction is employed, so that only damaged portions of the TMA can be removed and replaced in the field after a vehicle impact. The TMA comprises a plurality of outwardly curved tubular structural members which are designed to buckle upon application to the TMA of forces resulting from vehicular impact. The rigid tubes buckle at a high initial force, then proceed to crush at a lower force once the sides have buckled outwardly sufficiently to protect vehicle occupants during the critical first two feet of travel after impact. This design also provides increased protection for errant vehicles which impact the TMA device from an angle (i.e. “coffin corner” impact).

A deployable cellular structure providing impact energy absorption capability is disclosed. The structure may be packed when not in use and deployed automatically or manually to provide impact protection. The structure is useful in a variety of situations including vehicular protection of occupants, deployable highway safety barriers, and aviation emergency safety devices.

The invention relates to a crash-tolerant system arrangement in an engine compartment which is arranged in the front end region of a motor vehicle, comprising an internal combustion engine which is arranged in the engine compartment with an engine block (1), an exhaust-gas manifold (2) which receives exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine, an exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) which is assigned to the internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas inlet (5) and an exhaust-gas outlet (6), and an exhaust-gas purification system (7) with a substantially cylindrical first catalytic-converter housing (9) which is arranged in front of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) in the driving direction (8) and in which a first exhaust-gas catalytic-converter element is arranged. Here, a first exhaust-gas guide element (10) is provided for guiding the exhaust gas from the exhaust-gas outlet (6) of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) to the first catalytic-converter housing (9), which first exhaust-gas guide element (10) extends from the exhaust-gas outlet (6) of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) to an inlet cone (11) of the first catalytic-converter housing (9) and can transmit a pressure force, which acts on the first catalytic-converter housing (9) substantially counter to the driving direction (8), at least partially to the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3). The exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) is connected mechanically by way of a first fastening device (12) to the exhaust-gas manifold (2) and by way of a second fastening device (13) to the engine block (1), wherein the first and the second fastening device (12, 13) are designed in such a way that a release of the connection of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) to the exhaust-gas manifold (2) and / or a release of the connection of the exhaust-gas turbocharger (3) to the engine block (1) take / takes place within a predefined upper value range for the pressure force.