Protective crash barrier for locomotives and highway construction vehicles

Abstract

A crash boot attaches to the front of the locomotive. When inflated, the boot provides a shock absorber for absorbing the impact energy produced when the locomotive collides with another object. By absorbing this energy, the boot protects both the locomotive and its crew, and the other object such as a vehicle and its occupants from severe injury or harm. In a highway environment, a trailer is towed behind a vehicle to a work site. The trailer is parked with one end facing on-coming traffic. This end of the trailer has an inflatable boot which is inflated while the crew is at work. If an on-coming vehicle now collides with the boot, it absorbs the impact of the collision and lessens the damage resulting therefrom.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon Provisional Patent Application 60 / 508,190 filed Oct. 2, 2003.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] N / A BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to railroad and highway safety, and more particularly to a protective device attachable to railway locomotives and highway vehicles to cushion an impact between these vehicles and other objects so to lessen any damage occurring between the vehicles and the objects. [0004] Railroad locomotives, even when traveling a slow speeds, can cause catastrophic damage to an object it strikes, rather another railcar, or something (another vehicle, a person, or other object) in the right-of-way over which it is traveling. At the same time, the locomotive can sustain substantial damage as well. [0005] In highway environments, particular where road crews are performing work on a roadway, there is also the potential for substantial...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] For a locomotive, a crash boot includes a frame attached to the front of the locomotive. An inflatable boot is secured to the frame and, when inflated, provides a shock absorber for absorbing the impact energy produced when the locomotive collides with another object. For absorbing this energy, the boot protects both the locomotive and its crew, and the other object (e.g., a vehicle and its occupants) from severe injury or damage.

[0010] In a highway work setting the trailer is towed behind a vehicle to a work site. The trailer is then parked with one end facing on-coming traffic. This end of the trailer includes an inflatable boot which is inflated while the crew is at work. If an on-coming vehicle collides with the boot, the boot absorbs the impact of the collision to lessen the damage resulting therefrom. Further, the trailer provides a barrier between the work crew and the vehicle so to protect the work crew as well.

Problems solved by technology

Railroad locomotives, even when traveling a slow speeds, can cause catastrophic damage to an object it strikes, rather another railcar, or something (another vehicle, a person, or other object) in the right-of-way over which it is traveling.

At the same time, the locomotive can sustain substantial damage as well.

In highway environments, particular where road crews are performing work on a roadway, there is also the potential for substantial injury to workers or vehicles because of crashes caused by careless or inattentive, or road or weather conditions.

While these afford some protection, it is well documented that they do not prevent injuries and death to workers, or damage to vehicles being used at the work site.

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