Transition for connecting collision impact attenuation system to fixed structure

Abstract

To provide a unique improved transition structure for fixing a collision attenuator to a fixed structure.SOLUTION: A transition for connecting a collision impact shock attenuating system to a fixed structure comprises a plate applied to one that is rigidly connected to the required location of the fixed structure, the plate having a plane applied to one that corresponds to the plane of the fixed structure, the plate having its strength reinforced by a plurality of rear ribs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a collision shock attenuator, and more particularly to a collision shock attenuator for automobiles and road guardrails, and comprises a fixing system for protecting the leading edge of abutments and other fixed roadside hazards. Most specifically, the present invention relates to transition hardware for connecting a collision shock attenuator to a fixing system for abutments and other fixed road hazards.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicle accidents on highways are a major global problem, and there is no doubt that they are currently one of the most significant factors contributing to economic and human losses, as well as suffering, in developed countries. In particular, in order to reduce the casualties caused by these tragic accidents, guardrails, collision buffers, in-vehicle collision attenuators, collision barrels, etc. have been developed to attenuate the impact between vehicles and rigid immovable obstacles such as abutments.

[0003] These types of collision attenuators need to absorb the impact energy of the vehicle without exceeding the limit of the vehicle's deceleration. It is also necessary to be applicable to heavy vehicles and light vehicles simultaneously. By experiencing the low deceleration of the lightest vehicle, the limits of the shock absorbers and the maximum forces generated by heavy vehicles are determined, and the required total impact deformation is determined. When the front is subjected to a collision, the design of the collision attenuator / buffer pad absorbs energy and gradually decelerates the vehicle until it stops. The force cannot exceed the limit of the light vehicle, so the initial force and deceleration are low, and the absorption of energy is limited. When the vehicle "decreases" from the impact speed to 0, it is a very important feature of the collision attenuation system that the increasing collision resistance conforms to strict government safety standards. When the side is subjected to a collision from an oblique direction, the collision buffer is used to rotate the vehicle back towards the road to prevent a severe collision with a rigid point hazard. Typical collision buffers include side rails / plates, intermediate partitions, track assembly members for fixing and guiding the intermediate partitions, and energy absorbers. To better protect the vehicle occupants from injuries, the requirements of collision safety standards are increasing. It is obvious that the next-generation collision shock dampers or collision buffers need to be innovative, inexpensive, very simple yet effective ways to perform their functions and meet these high levels.

[0004] One important element of an effective collision attenuation system is the transition or structural connection between the collision damper and the rigid structure behind it, and both of them protect such a connection. The present invention relates to a unique improved transition structure for fixing a collision damper to a fixed structure.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides an improved collision attenuation system, particularly relating to a significantly improved transition system, which is used to fix a collision damper to a fixed structure such as a concrete barrier called a "Jersey Barrier" in the industry for positioning and protection.

[0006] More specifically, one feature of the present invention is to provide a transition system applicable to fixing a roadside safety system to a fixed structure. The transition system includes a plate having a front end, a rear end, a front face, and a rear face. The transition system further includes a transition mount suitable for fixing the rear end of the roadside safety system to the front end of the plate, and the plate includes a plane, and the plane is arranged to coincide with a corresponding surface in the fixed structure.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes a plurality of holes provided at a rear end portion thereof so as to penetrate through the front and back surfaces of the plate, and the plurality of holes are suitable for receiving mechanical fasteners to fix the plate to a corresponding surface of the fixing structure.

[0008] Advantageously, the plate includes a taper that starts partially from a position along the length of the plate and extends rearward at a certain angle to the rear end of the plate. In the embodiment, the position is approximately in the middle of the distance between the front end and the rear end of the plate.

[0009] The plate includes a first width at its front end and a second width at its rear end, and the second width is narrower than the first width. Due to the taper, the width of the plate gradually narrows from the first width at a position along the length of the plate to the second width at the rear end of the plate. In the illustrated embodiment, since the corresponding surface of the fixing structure is also flat, it is suitable for being arranged such that the plane of the plate is flush with the corresponding plane of the fixing structure.

[0010] The second width at the rear end portion of the plate is suitable for corresponding to the width of the corresponding plane of the fixing structure. The angle of the taper is adapted to the length of the transition plate and the size of the corresponding plane of the fixing structure. The size of the corresponding plane of the fixing structure is one or more of its length, width, or area.

[0011] The transition mount is fixed to the front end of the plate using mechanical fasteners or one or more welds.

[0012] Another feature of the present invention provides a transition system for applying a roadside safety system to a fixed structure. The transition system includes a plate having a front end, a rear end, a front face, and a back face, and the plate extends along its length to the rear end. The system further includes a transition mount for applying the rear end of the roadside safety system to the front end of the plate. A plurality of reinforcing ribs are spaced apart from each other on the back face of the plate.

[0013] Each one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs is installed along the length of the plate, and each one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs has its own length. At least two lengths of the plurality of reinforcing ribs are different from each other, allowing the ribs to adapt to the length and structure of the plate, and in particular, taking into account the taper of the plate. Advantageously, each one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs has a C-shaped channel structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Reference is made more particularly to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle crash attenuator 10 is fixed to fixed abutments or a fixed structure 20 by a transition plate 30. Further details of the transition plate 30 are shown in FIGS. 3-6.

[0016] The vehicle crash attenuator 10 may be of any known type in the industry and typically has at its front end structure a nosepiece 12 designed to absorb the first impact from a crashed vehicle and a plurality of compressible stages or stages 14 (see FIG. 2). An example is the DELTA CRASH CUSHION (registered trademark) system sold by TrafFix Devices, Inc., the applicant of the present application in San Clemente, California, and citations are expressly inserted herein, but other crash attenuation systems obtained from competitors in the roadside safety market may also be used.

[0017] The transition plate 30 conforms to or is compatible with the surface of the fixed structure to which the structure is attached, and the plate is positioned on the surface in a manner that is aligned flat during attachment. By doing so, in the illustrated embodiment, the transition plate 30 is substantially flat in structure, contrary to prior art transition plates that typically have a thrie-beam structure. The term "substantially flat" means designed to be flat and manufactured based on that design within some reasonable tolerances. Hereinafter, and in the claims, the term "flat" is used, but it should be understood that "substantially flat" allows for typical tolerances in all manufacturing processes. As shown, the transition plate is designed with a shape that mimics a taper and a concrete barrier. In this example, what is suitable for connection to the barrier is what is commonly referred to in the industry as a "Jersey Barrier". However, the type of fixed structure is not important in the present invention, and any fixed structure or object having a usable plane connectable to the rear end of the transition plate can be used together with the transition system of the present invention.

[0018] More specifically, the plate 30 includes a taper 32 that extends rearward from a position 34 along the length of the plate 30 to the rear end 36 of the plate 30 at a partial (substantially middle) portion. By doing so, the plate 30 has a first width at the front end portion and a smaller second width at its rear end 36, and the width of the plate gradually narrows from the first width to the smaller second width along the taper 32.

[0019] The bolt holes 40 are provided in the rear end 36 of the plate 30 and are used to fix the plate 30 to the fixed structure 20. The bolt holes 40 extend through the front face 41a and the rear face 41b of the plate. Note that the taper 32 is suitable for narrowing the plate 30, and since the width of its rear end 36 corresponds to the width of the usable plane 42 of the fixed structure 20, by screwing bolts into the bolt holes 40, the rear end 36 of the plate 30 can be easily fixed to the usable plane 42. Therefore, since the angle of the taper 32 adapts to the length of the transition plate and the size (length, width, and / or area) of the usable plane 42 of the structure 20, such fixation can be very easily achieved regardless of the type of structure for fixing the transition plate.

[0020] The transition mount 44 is suitable for fixing the rear end of the shock absorber 10 to the transition plate 30. The fixation of the transition mount 44 is achieved using mechanical fasteners, but it may also be achieved by welding.

[0021] At the position of the gap existing between the plate 30 and the fixing structure 20, a shim 46 (illustrated as wooden) is inserted, and the plate is firmly fixed to the structure between the transition mount 44 and the fasteners at 36 locations at the rear end of the plate.

[0022] A plurality of ribs 48 are preferably fixed to the back surface 41b of the transition plate 30 (see FIG. 6) to strengthen the transition plate. As shown in the figure, the plurality of ribs have different lengths, adapt to the structure and taper of the plate, and are preferably formed using a C-channel structure to maximize the strength and cost performance of the plate.

[0023] For the purpose of illustration, in one exemplary embodiment, the plate 30 is a 3 / 16 in plate and has a zinc-plated surface treatment. The (second) width at the rear end is 15.3 in, and the (first) width at the front end is 24.0 in.

[0024] The innovative transition plate of the present invention has been successful in the current collision tests of the US Federal MASH standard. In particular, it has already been found that the collision vehicle minimizes the snagging effect, minimizes the deformation of the vehicle floor board, and maximizes the re-direction.

[0025] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0026] 10 Vehicle collision damper 12 Nose piece 20 Fixing structure 30 Transition plate 30 Plate 36 Rear end 32 Taper 40 Bolt Hole 41a Front 41b Back 42 Flat Surface 44 Transition Mount 46 Shim 48 Rib

Claims

1. a plate having front and rear ends and a front surface and a back surface; a transition mount adapted to fasten a rear end of a roadside safety system to the front end of the plate, the plate including a flat surface, the flat surface being positioned to match a corresponding surface on the fixed structure. A transition system for use in fastening roadside safety systems to fixed structures.

2. a plate having a front end, a front surface, and a back surface, the plate extending along a long side to a rear end; a transition mount adapted to secure a rear end of a roadside safety system to the front end of the plate; a plurality of reinforcing ribs spaced apart from one another on the rear surface of the plate, A transition system for use in fastening roadside safety systems to fixed structures.

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