Crash cushion, in particular for road applications and the laying method thereof

Abstract

A crash cushion (4) comprising anchoring means (8) for anchoring to the ground, configured so as to allow the crash cushion (4) to be fixed to the ground, said anchoring means (8) extending along a main vertical direction (Y-Y), a dissipating body (24), adapted to dissipate impacts against objects, and connection means (52) for connecting the dissipating body (24) to the anchoring means (8) for anchoring to the ground. The anchoring means (8) comprise a lower portion (12), adapted to be embedded below the ground, and an upper portion (16), arranged cantilevered with respect to the lower portion (12). Said connection means (52) of the dissipating body (24) are associated with the upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8), so that the dissipating body (24), in the event of an impact, is selectively movable, parallel to said main vertical direction (Y-Y), in a direction away from the ground.

Description

CRASH CUSHION , IN PARTICULAR FOR ROAD APPLICATIONS ANDTHE LAYING METHOD THEREOF DESCRIPTIONFIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a crash cushion, in particular for road applications , and the laying method thereof .PRIOR ART

[0002] In the prior art , there are a variety of solutions for crash cushions for road appl ications using shields , padding, meshes or retaining devices designed to absorb the impact of vehicles , reduce their kinetic energy and thus limit the structural damage to said vehicles and persons , whether they are transported by the vehicle or present near the side of the road .

[0003] The crash cushion devices must therefore perform a plurality of technical functions .

[0004] Obviously, the priority is the safety of the persons who must be protected by the cushioning devices , which must therefore di ssipate the kinetic energy released as a result of the vehicle striking one or more obstacles as much as possible .

[0005] For example , said obstacles may consist of trees arranged along the side of the road, architectural barriers , obstacles of various shapes and si zes .

[0006] The crash cushion must substantially absorb the impact of the vehicle , limiting the structural damage to said vehicle and deforming as much as possible so as to absorb the kinetic energy of the vehicle .

[0007] There is also a need to provide crash cushions that are easy and economical to install and replace .

[0008] In ef fect , the crash cushion is usually irreversibly damaged and deformed after impact and must there fore be replaced .

[0009] It is obvious that in order to ef fectively absorb a large amount o f kinetic energy ( for example when considering a high-mass vehicle ) the structures of the impact dissipators must in turn be heavy and bulky . This entails an increase in construction costs but also in the costs for laying the cushions of the prior art .

[0010] There are currently no crash cushion solutions available in the art that are economical to manufacture and install , as well as relatively light and small in si ze .DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore f elt .

[0012] Such a need is met by a crash cushion according to claim 1 and by a laying method for a crash cushionaccording to claim 20 .DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof , wherein :

[0014] Fig . 1-2 are perspective views from di f ferent angles of a crash cushion according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Fig . 3-4 are perspective views from di f ferent angles of a crash cushion according to a second embodiment of the present invention .

[0016] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same numerical references .DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] With reference to the aforesaid figures , the numerical reference 4 globally denotes an overall schematic view of a crash cushion, in particular for vehicles .

[0018] It should be noted that , for the purposes of the present invention, the crash cushion 4 may be ef fective against any type of vehicle , such as cycles , motorcycles , motor vehicles , vans , trucks and the like .

[0019] The crash cushion 4 comprises anchoring means foranchoring to the ground 8 , configured so as to allow the crash cushion 8 to be fixed to the ground, wherein said anchoring means 8 extend along a main vertical direction Y-Y .

[0020] The anchoring means 8 comprise a lower portion 12 , adapted to be embedded below the ground, and an upper portion 16 , arranged cantilevered with respect to the lower portion 12 , therefore cantilevered with respect to said ground, parallel to the main vertical direction Y-Y .

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment , the anchoring means 8 comprise steel beams 20 .

[0022] Preferably, said beams 20 have an ' I ' or double ' T ' section, with respect to a section plane perpendicular to the main vertical direction Y-Y .

[0023] For example , two identical and parallel beams 20 are envisaged .

[0024] According to a possible embodiment , the ratio between the length of the cantilevered upper portion 16 and the length o f the lower portion 12 embedded in the ground, parallel to said main vertical direction Y-Y, is between 0 . 5 and 2 ; preferably said ratio is equal to 1 , i . e . the upper portion 16 and the lower portion have the same length, for example equal to 80 cm.

[0025] The crash cushion 4 further comprises a dissipating body 24 , adapted to dissipate impacts against obj ects ,typically vehicles , as mentioned above .

[0026] The dissipating body 24 has a height 28 , measured parallel to the main vertical direction Y-Y, greater than or equal to said upper portion 16 of the anchoring means 8 .

[0027] Preferably, the height 28 of the dissipating body 24 is at least 1 . 2 times the height of the upper portion 16 of the anchoring means 8 .

[0028] According to a possible embodiment , the dissipating body 24 has a parallelepiped shape and consists of a plurality of plates 32 that are parallel and overlapping each other .

[0029] Preferably, the dissipating body 24 comprises a succession of plates in metal material 36 and plates in spongy plastic material 40 . Said plates in metal material 36 and plates in spongy plastic material 40 are mutually fixed to each other, for example by means of adhesives .

[0030] Preferably, the plates in spongy plastic material 40 have a compres sive strength, at 10% deformation, gradually increasing moving from a front face 44 of the dissipating body 24 , opposite to the anchoring means 8 , towards a rear face 48 , opposite to the front face 44 .

[0031] In other words , the plates in spongy plastic material 40 , which are outermost with respect to the front face 44 and therefore more exposed to impacts , aremore yielding than the innermost plates , towards the anchoring means 8 .

[0032] By virtue of such sequence of plates in spongy plastic material 40 of variable rigidity, in particular increasing from the outside towards the inside , it is possible to ef fectively cushion and absorb the energy of a vehicle that impacts against the front face 44 of the dissipating body 24 .

[0033] Preferably, said compressive strength of the plates in spongy plastic material 40 with variable rigidity ranges from at least 40 kPa to at least 300 kPa .

[0034] Preferably, the plates in spongy plastic material 40 are in rigid expanded polyurethane .

[0035] According to a possible embodiment , the plates in spongy plastic material 40 have a thickness of at least 10 cm .

[0036] Furthermore , the plates in metal material are steel plates having a thickness of at least 2 mm .

[0037] It should be noted that the plates in metal material are useful in order to obtain a more gradual compression of the plates in spongy plastic material 40 inso far as they are able to distribute the load over as large a surface as possible .

[0038] According to a possible embodiment , the dissipating body 24 is coated by a layer of plastic coating (notshown) which covers said plates 32 , 36 , 40 and at the same time protects them from the weather .

[0039] The crash cushion 4 further comprises connection means 52 for connecting the diss ipating body 24 to the anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground .

[0040] In particular, said connection means 52 of the dissipating body 24 are associated with the upper portion 16 of the anchoring means 8 , so that , in the event of an impact , the diss ipating body 24 is selectively movable , parallel to said main vertical direction Y-Y, in a direction away from the ground . In other words , in the event of a certain magnitude of impact , the connection means 52 allow the dissipating body 24 to be raised from the anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground, until the dissipating body 24 is completely separated from the anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground .

[0041] According to a possible embodiment ( Fig . 3-4 ) , said connection means 52 of the dissipating body 24 comprise engagement seats 56 obtained at least partially on said dissipating body 24 or on a bulkhead 58 fixed to the dissipating body 24 so as to house the upper portions 16 of the anchoring means 8 .

[0042] Preferably, the engagement seats 56 are countershaped with respect to said upper portions 16 of the anchoring means 8 . For example , the engagement seats mayhave an ' I ' or double ' T ' section like the corresponding beams 20 .

[0043] Preferably, the engagement seats 56 are hollow cylinders , open at a lower end 60 facing the ground and closed at an upper end 64 , opposite the lower end 60 along the main vertical direction Y-Y .

[0044] According to a further possible embodiment , the connection means 52 of the dissipating body 24 comprise pins or cables ( not shown) , which connect a rear face 48 of the dissipating body 24 with the upper portion 16 of the anchoring means 8 and which are shearable in the event of an impact .

[0045] According to a possible embodiment , the dissipating body 24 is provided with at least one cable (not shown) that partially constrains it to the anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground so as to limit the displacement thereof in the event of an impact . In this way, in case of separation o f the dissipating body 24 from the anchoring means 8 , the displacement and proj ection in space of the dissipating body 24 is limited, increasing the safety of the crash cushion 4 . Furthermore , said cable also acts as an anti-theft device for the dissipating body .

[0046] The laying method and operation of a crash cushion according to this invention will now be described .

[0047] In particular, the method for laying a crash cushion 4 according to the invention comprises the steps of :

[0048] arranging anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground, configured so as to allow the fixing of the crash cushion 4 to the ground, said anchoring means extending along a main vertical extension Y-Y,

[0049] arranging holes in the ground and inserting a lower portion 12 of the anchoring means 8 therein, leaving an upper portion 16 cantilevered with respect to the lower portion 12 ,

[0050] arranging a di ssipating body 24 , suitable to dissipate impacts against obj ects , provided with connection means 52 of the dissipating body 24 to the upper portion 16 of the anchoring means 8 for anchoring to the ground, so that the dissipating body 24 is selectively movable , parallel to said main vertical direction Y-Y in a direction away from the ground .

[0051] The laying is therefore particularly easy and economical because , once the holes have been made in the ground, it is pos sible to quickly fix the anchoring means8 , and then proceed to engage the pre-assembled dissipating body 24 .

[0052] As regards the operation, the crash cushion is configured to very ef fectively absorb the kinetic energy of a body, such as a motor vehicle , which impacts saidabsorber 4 .

[0053] In particular, i f a vehicle violently impacts the dissipating body 24 , the kinetic energy is initially absorbed and diss ipated by the plates 32 , 36 , 40 arranged on the side of the front face 44 .

[0054] In particular, the metal plates 36 help to distribute the load over the entire surface of the plates so as to cause a gradual compression thereof .

[0055] The outermost plates in spongy plastic material 40 , as seen, are also more yielding than the inner ones : in this way, a gradual compression and deformation of said plates is obtained .

[0056] I f the kinetic energy of the impact is high, the impact is trans ferred to the anchoring means 8 and the upper portions 16 may bend plastically . In this case , the dissipating body 24 is literally raised upwards , helping to dissipate a large amount of the kinetic energy of the body that impacts the crash cushion 4 .

[0057] The dissipating body may eventually become completely detached from the anchoring means 8 , to be proj ected upwards , with the constraint of the safety cable .

[0058] As may be appreciated from that which has been described, the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art .

[0059] In particular, the crash cushion according to the present invention is relatively light and not very bulky, compared to the solutions of the prior art .

[0060] In addition, the crash cushion is simple and economical to lay . In fact , it is suf ficient to install the anchoring means , such as the beams , on the ground and then to associate the dissipating body therewith, for example by inserting it from above .

[0061] The subsequent replacement is also particularly easy; in fact , the anchoring means , i f irreparably damaged, may be slipped out and replaced with new ones , which will benefit from the same insertion holes in the ground .

[0062] Advantageously, the crash cushion ef fectively performs the function of impact absorption and energy dissipation .

[0063] In particular, the speci fic multilayer configuration of the dissipating body makes it possible to initially absorb the impact with the vehicle ; this impact is in turn trans ferred to the anchoring means for anchoring to the ground, which may deform i f necessary . I f the impact is particularly violent , the dissipating body is able to slide upwards from the anchoring means for anchoring to the ground . This dissipates a large amount of kinetic energy from the vehicle , which will be able to stop itstravel against the crash cushion, possibly partially rising upward.

[0064] Advantageously, the dissipating body is provided with lanes, for example with cables, that prevent the uncontrolled projection thereof into the impact area, in addition to operating as an effective anti-theft device.

[0065] A person skilled in the art, for the purpose of satisfying contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the solutions described above.

[0066] The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Crash cushion (4) comprising anchoring means (8) for anchoring to the ground, configured so as to allow the fixing of the crash cushion (4) to the ground, said anchoring means (8) extending along a main vertical direction (Y-Y) ,- a dissipating body (24) , adapted to dissipate impacts against objects,- connection means (52) for connecting the dissipating body (24) to the anchoring means (8) to the ground, wherein the anchoring means (8) comprise a lower portion (12) , suitable to be embedded below the ground, and an upper portion (16) , arranged cantilevered with respect to the lower portion (12) ,- wherein said connection means (52) of the dissipating body (24) are associated with the upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8) , so that the dissipating body (24) , in the event of an impact, is selectively movable, parallel to said main vertical direction (Y-Y) , in a direction away from the ground.

2. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said connection means (52) of the dissipating body (24) comprise engagement seats (56) at least partially obtained on said dissipating body (24) or on a bulkhead (58) fixed to the dissipating body (24) so as tohouse the upper portions (16) of the anchoring means (8) .

3. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 2, wherein the engagement seats (56) are counter-shaped with respect to said upper portions (16) .

4. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the engagement seats (56) are hollow cylinders, open at a lower end (60) facing the ground and closed at an upper end (64) , opposite to the lower end (60) along the main vertical direction (Y-Y) .

5. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection means (52) of the dissipating body (24) comprise pins or cables, which connect a rear face (48) of the dissipating body (24) with the upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8) , and which are shearable, in the event of an impact.

6. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the anchoring means (8) comprise beams (20) with an 'I' or double ' T' section, with respect to a section plane perpendicular to the main vertical direction (Y-Y) .

7. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 6, wherein two equal and parallel beams (20) are provided.

8. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ratio between the length of the cantilevered upper portion (16) and the length of thelower portion (12) embedded in the ground, parallel to said main vertical direction (Y-Y) , is comprised between 0.5 and 2, preferably equal to 1.

9. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the dissipating body (24) has a height, measured parallel to the main vertical direction (Y-Y) , which is greater than or equal to said upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8) .

10. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 9, wherein the height of the dissipating body (24) is at least 1.2 times the height of the upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8) .

11. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the dissipating body (24) has a parallelepiped shape and consists of a plurality of plates (32,36,40) which are parallel and overlapping each other .

12. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the dissipating body (24) comprises a succession of plates in metal material (32,36) and plates in spongy plastic material (32,40) .

13. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 12, wherein the plates in spongy plastic material (32,40) have a compressive strength, at 10% deformation, gradually increasing moving from a front face (44) of thedissipating body (24) , opposite to the anchoring means(8) , towards a rear face (48) , opposite to the front face (44) .

14. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to claim 13, wherein said compressive strength ranges from at least 40 kPa to at least 300 kPa.

15. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the plates in spongy plastic material (32,40) are in rigid expanded polyurethane.

16. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the plates in spongy plastic material (32,40) have a thickness of at least 10 cm.

17. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the plates in metal material (32,36) are steel plates having a thickness of at least 2 mm.

18. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the dissipating body (24) is coated by a layer of plastic coating which covers said plates (32,36, 40) .

19. Crash cushion (4) for vehicles, according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the dissipating body (24) is provided with at least one cable which partially constrains it to the anchoring means (8) to the ground so as to limit the displacement thereof in the event ofimpact .

20. Laying method of a crash cushion (4) , comprising the steps of: arranging anchoring means (8) for anchoring to the ground, configured so as to allow the fixing of the crash cushion (4) to the ground, said anchoring means (8) extending along a main vertical direction (Y-Y) , - arranging holes in the ground and inserting a lower portion (12) of the anchoring means (8) therein, leaving an upper portion (16) cantilevered with respect to the lower portion (12) , arranging a dissipating body (24) , suitable to dissipate impacts against objects, provided with connection means (52) of the dissipating body (24) to the upper portion (16) of the anchoring means (8) to the ground, so that the dissipating body (24) is selectively movable, parallel to said main vertical direction (Y-Y) , in a direction away from the ground.

21. Laying method of a crash cushion (4) according to claim 20, comprising the step of arranging a crash cushion (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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