Crash Cushion Reinforcing Cable Guide System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art crash cushions often have reinforcing cables that inhibit controlled collapse during frontal impacts, affecting their ability to absorb and redirect vehicle impact energy effectively.
Innovation Solution
The crash cushion design features reinforcing cables that extend through cable guides integrated into the supports, allowing for stabilization without clamping, and are positioned to facilitate controlled collapse and redirect vehicles during impacts, with lower cables at least 10 inches and upper cables at least 20 inches above the ground surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If reinforcing cables are clamped below the supports, then support stability is improved, but controlled collapse during frontal impacts is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
Cable guides are introduced as intermediary components that allow reinforcing cables to pass through the supports without clamping to them. The cable guides are attached to the supports and provide a guided path for the cables, enabling the supports to collapse controllably while the cables maintain tension to prevent excessive lateral movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into discrete components (supports, cable guides, cables) that can function independently. The cable guides are separate from both the supports and the cables, allowing each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the others.
2Ease of operation
If reinforcing cables are positioned low to the ground, then vehicle redirection during side impacts is improved, but vehicle roll-over likelihood increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable positioning strategy moves from a single-level low positioning to a multi-level vertical arrangement. By positioning cables at different heights (lower cables at least 10 inches above ground, upper cables at least 20 inches above ground), the system creates multiple points of vehicle interaction that work together to redirect vehicles while preventing roll-over.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cable system have different positioning characteristics optimized for their specific functions. Lower cables are positioned closer to the ground for effective vehicle redirection, while upper cables are positioned higher to prevent roll-over, creating a differentiated positioning strategy along the vertical dimension.
3Ease of operation
If reinforcing cables extend through cable guides, then controlled collapse is facilitated, but cable positioning precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guides are designed to automatically maintain proper cable positioning through their physical structure. The guides constrain the cables to follow a predetermined path and maintain appropriate clearance distances from the ground, eliminating the need for precise manual cable positioning during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A crash cushion includes a number of spaced-apart supports or bulkheads; energy absorbing modules positioned between the supports; overlapping side panels that interconnect the supports and envelop the energy absorbing modules; front and rear fixed anchors; and reinforcing cables extending between the anchors. The cables extend through cable guides formed in the supports so as to stabilize the supports and facilitate controlled collapse of the supports during vehicle impacts.