Crash Cushion With Nested Resilient Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash cushions are often too long and costly to meet NCHRP-350 crash test standards, limiting their deployment in spatially constrained environments and requiring excessive materials, which hinders their portability and reconfigurability.
Innovation Solution
The use of resilient, self-restoring tubes with C-shaped segments positioned on opposite sides of the interior surface, allowing for a shorter and more compact design that can absorb greater energy per unit weight, with tunable energy absorption characteristics through varying segment thicknesses, lengths, and fastening configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional crash cushions are designed to meet NCHRP-350 crash test standards, then they can provide adequate energy dissipation and protect drivers, but they become too long and require excessive materials, limiting portability and increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places resilient segments inside the tubes, creating a nested structure where the segments are contained within the tube interior. This allows the energy-absorbing segments to be housed within the existing tube volume, maximizing space utilization and enabling shorter overall cushion length while maintaining energy dissipation capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines different materials - high density polyethylene tubes with resilient segments made of elastomeric materials or foam. This composite approach allows the thinner tube walls to work in conjunction with the resilient segments to achieve adequate energy absorption in a more compact configuration
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional crash cushions use thicker tube materials to increase energy absorption, then they can meet crash test standards, but they undergo more permanent deformation and require more materials, increasing cost and reducing portability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thickening the entire tube, the patent places resilient segments at specific locations inside the tubes where energy absorption is most needed. The segments are positioned to engage during impact, providing localized reinforcement that reduces the need for uniformly thick tube walls throughout
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining thinner HDPE tube walls with resilient segments made of elastomeric materials or foam. This allows the system to achieve high energy absorption capacity while the thinner tube material undergoes less permanent deformation, as the resilient segments bear the primary compression load
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables crash cushions to meet NCHRP-350 standards while being more compact, cost-effective, and portable, with increased energy absorption and reduced material strain, allowing for easier reconfiguration and deployment in various scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
resilient, self-restoring tubes
Implementation Method 2
self-restoring tubes each having a center axis and an interior surface
Data Source
AI summary
A crash cushion includes a plurality of resilient, self-restoring tubes each having a center axis and an interior surface. At least some of the tubes are positioned such that respective ones of the center axes are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction. The center axis of at least one tube is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction, with the tube defining a diametral plane intersecting and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The center axis of the tube lies in the diametral plane. One or more segments are positioned in the tube, with the segments, or portions thereof, disposed on opposite sides of the interior surface of the tube. Each of the segments or portions is symmetrically secured to the tube relative to the diametral plane, with the tube being substantially open between the opposing segments. Various methods of using and assembling the crash cushion are also provided.