Midnose Crash Cushion Structure for Stable Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-based non-anchored crash cushions inefficiently absorb energy during vehicle impacts, as they fracture prematurely, leading to incomplete energy absorption and potential hazards from debris.
Innovation Solution
The anchorless crash cushion apparatus employs interconnected plastic crash cushion elements with metal straps and a midnose structure to resist rotation and lateral movement, allowing for increased compression and energy absorption by building pressure before fracturing, and a transition weldment for additional crush resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If plastic containers are made frangible to fracture during impact, then energy is absorbed through momentum transfer to expelled water, but the containers fracture prematurely and cannot absorb sufficient energy through compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the plastic material by incorporating viscoelastic polymers and rubber modifiers that alter the fracture toughness and elongation properties, allowing the material to undergo significant deformation and compression before fracturing, thereby extending the energy absorption duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite plastic formulations combining multiple materials including high-density polyethylene, viscoelastic polymers, and rubber modifiers to create a material that exhibits both structural integrity for compression and controlled fracture characteristics for energy dissipation
2Loss of energy
If crash cushion elements are made to compress significantly during impact, then energy absorption increases, but the elements become unstable and rotate or move laterally during the impact event
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the crash cushion into discrete modular elements that are interconnected through coupling mechanisms, allowing each element to compress independently while maintaining overall system stability through the interconnections that prevent excessive rotation and lateral movement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coupling mechanisms and interconnection structures as intermediary elements between the cushion modules that transfer and distribute impact forces, preventing individual elements from becoming unstable during compression while allowing controlled deformation
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 design enhances energy absorption efficiency, reduces debris, and stabilizes the system during impacts, bringing vehicles to a controlled stop with acceptable occupant safety factors, while minimizing hazards to adjacent motorists.
Implementation Method 1
a much larger portion of the energy being absorbed by the compressive forces prior to the plastic containers fracturing during the mid to late period of the impact event
Implementation Method 2
allow the pressure to build up more during the compression phase than the other cushions in this category
Implementation Method 3
they operate primarily by momentum transfer (the impact of the impacting vehicle is transferred to the expelled water when the modules fracture and the water is dispersed at high velocity)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
An anchorless crash cushion apparatus having a plurality of interconnected water-filled crash cushion elements and a non-water filled forward-most cushion element includes vehicle capture structure resisting upward tilting of an impacting vehicle and ramping of the impacting vehicle and stabilizing structure including a midnose structure resisting relative rotation between crash cushion elements in both vertical and lateral planes during vehicle impact.