Flared Energy Absorbing System and Method

Abstract

An energy absorbing system with one or more energy absorbing assemblies is provided to reduce or eliminate the severity of a collision between a moving motor vehicle and a roadside hazard. The energy absorbing system may be installed adjacent to a gore area and other relatively wide roadside hazards. One end of the system facing oncoming traffic is relatively narrow. The width at an opposite end of the system may be varied to accommodate relatively wide or large roadside hazards. A sled assembly may be provided with a cutter plate such that a collision by the motor vehicle with the sled assembly will result in the cutter plate tearing or ripping the energy absorbing element to dissipate energy from the motor vehicle collision.

1 . An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a moving vehicle and a roadside hazard comprising: 
 at least one guide having a first end and a second end;    the first end of the guide corresponding proximately with a first end of the system facing oncoming traffic;    a first group of panel support frames slidably disposed to the guide;    a second group of panel support frames spaced from each other and securely anchored at respective locations between the second end of the guide and the roadside hazard;    a first group of panels slidably attached to the first group of panel support frames whereby the first group of panel support frames and associated first group of panels collapse toward the second end of the guide when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system;    a second group of panels securely attached to the second group of panel support frames whereby the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels resist vehicle impacts; and    at least a portion of the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels disposed at an angle relative to the guide.    
     
     
         2 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising at least two panels attached to each panel support frame.  
     
     
         3 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising a first side and a second side extending generally longitudinally between the first end and a second end proximate the roadside hazard.  
     
     
         4 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  wherein the first group of panel support frames further comprises: 
 each panel support frame having a generally rectangular configuration; and    the associated first group of panels respectively attached to opposite sides of the first group of panel support frames.    
     
     
         5 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one energy absorbing assembly disposed adjacent to the guide.  
     
     
         6 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising at least a portion of the first group of panels extending at an angle relative to the guide at a distance of approximately one hundred and fourteen inches from the first end of the system.  
     
     
         7 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first side extending generally longitudinally between the first end and a second end;    a second side spaced from the first side and extending generally longitudinally between the first end and a second end proximate the roadside hazard;    the first side extending generally parallel with the guide; and    the second side including a portion of the second group of support frames and associated second group of panels disposed at the angle relative to the guide.    
     
     
         8 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first side extending generally longitudinally between a first end and a second end spaced longitudinally from the first end;    a second side spaced from the first side and extending generally longitudinally between a first end and a second end proximate the roadside hazard;    the first side having a first end proximate the first end of the system;    the second end of the first side coupled with one end of a concrete barrier; and    the second side including a portion of the second group of support frames and associated second group of panels disposed at the angle relative to the guide.    
     
     
         9 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first side extending generally longitudinally between a first end and a second end disposed proximate the roadside hazard;    a second side spaced from the first side and extending generally longitudinally between a first end and a second end proximate the roadside hazard;    the first end of the first side and the first end of the second side disposed proximate the first end of the system; and    the first end of the first side and the first end of the second side spaced from each other at a first distance.    
     
     
         10 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one guide further comprises a pair of guide rails.  
     
     
         11 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising at least a portion of the first group of panels disposed at an angle relative to the guide, with the first group of panels and the second group of panels forming a substantially continuous barrier.  
     
     
         12 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first side extending generally longitudinally between the first end of the system and a second end disposed proximate the roadside hazard;    a second side spaced from the first side and extending generally longitudinally between the first end of the system and a second end disposed proximate the roadside hazard;    the first side extending generally parallel with the guide;    the first side including a portion of the first group of panels disposed at an angle relative to the guide; and    the second side including a portion of the second group of panels disposed at the angle relative to the guide.    
     
     
         13 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one cable assembly securely attached with the sled assembly;    the cable assembly extending generally in the first direction from the sled assembly to a panel support frame located beyond a location where the portion of the panels intersect the other panels at the angle; and    the sled assembly and the cable assembly cooperating with each other to maintain desired tension on the associated group of panels when the sled assembly is disposed at the first end of the crash cushion.    
     
     
         14 . The crash cushion of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second cable assembly securely engaged with the sled assembly and extending generally in the first direction to another support frame disposed on an opposite side of the crash cushion; and    the sled assembly and the second cable assembly cooperating with each other to maintain desired tension on the panels extending along the opposite side of the crash cushion.    
     
     
         15 . The crash cushion of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a longitudinal axis extending in the first direction from the first end; and    the first group of panels and the second group of panels disposed in a generally symmetrical configuration relative to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         16 . An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a moving vehicle and a roadside hazard, the energy absorbing system comprising: 
 a first end and a second end, with the second end disposed adjacent to a roadside hazard and the first end extending longitudinally from the roadside hazard in a first direction toward oncoming traffic;    a first side and a second side spaced from each other and extending between the first end and the second end of the system;    at least one wing extension disposed between the at least one energy absorbing assembly and the roadside hazard;    at least portions of the first side and the second side disposed at angles relative to each other whereby the spacing between the first side and the second side at the second end is greater than the spacing between the first side and the second side at the first end; and    at least one energy absorbing assembly disposed at the first end of the energy absorbing system such that collision of a vehicle with the first end will cause the energy absorbing assembly to dissipate kinetic energy of the vehicle.    
     
     
         17 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;    at least a portion of the first side extending at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and    at least a portion of the second side extending at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         18 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 17  further comprising the first angle approximately equal to the second angle.  
     
     
         19 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 17  further comprising the first angle larger than the second angle.  
     
     
         20 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising the first side starting at the first end extending at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         21 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 the first side starting at the first end extending at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and    the second side starting at the first end extending at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         22 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising the first side and the second side having a generally symmetrical relationship with each other.  
     
     
         23 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising the first side having the at least one wing extension.  
     
     
         24 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 the first side having a respective wing extension; and    the second side having a respective wing extension.    
     
     
         25 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 at least one wing extension formed in part from conventional W-beam guardrail panels; and    a plurality of panel support frames.    
     
     
         26 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 25  wherein each panel support frame further comprises a support post, a support plate and a strut disposed at an angle between the support plate and the support post.  
     
     
         27 . An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a moving vehicle and a roadside hazard comprising: 
 at least one guide having a first end and a second end;    the first end of the guide corresponding proximately with a first end of the system facing oncoming traffic;    a first group of panel support frames slidably disposed to the guide;    a second group of panel support frames spaced from each other and securely anchored at respective locations between the second end of the guide and the roadside hazard;    a first group of panels slidably attached to the first group of panel support frames whereby the first group of panel support frames and associated first group of panels collapse toward the second end of the guide when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system;    a second group of panels securely attached to the second group of panel support frames whereby the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels resist vehicle impacts; and    at least a portion of the first group of panels has a first divergence from the first direction and at least a portion of the second group of panels has a second divergence from the first direction.    
     
     
         28 . A crash cushion to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    plural panels located on a first side of the energy absorbing assembly and extending generally in the first direction, the panels resisting an impact from a vehicle with the first side;    the panels having a first section that is generally at a first orientation with respect to the first direction, the first section of panels extending from the first end to a location along the first side; and    the panels having a second section extending from the location at a second orientation with respect to the first direction, the second section of panels intersecting the first section of panels at an angle.    
     
     
         29 . The crash cushion of  claim 28  further comprising the first section of panels operable to generally move in the first direction when a portion of the energy absorbing assembly moves in the first direction.  
     
     
         30 . The crash cushion of  claim 28  further comprising the second set of panels operable to generally move in the first direction when the portion of the energy absorbing assembly moves in the first direction.  
     
     
         31 . The crash cushion of  claim 28  wherein the second set of panels comprises a movable subsection that moves generally in the first direction when the portion of the energy absorbing assembly moves in the first direction and also comprises a fixed subsection, with the movable subsection being closer to the first end than the fixed subsection.  
     
     
         32 . An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the system;    a first side located on one side of the energy absorbing assembly;    a second side located on another side of the energy absorbing assembly;    the first and second sides each comprising panels, the first and second sides each resisting an impact by a vehicle to the respective first and second sides;    the first and second sides moving generally in the first direction when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system; and    at least a portion of the first side being uncoupled from the second side so that the portion of the first side can be oriented with respect to the first direction independently of the second side.    
     
     
         33 . The crash cushion of  claim 32  further comprising panel support frames coupled to the panels of the first side and the second side, the panel support frames coupled to the portion of the first side being separate from the panel support frames that are coupled to the second side.  
     
     
         34 . The crash cushion of  claim 33  further comprising at least one of the panel support frames coupled to the portion of the first side bears on the energy absorbing assembly.  
     
     
         35 . The crash cushion of  claim 33  wherein at least one of the panel support frames that is coupled to the portion of the first side bears on the ground.  
     
     
         36 . The crash cushion of  claim 33  wherein the panel support frames that are coupled to the portion of the first side are coupled to one or more outboard anchors to resist vehicle impacts to the first side.  
     
     
         37 . A crash cushion to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the crash cushion, the energy absorbing assembly moveable in the first direction when a vehicle impacts the first end;    panel support frames moveable in the first direction;    panels attached to the panel support frames and extending generally in the first direction, the panels diverging from the first direction as the panels extend from the first end;    selected panels having channels attached thereto; and    a cable extending through at least one of the channels along the diverging panels, the cable anchored at a location toward the first end and also at a location away from the first end.    
     
     
         38 . The crash cushion of  claim 37  further comprising the cables are coupled to selected panel support frames.  
     
     
         39 . The crash cushion of  claim 37  wherein: 
 the energy absorbing assembly comprises a moveable sled disposed at the first end; and    the cable anchored at the location toward the first end further comprises the cable being anchored to the sled.    
     
     
         40 . A crash cushion to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the crash cushion, the energy absorbing assembly moveable in the first direction when a vehicle impacts the first end;    panel support frames moveable in the first direction;    panels attached to the panel support frames, the panels diverging from the first direction as the panels extend from the first end; and    the panel support frames slidably coupled to anchors so as to resist rotation when a vehicle impacts the panels.    
     
     
         41 . The crash cushion of  claim 40  wherein the panel support frames being slidably coupled to anchors further comprises at least one of the panel support frames bearing on the energy absorbing assembly and being coupled to an outboard anchor.  
     
     
         42 . The crash cushion of  claim 40  wherein the panel support frames being slidably coupled to anchors further comprises at least one of the panel support frames bearing on the ground and being coupled to an outboard anchor.  
     
     
         43 . An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a moving vehicle and a roadside hazard comprising: 
 at least one guide having a first end and a second end;    the first end of the guide corresponding proximately with a first end of the system facing oncoming traffic;    a first group of panel support frames slidably disposed to the guide;    a second group of panel support frames spaced from each other and securely anchored at respective locations between the second end of the guide and the roadside hazard;    a first group of panels slidably attached to the first group of panel support frames whereby the first group of panel support frames and associated first group of panels collapse toward the second end of the guide when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system;    a second group of panels securely attached to the second group of panel support frames whereby the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels resist vehicle impacts;    the panel support frames slidably coupled to anchors having a hook located in a channel; and    each channel oriented in the first direction.    
     
     
         44 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 43  further comprising a first side having at least one wing extension.  
     
     
         45 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 a first side having a respective wing extension; and    a second side having a respective wing extension.    
     
     
         46 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 45  further comprising: 
 at least one wing extension formed in part from conventional W-beam guardrail panels; and    a plurality of panel support frames.    
     
     
         47 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 43  wherein each panel support frame further comprises a support post, a support plate and a strut disposed at an angle between the support plate and the support post.  
     
     
         48 . A crash cushion operable to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the crash cushion;    a portion of the energy absorbing assembly operable to move in the first direction to dissipate energy from a vehicle collision with the first end of the crash cushion;    a first group of panels located on one side of the energy absorbing assembly and extending generally in the first direction from the first end;    a second group of panels located on an opposite side of the energy absorbing assembly and extending generally in the first direction from the first end;    the second group of panels having a movable subsection operable to move generally in the first direction when the portion of the energy absorbing assembly moves in the first direction;    the second group of panels having a fixed subsection; and    the movable subsection of the second group of panels disposed between the first end of the crash cushion and the fixed subsection.    
     
     
         49 . An energy absorbing system operable to minimize results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the system;    a first side located on one side of the energy absorbing assembly;    a second side located on another side of the energy absorbing assembly;    the first side and the second side having respective panels;    the first side and the second side operable to resist an impact by a vehicle to the respective first side and second side;    portions of the first side and portions of the second side operable to move generally in the first direction when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system; and    at least one portion of the first side being uncoupled from the second side with the at least one uncoupled portion of the first side oriented with respect to the first direction independently of the second side.    
     
     
         50 . The crash cushion of  claim 49  further comprising: 
 a plurality of panel support frames coupled to the panels of the first side and the second side; and    the panel support frames coupled to the at least one portion of the first side separate from the panel support frames coupled to the second side.    
     
     
         51 . The crash cushion of  claim 50  further comprising at least one of the panel support frames coupled to a portion of the first side contacting the energy absorbing assembly.  
     
     
         52 . The crash cushion of  claim 49  further comprising at least one of the panel support frames coupled to the at least one portion of the first side bearing on the ground.  
     
     
         53 . The crash cushion of  claim 49  further comprising the panel support frames of the at least one portion of the first side coupled to at least one outboard anchor to resist vehicle impacts to the first side.  
     
     
         54 . A crash cushion operable to minimize the results of a collision between a vehicle and a roadside hazard, comprising: 
 an energy absorbing assembly extending in a first direction from a first end of the crash cushion;    portions of the energy absorbing assembly operable to move in the first direction when a vehicle impacts the first end;    a plurality of panel support frames operable to move in the first direction;    a plurality of panels attached to the panel support frames;    a portion of the panels diverging from the first direction as the panels extend from the first end;    selected panels having channels attached thereto;    a cable extending through at least one of the channels associated with the diverging panels; and    the cable anchored at a location toward the first end and also at a location away from the first end.    
     
     
         55 . The crash cushion of  claim 54  further comprising the cables coupled to selected panel support frames.  
     
     
         56 . The crash cushion of  claim 54  wherein the energy absorbing assembly further comprises: 
 a moveable sled disposed at the first end; and    the cable anchored at the location toward the first end anchored engaged with the sled.    
     
     
         57 . The crash cushion of  claim 54  further comprising the panel support frames slidably coupled to outboard anchors operable to resist rotation when a vehicle impacts the panels.