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 - 54 . (canceled)  
     
     
         55 . 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 sled assembly located proximate the first end and operable to move in the first direction to absorb energy from a vehicle impacting the first end of the crash cushion;    a first group of panels extending generally in the first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    a second group of panels extending generally in the first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    the first group of panels and the second group of panels spaced from each other and disposed on opposite sides of the energy absorbing assembly; and    at least a first portion of the panels and a second portion of the panels intersecting with each other at an angle extending from the first direction whereby the distance between the first portion of the panels and the second portion of the panels increases in the first direction.    
     
     
         56 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  wherein the energy absorbing assembly further comprises two generally parallel, spaced apart tracks extending from the first end in the first direction.  
     
     
         57 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 a plurality of panel support frames extending in the first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    a first group of the panel support frames operable to collapse towards the first direction when a vehicle impacts the sled assembly;    a second group of panel support frames disposed between the energy absorbing assembly and the roadside hazard;    the second group of panel support frames spaced from each other and securely anchored in place to resist a vehicle impact; and    the panel support frames cooperating with the panels to redirect a vehicle impacting with either side of the crash cushion.    
     
     
         58 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 a plurality of support frames spaced from each other and extending from the first end of the crash cushion;    each panel having a first, upstream end and a second, downstream end with a slot extending from a location near the respective first, upstream end to a location near the respective second, downstream end;    the panels coupled with the support frames in an overlapping manner whereby the second, downstream end of one panel overlaps the first, upstream end of the adjacent panel;    the first, upstream end of each panel securely coupled to one of the support frames by a respective fastener; and    each fastener having a standoff sized to be received by the slot near the downstream end of the one panel.    
     
     
         59 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 a plurality of support frames spaced from each other and extending from the first end of the crash cushion;    at least one of the panel support frames having a first side and a second side; and    two panels respectively attached to the first side and two panels respectively attached to the second side the at least one panel support frame.    
     
     
         60 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  further comprising: 
 at least one cable assembly securely attached with the sled assembly;    the at least one cable assembly extending generally in the first direction from the sled assembly to a panel support frame located proximate the intersection of the first portion of the panels with the second portion of the panels forming the angle; and    the sled assembly and the cable assembly cooperating with each other to maintain desired tension on the associated panels when the sled assembly is disposed proximate the first end of the crash cushion.    
     
     
         61 . The crash cushion of  claim 60  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 associated panels extending along the opposite side of the crash cushion.    
     
     
         62 . The crash cushion of  claim 55  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.    
     
     
         63 . An energy absorbing system operable to minimize 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 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 dissipate kinetic energy of the vehicle.    
     
     
         64 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising: 
 a longitudinal axis extending between 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.    
     
     
         65 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 64  further comprising the first angle approximately equal to the second angle.  
     
     
         66 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 64  further comprising the first angle larger than the second angle.  
     
     
         67 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising the first side starting at the first end extending at the angle relative to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         68 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  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.    
     
     
         69 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising the first side and the second side having a generally symmetrical relationship with each other.  
     
     
         70 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising the first side having at least one wing extension.  
     
     
         71 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising: 
 the first side having a respective wing extension; and    the second side having a respective wing extension.    
     
     
         72 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 63  further comprising: 
 at least one wing extension formed in part from conventional W-beam guardrail panels; and    a plurality of panel support frames.    
     
     
         73 . The energy absorbing system of  claim 72  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.  
     
     
         74 . 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.    
     
     
         75 . 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.    
     
     
         76 . The crash cushion of  claim 75  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.    
     
     
         77 . The crash cushion of  claim 76  further comprising at least one of the panel support frames coupled to a portion of the first side contacting the energy absorbing assembly.  
     
     
         78 . The crash cushion of  claim 75  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.  
     
     
         79 . The crash cushion of  claim 75  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.  
     
     
         80 . 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.    
     
     
         81 . The crash cushion of  claim 80  further comprising the cables coupled to selected panel support frames.  
     
     
         82 . The crash cushion of  claim 80  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.    
     
     
         83 . The crash cushion of  claim 80  further comprising the panel support frames slidably coupled to outboard anchors operable to resist rotation when a vehicle impacts the panels.  
     
     
         84 . 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, 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 operable to resist rotation when a vehicle impacts the panels.    
     
     
         85 . The crash cushion of  claim 84  further comprising at least one of the panel support frames slidably coupled to the anchors with at least one of the panel support frames bearing on the energy absorbing assembly and coupled to an outboard anchor.  
     
     
         86 . The crash cushion of  claim 84  wherein the panel support frames further comprise: 
 at least one respective hook located in a channel; and    the channel oriented in the first direction.    
     
     
         87 . 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 sled assembly located proximate the first end and operable to move in the first direction to absorb energy from a vehicle impacting the first end of the crash cushion;    a first group of panels extending generally in the first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    a second group of panels extending generally in the first direction from the first end of the crash cushion;    the first group of panels and the second group of panels spaced from each other and disposed on opposite sides of the energy absorbing assembly;    first group of panels defining in part a first side of the crash cushion;    the second group of panels defining in part a second side of the crash cushion;    at least a first portion of the panels of the first side and a first portion of the panels of the second side extending generally parallel with each other in the first direction;    a second portion of the panels of the second side intersecting with the first portion of the panels of the second side at an angle extending from the first direction; and    the second portion of the panels of the second side spaced from a second portion of the panels of the first side by an increasing distance in the first direction.