Trailer mounted crash attenuator

Abstract

A trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator is disclosed for attachment to a host vehicle, which comprises an anti-rotational attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes. The internal support tube has a connector on a its front end for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each have an anti-rotation support pad on a their front ends. At least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. A backup frame is disposed on a rear end of the attachment system, and a crash attenuator unit is disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility. When the crash attenuator is impacted by an errant vehicle, the anti-rotational attachment system is actuated to prevent the trailer mounted crash impact attenuator from rotating relative to the host vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crash impact attenuator for attachment to a host vehicle, comprising:
 an attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes, the internal support tube having a connector on a front end thereof for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle and the plurality of external support tubes each having an anti-rotation support pad on a front end thereof, wherein at least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction;   a backup frame disposed on a rear end of said attachment system; and   a crash attenuator unit, said crash attenuator unit being disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility.   
     
     
         2 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said internal support tube is comprised of a telescoping construction, comprising an internal fixed tube and an external telescoping tube. 
     
     
         3 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 2 , and further comprising a stop plate disposed on a rearward end of the internal support tube. 
     
     
         4 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 2 , and further comprising a shear pin disposed in said internal support tube, said shear pin being adapted to break upon impact on the crash impact attenuator by an errant vehicle, thus releasing the internal support tube to telescope to a collapsed orientation, so that the external support tubes move forwardly to engage a stop plate on the host vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the internal support tube extends forwardly of the external support tubes, so that, when the attachment system is engaged with a host vehicle, during normal conditions, there is a gap between the anti-rotation support pad on each external support tube and said host vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 4 , and further comprising a friction lock for locking the attachment system in an anti-lock orientation upon impact by an errant vehicle with said crash impact attenuator. 
     
     
         7 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the external support tubes are each comprised of a telescoping construction, and the internal support tube is of a fixed length. 
     
     
         8 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said internal support tube comprises a center support tongue. 
     
     
         9 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said crash attenuator unit comprises a frame and an energy absorbent cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said wheels and axle unit are disposed at a longitudinal midpoint of said crash attenuator unit. 
     
     
         11 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said wheel and axle unit are disposed at a rearward end of said crash attenuator unit. 
     
     
         12 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising an arrowboard unit attachable to said crash impact attenuator. 
     
     
         13 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said arrowboard unit comprises an arrowboard disposed on a plurality of support posts, said support posts being mountable on said backup frame. 
     
     
         14 . An attachment system for attaching a trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator to a host vehicle, comprising an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes, the internal support tube having a connector on a front end thereof for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each having an anti-rotation support pad on a front end thereof, wherein at least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said internal support tube is comprised of a telescoping construction, comprising an internal fixed tube and an external telescoping tube. 
     
     
         16 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 15 , and further comprising a stop plate disposed on a rearward end of the internal support tube. 
     
     
         17 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 15 , and further comprising a shear pin disposed in said internal support tube, said shear pin being adapted to break upon impact on the crash impact attenuator by an errant vehicle, thus releasing the internal support tube to telescope to a collapsed orientation, so that the external support tubes move forwardly to engage a stop plate on the host vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the internal support tube extends forwardly of the external support tubes, so that, when the attachment system is engaged with a host vehicle, during normal conditions, there is a gap between the anti-rotation support pad on each external support tube and said host vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 17 , and further comprising a friction lock for locking the attachment system in an anti-lock orientation upon impact by an errant vehicle with said crash impact attenuator. 
     
     
         20 . The crash impact attenuator as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the external support tubes are each comprised of a telescoping construction, and the internal support tube is of a fixed length.