METHOD FOR DECELERATING A VEHICLE, HIGHWAY CRASH CUSHION, AND ENERGY ABSORBING ELEMENT THEREFOR

摘要

A highway crash cushion (10) provides a novel system response profilethat reduces the stopping distance of an impact event. This crash cushion(10) includes a frame (12) that forms at least two bays (38, 40) arranged onebehind another in an anticipated impact direction. The frame (12) includes atfeast three transverse frames (20, 22, 24) and side frames (26, 27, 28, 30)extending between adjacent transverse frames (20, 22, 24). Each of the sideframes (26, 27, 28, 30) includes first and second side frame elements (32)coupled to the respective transverse frames (20, 22, 24), and a hinge (34)coupled between the first and second side frame elements (32). At least oneenergy absorbing element (16) is disposed in one of the bays (38, 40), and atleast first and second restraints (46) are coupled to the side frames (26, 27,28, 30) to resist movement of the hinges (34, 36) at an early stage in animpact event. The crash cushion (10) is partially collapsed automatically asthe crash cushion (10) is raised from a horizontal to a vertical position, andthen extended automatically to its operational position as the crash cushionislowered from the vertical to the horizontal position. The energy absorbingelements (16) can include tapered frusto-conical sheet metal elements (94)that are stacked with the smaller ends (98) facing first and second opposedsides of the energy absorbing element.