MXPA00000447A - Guardrail end terminal for side or front impact and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The end terminal has a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to beams (110-112) on the energy-absorbing guardrail end terminal during a side impact with the vehicle. The system for transferring forces includes a spacer channel (136) attached between first and second guardrails and a force transfer (102) member coupled to the spacer channel and having a portion extending to a position above ground level to receive a floor structure of a vehicle during a forceful side impact. A method of manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a guardrail end terminal during a forceful side impact includes attaching a force transfer member that extends to a position to engage the floor structure.

Description

EXTREME TERMINAL OF GUARDARRIEL FOR FRONT SIDE IMPACT AND METHOD TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to power absorber end terminals of the type that can be used along the sides of the road and more particularly, a guard end terminal for frontal side impacts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Guardrails are road barriers placed along the sides of roads to protect roving vehicles from the dangers behind the barrier. U common guard in the United States of America is constructed using a standard steel beam W mounted on spaced wooden steel poles. Where beam - works primarily in tension when re-directing impacting vehicles, one function of the end is to provide the necessary anchorage for the beam to develop the necessary tension forces In addition, since the guard end represents a discontinuity in the barrier system, it is subjected to being hit head-on by vehicles with small starting angles from the road. When it is stuck in this way, the end can reach the vehicle. Some widely used end designs bury the beam at the end to eliminate the thrown, but this design may have disadvantage • including causing problems in relation to the turn and road due to the vehicle rolling the end and subsequently flying.

Another type of safety device for the road is the shock cushion device. Agencies d • 10 highways have used crash cushion devices in high accident locations for a number of years. These devices absorb the energy of head-on impacts or decelerations that are not life-threatening for the design conditions. The cushioning devices d collisions typically involve a relatively large capital investment for roadside devices. Because the number of guarded terminals is very large, and the probability of impact very low in the • Most states do not have the resources to expand this shock-cushioning devices in most end of guardriel due to its cost.

The guardriel end terminals have been developed to help absorb energy during a front coalition by a vehicle. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,655,434 to Bronsta describes such an end terminal. This type of terminal d is designed to interact with a front part of a vehicle. Most vehicles on the road • Current are quite well configured for an impact d fronts with an end terminal. The bumper, the engine, the engine compartment, generally provide a suitable structure for the end terminal to provide an energy absorbing force without unduly sticking to the passenger compartment. The same can not be said generally for most side impacts.

Many vehicles on current roads have minimal structure on the sides of the vehicle that can be used to receive an energy absorbing force from an end terminal without unduly sticking on the passenger compartment. The floor structure of the vehicle provides the most substantial resistance during side impacts. • SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a guard end terminal for the side or frontal impacts which refers to many of the disadvantages of the previous end terminals. According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a vehicle on an energy absorber guard end terminal during a forced natural impact with the vehicle has a spacer channel attached to the vehicle. The first and second beams have a transfer member coupled to the spaced channel that extends partly down the guardrails to a position above the level to receive a floor structure of a vehicle during a forced natural impact.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a transfer system d forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to the beam on a guard end terminal absorber d energy during a lateral impact with the vehicle includes the steps of attaching a spacer channel between the first second beams; form a force transfer member; and securing the force transfer member to the spacer channel with a portion of the force transfer member positioned above the leg level to receive the floor structure of a vehicle during a forced side impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an energy absorbing guard end terminator according to aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an amplified part of the storage end terminal shows a spacer channel with cut parts. • Figure 4 is an elevated and schematic view of a system or mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an energy absorber guard end terminal; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of • system of figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic elevational view of another embodiment of a system or mechanism for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an energy absorber guard end terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the system of Figure 6.

• Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the system of Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is an elevated and schematic view of another embodiment of a system or mechanism for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a vehicle. end terminal for energy absorber d • according to an aspect of the present invention; Y Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of the system or mechanism of Figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred additions of the present • invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the Figures 1-10 of the drawings, like reference numbers being used for equal and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

The present invention includes a terminal d end of the energy absorbing guardriel that can include many features of the known guardrails and the guardriel end terminals. For example, the characteristics of the storage end terminals shown in United States of America Patent No. 4,655,434, entitled "Energy Absorber Guardian Terminal" and in United States of America Patent No. 4,838,523, entitled "Terminal Saveriel Energy Absorber "can be included. The patents of the United States of America Nos. 4,655,434 and 4,838,523 are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Even when a lot characteristics are discussed here, it should be understood what • The present invention can be used in one aspect of many different types of end terminals as well.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an end terminal 15 may include the multiple pairs of horizontally extending and oppositely placed beams 10, 11, and 1 having overlapping ends supported by the plurality of vertical spaced wooden posts and spacing • longitudinally 13 to 18. The pairs of beams can be any suitable rigid material, but preferably they are a conventional metal beam W-rail configuration.

An impact nose section 19 is positioned at the approach end of the vehicle upwards of the terminal. The nose section 19 includes a d wrapping connection around three parts with an arcuate end piece 20 secured to the post 13 by means of a fastener 21 The opposingly placed nose panels 22 and 23 overlap are secured to the free ends of the piece of end 2 by a plurality of the fasteners 24. The remaining ends of the nose panels 22 and 23 are secured in an overlapping relationship to the respective ends of the pairs of beams 1 and of the post 14.

The post 13 to which the arched piece of nose 2 J B 10 is secured has a main body member, which is notched inward from its free end erect by reducing the effective cross-sectional dimension of the post in the sample by approximately one half. The spacer blocks of mader 28 can be secured to post 13 by fastener 21. Cad one of the posts 13 and 18 is preferably located within a metal pole tube with an anchor plate in the ground secured to the pole and to the pole tube below the level of -k ground.

A cable assembly 31 has a steel cable 3 extending through an opening in the sample portion of the post 13 as best shown in Figure 2. The other end of the cable 32 extends through an opening on post 14 at point 35 and a spacer channel 36 extending over between the beams 10 abutting the post assembly 14 as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A pair of nuts 37 is threadedly secured to the end of a bolt 38 connected to the cable end 32 as known in FIG. art. A post d connecting strut 39 extends between the posts 13 and 14 just above the terminal end of the steel post tubes and just below the cable 32 on only the post 13.

The cable assembly 31 does not help to define a load path during angular impacts downstream of the end terminal. The connecting strut 3 interconnects the respective posts 13 and 14. The sample post 13 will come off with an end impact while the cable assembly anchored to the post 13 will act as an anchor for the cable 32 and its attached post 14 and the channel spacer 36 help with the downward impacts on the guardriel.

The overlapping ends of the beam pairs 10, 11 and 12 are preferably secured to one another through the shredding bolts. The configurations of grooves illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 of the drawings of the drawings provide an energy absorbing crushing of the metal strips between a series of openings or slots in the beams with the impact.

Referring again to Figure 1 of the drawings, the connecting rods 44 will be seen extending transversely between the pairs of respective beams 10 and 1 adjacent to the posts 15 and 17. Each of the rods 44 is attached to the pairs of beams through an opening d key hole in the beam. Downstream of each connecting rod 44 a box beam 45 is mounted on the upstream side of each of the posts 16 and 18 respectively. When one of the box beams is engaged, it bends and releases the rod 4 with the impact by telescoping the pairs of beams 10 and 11 on each other during a forced impact. As used herein, "forced impact" means an impact of a vehicle with sufficient momentum to at least cause the posts 13 and 1 to detach and the beams 10 to telescope at least in part.

An important aspect of the present invention is that the structure is included to transfer force from the floor of a vehicle or from the floor structure during forced impacts with one side of a vehicle as well as being able to accommodate the impacts of front. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a force transfer system or mechanism 10 for transferring forces from a side floor structure 7 of a vehicle 9 (Figure 1) to a storage part during a lateral impact (as suggested in FIG. figure 1) is presented.

As more fully described in relation to the reference number 36 of Figures 1-3, a spacer bar 136 (Figures 4 and 5) is attached to the beam 110 at one end and the other beam 112 on the other end of the channel 136 The spacer channel 136 is preferably secured near a downward portion of the post 114. The spacer channel 13 • can be screwed or welded around its ends to beams 110 and 112. Attached to a part of a spacer channel 13 is a forced transfer member 102.

The force transfer member 102 may include the support members 116 and one or more plates d escutcheon, such as the escutcheon plates 118. A reactor plate 120 can be attached to a transfer member d force 102. A deflector plate 122 can also be attached to a portion of the support member 116. The support members 116 They can be angled towards each other as shown in Figure 5. The additional reinforcement plates, such as the plate 124 can be fastened. The fasteners of the components noted here can be fasteners, welding any other technique known in the art. • The reactor plate 120 and / or a lower portion of force transfer member 102 are positioned in a low enough form to the ground 126 to engage with the floor structure or floor panel of most vehicles. E system 100 is therefore operable to engage the structure of the floor during a lateral impact and transfer forces to spacer channel 136 of the guardrail system.

For an embodiment, a lower part of a reactor plate 120 and a force transfer member 10 are preferably and approximately 3 inches above • ground 126 as indicated by the reference numeral d dimension 128. For this specific embodiment, shown in Figures 4 and 5, the reactor plate is shown approximately 3 inches behind post 114 as indicated by the reference number of invention 130. The reactor plate 120 is preferably positioned and sized to allow post 114 the detachment during a forced impact by a • vehicle and hook to floor structure if the impact is on a side of the car.

According to aspects of the present invention Many designs can be used to engage the floor structure of a side impacting vehicle and transfer the forces to the beams 110 and 112. Another example of a mechanism system 200 according to an aspect of the present invention • is shown in figures 6-8. In this incorporation, a Twist bar 250 is secured, preferably by welding, to the internal surfaces of the spacer channel 236 The spacer channel 236 is located at one side of the post 214 A force transfer member 202 has a first member 216 and a second member 217. Members 216 and 217 have a first and one second side (or end) edges. On the second side edges, a third member 21 can be fastened to members 216 and 217 for additional strength and stability. On a part of the first lateral edges d the members 216 and 217 of the transfer member 202, a reactor plate 220 can be fastened. An additional plate 22 can be fastened to another part of the first side edges of the members 216 and 217 as it was shown in figure 6.

With the previous incorporation, the force transfer member 202 and / or the reactor plate 220 is placed to hook the floor structure of a vehicle that • has a forced lateral impact with the end terminal d guardariel. additional plates and reinforcements can be added to force the mechanism or transfer system 200. Com with pre-incorporation, the post 214 is designed for will be released with the impact and the transfer member d force 202 will transfer the forces from a side-foot structure of a vehicle to an approximate center of the beams, for example, of beam 210. • Referring now to figures 9 and 10, another incorporation of a system to transfer the forces is shown. The force transfer system or mechanism 30 is attached to the spacer channel 336. A torsion bar 35 is secured, preferably by means of welding, to the wire. spacer 336. A force transfer member 30 transfers forces to spacer channels 336 during forced lateral impacts. The transfer member d force 302 has a first member 316, a second member 317 a third member 319, and a fourth member 321. Each member 316-321 can be welded to a part of the torsion bar 35 and / or channel spacer 336. As shown in Figure 9, a number of additional support plates, such as plate 323 can be attached to the members.

With this embodiment, the reaction plate 32 can have three different members 400, 325 and 327 as shown best in Figure 10. The support members 316, 317, 319 321 have a first side edge and a second side edge Attached to a part of the first lateral edge of the members 316 317 is a first reaction plate member 400. Similarly, attached to the first side edge of the members 31 and 321 is a third reaction plate member 327. The second reaction plate member or middle member 325 is attached to a portion of the reaction plate. intermediate surface of the support members 317 and 319. The second reaction plate member 32 can also be reinforced in position by the block supports 329 and 331.

As with the previous incorporations, the system 300 is designed to engage a part of the floor structure of a vehicle during a forced side impact with the end terminal and to transfer the forces from the floor structure to a part of the guardrails, such as the center of the beam 310. With the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the reaction plate 320 is divided into • different members 400, 325, and 327 which are sized 5 and configured to allow the post 314 to detach and be forced into the channel 360 (FIG. 10) with a portion of the post 314 resting against the second reaction plate. As shown with the dimension reference number 364, the first and third plate members 400 and 327 are located upwards from a back side of the post 314 po • about 2% inches to 2% inches or as needed to allow the post 314 to break and be received into the cavity 360. With the post 314 in the channel 360, the first reaction plate 400, a surface 362 of the post 314, ye The third reaction plate number 327 has a substantially even surface to lie against the floor structure of the vehicle when it is hit from a side angle Because the combined surface areas 400, 362 and 32 • are larger than other additions, the resultant force experienced by a part of the floor structure hooked by the system 300 is smaller than with other designs.

Even though the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood what can be done various changes, substitutions and alterations therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an end terminal of the energy absorbing guard during a lateral impact by the vehicle, the end terminal of the guardrail has a first beam and a second beam, the system for transferring forces includes: 10 a spacer channel attached between the beams first • and second; a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first and second beams to a position above ground level to engage the structure of the vehicle floor during the lateral impact; Y • When a reactor plate is attached to the second end of the second force transfer member, the reaction plate is positioned 3 inches to 9 inches above the ground level to receive the vehicle floor structure during lateral impact. 25

2. A system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an end terminal of the energy absorbing guard during a lateral impact by the vehicle, the end terminal of the guardrail has a first beam and a second beam, the system for transferring forces includes: a spacer channel joined between the first and second beams; 10 • a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first and second beams to an up position of 15 level of the ground to engage the vehicle floor structure during lateral impact; the force transfer member has what • first and second support members, support members The first and second are coupled at a first end to the spacer channel; Y a reactor plate coupled to a portion of the first and second support members close to a second End of the first and second support members.

3. A system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to beams on an end terminal of the energy absorbing guardrail during an impact • Lateral by the vehicle, the guard end terminal has a first beam and a second beam, the torque transfer system includes: a spacer channel joined between the first and second beams; 10 • a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first and second beams to an up position of 15 level of the ground to engage the vehicle floor structure during a lateral impact; the force transfer member has a • first support member and a second support member 20 coupled at a first end to the spacer channel; a reactor plate coupled to a part of the first support member and the second support member near a second end of the first support and support members; 25 second support member; a first escutcheon plate coupled to a spacer channel part and a portion of the first support member; • a second escutcheon plate coupled to the spacer rod and a portion of the second support member.

4. A system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a first beam and a second beam of a guard end terminal 10 energy absorber during a lateral impact by a • vehicle, which includes: a spacer channel connected between the first beam and the second beam; 15 a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first beam and the second beam to a position 20 above ground level to engage the pee structure of the vehicle during lateral impact; a torsion bar coupled to a spacer rod, and wherein the force transfer member 25 comprises: a first member having a first end and a second end and a first and a second lateral edge, the first end of the first member is coupled to a wire • spacer and torsion bar; a second member has first and second ends and first and second lateral edges, the first end of the second member is coupled to the spacer channel to the torsion bar; 10 • a reactor plate coupled on the first lateral edge of the first member and the first lateral edge of the second member.

5. The system as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the force transfer member d further comprises a third member coupled to the second side edge of the first member and the second side edge of the second member.

6. A system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a first beam and a second beam of a power absorber guard end terminal during a lateral impact by a 25 vehicle, comprising: a spacer channel connected between the first beam and the second beam; • a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first beam and the second beam to a position above the ground level for hook a pee structure of the vehicle during the lateral impact; A first member having first and second ends and first and second lateral edges, the first end of the first member is coupled to the spacer sleeve; 15 a second member has first and second secondaries and first and second lateral edges, the first end of the second member is coupled to the spacer channel; • 20 a reactor plate coupled on the first lateral edge of the first member and the first lateral edge of the second member.

7. A system to transfer forces from a The floor structure of a vehicle to a first beam and to a second beam of a power absorber guard end terminal during a lateral impact of a vehicle comprising: a spacer channel connected between the first beam and the second beam; a force transfer member having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the spacer channel and the second end extends below the first beam and the second beam to a position above ground level to engage a structure d floor of the vehicle during the lateral impact; a first plate member having a first one second end and a first and second side edge a second plate member having a first and a second end and a first edge and a second side bord; a third plate member having a first end and a second end and a first and a second side edge; a fourth plate member having a first one second end and a first and a second side edge the first end of the first, second, third and fourth plate members attached to the spacer channel; a first reactor plate member coupled first side edge of the first and second plate members a second reactor plate member coupled an intermediate plate surface of the first and second planar members; Y a third reactor plate member coupled first side edge of the third and fourth plate members

8. The system as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the second reactor plate a part of the second and third plate members form a post-receiving cavity.

9. A method for manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an energy absorber guard end terminal during a lateral impact with the vehicle, the end guard terminal has a first beam and a second beam the method comprises the steps of: fastening a spacer channel between the first and second beam; • form a force transfer member; fastening the force transfer member to spacer channel with a portion of the transfer member d force placed above ground level to receive a floor structure of a vehicle during lateral impact;

• Attach a reactor plate to the second end of the force transfer member 3 inches to 9 inches above the ground level to receive the vehicle floor structure. 10. A method for manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to an energy absorber guard end terminal. • during a side impact with the vehicle, the terminal d 20 end of guardariel has a first beam and a second beam the method comprises the steps of: fastening a spacer channel between the first and second beam; 25 forming a force transfer member; attaching the force transfer member to the spacer channel with a portion of the force transfer member placed above the ground level to receive a • floor structure of a vehicle during lateral impact; forming the support members first and second as components of the force transfer member; Y attaching a reactor plate to a portion of the first and second support members close to a second second of the first and second support members.

11. A method for manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle 15 a first beam and a second beam of an energy absorber guardrail terminal during a side impact with the vehicle, comprising .- • fastening a spacer channel between the first vig 20 and the second beam; form a force transfer member; holding the force transfer member to a spacer channel with a portion of the force transfer member positioned above the ground level to receive the vehicle floor structure during lateral impact; • form a first support member and second support member; coupling the support members first and according to a first end to the spacer channel; 10 fastening a reactor plate to a part d of the first support member and of the second support member near the second end of the first support member and of the second support member; 15 fastening a first escutcheon plate to a part of the spacer channel and a part of the first support member and • fastening a second escutcheon plate to the spacer bar 20 and a second support member part.

12. A method for manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle to a first beam and to a second beam of an end terminal. 25 to store the energy absorber during a side impact with the vehicle, comprising: holding a spacer channel between the first vig and the second beam; • form a force transfer member; fastening the force transfer member to the spacer channel with a part of the transfer member d force placed above the ground level to receive a 10 vehicle floor structure during lateral impact; • form a first support member and a second support member; 15 coupling the first and second support members to a first end to the spacer channel; attach a reactor plate to a part of • first support member and second support member cerc 20 of the second end of the first support member and of the second support member; forming a first member having first and second ends and first and second lateral edges; 25 coupling the first end of the first member to the spacer channel and to the torsion bar; • forming a second member having a first one second end and a first edge and a second side bord; coupling the first end of the first member to the spacer channel and to the torsion bar; and 10 coupling a reactor plate on the first side edge of the first member and the first side edge of the second member.

13. A method for manufacturing a system for transferring forces from the floor structure of a vehicle to a first beam and to a second beam of a power absorber guard terminal during a side impact with the vehicle comprising: spacer channel between the first vig and the second beam; form a force transfer member; 25 fastening the force transfer member to the spacer channel with a portion of the force transfer member placed above the ground level to receive a floor structure of the vehicle during lateral impact; form a first support member and a second support member; coupling the support members first and second at a first end to the spacer channel; fastening a reactor plate to a part of the first support member and the second support member near the second end of the first support member and second support member; forming a first plate member having first and second ends and first and second side edges; forming a second plate member having first and second ends and first and second lateral edges; forming a third plate member having first and second ends and first and second lateral edges; forming a fourth plate member having first and second ends and first and second lateral edges; holding the first end of the first, second, third and fourth plac members to the spacer channel; fastening a first plate member reactor to first side edge of the first and second plate members attaching a second plate member of the reactor plate to an intermediate plate surface of the second and third plate members; Y fastening a third reactor plate member to the first side edge of the third and fourth plate members E S U M E N • The end terminal has a torque system 5 transfer forces from the floor structure of a vehicle beams onto the end terminal of the absorber d energy during a side impact with the vehicle. The system for transferring forces includes a spacer channel attached between the first and second guardrails and a transfer member. 10 of force coupled to the spacer channel and that has a qu • extends to a position above ground level to receive a floor structure of a vehicle during a forced side impact. A method of manufacturing a system for transferring forces from a floor structure of a vehicle The guard end terminal during forced side impact includes holding a force transfer member that extends to a position to engage the floor structure. #