Energy - absorption system
First Claim
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1. A guardrail terminal adapted to cooperate with a guardrail comprising:
- an impact head; and
a cutting section;
said impact head and cutting section being mounted for movement together; and
said cutting section including means for cutting the guardrail when the guardrail terminal and the guardrail are moved with respect to each other.
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Abstract
To reduce the danger of bodily harm to occupants of vehicles that leave a roadway, a guardrail system includes an energy-absorption system is provided. The energy-absorption system including a cutting mechanism positioned to cut a guardrail section upon impact by a vehicle to decelerate the vehicle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A guardrail terminal adapted to cooperate with a guardrail comprising:
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an impact head; and
a cutting section;
said impact head and cutting section being mounted for movement together; and
said cutting section including means for cutting the guardrail when the guardrail terminal and the guardrail are moved with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A guardrail terminal according to claim 7 further including at least one deflection plate.
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8. A method of manufacturing a guardrail terminal comprising the steps of:
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selecting a predetermined number of cutters; and
positioning the cutters in a cutting section adapted to receive a guardrail;
said step of selecting a predetermined number of cutters including the step of shaping a cutter in accordance with the amount of energy absorbed when the cutter cuts a predetermined rail. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of avoiding bodily damage to an occupant of a vehicle colliding with a guardrail system, comprising the steps of:
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causing a guardrail terminal to move with respect to a guardrail and to cut the guardrail when impacted by a vehicle;
causing the guardrail to release a cable holder when impacted by a vehicle; and
causing a vehicle hitting the guardrail to be redirected to a safer direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of manufacturing a guardrail terminal comprising the steps of:
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selecting a predetermined number of cutters; and
positioning the cutters in a cutting section adapted to receive a guardrail;
said step of selecting a predetermined number of cutters including the substep of selecting the number of cutters in accordance with the amount of energy intended to be absorbed upon impact with vehicles with an expected momentum and desired deceleration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of avoiding bodily damage to an occupant of a vehicle colliding with a guardrail system, comprising the steps of:
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causing a guardrail terminal to move with respect to a guardrail upon being impacted by a vehicle;
causing the terminal to cut the guardrail as the terminal moves with respect to the guardrail whereby energy is absorbed by the cutting of the guardrail and the movement of the vehicle is decelerated; and
causing the terminal to bend the guardrail as the terminal and guardrail move with respect to each other whereby further energy is absorbed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An energy-absorption system for positioning along a roadway to absorb the energy of an errant vehicle, the energy-absorption system comprising:
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an impact head;
a cutter; and
a cuttable member;
wherein the impact head is positionable along a roadway to cooperate with the upstream portion of a roadside hazard; and
wherein the impact head is in operational connection with the cutter and the cuttable member such that the impact of an errant vehicle with the impact head will cause the cutter to cut at least a portion of the cuttable member to absorb the impact energy of the errant vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification