Controlled Axle Release Mechanism For A Truck Trailer Attenuator
First Claim
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1. A crash attenuation system comprising:
- an impact head assembly connected to a first end of a trailer frame member having a hitch assembly at a second opposite end of said frame member; and
a breakaway axle assembly mounted to said frame member by axle release fasteners, wherein said trailer frame member comprising;
a first frame rail assembly generally parallel to and spaced apart from a second frame rail assembly, said first and second rail assemblies connected to one another at said second end of said frame member by said hitch assembly, said breakaway axle assembly further connecting said first and second rail assemblies when said impact head assembly is in a first position, an axle release insert disposed inside each of said first and second frame rail assembly for controlling the release of said breakaway axle assembly when said impact head assembly is in an impacted position, said axle release fasteners extending through first and second sets of bolt slots in said insert and adapted to release said breakaway axle assembly from said frame member when said impact head assembly is in an impacted position.
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Abstract
A crash attenuation system having an improved, controlled axle release mechanism for a truck trailer mounted attenuator. The axle release mechanism has an axle release insert disposed within an outer bursting tube which is urged downstream by a mandrel resulting in controlled shearing of the fasteners passing through different size elongated slots in the insert and retaining the insert within the bursting tube. Differential shear forces cause the fasteners to shear at different times as the insert is urged downstream resulting in a controlled release of the breakaway axle assembly.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A crash attenuation system comprising:
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an impact head assembly connected to a first end of a trailer frame member having a hitch assembly at a second opposite end of said frame member; and
a breakaway axle assembly mounted to said frame member by axle release fasteners, wherein said trailer frame member comprising;a first frame rail assembly generally parallel to and spaced apart from a second frame rail assembly, said first and second rail assemblies connected to one another at said second end of said frame member by said hitch assembly, said breakaway axle assembly further connecting said first and second rail assemblies when said impact head assembly is in a first position, an axle release insert disposed inside each of said first and second frame rail assembly for controlling the release of said breakaway axle assembly when said impact head assembly is in an impacted position, said axle release fasteners extending through first and second sets of bolt slots in said insert and adapted to release said breakaway axle assembly from said frame member when said impact head assembly is in an impacted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification