Cushion for crash attenuation system
A crash cushion in accordance with the invention has a back plate and an energy absorbing body. The energy absorbing body has three or more sections having cartridges of differing impact absorption. Each of the cartridges is preferably made of layers of hexagonal remanufactured fibrous material cells. The cartridges are encased in water-impermeable bags. The body has a water-impermeable skin of rigid panels sealed together with a suitable tape, such as butyl tape, caulked on the outside, and painted. The panels may be of aluminum, and riveted together. In one embodiment, the body may have two sections, both with a water-impermeable skin, joined to one another with a hinge for storage and transportation. In another embodiment, the body may have a proximal section and a distal section, both sealed, and adapted to be joined together along a seam. The distal section can be removed and replaced separately from the proximal section, such as if only the distal section is damaged by a relatively low-speed impact.
1 . A cushion for a crash attenuation system, comprising:
an energy absorbing body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body comprising:
at least one vertical, longitudinal panel dividing said body into at least two chambers;
a plurality of cartridges contained in each said chamber, each said cartridge having a first and a second transverse face, said cartridges abutting each other along their transverse faces and dividing said body into a plurality of sections of differing impact resistance capacities, and each said cartridge made of a plurality of polygonal cells, said cells oriented with their long axes in the longitudinal direction; and
a water-impermeable skin, said skin encompassing said body.
2 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sections comprise a first section having a highest impact resistance capacity, at said distal end of said body, a second section having an intermediate impact resistance capacity, between the said distal and said proximal end of said body and a third section having a lowest impact resistance capacity, at said proximal end of said body.
3 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein all said cartridges in each said chamber are wrapped in a water-impermeable bag.
4 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body further comprises at least one transverse, vertical panel.
5 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a secondary energy absorbing body, said secondary energy absorbing body movably connected to said body and adapted to be removably latched to said body, when said system is in an operational mode, said secondary body comprising:
at least one vertical, longitudinal panel dividing said secondary body into at least two chambers;
a plurality of said cartridges contained in each said chamber, said cartridges dividing said secondary body into a plurality of sections of differing impact resistance capacities; and
a water-impermeable skin, said skin encompassing said secondary body.
6 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said body and said secondary body are hingedly connected.
7 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a secondary energy absorbing body, said secondary body removably, rigidly connected to said body at said distal end thereof, said secondary body comprising:
at least one vertical, longitudinal panel dividing said secondary body into at least two chambers;
a plurality of said cartridges contained in each said chamber, said cartridges dividing said secondary body into a plurality of sections of differing impact resistance capacities; and
a water-impermeable skin, said skin encompassing said secondary body.
8 . The cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein one of said body and said secondary body has a sleeve mounted thereon, said sleeve adapted to receive the other one of said body and said secondary body.
9 . A cushion for a crash attenuating system comprising:
an energy absorbing body comprising:
at least one internal vertical panel dividing said body into at least two chambers;
a plurality of cartridges made of a plurality of polygonal cells, said cells oriented with their long axes in the longitudinal direction, said cartridges arranged to divide said energy absorbing body into a plurality of sections having differing impact resistance capacities;
a water-impermeable skin encompassing said body, said skin comprising:
a plurality of panels; and
means for water-tightly sealing seams between said plurality of panels;
a plurality of water-impermeable bags, each of said bags encompassing each of said cartridges within one of said chambers; and
a layer of paint applied on an exterior of said skin.
10 . The cushion for a crash attenuating system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said sealing means comprises tape.
11 . The cushion for a crash attenuating system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said sealing means further comprises caulk.
12 . A method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system, comprising the steps of:
providing a back plate;
providing a plurality of cartridges made of polygonal cells, said cells oriented with their long axes in the longitudinal direction and said cartridges having a first and a second transverse face;
rigidly attaching a body to said back plate;
dividing said body into at least two chambers with at least one vertical, longitudinal panel;
positioning said cartridges in said chambers such that said plurality of cartridges abut each other along their transverse faces and divide said body into a plurality of sections of differing impact resistance capacities; and
encompassing said body with a water-impermeable skin.
13 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the step of coating an exterior surface of said water-impermeable skin with a paint.
14 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising the step of wrapping all of said cartridges in each of said chambers in a water-impermeable bag.
15 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said step of encompassing said body with a water-impermeable skin comprises providing a plurality of panels, and sealing seams between said panels with tape, and wherein said method further comprises the step of coating an exterior surface of said water-impermeable skin with a paint.
16 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising the step of dividing said energy absorbing body into at least two more chambers using a vertical, transverse panel.
17 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said step of encompassing said body in a water-impermeable skin comprises joining a plurality of panels.
18 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a secondary body, said secondary body comprising:
at least one vertical, longitudinal panel dividing said secondary body into at least two chambers;
a plurality of said cartridges contained in each said chamber, said cartridges dividing said secondary body into a plurality of sections of differing impact resistance capacities; and
a water-impermeable skin, said skin encompassing said secondary body; and
movably connecting said secondary energy absorbing body to said body.
19 . The method of making a cushion for a crash attenuation system as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said secondary body is adapted to be removably latched to said body.