Apparatus for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact

1. Apparatus positioned at a guardrail lead end portion for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact, said guardrail having an elongated top edge, an elongated bottom edge spaced a predetermined substantially uniform vertical distance from said top edge and opposed side surfaces extending between said elongated top edge and said elongated bottom edge, said apparatus comprising:

an impact terminal;

a support structure supporting said impact terminal at or adjacent to the guardrail lead end portion, said support structure extending from said impact terminal;

a guardrail engagement structure supported by said support structure, said guardrail engagement structure defining an interior, a guardrail receiving opening communicating with said interior receiving the guardrail lead end portion, and a guardrail discharge opening communicating with said interior, said support structure and said guardrail engagement structure operable upon vehicle impact on said impact terminal to move along said guardrail and cause said guardrail to pass through said guardrail engagement structure and exit said guardrail discharge opening, the guardrail engagement structure comprising a chute having inner chute surfaces defining said interior, said inner chute surfaces having a generally rectangular configuration along substantially the full length thereof whereby said interior has a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration along substantially the full length thereof, said chute twisted between said guardrail receiving opening and said guardrail discharge opening, said guardrail being in frictional engagement with said inner chute surfaces, and said chute applying torquing forces on said guardrail during passage of said guardrail through said guardrail engagement structure to cause twisting of said guardrail from a first guardrail orientation whereby said guardrail exits said guardrail discharge opening in a second guardrail orientation with said elongated top edge and said elongated bottom edge displaced sideways relative to one another and vehicle collision impact energy is absorbed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner chute surfaces are configured to twist said guardrail substantially 90 degrees to said second orientation wherein said opposed side surfaces of said guardrail are substantially horizontally disposed while maintaining the same profile when exiting said guardrail discharge opening.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said chute inclines downwardly from said guardrail receiving opening to said guardrail discharge opening and said discharge opening is disposed at or closely adjacent to and above ground level.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said impact terminal and said guardrail receiving opening are substantially in alignment with said guardrail downstream from said chute.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said chute extends laterally sideways between said guardrail receiving opening and said guardrail discharge opening whereby said discharge opening is disposed laterally relative to said impact terminal and is out of alignment with said guardrail downstream from said chute.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said chute is oriented to direct the guardrail passing therethrough upon vehicle impact to a position on the ground wherein the guardrail after exit thereof from said discharge opening is substantially parallel to the path of movement of the impact terminal during vehicle impact.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said chute is oriented to direct the guardrail passing therethrough upon vehicle impact to a position on the ground wherein the guardrail after exit thereof from said discharge opening is angled laterally outwardly away from the path of movement of the impact terminal during vehicle impact.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lead end portion has an upstream end anchored to the ground by an anchor structure, said lead end portion extending through the chute prior to vehicle impact.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said lead end portion between said anchor structure and said discharge opening is in said second orientation.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner chute surfaces are surfaces of attached chute walls.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guardrail lead end portion has a distal end located at or closely adjacent to the guardrail receiving opening.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 additionally comprising a tension structure and a tension structure anchor, said tension structure secured to said distal end and said tension structure anchor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said tension structure anchor is disposed outside said forming structure interior and spaced from said chute.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guardrail lead end portion has a distal end located within the interior of said forming structure.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 additionally comprising a tension structure and a tension structure anchor, said tension structure secured to said distal end and said tension strap anchor.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said tension structure anchor is disposed outside said forming structure interior and spaced from said chute.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally comprising a cutting tooth attached to said chute for cutting said guardrail at or closely adjacent to said guardrail discharge opening.