Patent ID: 9663908
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: E01F

Claim:
1. A roadside crash cushion, comprising: a guide rail fixed to a road surface; a plurality of sliding supports which slidably engage along the guide rail; a plurality of collapsible tubular elements, which are made of a metal and/or a composite and/or a plastic material, which are arranged horizontally one following another, which are supported by the plurality of sliding supports and which each have a straight development and are fixed to the plurality of sliding supports; wherein each collapsible tubular element of the plurality of collapsible tubular elements has a length and a transversal section that are in a relation to one another such as to determine an irreversible compressive deformation of the collapsible tubular element which determines the collapse thereof along a development axis thereof when the collapsible tubular element is subjected to an axial force that is at least equal to a critical force value; wherein each sliding support of the plurality of sliding supports comprises a fixing plate and a carriage which is connected to the fixing plate and which engages with the guide rail; the roadside crash cushion further comprising a plurality of connecting plates each disposed between, and connected to, two of the collapsible tubular elements, the connecting plates each being connected to the guide rail only via the respective two collapsible tubular elements, none of the sliding supports being disposed between the respective two collapsible tubular elements, the connecting plates serving to separate the respective two collapsible tubular elements and ensuring that the respective two collapsible tubular elements axially incur plastic compressive deformation; wherein each collapsible tubular element of the plurality of collapsible tubular elements has (i) a first end fixed to the fixing plate of a first sliding support of the plurality of sliding supports or to a first connecting plate of the plurality of connecting plates and (ii) a second end fixed to the fixing plate of a second sliding support of the plurality of sliding supports or a second connecting plate of the plurality of connecting plates.