Patent ID: 6203079
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B60R,E01F,F16F

Abstract:
A crash attenuator which receives an impact force from a moving object and dissipates the impact energy of the object to thereby reduce the velocity of the object and optimally bring the object to rest, comprisinga frame mountable to a truck or stationary structure,a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive the impact from the object in a crash,a movable displacement structure coupled to said frame and interposed between said frame and said bumper and having a first position in which said bumper is relatively distant from said frame and a second position in which said bumper is relatively proximate to said frame,energy dissipation means coupled to said displacement structure for dissipating the impact energy of the object received by said bumper which causes said displacement structure to be moved from the first position toward the second position and thereby reducing the velocity of the object, anddeceleration sensing means coupled to said energy dissipation means for sensing the deceleration of the object after impact with said bumper,said energy dissipation means being arranged to provide an energy dissipation force for dissipating the impact energy of the object based on the sensed deceleration of the object.