Abstract:
An anchor for use with a vehicle restraining system. In one aspect, the anchor may include a matrix of members, where the matrix is of sufficient size to accommodate a vehicle on top thereof, and one or more connection members, where each of the one or more connection members is joined at one end to the matrix and each of the one or more connection members is joined at another end to a connector.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/199,931, filed Nov. 21, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present application relates to an energy absorbing system where the system can be used to dissipate unwanted energy such as, e.g., the energy of an errant vehicle. The system may be used in a variety of applications, such as a mobile checkpoint, traffic control barrier, or military blockade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    An anchor for use with a vehicle restraining system. In one aspect, the anchor may include a matrix of members, where the matrix is of sufficient size to accommodate a vehicle on top thereof, and one or more connection members, where each of the one or more connection members is joined at one end to the matrix and each of the one or more connection members is joined at another end to a connector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show a system of the present disclosure in top view, front view with capture net in raised position, and front view with capture net in lowered position, respectively. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the system of the present disclosure capturing an errant vehicle. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows an anchor net of the system of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show magnified portions of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show perspective and top views of an anchor vehicle atop an anchor net of the system of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of a capture net according to one aspect of the system of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show magnified portions of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a capture net according to one aspect of the system of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6A  shows a magnified portion of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of a capture net according to another aspect of the system of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The energy absorbing system may be described in detail using the accompanying drawings. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the system of the present disclosure may include anchor net  100 , energy absorber  200 , capture net  300 , raising lowering mechanism  400 , and ramp assemblies  500 .  FIG. 1B  shows capture net  300  raised by raising lowering mechanism  400 . The capture net  300  may be coupled to energy absorber  200 , such as textile energy absorbing brakes that may provide for an inexpensive, reliable means of controlling vehicle deceleration upon impact. Energy absorber  200  may be coupled to anchor net  100  upon which weight such as a vehicle  4  ( FIG. 2 ), CONEX containers, concrete barricades, or other readily available material may be placed. 
         [0016]    The system of the present disclosure may include ramp assembly  500  as shown in  FIG. 1A  that may be placed in the roadway at the barrier location to provide an opening that protects capture net  300  from unnecessary contact with vehicles passing overtop. In one aspect, ramp assembly  500  may be structural injection molded material and may include a recess to accommodate the capture net  300  when in a lowered position. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , upon impact by errant vehicle  2 , frangible connectors (not shown) that attach capture net  300  to raising lowering mechanism  400  may break, thereby isolating components of the barrier system, such as the raising lowering mechanism  400  and related lift arm components, from the impact forces to eliminate potential damage. Quick-disconnect couplings (not shown) may be placed between capture net  300  and energy absorber  200 , and also placed between energy absorber  200  and anchor net  100  and may allow for easy replacement of the energy absorber  200  after deployment. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , anchor net  100  may be a matrix of vertical members  110 - 1 ,  110 - 2 ,  110 - 3  etc. and horizontal members  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2 ,  120 - 3  etc. In one non-limiting example, vertical members  110 - 1 ,  110 - 2 ,  110 - 3  and horizontal members  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2 ,  120 - 3  which may be 2″ (inch) wide 10,000 lb. strength nylon webbing spaced 10″ (inches) and connected using box with cross-style stitching  150  as shown in  FIG. 3B . In one aspect, anchor net  100  may be rolled or folded for storage or transport. Anchor net  100  may be large enough in size to accommodate a motor vehicle, parked atop it as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . In one non-limiting example, anchor net  100  may be 15′2″×10′2″. When a weight is placed atop anchor net  100 , for example, a motor vehicle, anchor net  100  may act as an anchor for energy absorber  200 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , connecting members  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2 ,  130 - 3 ,  130 - 4 , and  130 - 5 , may be nylon webbing and may be coupled to the matrix of webbing at one end and may be coupled to a connector  140  at the other end as shown in  FIG. 3A . Gaps or spaces may be provided in the matrix to help prevent accumulation of dirt or debris. Connector  140  may be coupled to energy absorber  200 . In one non-limiting example, connector  140  may be a 2″ 10,000 lb. strength twisted forged snap hook. 
         [0020]    In another aspect, anchor net  100  may include webbing coupled to and covered in whole or in part by a blanket or sheet of the same or another material by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, chemical or thermal adhesion, stitching or any combination thereof. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in one non-limiting example, capture net  300  may be a matrix of 2″ (inch) wide 10,000 lb. strength nylon webbing and may be 4′4″ high and 29′4″ wide. In that example, horizontal and vertical members of capture net  300  may be placed approximately 10″ apart and may be coupled using 2″ 5,000 lb. strength stitch joints. Capture net  300  may have connecting members  310  attached to each side ending in connector  320  (shown in  FIG. 5B ) that allows capture net  300  to couple to energy absorber  200 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , in one non-limiting example, connecting members  310  may be the same material as capture net  300 , and connector  320  may be a 10,000 lb. strength ring. In another non-limiting example, connector  320  may be may be a 2″ 10,000 lb. strength twisted forged snap hook. As shown in  FIG. 5A , capture net  300  may have colored reflective strips  350  attached thereto. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , capture net  300  may have multiple loops  330  that allow adjustable coupling to raising lowering mechanism  400  to accommodate different roadway widths. Loops  330  may be the same material as capture net  300 . Capture net  300  may decouple from raising lowering mechanism  400  upon application of threshold force to capture net  300 , such as the force provided by impact by an errant vehicle. 
         [0022]    Depending on implementation and arrangement, when in a raised position, capture net  300  may sag in the center while the ends of capture net  300  may not extend fully to ground. As shown in  FIG. 7 , capture net  300  may have vertical members  340  of different lengths to address this potential issue and prevent an errant vehicle from potentially slipping under the ends of capture net  300  during operation. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , capture net  300  may have vertical members  340  of four different lengths,  340 -A;  340 -B;  340 -C; and  340 -D, with vertical member length increasing from the center outward. In one non-limiting example, lengths of vertical members  340 -A through  340 -D may be 4′4″; 4′6.5″; 4′8.5″; and 4′11″. Such an arrangement having certain longer vertical members  340  may allow capture net  300  to occupy space extending to the ground at the portions of the capture net  300  near loop  330  and/or connecting member  310 . 
         [0023]    The raising lowering mechanism  400  may include one or more connection points for frangibly connecting to capture net  300  along with wireless receiver, actuator, battery, pillow block bearings, and swivel base (not shown). Depending on implementation and roadway width, the frangible connectors may be moved to a different point of attachment on capture net  300  and/or raising lowering mechanism  400 , and excess capture net  300  may lie outside of the roadway with reduced obstruction to vehicles in the roadway or nearby personnel. The connection between capture net  300  and energy absorber  200  may remain the same and the location of energy absorber  200  and anchor net  100  may be moved to assure that an errant vehicle may be stopped within the same distance regardless of the protected roadway width. In one aspect, in the event of a vehicle impact and arrest, the system may expend the frangible connectors and energy absorber  200  on each side. 
         [0024]    Although the weight, width, length, height, and thickness of certain structures have been described in detail herein, additional aspects of the invention of the present disclosure include increasing or decreasing these dimensions. 
         [0025]    Numerous additional modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in view of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.