US5464177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing impact barrier
Assignee: Goodrich Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-29
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Granted: 1995-11-07
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Expires: 2013-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing motor vehicle barrier includes a collapsible energy absorption assembly which is stored in a vault in the ground. Upon deployment, the energy absorption apparatus is lifted out of its vault, where it thereby expands and deploys. The energy absorption apparatus includes four stages of pairs of elastomeric torsion springs configured into scissors arrangements, with each stage having a progressively higher effective spring rate, to thereby decelerate a vehicle which strikes the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Kramer
- 👤 Daniel S. Lynch
- 👤 Charles W. Coker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:03
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F13/00; E01F13/04; E01F13/044; E01F13/046; F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/02; F16F1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle comprising: energy absorption means for absorbing kinetic energy of the moving vehicle, said energy absorption means comprising a collapsible assembly which is collapsed for storage in said vault means and is expanded upon deployment and having at least one elastomeric torsion spring for energy absorption; vault means for receiving said energy absorption means when it is not being used; and, deployment means for deploying said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle comprising: energy absorption means for absorbing kinetic energy of the moving vehicle, said energy absorption means comprising a collapsible assembly which is collapsed for storage in said vault means and is expanded upon deployment and having at least one elastomeric torsion spring for energy absorption; vault means for receiving said energy absorption means when it is not being used; and, deployment means for deploying said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of a plurality of pairs of elastomeric torsion springs, each of said elastomeric torsion springs in said plurality of pairs being pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each one of said plurality of pairs of elastomeric torsion springs are comprised of a series torsion spring arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein said scissor means are arranged in a series of stages and the spring rates of said scissors means in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 4, wherein the spring rates of said scissors means in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein the spring rates of said scissors means vary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein said elastomeric members are generally square shaped in cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein the spring rates of said pairs of elastomeric torsion springs vary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pairs of elastomeric torsion springs are arranged in a series of stages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein the spring rates of said pairs of elastomeric torsion springs in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of a plurality of elastomeric torsion springs having differing spring rates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein said elastomeric torsion springs are arranged in a series of stages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 12, wherein said spring rates of said springs in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein said spring rates increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of at least one pair of elastomeric torsion springs pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 15, wherein each one of said at least one pair of elastomeric torsion springs are comprised of a series torsion spring arrangement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 16, wherein said elastomeric members are generally square shaped in cross section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of at least one scissors means, each one of said at least one scissors means being comprised of: first shaft means; first elastomeric member having a first inner surface attached to said first shaft means and a first outer surface attached to a first support means; second elastomeric member having a second inner surface attached to said first shaft means and a second outer surface attached to a first arm extending away from said second elastomeric member; second shaft means; third elastomeric member having a third inner surface attached to said second shaft means and a third outer surface attached to a second support means; fourth elastomeric member having a fourth inner surface attached to said second shaft means and a fourth outer surface attached to a second arm extending away from said fourth elastomeric member; and, pivot means for pivotally connecting the distal ends of said first and second arms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 18, wherein said elastomeric members are generally square shaped in cross section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
169 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of a plurality of scissors means, each one of said plurality of scissors means being comprised of: first shaft means; first elastomeric member having a first inner surface attached to said first shaft means and a first outer surface attached to a first support means; second elastomeric member having a second inner surface attached to said first shaft means and a second outer surface attached to a first arm extending away from said second elastomeric member; second shaft means; third elastomeric member having a third inner surface attached to said second shaft means and a third outer surface attached to a second support means; fourth elastomeric member having a fourth inner surface attached to said second shaft means and a fourth outer surface attached to a second arm extending away from said fourth elastomeric member; and, pivot means for pivotally connecting the distal ends of said first and second arms.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 20, wherein the spring rates of said scissors means vary.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 20, wherein said scissor means are arranged in a series of stages and the spring rates of said scissors means in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 20, wherein the spring rates of said scissors means in each stage increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 20, wherein said elastomeric members are generally square shaped in cross section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of a plurality of stages with differing spring rates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 25, wherein said spring rates increase in the direction the vehicle is moving.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising backing means for rigidly supporting said energy absorption means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 27, wherein said backing means is comprised of at least one I beam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising controller means for controlling said deployment means to deploy said energy absorption means upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said deployment means deploys said energy absorption means substantially vertically before said energy absorption means is expanded.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said deployment means is comprised of drive screws for driving said energy absorption means out said vault and drive motor means for turning said drive screws.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vault means is disposed in the ground.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising batterboard means for contacting the vehicle, said batterboard means being comprised of a plastic and elastomer composite.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising ratchet means for holding said energy absorption means in the collapsed state before deployment and after partial collapsing due to vehicle contact.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle comprising: energy absorption means for absorbing kinetic energy of the moving vehicle upon collision of the vehicle with said energy absorption means, said energy absorption means being comprised of a plurality of stages, each one of said plurality of stages having at least one pair of elastomeric torsion springs, each one of said elastomeric torsion springs in said at least one pair being pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement; deployment means for deploying said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle; controller means for controlling said deployment means to deploy said energy absorption means upon the occurrence of a predetermined event; backing means for rigidly supporting said energy absorption means; batterboard means for contacting the vehicle, said batterboard means being comprised of a plastic and elastomer composite; and, vault means for receiving said energy absorption, backing and batterboard means when it is not being used; wherein said energy absorption means is collapsed for storage in said vault means and is expanded upon deployment by said deployment means.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for decelerating a moving vehicle comprising: energy absorption means for absorbing kinetic energy of the moving vehicle upon collision of the vehicle with said energy absorption means, said energy absorption means being comprised of a plurality of stages, each one of said plurality of stages having at least one pair of elastomeric torsion springs, each one of said elastomeric torsion springs in said at least one pair being pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement; deployment means for deploying said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle; controller means for controlling said deployment means to deploy said energy absorption means upon the occurrence of a predetermined event; backing means for rigidly supporting said energy absorption means; batterboard means for contacting the vehicle, said batterboard means being comprised of a plastic and elastomer composite; and, vault means for receiving said energy absorption, backing and batterboard means when it is not being used; wherein said energy absorption means is collapsed for storage in said vault means and is expanded upon deployment by said deployment means.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of decelerating a moving vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a collapsible energy absorption means comprising at least one elastomeric torsion spring; collapsing and storing said energy absorption means in a vault; and deploying and expanding said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle in response to a predetermined event.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of decelerating a moving vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a collapsible energy absorption means comprising at least one elastomeric torsion spring; collapsing and storing said energy absorption means in a vault; and deploying and expanding said energy absorption means in the path of the vehicle in response to a predetermined event.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 36, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of at least one pair of elastomeric torsion springs pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 36, wherein said energy absorption means is comprised of a multiplicity of pairs of elastomeric torsion springs pivotally connected in a scissors arrangement.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of decelerating a moving vehicle in accordance with claim 38, wherein each one of said multiplicity of pairs of elastomeric torsion springs have differing spring rates.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-06 | 1999-05-08 | 1999-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-06 | 2003-05-08 | 2003-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-06 | 2007-05-08 | 2007-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |