US3845936A

US3845936A - Modular crash cushion

Info

Publication number: US3845936A
Application number: US00379688A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Boedecker; C Gibson
Original assignee: Steel Corp
Current assignee: CONTAINER PRODUCTS Inc A MI CORP; United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1973-05-25
Filing date: 1973-07-16
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05

Abstract

A modular crash cushion is disclosed for a rigid roadside obstacle located on or beside a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic. The modular crash cushion has a first line of drums extending forward from one side of the contact surface and a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of the contact surface and adjacent the first line of drums. Connector means connect together either adjacent drums in the first line of drums and in the second line of drums or adjacent drums in one line of the first line of drums and the second line of drums. The first line of drums and the second line of drums are connected at one end to the rigid roadside obstacle. Skid means are between the first line of drums and the highway and the second line of drums and the highway to permit the other end of the first line of drums and the second line of drums to move on impact between a vehicle and the modular crash cushion. The connector means is also a part of this invention.

Description

nite States Patent 1191 oedecker, Jr. et a1. [45] N 5, 1974 [54] MODULAR CRASH CUSHION 3,672,657 6/1972 Young et a1. 256 1 inventors: Kenneth J Boedecker, J Jupiter 3,674,115 7/1972 Young et a1. 256/1 lsland, F1a.; Charles I. Gibson, Lebanon Township Allegheny Pr1mary Exammer-James R. Boler County Assistant ExaminerConrad L. Berman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert J. Leek. Jr. [73] Ass1gnee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa. 5 [22] Filed: July 16, 1973 7] ABSTSIVCT I A modular crash cushion is d1sclosed for a r1gid road- PP 3791688 side obstacle located on or beside a highway and hav- Related Application Data ing a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic. The [63] continuatiommpm of Ser No 364192 May 25 modular crash cushion has a first lme of drums ex- 1973 abandoned continuaiion 203 tending forward from one side of the contact surface Dec], 1971, abandoned. and a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of the contact surface and adjacent the [52 US. (:1 256/1, 256/13.1, 114/219, first line of drums cehheetet theehs eehheet together 104/254 either adjacent drums in the first line of drums and in 51 Int. Cl E04h 17/00 the seeehd line Otdtume t edleeeht drums hhe 58 Field of Search 256/1, 13.1 of the first of Chums and the eeeehd of drums- The first line of drums and the second line of drums 5 References Cited are csolnrcriected at one lend to thel rigid roadside; (obstac e. i means are etween t e 1rst inc 0 rums UNITED STTES PATENTS and the highway and the second line of drums and the 921,369 5/1909 Davis 151/21 R highway to permit the other end of the first line of l $122 drums and the second line of drums to move on im- 2:088:087 7 1937 HUdSOH IIIIIIZ 11:11:11.. 256/1 P between a and the modular Crash cush' 2,750,990 6/1956 Eves 297/248 2,963,275 12/ Meyers 256/70 The connector means is also a part of this invention. 3,050,802 8/1962 lmparato... 24/81 E 3,643,924 2/1972 Fitch 256/1 Claims, 33 Drawing Figures TRAFFIC FLOW i /I4 59 59 96 /6 I60 I 22 20 24 26 60 I0 92 76 22 7 95 5 a 20L ooooooo 00000000000 OQOQOQOQOQOQOQOOOGO T 96 me 729 72 [8b 20 60 7'5 76 92 59 7s 96 76 TRAFFIC FLOW 06 I02 PATENTEDunv 51m SHEET 02 0F 10 FIG. 4.

PATENTEUNUV 5 I974 SHEET 07 0F 10 m1 QFK ATENTEDNnv 5 I914 sum as nr 10 N969 mm 93m uDEEE mm mm mw aw mm MODULAR CRASH CUSHION This application is a continuation-in-part of US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 364,192 filed May 25, I973 by the subject inventors and assigned to the same assignee as the subject application, which US. Application Ser. No. 364,192, now abandoned, is a continuation of US. Patent Application Ser. No. 203,805, now abandoned, filed on Dec. 1, 1971 by the subject inventors andassigned to the same assignee as the subject application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of this invention to avoid and overcome-the foregoing and other difficulties 'of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a modular crash cushion for a rigid roadside obstacle located beside a highway or freeway, which modular crash cushion:

. a. uniformly cushions the impact forces created by vehicles which would otherwise collide with the rigid obstacle;

b. saves the lives of and decreases injuries to occupants in such colliding vehicles;

. c. minimizes property damage to such colliding vehicles;

d. is free to slide along the surface upon impact with such vehicles;

e. is practical, economical, and aesthetically pleasing in appearance;

f. causes the vehicle to slide off the modular crash cushion to prevent pocketing of the vehicle in such modular crashcushion; and

g. in cases of impact with the cushion normal to the outer surface of the cushion will decelerate the vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thev aforesaid objects of this invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing a modular crash cushion for a rigid roadside obstacle located on or beside the highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic. The modular crash cushion has a first line of drums extending forward from one side of the contact surface and a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of the contact surface and adjacent the first line of drums. Connector means connect together either adjacent drums in the first line of drums and in the second line of drums or adjacent drums in one line of the first line of drums and the second line of drums. The first line of drums and the second line of drums are connected at one end to the rigid roadside obstacle. Skid means are between the first line of drums and thehighway and the second line of drums and the highway .topermit the other end of the first line of drums and the second line of drums to move on impact between a vehicle and the modular crash cushion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a cement pier of a bridge as the rigid roadside obstacle and further showing a modular crash cushion having a first line of drums and a second line of drums extending forward in contiguous engagement from the contact surface of the pier, a warning nose portion of the modular crash cushion, the connecting means for adjacent drums, fish scales along the sides of the modular crash cushion, and Z- chairs and I-beams affixed to selected drums in the first line of drums and the second line of drums for use as skid means for the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cement bridge pier and modular-crash cushion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one form of the connector means for connecting two adjacent drums and showing the bottom of the adjacent drum chimes resting in spaced relation on an annular shoulder on the block of the connector means, the saddle of the connector means secured about theoutside of such chimes and fastening means extending through the block and the saddle for securing the adjacent chimes within the connector means;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the details for securing a drum from one line of the first line of drums and the second line of drums to a backup plate on the front portion of the cement bridge pier;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the warning nose portion of the modular crash cushion which nose portion is shown in its projected or flat form and is provided with warning indicia visible at a great distance from the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational. view of the painted sheet metal employed as an outside surface on a typical fish scale for the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 6B is a rear view of the assembled fish scale showing the plywood sheet with the painted-sheet metal affixed to the outer face of the plywood sheet;

FIG. 6C is a side elevational view of a typical plywood panel employed as a fish scale for the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 7A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the bottom chimes of two adjacent drums secured in an alternate form of the connector means, wherein the bottom chimes are secured between the outer tapered surface of the block and the inner surface of the saddle and showing a Z-chair secured to the bottom of the saddle by the fastener means and extending between the fastener means and the highway pavement as one form of the skid means utilized in the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 7B is a side elevational view of two drums, and I-beam secured to each drum and projecting beyond its bottom and provided with a skid plate, the cables secured between the fish scales and the outer surface of each drum and separated by a projection formed in the drum body;

FIG. 7C is a horizontal sectional view of the means utilized to attach a lead fish scale and the cables to an I-beam secured to a drum taken along the line 7C7C of FIG. 7B in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7D is a view similar to FIG. 7C showing the attachment of intermediate and final fish scales to the I- beam secured to a drum taken along the line 7D--7D of FIG. 7B in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8A is a fragmentary side elevational view of the end portion of one of the cables adjacent a guard rail and showing the cable wrapped around a wire rope thimble with its free end secured to the main portion of the cable by a plurality of, for example, three wire rope clips taken along the line 8A-8A of FIG. in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the wire clips;

FIG. 8C is a side elevational view taken along the line 8C8C of FIG. 8B in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. I of an alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion showing a round bridge pier protected by another form of the modular crash cushion having four lines of drums and the use of outer tapered side portions along the first line of drums and second line of drums (which defined a drum cavity) thereby requiring the use of spacer means to connect the lines of drums adjacent the tapered portions of the modular crash cushion, eliminating the use of the fish scales and showing a guard rail surrounding the round bridge column embedded in the plural lines of drums to prevent impalement of a vehicle on the ends of such guard rail;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a side elevational view partially in vertical section showing the spacer means employed for connecting two adjacent drums in the drum cavity and utilizing a tube as a mounting member;

FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the tube of the spacer means;

FIG. IIC is a side elevational view of the channel of the spacer means;

FIG. lID is an end elevational view taken along the lines IlD-IID of FIG. IIC in the direction of the arrows of the channel of the spacer means;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 9 and showing a concrete abutment protected by another alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion having five lines of drums and generally tapered side portions, fish scales, and the use of the spacing means due to the tapered construction of the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion having three lines of drums for surrounding a pier of a bridge and showing the elimination of the fish scales, the embedding of the end portions of the guard rail in the lines of drums in the modular crash cushion and the use of tapered end portions on the free or outer end of the modular crash cushion thereby necessitating the use of the spacing means;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the modular crash cushion having three lines of drums for protecting a toll booth, eliminating the use of fish scales, employing a tapered outer portion on the modular crash cushion and showing the attendant spacing means employed in the outer portions of the modular crash cushion;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the toll booth and modular crash cushion shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the modular crash cushion having four lines of drums, employed to protect the support columns for a sign on the highway and showing the cement base for supporting the sign leg, the interior cable arrangement disposed about an internal grouping of the drums and extending forward through the nose portion to the stirrup anchored in the highway foundation or concrete;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the sign legs and modular crash cushion shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, of another alternative embodiment of the connector means showing an upwardly tapered shoulder on the block, a fully threaded hole through the block and tapered guide portions on the extremities of the saddle;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 11A of an alternative embodiment of the spacer means wherein the mounting member is a channel;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the spacer means shown in FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is an end view of the spacer means shown in FIG. 22 and taken from the right side of FIG. 22.

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable to modular crash cushions, this invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with modular crash cushions for a rigid roadside obstacle located either beside or on a highway and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form of this invention illustrated in the drawings and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a modular crash cushion is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

This modular crash cushion 10 is used in conjunction with a rigid roadside obstacle, such as a cement bridge pier 12 for a bridge 14 (FIG. 1) or the like, which cement bridge pier I2 has a contact surface 16 facing the vehicular traffic and including its front portion 16a and side portions 16b.

The modular crash cushion 10 has a first line 18a of drums 20 extending forward from one side (in this case, the right side as you face the cement bridge pier 12 in FIG. 1) of the front portion 16a of contact surface 16. A second line 18b of the drums 20 extends forward from the other side (in this case, the left hand side as you face the front portion of the contact surface 16 for the cement bridge pier l2) and adjacent the first line 18a of the drums 20.

Connector means 22 (FIGS. 1, 3) are employed for connecting together either adjacent drums 20 in the first line 18a of the drums 20 and in the second line 18b of the drums 20 or adjacent drums 20 in either line 18a, 18b. As shown in FIG. I, each of the adjacent drums 20 Connector Means 22 The connector means 22 has a block 28 (FIG. 3) provided with a centrally located clearance hole 30 and an angular shoulder 32 adapted to receive the bottom pr tions of the spaced chimes 34 formed by the end portions of the drum head 24 and a drum body 36 of the adjacent drums 20. For the purpose of securing the Backup Plate Mounting The means utilized to mount the left hand drum 20 in the first'line 18a of the drums 20 and in the second line 18b of the drums 20 to a backup plate 46 (FIG. 4) on the front portion 16a of the contact surface 16 of the cement bridge pier 12 comprises, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of angles 48 projecting from the top and bottom of the backup plate 46 and secured to the top and bottom ofthe backup plate 46 as by welding (not shown) or as by bolts 50 or the like. In order to permit an L-shaped attachment rod 52 (FIG. 4) to pass through the angles 48 and the adjacent drum 20 posi tioned between the angles 48, suitable holes 54 are provided in the angles 48 and in the drum heads 24 of the drum 20.-

I Nose Portion 56 As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, a warning nose portion 56 shown in flat projected form in FIG. is provided with painted reflectorized warning indicia 58 and is built around a leading drum L (FIG. 1) on the right hand end as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the modular crash cushion 10, around the next two adjacent drums Fish Scales 60 For the purpose of diverting a vehicle upon impact with the modular crash cushion l0, and of preventing pocketing of the vehicle (not shown) in one side of one line 18a or 18b of the drums 20, and of preventing the resultant spinning around of the vehicle (not shown) after such pocketing, sheet-like fish scales 60 (FIGS. 1, 2, 6A-6C) extend along the side portions of the first line 18a of drums 20 and the second line 18b of the drums 20. Each fish scale 60 has a plywood sheet 62 (FIGS. 68, 6C) provided on the left-hand end (as viewed in FIGS. 6B, 6C) with a chamfer 64, and a painted metal sheet 66 (FIGS. 6A, 6C) formed with corner tab portions 68 and bendable peripheral marginal portions 70. As shown in FIG. 6B, the tabs 68 and the marginal portions 70 of the painted metal sheet 66 are formed around the back of the plywood sheet 62 to form the completed fish scale shown in FIG. 6B. The method of attaching the fish scales 60 to the first line 18a of drums 20 and the second line 18b of the drums 20 is shown in FIGS. 7B-7D and will be described in detail hereinafter.

' Skid Means 72 In order to provide a skid means 72 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7A) between the first line 18a of the drums 20 and the highway pavement 74 and the second line 18b of the drums 20 and the highway pavement 74 so that the free or right hand end as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the lines 18a, 18b of drums 20 may move when impacted by a vehicle (not shown), a Z-chair 76 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7A) and l-beams 78 (FIGS. 1, 2, 7B-7D) are employed.

As shown in FIG. 7A, a connector means 22" is employed to secure adjacent chimes 34 of adjacent drums 20 between the tapered sides of the block 28 and the saddle 38. The fastener means, such as a bolt 40 or the like, extends through a hole 80 (FIG. 7A) in the top of the Z-chair 76, the hole 44 in the saddle 38 and holes 30 in the block 28. It will be understood that the nut 42 shown in FIG. 3 is eliminated since the threaded bolt 40 engages threads 82 in the upper-most holes 30 in the top of the block 28 As shown in FIG. 7A, the bottom arm 84 of the Z-chair 76 engages the pavement 74.

Alternatively, the l-bcam 78 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7B-7D is mounted tangentially to the inner periphery of a drum 20 and has its bottom portions extending beyond the bottom of the drum 20 to elevate the drum 20 from the highway surface 74 (FIG. 7B). The bottom portion of the l-beam 78 is provided with a skid plate 86 (FIG. 7B) which rests on the highway pavement 74 and has arcuate outer portions.

Fish Scale Mounting As shown in FIGS. 78-70, a lead fish scale panel 60 may be secured by bolts 88 and nuts 90, which bolts 88 extend through the drum body 36 and a flange of the I-beam 78. As shown particularly in FIG. 7B,,an intermediate fish scale 60 may be similarly secured by the bolts 88 and nuts 90 and may be covered by a final fish scale 60. I

It will be noted from a consideration of FIGS. 7B-7D that a pair of wire cables 92 are disposed about a protuberance 94 (FIG. 78) formed in the drum body36 and are secured between fish scales 60 and drum body 36.

These cables 92 hold the modular crash cushionl0 Cables 92 As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8A-8C, a pair of wire cables 92 and anchored at both ends, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a stirrup 96 (FIGS. 1, 2) which stirrup 96 is suitably secured in concrete 98 (FIG. 2) or the like. Each of the cables 92, in addition to its securement to the I- beams 78 (FIGS. 7B-7D) is secured to the stirrup 96 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 8A-8C where such cable 92 is secured to a guard rail 148. The cable 92 as described above, is provided at its end portion with a loop 100 (FIG. 8A) formed about a wire rope thimble I02 and has its free end 104 secured by wire rope'clips 106 (FIGS. 8A-8C to the main portion of the wire cable 92. As shown in FIGS. 88 and 8C, the wire clips 106 have a threaded U-portion 108 and a clamp portion 110, which clamp portion 110 is secured on the threaded legs of the U-portion 108 in gripping engagement with the wire cable 92 by means of nuts 112 threadable on the threaded legs of the U-portion 108. The thimble 102 prevents the cable 92 from being pulled out of the wire clips 106 when the modular crash cushion is hit by a vehicle (not shown).

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in the art that alternatively, as shown in the modular crash cushion 10 of FIGS. 9, 10, the right-hand portion as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the first line 18a and the second line 18b of the drums may taper forwardly toward the leading drum 20L. The intermediate lines 18c, 18d fill a drum cavity 114 (FIG. 9) defined by the first line 18a and the second line 18b of the drum 20, along the straight portions of the first line 18a and second line 18b. However, along the tapered portion of the first line 18a and second line 18b where whole drums 20 cannot be inserted in the drum cavity 114 in substantially abutting engagement, spacing means 116 (FIGS. 9, 10, 11A-11D) are employed as connecting means to connect adjacent whole spaced drums 20.

Spacing Means 126 This spacing means 116 (FIGS. 9, 10, 11A-11D) has a channel 118 which is slidably mountable in a mounting member, such as a tube 120 (FIGS. 11A-11D) or the like. The channel 118 has a connecting portion 122 provided with registering holes 124 which holes 124 permit the insertion of a bolt 126 through such holes 124 and a similar hole 124 in the drum head 24 of a drum 20 so that a nut 128 may secure the connection portion 122 to the left-hand drum 20, as viewed in FIG. 11A, with the chime 34 of the drum 20 secured between the flanges of the connecting portin 122 of the channel 118. This channel 118, as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11C, and 11D. is provided with a track 130 in which a nut 132 (provided with a track groove 134) rides. The

means utilized to bias the nut 132 against the track 130 is a spring 136 or the like. In order to prevent the nut 132 from leaving the right-hand end of the channel 118, one or more stop tabs 138 (FIGS. 11C, 11D) are formed in the end wall of the channel 118.

The tube 120, suitably a box-like structure provided with a plurality of spaced holes 140 in all four sides thereof has a similar connecting portion 142 which enables a bolt 126 to pass through suitable holes 144 in the connecting portion 142 of the tube 120 and a hole 144 in the drum head 24 of the right-hand drum 20, as viewed in FIG. 11A, so that a nut 128 may secure the tube 120 to the right-hand drum 20 as viewed in FIG. 1 1A.

In order to anchor the channel 118 (affixed to the left-hand drum 20, as viewed in FIG. 11A) with respect to the tube 120 (affixed to the right-hand drum 20, as viewed in FIG. 11A). a bolt 146 is inserted in one of the spaced holes 140 in the tube 120 and the nut 132 in the channel 118 thereby locking the drums 20 (FIG. 11A) in the desired spaced relation with respect to each other in the modular crash cushion 10 As shown in FIG. 9, the modular crash cushion 10 has two guard rails 148. each being a W-type vertically sectioned plate (FIGS. 9 and 10). and extending along the straight portions of the first line 18a of the drums 20 and the second line 18b of the drums 20 to a point 152 where such guard rail or plate 148 turns inwardly and passes through suitable holes 154 in the drums 20 so that the end portion 156 of each guard rail 148 is secured at 158, as by bolts, screws, or the like (not shown) to a drum 20 in line 180, thereby preventing impalement of a vehicle (not shown) on the end portions 156 of the guard rails 148.

It will be noted from FIGS. 9 and 10 that the fish scales 60 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been eliminated and the nose section 56 extends along the forward tapered portion of the cushion 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a concrete abutment 12 as the rigid roadside obstacle. In FIGS. 12 and 13, the first line 18a of drums 20 and the second line 18b of drums 20 taper continuously along their length and terminate in the leading drum 20L. Fish scales 60 are employed in this construction and spacing means 116 are used extensively between the five lines 18a 18b", 18c, 18d, and 18a of drums 20.

The rigid roadside obstacle shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and protected by the cushion 10" is a pier 12 for a bridge 14. The modular crash cushion 10" is substantially three

lines

18a, 18b, and 18c of the drums 20. The guard rail 148 along the side of traffic flow indicated by the arrow has its end portion 156 embedded in the

lines

18b and 180 of the drums'20. The fish scales 60 are eliminated and the spacing means 116 are employed in the tapered forward portions of the lines 18a, 18b of the drums 20.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, a toll booth 12 is employed with the modular crash cushion 10 having along its straight portions three lines 18a, 18b', and 18c of the drums 20. In this embodiment, the front contact portion 160 of the toll booth 12 is connected to the adjacent drums 20 by the construction and the attachmentrods 52 and backup plate 46 shown in FIG. 4, but not shown in detail in FIG. 16. The fish scales 60 are not employed, but the spacing means 116 is utilized in the tapered forward portions of the first line -18a the second line 1812', adjacent the leading drum 20L.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, the rigid roadside obstacle (i.e., a sign post, not shown in FIGS. 18, 19) is protected by cushion 10 and comprises a pair of legs for the sign post. The legs 170 extend upwardly from concrete piers 174 (FIGS. 18, 19) and the right hand leg 170 (FIGS. 18, 19) is surrounded by drums 20 of the third line 18c and the fourth line 18d of the drums 20. The generally S-shaped configuration of the first line of the drums and the second line 18b of the drums 20 is employed. Internal, rather than external, cables 92 are utilized in FIGS. 18, 19. Each such cable 92 extends around the right hand leg 170 for the sign post (not shown) and selected drums 20 of the third line 180 and 18d and then extends forwardly from a double line of six drums 20 in lines 18c, 18d, around two drurns 20 of a middle line 180 and thence adjacent the forward portions of the crash modular cushion 10" between the remaining three drums 20 of the first line 1811" and 18b' to the anchorage stirrup 96 upstanding from a concrete pier 98. In FIGS. 18 and 19, the fish scales 60 of prior embodiments are replaced by a sheet metal covering 178 secured to the adjacent drums 20 as by screws 182.

FIG. 20, which is a view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment of the connector means 22 employs V-shaped shoulders 32 to engage the bottom portions of the chimes 34. The annular central hole 30 in the block 28 is fully threaded throughout its length. The saddle 38 is provided with generally square top corner portions and has a generally rounded bottom guide portion 186 on its lower extremities to permit the guided disposition of the saddle 38 about the outer portions of the chimes 34.

The drums 20 may be formed of galvanized steel, aluminized steel, high strength steel, or the like, or of a plastic, such as high density polyethylene, fiberglass, fiber board or the like. In addition, the energy absorbing properties of the modules 10, etc. may be improved by filling the interior of each drum 20 with smaller containers, such as plastic bottles, metal cans or the like; ping-pong balls, foamed plastics, such as polyurethane, polyethylene, or the like, and if the holes 26 in the drum 20 are covered'by plugs, by a fluid such as salt water, anti-freeze solution, chopped rubber tires, or the like.

- In FIGS. 2l23, the mounting member or tube 120 of spacer means I16 of FIGS. llA-IlD is replaced by a mounting member 120 (in the form of a channel) of spacer means 111.6

I SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing an improved modular crash cushion 10 (FIGS. l-8C), 10 (FIGS. 9-llD), 10 (FIGS. I2 and I3), 10 (FIGS. 14 and l5), (FIGS. 16 and 17), and 110 (FIGS. 18 and 19). These modular crash cushions are employed adjacent a rigid roadside obstacle, such as a cement bridge pier l2 ofa bridge 14 (FIGS. l-SA), a round'bridge column 12 for a bridge 14 (FIGS. 9 and 1'0),'a concrete abutment 12 (FIGS. 12 and 13), a round concrete pier l2 for a bridge l4 (FIGS. 14 and 15), a toll booth 12" (FIGS. 16 and 17), and legs 170 for a roadside sign (not shown), FIGS. 18 and 19. These modular crash cushions easily and uniformly cushion the impact forces created by a vehicle (not shown) which may collide with such rigid roadside obstacles; save the lives of and decrease injuries to occupants in such colliding vehicle (not shown); minimize property damage to the colliding vehicle (not shown); are free to slide along the highway pavement upon impact by the vehicle (not shown) and cause the vehicle (not shown) to slide off the modular crash cushion to prevent pocketing of a vehicle (not shown) in the modular crash cushion and in cases of impact with such cushion substantially normal to the outer surface of the module to decelerate the vehicle (not shown).

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternative embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

We claim:

1. For a rigid roadside obstacle located beside or on a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic, a modular crash cushion having:

a. a first line of drums extending forward from one side of said contact surface;

b. a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of said contact surface and adjacent said first line of drums;

c. spacer means for connecting together adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drums in spaced relation;

d. said first line of drums and said second line of drums being connected at one end to said rigid roadside obstacle;

e. skid means between said first line of drums and said highway and said second line of drums and said highway to permit the other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to move on impact with a vehicle; and

f. a pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head and said spacer means has:

l. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum;

2. a channel slidable in said mounting member,

projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and

3. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member;

4. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.

2. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein one of said drums has a drum head, said drum head being provided with a hole to facilitate the uniform cushioning collapse of said drum on impact between said vehicle and said modular crash cushion.

3. The modular crash cushion recited in claim I and having a sheet-like nose portion extending around said other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to warn a driver of a vehicle of the presence of the rigid roadside obstacle.

4. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having sheet-like fish scales extending along the side portions of one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to divert said vehicle upon impact with said modular crash cushion and to prevent pocketing of said vehicle in said one line and the resultant spinning around of said vehicle after said pocketing.

5. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein another pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each have their bottom portions secured together by a connector means and a Z-chair is connected to said connector means and disposed between said connector means and said highway.

6. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said skid means has a beam secured to a drum in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums, said beam extending beyond the bottom of said drum to elevate said drum from said highway, and said beam having a skid member on the bottom of said beam and in engagement with said highway.

7. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a cable fastened to one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to integrate said modular crash cushion and to hold it together, said cable being anchored to said highway at one end of said one line to anchor said other end of modular crash cushion in a predetermined position with respect to said rigid roadside obstacle.

8. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a guard rail extending from said rigid roadside obstacle along a portion of one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums, said guard rail having its forward end buried behind said one line.

9. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having connector means for connecting together another pair of adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drums, said connector means having:

a. a block adapted to receive one end of said adjacent chimes in spaced relation;

b. a saddle adapted to engage the outside of said adjacent chimes; and

c. fastener means extending through said block and said saddle between said adjacent chimes for securing said chimes in said connector means.

10. The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is provided with a shoulder for receiving the bottom of said chimes.

11. The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said fastener means is a bolt and a nut.

12. The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said fastener means is a threaded member threaded into said block.

13. The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is provided with a V-shaped shoulder for receiving one end of said chimes.

14. The connector means recited in claim 9 wherein said block is a resilient hollow sheet metal member.

15. For a modular crash cushion having a first drum and a second drum disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, each of said drums having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head, spacer means having:

a. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum;

b. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum;

c. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; and

d. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extends through said mounting member into said nut.

16. The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said channel has stop means on the end of said channel to prevent said nut from leaving said channel.

17. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a tube.

18. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member is a channel.

19. The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said mounting member is a tube.

20. The spacer means recited in claim 15 wherein said mounting member is a channel.

Claims

1. For a rigid roadside obstacle located beside or on a highway and having a contact surface facing the vehicular traffic, a modular crash cushion having: a. a first line of drums extending forward from one side of said contact surface; b. a second line of drums extending forward from the other side of said contact surface and adjacent said first line of drums; c. spacer means for connecting together adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drumS in spaced relation; d. said first line of drums and said second line of drums being connected at one end to said rigid roadside obstacle; e. skid means between said first line of drums and said highway and said second line of drums and said highway to permit the other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to move on impact with a vehicle; and f. a pair of adjacent drums in one line of said first line of drums and said second line of drums each having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head and said spacer means has: 1. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; 2. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and 3. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; 4. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extending through said mounting member into said nut.

2. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; and

3. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member;

3. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having a sheet-like nose portion extending around said other end of said first line of drums and said second line of drums to warn a driver of a vehicle of the presence of the rigid roadside obstacle.

9. The modular crash cushion recited in claim 1 and having connector means for connecting together another pair of adjacent drums in said first line of drums and in said second line of drums, said connector means having: a. a block adapted to receive one end of said adjacent chimes in spaced relation; b. a saddle adapted to engage the outside of said adjacent chimes; and c. fastener means extending through said block and said saddle between said adjacent chimes for securing said chimes in said connector means.

15. For a modular crash cushion having a first drum and a second drum disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, each of said drums having a drum body and a drum head and a chime defined by the ends of said drum body and said drum head, spacer means having: a. a mounting member connected to one drum of said first drum and said second drum; b. a channel slidable in said mounting member, projecting from said mounting member and connected at its projecting end to the other drum of said first drum and said second drum; c. fastener means for securing said channel to said mounting member; and d. said channel having a track, a nut disposed in said track, biasing means engaging said nut to maintain said nut in said track, and said fastener means extends through said mounting member into said nut.