Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Bumper having impact force absorbing means directly...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-28
2001-02-13
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Bumper having impact force absorbing means directly...
C293S102000, C293S134000, C296S035200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186565
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to lift systems and in particular, to a vehicle-mounted lift apparatus having an impact attenuation cushion coupled thereto for lifting and transporting the attenuation cushion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lift systems for positioning and carrying impact attenuation cushions are well known in the art. A variety of different types of lift systems exist. One such apparatus is shown in
FIG. 7
(prior art) which shows a hydraulic lift system coupled to the rear of a mobile vehicle such as a truck. The lift is attached to the truck by a series of welds and bolts and operates to pivot the attenuation cushion
28
between a substantially horizontal position parallel to the road surface, and a vertical position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the truck. The lift apparatus operates to place the impact attenuation cushion in the vertical or “non-operational” position to enable transportation of the device. Such a system is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,657 entitled VEHICLE MOUNTED CRASH ATTENUATION SYSTEM, and incorporated herein by reference. In the above-identified patent, the carrying surface
78
operates to engage a bottom surface of the attenuation cushion, and includes a series of through holes for receiving bolts so as to enable the attenuation cushion to be bolted to surface
78
at a plurality of locations. The carrying surface
78
and corresponding cushion
28
operate via hydraulics to pivot about the transverse or z-axis to either the horizontal (deployed) or vertical (non-operational) position. A similar prior art design is illustrated in FIG.
8
and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,792 entitled HIGHWAY CRASH CUSHION issued Jul. 1, 1997 to David L. James and assigned to Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, a truck mounted attenuator cushion
12
includes an attachment frame
78
which is pivotably mounted to a front section
16
to pivot about pivot axis
80
. A hydraulic actuator
82
mounted between the front section
16
and attachment frame
78
, extends and/or retracts so as to tilt the TMA unit
12
to the vertical/or horizontal stage position.
However, significant problems exist with these designs. First, the hydraulics unit operates not only to pivot the attenuation cushion, but also operates to hold the cushion in place, causing severe stress and wear on the actuator. Moreover, in prior art lift assemblies, the attenuator cushion is suspended from, rather than resting on, or supported by, the lift apparatus. This suspension causes increased tension on the hydraulics as well as on portions of the lift apparatus, resulting in increased wear and early failures for these lifts. Furthermore, the structural characteristics and architecture of the prior art lift assemblies have resulted in rotation of the lift apparatus between a horizontal and vertical crash cushion position such that the distance of the crash cushion from the ground when placed in the vertical position is significantly higher than when in the horizontal position. The combination of the relative height from the ground and “suspension” of the impact cushion leads to undue sway or lateral displacement (i.e. rocking) of the impact cushion during transportation, often resulting in damage to the cushion, even at relatively low speeds (e.g. 10 mph). Thus, when such a cushion is transported over any relatively long distance (e.g. 100 miles) the cushion may break or suffer structural damage as a result of its inherent instability, when suspended on prior art lift devices.
Accordingly, it is highly desirable to obtain a lift apparatus which operates to carry and support rather than suspend the impact attenuation cushion to minimize lateral displacement and to eliminate structural support of the cushion by the hydraulics, thereby preventing undue strain and wear on the cushion, as well as on the hydraulics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lift apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for supporting an attenuator cushion comprising a vehicle mounted support frame; a support member coupled to said support frame and extending outward from said vehicle; and a mounting bracket to which the attenuator cushion is coupled, the mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the support member along an axis to pivot between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from the vehicle, and a vertical position in which the cushion extends vertically upward, wherein the mounting bracket engages the support member along a majority of the width of the mounting bracket when the cushion is in the vertical position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mounted crash attenuator comprising a crushable, energy-absorbing crash cushion; and a lift apparatus coupled to the vehicle for rotating the crash cushion between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from the vehicle, and a vertical position in which the cushion extends vertically upward, comprising a substantially vertical support frame attached to the vehicle; a support member extending outward from the support frame and fixedly coupled thereto along a longitudinal axis at a first end; a mounting bracket for receiving the crash cushion and securing thereto, the mounting bracket rotatably coupled to a second end of the support member, and actuator means for causing the mounting bracket to rotate about an axis to cause rotation of the crash cushion between the horizontal deployed position and the vertical position, wherein the actuator means does not support the crash cushion mounting when the cushion is in the vertical position.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a lift apparatus wherein the difference in distance of the attenuator cushion from the ground when in the vertical position relative to the horizontal position is substantially a function of the height of the cushion support member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4189275 (1980-02-01), Arnold
patent: 4583716 (1986-04-01), Stephens et al.
patent: 5052732 (1991-10-01), Oplet et al.
patent: 5562392 (1996-10-01), Raben
patent: 5642792 (1997-07-01), June
patent: 5697657 (1997-12-01), Unrath, Sr.
patent: 5733062 (1998-03-01), Orberth et al.
Blankenship Greg
Buchanan & Ingersoll PC
Dayoan D. Glenn
Howard Edward J.
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