Abstract: A lifting ring assembly is designed for lifting barrels that have at least a partial circumferential radial extension above an outer diameter. The lifting ring comprises a split ring and a cross brace. The split ring comprises two half ring segments having mutually attachable ends. The inner diameter of the split ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the partial circumferential radial extension. The cross brace comprises first and second rigid arms having top ends and bottom ends. The top ends are mutually pivotally connected by a pivoting mechanism. The bottom ends are fixedly connected to a midpoint of the half ring segments, respectively, such that the cross brace is perpendicularly oriented to the split ring and the rigid arms pivot in a vertical plane. The lifting ring may be modified to lift with a fork lift truck with a cable loop that extends from the pivoting mechanism.

Abstract: An energy absorbing guardrail crash attenuator system comprises a row of two or more compressible sections comprising left and right curved, metal side panels. The row of compressible sections extends in an axial direction from a front end and terminates in a back end that is engagable with a rigid backup. When the row is impacted by a vehicle in the axial direction, the compressible sections bend outwardly and absorb energy. When the row is impacted in a direction that is off of the axial direction, the row redirects the vehicle so as not to hit the "coffin corner" of the rigid backup. The front ends of the left and right metal panels are flexibly joined while the back ends are pivotly joined to the rearwardly adjacent section. The panels may have panel bending modifications for facilitating the axial compression of the sections. The row may have an axial movement guide to restrict lateral movement of the row of compressible sections.

Abstract: An inertial barrier system is provided which is comprised of inertial barriers formed of two modules, each of them being differently sized and being adapted to stack one upon the other. An interlocking geometry on each of the mating ends of modules assists in obtaining a secure stacking arrangement, and also assists in varying the volumetric capacity of each of the two modules. Thus, when the smaller of the two modules is the upper module, facing upwardly so that its volumetric capacity is available for filling by a particulate ballasting material, a lighter weight barrier is obtained. On the other hand, when the two modules are inverted, and the larger one is the upper module, its greater volumetric capacity ensures that, once filled by the ballasting material, a heavier barrier will result. Advantageously, each module is sized to ensure a barrier of the proper weight when it is placed in the position of the upper module and is properly filled by a worker.

Abstract: A highway crash cushion includes a single, central, rigid, guide rail that guides the crash cushion in axial collapse. Diaphragm assemblies are each provided with recessed legs, and a central guide that slides along the rail while locking against the rail in a lateral collision. The diaphragm assemblies support fender panels that include four longitudinally extending ridges, a central slot, and a tapered trailing edge that reduces vehicle snagging. Energy absorbing elements are disposed between the diaphragm assemblies, and each includes an indicator that clearly indicates when the element has been compressed and possibly damaged.

Abstract: An energy absorber is provided which can primarily be used as a replaceable energy absorbing bumper support structure. The structure includes a hollow cylinder with a stamped pattern on the cylinder wall for initiating an indented buckling pattern during crush of the cylinder. Holes in the patterned cylinder also allow for crash control of the buckling cylinder. The energy absorber is staged to provide for an increase in crush force as it progressively crashes each stage.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for use alongside a roadway to decelerate an impacting vehicle includes first and second elements. The first element extends in an axial direction and includes a threaded portion that defines a multitude of projecting ridges. The second element is movable relative to the first element in the axial direction, and the first and second elements are sized to create an interference fit such that relative axial movement of the second element applies a shear load to the first element to progressively deform successive ones of the projecting elements. This progressive deformation of the projecting elements retards relative axial movement between the first and second elements.

Abstract: An energy absorbing roadside crash barrier includes a scissors linkage having first and second ends. The scissors linkage is movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. A mounting element is coupled to the first end of the scissors linkage to mount the scissors linkage to a roadside obstacle. Deformable energy absorbing elements are mounted to the scissors linkage and positioned such that movement of the scissors linkage from the extended to the collapsed positions deforms the energy absorbing elements, and the energy absorbing elements thereby progressively resist collapse of the scissors linkage. A tension member is secured to the scissors linkage to apply a restraining force to hold the scissors linkage in the extended position, until forces tending to collapse the linkage exceed a pre-set range of values.

Abstract: An impact attenuating device such as a truck mounted attenuator includes at least two cartridges, which are secured together by flanges and angled backing elements on adjacent portions of the upper and lower sheets of the cartridges. The forwardmost bay of the impact attenuating device includes stiffening elements on the lower surface and deformable elements which come closely adjacent to the lower surface of the impact attenuating device in order to urge an impacting vehicle with having a low bumper height upwardly, toward the center of the impact attenuating device. The end of the impact attenuating device initially struck by an impacting vehicle is covered by a resilient collapsible element having parallel pleats and recessed corners, such that the collapsible element can absorb low energy impacts without damage to the impact attenuating device.

Abstract: A vehicle crash barrier for decelerating a vehicle that has left a roadway includes an elongated frame having a number of sections including a front section and at least one additional section arranged end to end along an axial direction. The frame is configured to collapse when axially struck on the front section by a vehicle. A wire cable extends generally parallel to the frame and has a forward end portion anchored independently of the frame and a rearward end portion. Friction brakes are mounted to the front section for engaging the wire cable to generate a retarding force to decelerate a vehicle as the brake moves along the wire cable during collapse of the frame following impact of the vehicle against the front section. Each section includes a pair of side panels, and axially adjacent side panels are connected by a flexible tension strap by fasteners. The tension strap operates to peel the fasteners out of the side panels during axial collapse.

Abstract: A reusable energy absorbing apparatus comprising a plurality of air chambers and valve members. The air chambers and valves are constructed so that the valve members close upon the application of an axial force, thereby sealing air within the air chambers. After the energy absorbing apparatus has reached the end of its compressive stroke, the valve members release sequentially, thereby venting the pressurized air in the air chambers to minimize rebound.

Abstract: A four-cycle internal combustion engine is provided with apparatus comprising a turbine in the inlet air flow path and an extracting compressor in the exhaust gas path. Where the internal combustion engine is an automobile engine and is operating under normal cruising conditions, the manifold inlet pressure is substantially less than atmospheric pressure and incoming air drives the inlet turbine to in turn drive the compressor. The arrangement is such that the inlet air is isentropically expanded while the exhaust gas back pressure is decreased. As a consequence, the energy of compression is reduced and the overall operating temperature of the internal combustion cycle is lowered with the result that more power is delivered for a given quantity of fuel.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus is provided to dissipate the energy of the impact force of a vehicle. A plurality of energy absorbing sheets are arranged in a stacked relation to resist the impact force and to thereby dissipate the energy of the force. Each sheet has a honeycomb structure of hexagonal cells that are filled with a deformable material such as polyurethane foam and that are defined by walls of relatively rigid material. In operation, an impact force is applied to the stack of energy absorbing sheets and each sheet is thereby caused to cut or shear into its abutting sheet so that at least a portion of the energy of the impact force is dissipated. As the stacked sheets cut into one another, the energy of the force is further dissipated by the compression of the polyurethane foam of the sheets.

Abstract: The gas turbine engine includes a centrifugal fan having radial blades for receiving inlet air through inner entrance openings to spaces between adjacent blades. The air passes through outer exit openings from the spaces between the blades. Stationary inner and outer circumferential segments define closure members which successively eclipse the inner entrance and outer exit openings of the centrifugal fan blades when the fan rotates to position adjacent blades between the closure members. The closure members and space between the blades thus define closed combustion chambers. Fuel is injected and ignited so that continuous combustion takes place at constant volume, the exhaust gases escaping through the outer exit openings when rotation of the fan positions these openings beyond the outer closure members. This continuous combustion at constant volume provides for increased efficiency in the gas turbine engine over the Brayton cycle constant pressure type turbine engine.

Abstract: A solar panel comprising first and second generally parallel, spaced sheets of plastic material and a corrugated sheet of plastic material sandwiched between and bonded to the first and second sheets, the spacing between adjacent corrugations in the corrugated sheet being considerably less than 50% of the distance between the first and second sheets and no greater than about 1/2 inch, the plastic material being light transmitting and characterized by resistance to ultraviolet deterioration.