Abstract: A guardrail extruder terminal for flattening a W-beam guardrail and bending the guardrail to dissipate the energy of a vehicle impacting the end of the guardrail includes a feeder chute. The feeder chute is provided with an inlet in which the guardrail is positioned. The feeder chute extends into a terminal housing, and is in communication with a flattening throat. The fattening throat is of a smaller width than the feeder chute to flatten the W-beam. A bending member is also provided in the terminal to bend the guardrail in an curvilinear arc away from the impacting vehicle. Also included is a cable anchor releasably mounted on the guardrail. A cable extends from the cable anchor to a first post located at the end of the guardrail. The cable anchor includes lugs that release from the guardrail upon engagement of the extruder terminal with the cable anchor.

Abstract: A crash cushion end treatment, comprising a reusable barrier apparatus to protect vehicles traveling along the roadway from fixed roadside obstructions is disclosed. The apparatus is attached to the fixed obstruction and comprises a linear array of deformable cylinders or vented bodies which are designed to attenuate the force of vehicle impact. A single cylindrical member is disposed at the front, or leading edge, of the barrier. The cylindrical member prevents vehicles impacting the barrier "head-on" from being launched over the barrier. Further, a plurality of overlapping fender panels are disposed along each side of the linear array of deformable cylinders. These fender panels are hinged to the barrier so that when the barrier is collapsed, or telescoped inwardly, by an impacting vehicle, the panels may hinge outwardly without being damaged or destroyed.