Modularized floatable cycloidal gear pier anti-collision device and mounting method
The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device converts impact energy into rotational mechanical energy and disperses and dissipates it through friction, which is then absorbed by the buffer layer. This solves the problems of large weight, difficult construction, poor adaptability and high maintenance of existing bridge pier anti-collision technologies, and achieves efficient and flexible protection.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing bridge pier anti-collision technologies suffer from problems such as large weight, high construction difficulty, poor adaptability, low energy absorption density, high maintenance costs, and limited service life, making it difficult to effectively resist the high-speed impact of high-tonnage ships.
The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device converts the impact force into rotational mechanical energy through the conjugate meshing of the cycloidal wheel ring and the needle tooth shell. Combined with multi-stage friction dissipation and buffer layer energy absorption, it forms a four-level protection mechanism of kinetic energy conversion, force dispersion, friction dissipation and buffer energy absorption.
It achieves efficient protection of bridge piers, reduces maintenance costs, improves protection efficiency and adaptability, effectively resists multi-directional impacts, and extends the service life of the device.
Smart Images
Figure CN121827279A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of bridge engineering protection technology, specifically to a modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device and its installation method. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of the global shipping industry, the tonnage and traffic density of ships continue to increase, and bridge piers, as the core load-bearing components of bridges, are increasingly at risk of being struck by ships. According to statistics from the transportation industry, structural damage accidents caused by ship collisions to inland waterway and coastal bridges have increased by more than 8% annually over the past decade. These accidents can range from minor cracks and reduced load-bearing capacity of the piers to serious bridge collapses, resulting in huge economic losses and threatening navigation and public safety.
[0003] Existing bridge pier collision protection technologies are mainly divided into two categories: one is rigid protective devices, such as reinforced concrete anti-collision piers and steel caissons. These devices rely on the strength of the material itself to resist impacts, but they have drawbacks such as large weight and high construction difficulty. Moreover, they are prone to causing secondary damage to ships during impacts, and their adaptability to oblique and multi-directional impacts is extremely poor. The other is flexible protective devices, represented by rubber fenders and foam-filled fenders. These devices absorb energy through material deformation, but the energy absorption density is generally low, making it difficult to withstand the high-speed impact of high-tonnage ships. Furthermore, they are prone to aging and have a limited service life when exposed to the outdoor environment for a long time, resulting in problems such as low protection efficiency, high maintenance costs, and poor environmental adaptability. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device and its installation method.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device includes: A fixing unit coaxially nested outside the bridge pier, the fixing unit being used for rigid connection with the bridge pier; A collision protection unit rotatably fitted onto the outside of the fixed unit, the collision protection unit comprising at least one cycloidal wheel rim; A pin toothed shell is fitted onto the outside of the anti-collision unit. The inner ring of the pin toothed shell is provided with pin teeth. The pin teeth mesh with the outer teeth of the cycloidal wheel ring to form a cycloidal pin wheel transmission pair. When the pin tooth shell is subjected to an external impact, the impact force drives the anti-collision unit to rotate around the pier axis through the cycloidal pinwheel transmission pair, thereby converting the linear kinetic energy of the impact into rotational mechanical energy.
[0006] As a preferred technical solution, the fixing unit includes, from the inside out, a buffer layer wrapped around the outside of the bridge pier and a metal protective shell fixed to the outside of the buffer layer.
[0007] As a preferred technical solution, the anti-collision unit further includes a circular perforated wheel ring fixedly connected to the cycloidal wheel ring; the cycloidal wheel ring is rotatably connected to the metal protective shell through a bearing.
[0008] As a preferred technical solution, the anti-collision unit includes multiple anti-collision modules with the same structure arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the bridge pier. Each anti-collision module includes a cycloidal wheel ring and a corresponding circular perforated wheel ring. The multiple anti-collision modules are connected in series and fixed by pins evenly arranged in the circumferential direction. One end of the pin is fixedly connected to the cycloidal wheel ring, and the other end is clearance-fitted with the through hole on the circular perforated wheel ring.
[0009] As a preferred technical solution, it also includes a pontoon rigidly connected to the bottom of the needle-tooth shell. The pontoon is an annular hollow structure used to provide buoyancy and drive the needle-tooth shell and the anti-collision unit meshing with it to make adaptive water level rise and fall movements along the axial direction of the pier.
[0010] As a preferred technical solution, the upper and lower edges of the metal protective shell are provided with guide limiters to limit the extreme positions of the anti-collision unit floating along the axial direction of the bridge pier.
[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the buffer layer is made of an elastic wear-resistant material to absorb the residual energy transmitted to the bridge pier after being attenuated by the anti-collision unit and the pin tooth shell.
[0012] As a preferred technical solution, the needle head of the inner ring of the needle tooth shell is made of cemented carbide material.
[0013] This invention also discloses an installation method for the aforementioned modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Coaxially fix the fixing unit to the outside of the bridge pier; Step two: The prefabricated anti-collision unit is rotatably mounted on the outside of the fixed unit via bearings; Step 3: After rigidly connecting the prefabricated needle tooth shell to the float, fit the whole assembly onto the outside of the anti-collision unit, and adjust it so that the inner teeth of the needle tooth shell precisely mesh with the outer teeth of the cycloidal wheel ring of the anti-collision unit. Step four: Install guide limiters on the fixed unit to limit the overall axial floating range of the anti-collision unit and the pin tooth shell.
[0014] As a preferred technical solution, in step two, the anti-collision unit is composed of multiple anti-collision modules connected in series along the axial direction of the bridge pier by means of pins. The beneficial effects of this invention are: The core design logic of this invention lies in constructing a four-level protection mechanism of "kinetic energy conversion - force dispersion - friction dissipation - buffer energy absorption". First, relying on the conjugate meshing characteristics of the cycloidal wheel rim and the pin tooth shell, when a ship impacts the pin tooth shell, it drives the cycloidal wheel rim to rotate relative to the pin tooth shell in a planetary motion, thereby converting the ship's linear kinetic energy into the rotational mechanical energy of the anti-collision unit. This is the first and most crucial level of energy conversion. Second, during rotation, multiple pins of the cycloidal wheel rim mesh simultaneously with the pin tooth shell, dispersing the concentrated impact force across multiple teeth to avoid excessive local stress. This is the second level of force dispersion. Third, during rotational transmission, the clearance fit between the pin shaft and the circular perforated wheel rim, the rolling of the bearings, and the mechanical friction between various moving parts further dissipate energy. This is the third level of dissipation. Finally, the remaining small amount of energy is transferred to the buffer layer through the metal protective shell, where it is completely absorbed by the elastic deformation of the buffer layer, ensuring that the impact force transmitted to the pier body is negligible. This is the fourth level of buffer energy absorption.
[0015] This invention achieves flexible expansion of anti-collision performance by arranging the core components coaxially from the inside out, combined with multiple anti-collision modules that can be added or removed as needed and a buffer layer with adjustable thickness. It utilizes the precise engagement of the cycloidal wheel and the adaptive design of the float water level, along with the guide limiters on the upper and lower edges of the metal protective shell, to improve the device's adaptability and anti-detachment stability. At the same time, the modular and detachable components and the absence of structural redundancy reduce maintenance costs and improve transmission and protection efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-collision device of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A top-down view; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A frontal view diagram; Figure 4 for Figure 1 Exploded views of each structure.
[0018] In the diagram: 1. Pier; 2. Buffer layer; 3. Metal protective shell; 4. First perforated wheel rim; 5. First cycloidal wheel rim; 6. Second circular perforated wheel rim; 7. Second cycloidal wheel rim; 8. Needle tooth shell; 9. Buoy; 10. Bearing; 11. Pin shaft; 12. Guide limiter. Detailed Implementation
[0019] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.
[0020] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the figure, the modular floating cycloidal wheel anti-collision device for bridge piers provided in this embodiment takes bridge pier 1 as the installation center and the object to be protected, and the entire device is arranged in a coaxial nested structure from the inside to the outside.
[0021] Specifically, firstly, a buffer layer 2 of adjustable thickness, made of highly elastic and wear-resistant rubber material, is wrapped around the outer surface of pier 1. This buffer layer 2 is rigidly bonded to the surface of pier 1 using high-performance adhesives or embedded parts. Its function is to act as a last line of defense, absorbing the very small amount of impact energy remaining after layers of attenuation and protecting the pier surface. The buffer layer 2, made of, for example, highly elastic special rubber or polyurethane composite material, is used to ultimately dissipate the residual impact energy transmitted to the pier, thus protecting the pier surface.
[0022] Outside the buffer layer 2, a ring-shaped metal protective shell 3 made of high-strength steel is fixedly fitted. The inner wall of the metal protective shell 3 is tightly fitted and fixed to the buffer layer 2, and the outer surface is precision-machined and coated with an anti-corrosion coating. It serves a dual purpose: internally, it acts as a protective layer, protecting the inner buffer layer from water erosion, scratches from floating objects, and direct ultraviolet radiation, thus extending the life of the buffer layer; externally, it acts as the inner ring support structure of the bearing, providing precise rotation and sliding guidance for the anti-collision unit.
[0023] One or more ball roller bearings 10 are fitted on the outside of the metal protective shell 3. The inner ring of the bearing 10 is adapted to the outer wall of the metal protective shell 3, allowing it to slide axially and rotate radially; the outer ring of the bearing 10 is used to rigidly connect the external anti-collision unit. This bearing not only bears the weight of the anti-collision unit, but more importantly, it allows the anti-collision unit to rotate smoothly radially relative to the pier, which is a prerequisite for realizing kinetic energy conversion; at the same time, its axial sliding freedom, in conjunction with the guide limiter, allows the entire anti-collision unit to slide smoothly along the pier axis under the drive of the pontoon, realizing adaptive water level adjustment.
[0024] The anti-collision unit is the core kinetic energy conversion component of this invention. In a preferred embodiment, the anti-collision unit consists of N independent anti-collision modules with identical structures, which can be added or removed as needed, connected in parallel along the axial direction of the pier 1, where N is a positive integer. Each anti-collision module includes a circular perforated wheel rim and a cycloidal wheel rim; the inner ring of each cycloidal wheel rim is fixedly connected to the outer ring of the bearing 10, ensuring that the anti-collision unit can rotate and slide axially with the bearing 10. Multiple cycloidal wheel rims are connected in series and fixed together by multiple pins 11 evenly distributed circumferentially. One end of each pin 11 is fixedly connected to the pin hole on the cycloidal wheel rim with an interference fit, and the other end passes through the through hole on the corresponding circular perforated wheel rim 4, forming a clearance fit with the through hole. In this design, the pins connect multiple anti-collision modules into a whole, ensuring synchronous rotation; on the other hand, the clearance fit with the through hole allows for small relative movements under force, further dissipating energy through friction and collision, while preventing jamming under huge impacts, ensuring smooth operation of the transmission mechanism.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, there are two independent anti-collision modules, each including a first perforated wheel rim 4 and a matching first cycloidal wheel rim 5, a second perforated wheel rim 6 and a matching second cycloidal wheel rim 7.
[0026] On the outside of the anti-collision unit, a needle-tooth shell 8 is fitted; the inner ring of the needle-tooth shell 8 is evenly distributed with multiple needle teeth along the circumference, and the head of the needle teeth is inlaid or made of hard alloy to improve the wear resistance of the meshing surface and extend the service life of the device under long-term and repeated impacts.
[0027] The needle tooth profile of the inner ring of the needle tooth housing 8 forms a precise conjugate meshing relationship with the outer cycloidal tooth profile of the cycloidal wheel ring. This meshing relationship ensures that when the needle tooth housing 8 is pushed by an external force, it can drive the cycloidal wheel ring to perform planetary rotational motion.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the pin-tooth shell 8 is rigidly fixed to a ring-shaped hollow pontoon 9 via bolts or other connecting components. The interior of the pontoon 9 is a sealed cavity, filled with lightweight foam material, or directly sealed to form a cavity, providing sufficient buoyancy. When the water level rises or falls, the pontoon 9 drives the pin-tooth shell 8 fixed to it and the entire anti-collision unit connected by an interlocking relationship to move vertically up and down along the guide of the metal protective shell 3 and the bearing 10, ensuring that the effective protection area of the anti-collision device always corresponds to the water surface area where the ship may collide, thus solving the problem of fixed anti-collision devices failing at different water levels.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, to ensure the safety and controllability of the floating process, annular upper limit blocks and lower limit blocks are fixedly installed at the upper and lower edges of the metal protective shell 3, respectively, forming a guide limiter 12. These two limit blocks cooperate with corresponding parts of the bearing or anti-collision unit to precisely define the floating range of the device in the vertical direction. The upper limiter prevents the device from floating out of the pier when the flood level is too high, and the lower limiter prevents the device from falling when the water level is too low during the dry season. This ensures that the device always operates within the designed protection range and ensures that the meshing accuracy of the cycloidal wheel and the needle teeth is not affected by the floating, thus ensuring the integrity of the structure and the stability of the meshing.
[0030] All major components of the entire device, such as buffer layer 2, metal protective shell 3, anti-collision module, pin tooth shell 8, float 9, etc., are connected by modular bolts to achieve detachable fixing, which facilitates on-site installation and later maintenance and replacement.
[0031] The installation method for this device is as follows: Step 1, Surface treatment of bridge piers: Sandblast the surface of the anti-collision area of bridge pier 1 to remove rust, and the rust removal level reaches Sa2.5. Then, spray anti-corrosion paint and ensure the surface is smooth after curing.
[0032] Step 2, Assembly of the base layer and guide limiter: Wrap the buffer layer 2 around the outside of the pier 1 and fix it; install the metal protective shell 3 on the outside of the buffer layer 2 and treat the surface; fix the annular guide limiter 12 on the upper and lower edges of the metal protective shell 3, leaving a floating gap.
[0033] Step 3, Anti-collision module prefabrication: Prepare anti-collision modules with consistent structure, fix the pin 11 to the cycloidal wheel rim, and then install the circular perforated wheel rim 5 and fix it in position to complete the integrated prefabrication.
[0034] Step 4, bearing and anti-collision unit assembly: fit the bearing 10 between the guide limiters 12 on the outside of the metal protective shell 3; arrange the anti-collision modules side by side and fix them in series to form an anti-collision unit, and then fit the anti-collision unit on the outside of the bearing 10 and tighten it.
[0035] Step 5, assembling the pin tooth shell and the float: rigidly fix the pin tooth shell 8 and the float 9; put the pin tooth shell 8 with the float 9 on the outside of the anti-collision unit, adjust the position so that the cycloidal wheel ring and the pin tooth are precisely engaged, and tighten the bolts.
[0036] Step 6, Debugging and Acceptance: Check the radial runout of the cycloidal wheel ring, verify the rotational flexibility and apply grease; test the limit function of guide limiter 12 and the floating performance of the device, check all connecting parts and engagement status, and the installation is completed once the acceptance is qualified.
[0037] Working principle and process: The working process of this device is divided into two modes: normal state and impact state.
[0038] Under normal conditions, the buoy 9 senses changes in water level and causes the needle-tooth shell 8 and the entire anti-collision unit to float up and down along the pier 1, so that the main part of the anti-collision device is always kept in the area near the water surface most vulnerable to ship impact, thus achieving adaptive protection.
[0039] When a ship collision occurs, the outermost pinion shell 8 is the first to come into contact. The enormous impact force acts on the pinion shell 8. Because the pinion shell 8 is in a semi-free state in the water via the float 9 and has conjugate engagement with the internal cycloidal wheel ring, this impact force forces the pinion shell 8 to tend to move relative to the cycloidal wheel ring. Since the cycloidal wheel ring is connected to the metal protective shell 3 on the pier 1 via the bearing 10 and has a certain moment of inertia, the movement of the pinion shell 8 will drive the cycloidal wheel ring to begin rotating around the axis of the pier 1. The core of this process lies in converting the ship's enormous kinetic energy along the straight line into the mechanical energy of the anti-collision unit rotating around the pier.
[0040] During rotation, the impact force is simultaneously transmitted to multiple teeth of the cycloidal wheel ring through multiple pins of the pin housing 8, effectively dispersing the concentrated force and avoiding localized impact peaks. Simultaneously, as the cycloidal wheel ring rotates, friction and minor relative collisions occur between its pin 11 and the through-hole of the circular perforated wheel ring 4. Friction also exists between the modules, and the bearing 10 itself experiences rolling friction. These mechanical frictions further consume energy. After the aforementioned kinetic energy conversion, force dispersion, and multi-stage friction dissipation, the remaining energy has significantly decreased. This energy is ultimately transmitted to the innermost buffer layer 2 through the bearing 10 and the metal protective shell 3, where it is completely absorbed by the elastic deformation of the buffer layer 2. This ensures that the impact force transmitted to the pier 1 is negligible, achieving the purpose of protecting the pier.
[0041] After the impact, if only the needle-tooth shell 8 or some external components are damaged, the damaged parts can be directly replaced due to the modular design, without the need for overall replacement, making maintenance extremely convenient.
[0042] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device, characterized in that, include: A fixing unit is coaxially nested outside the pier (1), the fixing unit being used for rigid connection with the pier (1); A collision protection unit rotatably fitted to the outside of the fixed unit, the collision protection unit including at least one cycloidal wheel rim (5, 7). A pin tooth shell (8) is fitted on the outside of the anti-collision unit. The inner ring of the pin tooth shell (8) is provided with pin teeth. The pin teeth mesh with the outer teeth of the cycloidal wheel ring (5, 7) to form a cycloidal pin wheel transmission pair. When the needle tooth shell (8) is subjected to an external impact, the impact force drives the anti-collision unit to rotate around the axis of the bridge pier (1) through the cycloidal pinwheel transmission pair, thereby converting the linear kinetic energy of the impact into rotational mechanical energy.
2. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing unit consists of a buffer layer (2) wrapped around the outside of the pier (1) and a metal protective shell (3) fixed to the outside of the buffer layer (2).
3. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The anti-collision unit also includes a circular perforated wheel (4, 6) fixedly connected to the cycloidal wheel (5, 7); the cycloidal wheel (5, 7) is rotatably connected to the metal protective shell (3) through a bearing (10).
4. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The anti-collision unit includes multiple anti-collision modules with the same structure arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the pier (1). Each anti-collision module includes a cycloidal wheel (5, 7) and a corresponding circular perforated wheel (4, 6). The multiple anti-collision modules are connected in series and fixed by pins (11) evenly arranged in the circumferential direction. One end of the pin (11) is fixedly connected to the cycloidal wheel (5, 7), and the other end is clearance-fitted with the through hole on the circular perforated wheel (4, 6).
5. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a float (9) rigidly connected to the bottom of the needle shell (8). The float (9) is an annular hollow structure used to provide buoyancy and drive the needle shell (8) and the anti-collision unit meshing with it to make adaptive water level rise and fall along the axial direction of the pier (1).
6. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper and lower edges of the metal protective shell (3) are provided with guide limiters (12) to limit the extreme position of the anti-collision unit floating along the axial direction of the pier (1).
7. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The buffer layer (2) is made of elastic wear-resistant material and is used to absorb the residual energy transmitted to the pier (1) after being attenuated by the anti-collision unit and the pin tooth shell (8).
8. The modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The needle head of the inner ring of the needle shell (8) is made of hard alloy material.
9. A method for installing the modular floating cycloidal wheel bridge pier anti-collision device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Coaxially fix the fixing unit to the outside of the bridge pier (1); Step 2: The prefabricated anti-collision unit is rotatably mounted on the outside of the fixed unit via a bearing (10); Step 3: After rigidly connecting the prefabricated needle tooth shell (8) to the float (9), the whole assembly is fitted onto the outside of the anti-collision unit, and the inner teeth of the needle tooth shell (8) are adjusted to precisely mesh with the outer teeth of the cycloidal wheel ring (5, 7) of the anti-collision unit. Step four, install a guide limiter (12) on the fixed unit to limit the overall axial floating range of the anti-collision unit and the pin tooth shell (8).
10. The installation method according to claim 9, characterized in that, In step two, the anti-collision unit is formed by connecting multiple anti-collision modules in series along the axial direction of the pier (1) via pins (11).