Adjustable Inclination Bollard Foundation Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of traditional bollards as vehicle impact barriers requires deep excavation, which is labor-intensive and costly, and their fixed inclination makes it difficult to adjust them to match local ground levels without disengaging from the ground surface.
Innovation Solution
A bollard apparatus with a foundation assembly that allows adjustable inclination of the bollard member using cementing material, which sets to fix the position, enabling shallow-mount installation and efficient force transfer during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If deep excavation is used to bury the bollard base, then impact resistance is improved, but installation labor and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bollard base is divided into two functional segments: an upper engaged portion that remains visible and accessible for impact resistance, and a lower buried portion that is partially covered by granular fill material. This segmentation allows the bollard to achieve sufficient embedment depth for strength while reducing the total excavation depth required, thereby lowering installation labor and cost.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the bollard base is buried deeper, then stability is improved, but the ability to adjust inclination is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bollard base incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the inclination of the bollard shaft can be modified by adding or removing granular fill material around the buried portion. This allows the system to transition between fixed and adjustable states, enabling inclination adjustment while maintaining stability through controlled embedment depth.
3Ease of manufacture
If shallow excavation is used, then installation ease is improved, but impact resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Granular fill material serves as an intermediary substance that is placed around the buried portion of the bollard base. This fill material provides additional friction and resistance to lateral movement, enhancing impact resistance without requiring deeper excavation. The fill material acts as a mediator between the bollard base and the ground, transferring impact forces more effectively.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the bollard base is buried, then ground engagement is improved, but the ability to engage with local ground surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bollard base design incorporates local quality variations where the buried portion is surrounded by granular fill material that provides different engagement characteristics compared to the visible portion. The fill material creates localized friction and resistance zones that maintain ground engagement while allowing for adjustment of the bollard's inclination and position relative to the local ground surface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the depth and labor required for installation, allows for accurate adjustment of bollard inclination, and effectively transfers impact forces through the cementing material into the ground, enhancing the bollard's stability and impact resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The cementing material may act in the manner—at least to some extent—of a shock absorber
Data Source
AI summary
A bollard apparatus for use as a fixed vehicle barrier including a bollard member having a base end and a foundation assembly adapted for fixed ground engagement. The foundation assembly comprises a housing part dimensioned and arranged for retaining the base end of the bollard member together with cementing material for cementing the bollard member to the foundation assembly within the housing part. The inclination of the bollard member relative to the foundation assembly is adjustable while the cementing material is not set (e.g. cured or hardened or rigid) and is fixed upon the cementing material becoming set thereby to cement the inclination of the bollard member relative to the foundation assembly.