Ball Joint Protective Structure for Avalanche Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective structures are not efficiently designed for energy dissipation against falling objects like rocks and avalanches, and they are not easily adaptable or transportable.
Innovation Solution
A protective structure featuring a carrier system with ball joints that allow for adjustable alignment and rotation, secured by anchors or micropiles, and a safety net with a restraining device to prevent ball joint displacement under impact forces, along with weight-optimized base plates and transportable support rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the carrier is fixed rigidly to the base plate, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability to site conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint connects the carrier to the base plate, allowing the carrier to pivot and rotate dynamically. This dynamic connection enables the carrier to adapt its alignment to various site conditions while maintaining structural stability through the constrained motion of the ball joint mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ball joint is made freely movable, then the adaptability to site conditions is improved, but the reliability under impact forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint provides controlled mobility allowing alignment adjustments through pivoting and rotating motions, while the retaining device introduces a constraint that prevents excessive movement under impact forces, achieving a balance between adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining device acts as an intermediary element between the ball and socket, allowing normal operational movement while preventing harmful displacement under extreme loads such as impact forces from falling objects
3Strength
If the base plate is made solid without recesses, then the strength is improved, but the weight deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate incorporates recesses in specific locations rather than being uniformly thin, maintaining strength in critical areas while reducing weight in non-critical areas, achieving an optimized weight-strength ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate may utilize composite construction or strategic material distribution with recesses, combining areas of high strength material where needed with lighter material or voids where full strength is not required, optimizing the overall weight-strength characteristics
4Stability of the object's composition
If the carrier is made heavy for stability, then the stability is improved, but the ease of transportation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is divided into modular components including the carrier, base plate, and safety net sections that can be transported separately and assembled on-site, reducing transportation difficulty while maintaining overall structural stability when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint connection allows the carrier to be easily positioned and adjusted during assembly and disassembly operations, facilitating transportation and repositioning while maintaining stability during operation through its constrained motion capabilities
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a protective structure (1) with a plurality of spaced-apart supports (2); with a safety net (3) which is guided on the supports (2); and with a base plate (4) per support (2) for fixing the supports (2), wherein the supports (2) are each fixed to their associated base plate (4) via a ball joint (5), and wherein the ball joint (5) has a socket (6) and a ball (7) guided in it, which is secured in position in the socket (6) by means of a retaining device (8).