Barrier Connector with Offset Pin Holes for Stiff Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water filled barriers used in roadways often exhibit excessive lateral deflection during vehicle impacts, which can be a concern in certain work zones where lower deflection values are desired, and existing solutions for increasing joint stiffness do not effectively address this issue, especially when the barriers are curved.
Innovation Solution
The design features laterally spaced pin holes offset from the centerline of the barrier, allowing for the use of two pins to create a rigid joint, with an internal frame and eye structures to facilitate assembly and load distribution, enabling the barriers to be configured in straight, curved, or flexible orientations to minimize deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If two pins are used to stiffen the joint, then joint stiffness is improved, but the ability to follow curves in the roadway deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design allows dynamic selection between one-pin and two-pin configurations. The openings are positioned and sized to receive either one pin or two pins, enabling the joint stiffness to be adjusted based on installation requirements. This dynamic configurability resolves the contradiction by allowing the same connector to provide both high stiffness (two pins) and curve adaptability (one pin) as needed.
2Strength
If pins are spaced further apart to increase joint stiffness, then joint stiffness is improved, but the length of the joint increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing pin spacing in the longitudinal direction (which increases joint length), the invention positions pins at laterally spaced openings offset from the centerline. This lateral positioning in a different dimension achieves the same joint stiffening effect without increasing the longitudinal length of the joint, thus resolving the contradiction.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing pin designs are used, then assembly is simple, but the joint cannot maintain stiffness in curved orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The openings are positioned asymmetrically relative to the barrier centerline, with specific lateral offsets designed to optimize joint performance. This asymmetric positioning ensures that pins engage at optimal locations that maintain joint stiffness even when the barrier is installed in a curved orientation, while still allowing simple assembly through the same opening configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A barrier system includes a plurality of elongated barriers each having longitudinally spaced ends, each configured with a connector having a pair of laterally spaced openings. The barriers are arranged in an end-to-end configuration, wherein at least two adjacent barriers are arranged with both of the pairs of openings of adjacent connectors being aligned. In one embodiment, at least two other adjacent barriers may be arranged with only one of the openings in each pair of adjacent connectors being aligned. A barrier and methods of assembling a barrier system are also provided.