Break-Away Protective Awning for Vehicle Impact Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Awnings at commercial establishments are prone to damage when vehicles that are too tall pass underneath, potentially causing harm to both the awning and the supporting building, especially during non-business hours when no employees are present to manually collapse them.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible frame assembly with a release mechanism and break-away mechanism that allows the awning to automatically collapse upon impact, featuring a tensioning spring, release pin, and breakable hinges to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the awning is kept in a rigid extended position to provide continuous protection, then the protective function is maintained, but the awning and building are vulnerable to damage from tall vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The awning frame assembly is designed to be dynamically collapsible rather than statically rigid. The break-away hinges enable the frame to automatically collapse when subjected to excessive force from tall vehicles, transforming the structure from a fixed protective barrier into a flexible safety mechanism that absorbs impact without damaging the building
Solution Approach 2:
The break-away hinge mechanism is pre-configured with a predetermined failure point that acts as a safety cushion. This design anticipates potential vehicle impacts and provides a controlled failure mode that dissipates impact energy before it can reach the building, protecting the structure while maintaining normal protective function during non-impact conditions
2Reliability
If the awning remains extended during non-business hours to maintain readiness, then protection is available, but manual collapse is required and employees may not be present
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is designed to be automatically triggered by vehicle impact forces, eliminating the need for manual operation. When a tall vehicle contacts the awning, the break-away hinges activate the collapse sequence automatically, allowing the system to protect itself without requiring employee intervention during non-business hours
Solution Approach 2:
The manual operation requirement is extracted from the system by implementing an automatic release mechanism. The break-away hinges remove the need for human presence to collapse the awning, as the impact itself triggers the collapse action, separating the protective function from manual operational requirements
3Strength
If the awning structure is made stronger to resist vehicle impact, then damage resistance improves, but the ability to automatically collapse upon impact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The awning frame is segmented into multiple sections connected by break-away hinges at specific weak points. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain overall strength for normal protective function while having predetermined failure points that enable automatic collapse when impact forces exceed safe thresholds, resolving the contradiction between strength and collapse capability
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
The awning effectively protects itself and the building from vehicle impacts by automatically collapsing, reducing damage and ensuring safety during non-business hours.
Implementation Method 1
a tensioning spring attached to the collapsible frame assembly and the release pin
Implementation Method 2
A break-away mechanism is provided to prevent damage to the protective awning and building in the event of impact from a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A protective awning is provided for use in a commercial establishment. The protective awning includes a collapsible frame assembly, an awning cover covering the collapsible frame assembly and a support frame for securing the collapsible frame assembly to a building. A release mechanism is provided to allow the collapsible frame assembly to move from a rigid condition holding the collapsible frame assembly away from the building to a collapsed condition closer to the building. A break-away mechanism is provided to prevent damage to the protective awning and building in the event of impact from a vehicle.