Breakaway Coupling Circumferential Groove Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing breakaway couplings for pole structures are prone to premature failure due to corrosion, complex designs leading to high manufacturing costs, and unpredictable failure modes, which can result in vehicle damage and passenger injury, and are not adequately resistant to environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A breakaway coupling with a multi-sided, elongated body and an internally threaded bore, featuring a horizontally disposed circumferential groove that allows predictable failure under minimal impact, constructed from corrosion-resistant free-cutting brass for durability and ease of machining, reducing manufacturing costs and installation complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If longitudinal grooves are used in breakaway coupling, then the coupling can fail easily under impact, but the coupling is prone to corrosion and premature failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidcorrosion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling is divided into multiple body elements that can separate upon impact, with circumferential grooves enabling clean horizontal separation. This segmentation allows the coupling to fail predictably under impact while the grooves are positioned to avoid corrosion traps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The failure mechanism transitions from longitudinal (vertical) grooves to circumferential (horizontal) grooves, changing the dimension of the weak point. This dimensional change ensures that failure occurs in a direction that prevents undercarriage damage while avoiding corrosion issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple body elements are used in breakaway coupling, then the coupling can provide breakaway function, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakaway functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple body elements are merged into a single corrosion-resistant material construction, eliminating the need for separate materials and reducing manufacturing complexity. The grooves are integrated directly into the material structure rather than requiring separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling structure serves multiple functions: it provides breakaway capability through circumferential grooves, ensures corrosion resistance through material selection, and enables predictable failure modes. This multi-functionality is achieved through an integrated design rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If vertical failure mode is used, then the coupling can fail under impact, but the coupling sections can exceed safe height and cause vehicle damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact failureVSAvoidvehicle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The failure mode is made asymmetric by using circumferential grooves that enforce horizontal separation, preventing the vertical failure mode that would leave long sections on the foundation. This asymmetric design ensures safe failure characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of incomplete failure is converted into a benefit by designing grooves that ensure complete horizontal separation. The groove geometry is designed to propagate failure completely across the coupling, turning a potential partial failure into a reliable complete failure mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Strength

If frangible design is used, then the coupling can fail under impact, but the coupling may fail prematurely due to corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefrangibilityVSAvoidpremature failure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The material parameters are changed to use corrosion-resistant materials, and the groove geometry parameters are optimized to prevent corrosion trap formation. This allows the coupling to maintain its frangible design while resisting premature corrosion failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8726582B2Breakaway couplings for transportation structures

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 HAHIN CHRISTOPHER

AI summary

A breakaway coupling for joining a generally vertical pole structure to a supporting foundation is provided. The breakaway coupling is provided with a multi-sided, elongated body, which may be square-shaped, hexagonal, or generally polygonal in shape. The multi-sided, elongated body is provided with an upper end and a lower end, an outer surface, and is machined to have an internally threaded bore that extends between the upper end and the lower end of the multi-sided, elongated body. The outer surface of the multi-sided, elongated body of the breakaway coupling is provided with at least one horizontally disposed, circumferential groove extending partially into the multi-sided, elongated body toward the internally threaded bore and also extending to a critical notch depth.