Cable Safety Fence Noise Panel Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable road safety fences lack noise reducing capabilities and are prone to disintegration upon vehicle impact, posing a risk of severe injuries from flying objects and sharp fractures.

Innovation Solution

Integration of noise absorbing panels with energy absorbing materials, such as mineral wool fibre boards encased in stretch metal netting, mounted at different levels on the cables to absorb energy and prevent disintegration during collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If noise absorbing panels are added to cable safety fences, then noise reduction capability is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines noise absorption function with the existing cable safety fence structure by mounting panels directly onto the cables. This merging approach adds noise reduction capability while utilizing the existing structural framework, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable safety fence structure is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it maintains its original safety barrier function while simultaneously providing noise reduction through the attached panels. This multi-functionality approach allows one structure to address both safety and noise concerns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If noise absorbing panels are mounted on cables, then noise reduction is achieved, but risk of disintegration upon impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoidresistance to disintegration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary protective measures by encasing the noise absorbing panels in energy absorbing material before they are mounted on the cables. This pre-protection ensures that when impact occurs, the panels are already prepared to absorb energy and resist disintegration, maintaining reliability while providing noise reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The noise absorbing panels are surrounded by energy absorbing material that acts as a cushion before impact occurs. This beforehand cushioning protects the panels during vehicle collisions, preventing disintegration while maintaining the noise reduction function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If panels are mounted at single level on cables, then installation is simplified, but panels may swing around cables during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidpanel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the mounting system into multiple levels along the cable structure. By distributing mounting points at different heights and positions, the panel is segmented into a more stable configuration that prevents swinging while still maintaining relatively simple installation procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If brittle materials like glass or plastic are used for noise absorbing panels, then noise reduction is achieved, but panels break upon vehicle impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction capabilityVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material construction by encasing noise absorbing panels in energy absorbing material. This composite structure combines the noise reduction properties of materials like mineral wool with the impact resistance of surrounding protective material, achieving both noise reduction and impact resistance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses energy absorbing material that can deform and absorb impact energy in place of brittle permanent structures. This approach accepts controlled deformation of the protective material to prevent disintegration and flying objects, maintaining safety while providing noise reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Enhances road safety by effectively absorbing vehicle impact energy, preventing panel disintegration, and providing a continuous noise-reducing barrier that maintains structural integrity and safety.

Implementation Method 1

the noise absorbing panel comprises a noise absorbing material board which is encased in an energy absorbing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

the noise absorbing panel comprises a noise absorbing material board which is encased in an energy absorbing material provided with openings. Such an energy absorbing material provided with openings can be formed by a mesh, a grid or a perforated material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3737796B1Cable safety fence with noise absorbing panel
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 ROCKWOOL AS
  • EP3737796B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3737796B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3737796B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention concerns a cable road safety fence for installation at a lateral or median side of a road, said cable safety fence comprises a series of spaced apart upright posts (1), and a plurality of tensioned cables (2) provided at different levels on and supported by said posts (1), wherein at least one noise absorbing panel (3) is mounted onto the cables (2) with at least two mounting points (4), said points being at different levels.