Catch Fence Cable Layout for Vehicle Impact Force Redistribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety barriers at race tracks and highways fail to efficiently dissipate impact forces during collisions, potentially causing harm to drivers and spectators and increasing damage to vehicles and property.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle safety catch fence system comprising multiple posts, longitudinal cables, a transverse cable, and cable clamps, which are strategically oriented and secured to distribute impact forces across the fence system, minimizing damage and preventing debris from reaching spectators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional solid walls or rigid fences are used as safety barriers, then the barrier provides strong structural protection, but it causes severe impact forces during collisions that can harm drivers and spectators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural protectionVSAvoidimpact forces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid fence structures with flexible cable systems that can deform during impact. The cables are tensioned between posts and can stretch and redistribute impact forces, converting the harmful rigid collision into a more manageable flexible response that reduces peak forces on vehicles and spectators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the barrier system by using cables with specific tension levels and elasticity characteristics. The cables are pre-tensioned to provide structural integrity while maintaining flexibility, allowing the system to absorb impact energy through elastic deformation rather than rigid resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If rigid fence structures are used, then the barrier can stop vehicles effectively, but it creates debris and causes damage to vehicles and property

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stopping capabilityVSAvoiddebris and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable system captures vehicles through flexible tension rather than rigid contact, reducing the generation of debris. The cables can conform to the vehicle shape and distribute stopping forces over a larger area, minimizing structural damage to the vehicle while maintaining reliable stopping capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The fence system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible system that can adapt during impact. The cables can stretch, reconfigure, and redistribute forces dynamically during the collision process, providing effective vehicle capture while reducing harmful debris and damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional fence systems are used, then the barrier provides basic protection, but it cannot efficiently dissipate impact forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebasic protectionVSAvoidimpact force dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cable system utilizes elastic deformation as a form of energy phase transition, converting kinetic energy from the impacting vehicle into elastic potential energy stored in the stretched cables. This efficient energy dissipation mechanism reduces the harmful effects of impact while maintaining protective functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Data Source

PatentUS10900182B2Vehicle safety catch fence

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a vehicle safety catch fence system, the system comprising: two or more posts; two or more longitudinal cables operatively coupled between the two or more posts; a transverse cable, wherein the transverse cable is operatively coupled to the two or more longitudinal cables; and two or more cable clamps, wherein the two or more cable clamps operatively couple the transverse cable to the two or more longitudinal cables.