Counterweighted Inground Traffic Device for Tire Puncturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic control devices with spring-biased tire puncturing members are costly to maintain, prone to failure, and generate noise due to metallic components cycling with each vehicle passage, and lack effective calibration for optimal tire puncturing performance.
Innovation Solution
A traffic control device using counterweight members biased by gravity to deploy tire puncturing members, combined with resilient upper stop members to reduce noise and allow adjustable calibration for optimal tire puncturing without damaging permissible vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-biased tire puncturing members are used, then the device can reliably puncture tires of vehicles traveling in the wrong direction, but the springs fail frequently due to repeated cycling and require costly maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, failure-prone springs with inexpensive counterweight members that use gravity for biasing. The counterweight members are simpler, cheaper components that do not require frequent replacement, directly addressing the maintenance cost issue while maintaining the reliable tire puncturing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the spring-based mechanical biasing system with a gravity-based counterweight system. This replacement eliminates the need for elastic components that fatigue and fail, using instead the constant force of gravity to maintain the puncturing members in their operational position, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.
2Productivity
If metallic parts are cycled between working and retracted positions, then the tire puncturing members can be deployed and reset, but considerable noise is generated with each passing vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the counterweight members and stop members from metallic to non-metallic or noise-dampening materials. This parameter change maintains the functional cycling capability while significantly reducing the noise generated during operation, addressing the harmful noise factor without compromising deployment speed.
3Reliability
If the tire puncturing members are positioned to effectively puncture tires, then vehicles traveling in the wrong direction are stopped, but the positioning must be precisely calibrated to avoid damaging vehicles traveling in the correct direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustable stop members that allow dynamic calibration of the tire puncturing members' position. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise positioning optimization for different installation locations, achieving effective tire puncturing while avoiding damage to correctly traveling vehicles, without requiring complex fixed calibration mechanisms.
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 counterweight system reduces maintenance costs and noise, while adjustable stop members enhance the device's ability to effectively puncture tires of vehicles traveling in the wrong direction without harming those in the correct direction, improving longevity and performance.
Implementation Method 1
said at least one counterweight member being angularly offset about the pivot axis relative to the pointed ends of the tire puncturing members and having a mass biasing the tire puncturing members towards the working position under force of gravity alone
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic control device, for use with a roadway receiving vehicles travelling longitudinally along the roadway, includes a housing mounted transversely across the roadway with an upper supporting surface that supports the vehicles rolling over the housing. A tire puncturing frame comprised of a shaft supporting tire puncturing members thereon is rotatable within the housing between stored and working positions of the tire puncturing members relative to the upper supporting surface of the housing. Offset counterweights are coupled to the frame to bias the tire puncture members towards the working position. A latch bolt threaded into a threaded aperture in the housing selectively retains the tire puncturing frame in the stored position.