Coupling-Mounted Barrier Device for Train Gap Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gap between coupled vehicles, particularly in urban areas, poses a safety risk as people often attempt to cross it, leading to accidents, and existing solutions like information signs and optical barriers have been ineffective in preventing unauthorized passage.
Innovation Solution
A protective device with a barrier and fastening system is installed between the vehicles, which extends from one vehicle to the other, creating a physical barrier that can be easily attached to the coupling without additional fastening points on the vehicle fronts, using designs like fans, scissor frames, or round bellows to prevent access and adapt to varying vehicle positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If information signs or optical barriers are used to prevent people from entering the space, then the protective measure is simple to implement, but the protection effectiveness is insufficient as people ignore the instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical barriers and information signs with a physical barrier device that can be fastened to the coupling. This mechanical/physical barrier provides actual obstruction rather than relying on people's compliance with visual warnings, thereby improving protection effectiveness while maintaining relative simplicity of implementation.
2Reliability
If a protective device with multiple connection points and bulky design is used, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential protective function from complex multi-point connection systems and implements it through a simplified barrier device that fastens to the coupling. This reduces device bulkiness and complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness by focusing on the critical coupling area rather than requiring multiple connection points on vehicle fronts.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier device uses a flexible barrier element that can be fastened to the coupling, providing effective protection without requiring a bulky rigid structure. This flexible design achieves protection with minimal device complexity and space requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the protective device is attached to the vehicle fronts, then the barrier stability is improved, but additional fastening points and interventions in vehicle body structure are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing coupling structure to serve a dual function: its original coupling function plus serving as the fastening point for the barrier device. This eliminates the need for additional fastening points on vehicle fronts, avoiding interventions in vehicle body structure while maintaining barrier stability through the coupling's inherent strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a protective device (9) for arrangement in a gap (5) between two coupled vehicles (2, 3), wherein a coupling connecting the two vehicles (2, 3) is arranged in the gap (5). The protective device (9) has a barrier device (10) and a fastening device, wherein the protective device (9) can be fastened to the coupling by means of the fastening device.