Crash Barrier Run Locking Tabs for Tensile Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash barriers, particularly those in rural and forest areas, face instability at connection points, offering limited resistance to heavy vehicles and challenging installation due to overlapping steel strips, which complicates assembly and stability.
Innovation Solution
The use of U-shaped locking tabs with a web connecting two legs, overlapping metal strips to form a continuous tension belt, providing higher tensile strength and stability, and featuring slotted holes for easier assembly and length compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel strips are overlapped in grooves to form continuous tension belt, then the tensile strength is improved, but the installation difficulty increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A U-shaped locking tab serves as an intermediary component between adjacent metal strips. The locking tab includes two legs that engage with slots in adjacent log sections and a web that overlaps the ends of metal strips, coupling them together. This intermediary element simplifies installation by eliminating the need to thread steel strips into grooves while maintaining the continuous tension belt function.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tab is segmented into distinct functional parts: two legs for engagement with log sections and a web for overlapping metal strips. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, making the overall connection system easier to install while maintaining structural integrity.
2Shape
If log sections are used with limited diameter for visual appearance, then the aesthetic integration is improved, but the resistance to heavy vehicle impact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The crash barrier combines round wood sections (providing aesthetic integration) with metal strips and locking tabs (providing high strength). The metal components compensate for the limited diameter of the wood sections, creating a composite structure that achieves both visual appeal and high impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The round wood sections maintain their natural cylindrical shape for aesthetic purposes, while the U-shaped locking tabs with curved geometry provide the necessary mechanical strength. The curved design of the locking tab legs and web distributes forces effectively, compensating for the smaller diameter of the wooden posts.
3Stability of the object's composition
If locking tabs are designed to engage over metal strips with legs and web, then the stability at coupling points is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tab merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides mechanical coupling between metal strips, engagement with log sections through slots, and stabilization against buckling and splicing. This unified design simplifies the overall connection system while achieving high stability at coupling points.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a crash barrier run (1) along a roadway, comprising a rail (2) which extends substantially parallel to the roadway and is composed of round timber sections (5) which adjoin one another at their ends. The round timber sections (5) are detachably fastened at their ends, via interposed spacers (3), to posts (4) which are anchored alongside the roadway. Each round timber section (5) is provided on its lower side (6) with a vertical groove (7). A metal strip (8) is arranged in the groove (7). The metal strips (8), which follow one another in the rail, are coupled by means of locking plates (14). The locking plates according to the invention have a U-shaped configuration and comprise two legs which are interconnected by a web. The locking plates (14) engage over ends (43, 44) of two adjacent metal strips (8), the ends (43, 44) being accommodated between the legs.