Deformable Post Arrangement for Reliable Vehicle Impact Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing break-away post or column arrangements fail to consistently release from the fundament when hit by a vehicle due to factors like varying impact height and direction, leading to increased risk of non-slipping and potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A deformable arrangement featuring at least three screws around the post's periphery, with guiding means, large washers, and a flange that facilitates smooth slipping by increasing the distance between screws and the post, allowing for easy release from the fundament during accidents, utilizing guiding plates and washers to direct screws out of their recesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws are arranged close to the outer periphery of the post to provide strong anchoring, then the anchoring strength is improved, but the post becomes difficult to release from the fundament when hit by a vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guiding means (guiding plates with guiding slots) as an intermediary mechanism between the screws and the post periphery. The guiding slots allow screws to move outward along a controlled path during impact, enabling the post to release reliably while maintaining strong anchoring during normal conditions. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing a mechanism that transitions the screw position from a fixed close-periphery state to a released state during impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the screw positioning dynamic through the guiding means that allow screws to move along guiding slots. During normal operation, screws are positioned close to the periphery for strong anchoring. During vehicle impact, the guiding slots enable screws to move outward, facilitating post release. This dynamic adjustment of screw position resolves the contradiction between needing strong anchoring and needing reliable release.
2Reliability
If the post is designed to release easily from the fundament during impact, then safety is improved, but the post may release due to normal forces like wind and snow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of friction through the use of guiding slots and washers. The guiding slots provide a controlled friction environment that allows screw movement during impact while maintaining screw holding during normal conditions. The washers increase the friction surface area, helping to maintain stability under normal forces while allowing release during higher impact forces. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between easy release and stable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different local qualities to different parts of the connection system. The guiding slots provide a low-friction path for screw movement in specific directions (during impact), while the washer-flange-screw assembly provides high-friction stable connection in normal conditions. This local differentiation of friction characteristics resolves the contradiction between release ease and connection stability.
3Reliability
If guiding means are added to facilitate screw release, then release reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection system into distinct functional components: screws, washers, flange, and guiding means with guiding slots. Each segment has a specific function - screws provide anchoring, washers provide friction and distribution, flange provides structural support, and guiding means enable controlled release. This segmentation allows the complex release function to be achieved through simple, well-defined components rather than a monolithic complex structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a deformable arrangement for securing an elongated post (10) or column to a fundament (11). The post or column has a longitudinal axis (A). The arrangement comprises: at least three screws (34), said each screw having a longitudinal axis (B) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (B) of the other screws and the longitudinal axis (A) of the post or column; guiding means (21); at least two substantially circular washers (33) for each screw (34; and a flange (30) extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis (A). The guiding means (21) are arranged on the outside periphery of the post or column and the flange (30) is arranged on the fundament, alternatively the flange arranged on the post or column and the guiding means on the fundament, said screws (34) are extending within said guiding means (21) and said recesses (31) and the flange (30) and the guiding means (21) clamped between the washers (33) in order to secure the post (10) or column to the fundament (11).