Vehicle Escape Ramp Arresting System with Rotating Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle escape ramp safety systems face challenges in ensuring an errant vehicle remains centered and preventing overloading of net stations, leading to uneven energy absorption and potential tape rupture during impact.
Innovation Solution
The system narrows the internal width of the ramp before net stations to maintain vehicle centering and incorporates a modified housing connection that allows rotation about both axes, using two steel straps to reduce initial peak force and prevent tape rupture by extending the acceleration time and distributing the load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the internal width of the ramp is kept constant at typical width, then the ramp structure is simpler, but the errant vehicle may not remain centered and net stations may be overloaded eccentrically
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp width is made non-uniform by introducing narrowed sections (throats) at specific locations before net stations. This local variation in width creates a centering effect that guides the vehicle toward the centerline, ensuring symmetric load distribution on the net station without requiring complex active control systems.
2Reliability
If the housing connection is rigid and fixed, then the structure is simpler, but the peak initial load on the tape during vehicle impact is excessive and may cause tape rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The housing connection is transformed from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic system capable of rotation about both vertical and horizontal axes. This dynamic capability allows the housing to adapt its orientation during vehicle impact, extending the acceleration time of the steel strap and reducing peak forces on the tape through controlled movement rather than rigid resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The modified housing connection incorporates rotational degrees of freedom that act as a mechanical cushion before the tape is fully engaged. This preliminary cushioning mechanism absorbs initial impact energy through housing rotation, preventing excessive peak loads from being transmitted directly to the tape before it reaches its operating tension.
3Reliability
If the housing cannot rotate about horizontal and vertical axes, then the housing structure is simpler, but the tape may rub on the housing and rupture during vehicle impact
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is equipped with rotational capabilities about both vertical and horizontal axes, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation in response to vehicle impact forces. This prevents the tape from rubbing against the housing by enabling the housing to rotate and follow the net's movement, maintaining proper tape alignment throughout the arresting process.
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 solution effectively centers errant vehicles, reduces peak force during impact, and prevents tape rupture, ensuring a controlled and safe stop by distributing the load and allowing the housing to rotate, thus enhancing the safety and reliability of the vehicle escape ramp system.
Implementation Method 1
two steel straps that deform plastically at a load much lower than that required to pultrude the tape through the offset pins
Implementation Method 2
This force is controlled by the frictional forces that occur between the tapes and the offset pins
Implementation Method 3
this force is controlled by the forces involved with bending of the steel strap (e.g., tape) around the offset pins as it exits the housing. Thus, energy is absorbed by a combination of bending and friction forces
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle escape ramp arresting system that includes a narrowed internal width and includes housing connection that limits the peak initial load that can be applied to a metal tape during a vehicle impact with a net and allows a housing associated with the system to rotate about both the vertical and horizontal axes to aid in slowing an errant vehicle.