Folding Arm Barrier Beam for Secure Yet Discreet Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized barrier devices lack flexibility in deployment, aesthetic integration, and compliance with national standards, particularly for applications like swimming pool fences, and do not efficiently integrate access management systems for secure and automated control.
Innovation Solution
The motorized barrier devices feature a horizontal rigid beam, folding arms, and a motorized gear arrangement with worm gears to raise and lower a flexible barrier fitment, which can be tailored for different lengths and heights, and include self-winding cables for taut stretching, allowing deployment in trenches or surrounding areas, with integrated access management systems using data recognition technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid barrier structure is used to ensure strength and stability, then security and reliability are improved, but aesthetic integration and flexibility in deployment are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device employs a folding arm mechanism that transitions between extended and retracted positions, allowing the rigid barrier element to be dynamically deployed only when needed for security, while retracted to provide aesthetic integration with the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier structure is divided into multiple folding arms that can be segmented and positioned independently, allowing the rigid barrier to be broken into manageable sections that can be stored compactly when not in use, thus improving both security when deployed and aesthetic integration when retracted
2Manufacturing precision
If the barrier device is designed with fixed dimensions to meet regulatory standards, then compliance is improved, but flexibility in deployment for different applications is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier height is made adjustable through the folding arm mechanism, which can be positioned at different angles to achieve various barrier heights, allowing the same device to comply with different regulatory standards for different applications such as pool fences or general security barriers
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows changing of key parameters such as barrier height and deployment position through the folding mechanism, enabling the same manufactured unit to be adapted to meet different dimensional requirements of various national standards and regulatory frameworks
3Device complexity
If manual operation of the barrier is used to simplify the mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but automation and efficiency of access control are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier device incorporates an automatic reversing mechanism that detects obstacles during operation and automatically reverses the barrier's movement, eliminating the need for complex manual intervention systems while maintaining automated operation and improving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses sensor feedback to detect the presence of obstacles or abnormal conditions during barrier movement, automatically triggering reversal or stopping mechanisms that enable efficient automated access control without requiring complex manual operation systems
4Reliability
If the folding arms are designed to extend fully to maximize barrier height, then barrier effectiveness is improved, but the duration to raise and lower the barrier is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The folding arm mechanism employs a geared system that provides controlled periodic motion during deployment and retraction, optimizing the balance between achieving full extension for barrier effectiveness and maintaining reasonable operation duration through efficient mechanical transmission
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 provides flexible, aesthetically pleasing, and compliant barrier devices that can automatically control access, ensuring secure and efficient protection of protected areas while meeting regulatory standards, such as swimming pool fence regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible barrier fitment preferably also includes a spring biased self-winding left cable and a spring biased self-winding right cable for ensuring it is also stretched widthwise tautly
Implementation Method 2
The flexible barrier fitment self-winds on lowering the horizontal rigid beam from its barrier position to its storage position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Present invention is for motorized barrier devices, access management systems for managing access to protected areas and installations for protecting protected areas. The motorized barrier devices include a housing (11), a horizontal rigid beam (21) having a storage position and a barrier position raised with respect to the storage position, a pair of folding arms (29,39) between the housing and the horizontal rigid beam, and a motorized gear arrangement (28,39) for raising the horizontal rigid beam from its storage position to its barrier position and lowering the horizontal rigid beam from its barrier position to its storage position.