Guardrail Chassis Device with Foldable Drive Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Guardrail systems with existing driving units tend to experience undesirable tilting movements, especially on uneven surfaces, which complicates their movement and stability during temporary transfers between road areas.

Innovation Solution

A chassis device for guardrail systems featuring a mounting element, a chassis with extendable and retractable driving elements, and a telescopic guide element that allows the driving elements to unfold and fold in a way that increases the horizontal distance between support points and the center of gravity, enhancing stability and reducing tilting moments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the chassis is extended to provide driving elements for movement, then the mobility of the guardrail section is improved, but the horizontal distance between support points and center of gravity decreases, reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension distance of chassisVSAvoidtilting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The driving elements are folded out horizontally (perpendicular to the chassis extension direction) rather than extending the chassis vertically or longitudinally. This dimensional change allows the support points to be positioned far from the center of gravity in the horizontal direction, maximizing stability while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The driving elements are designed to be dynamically deployable - folded in during storage/transport and folded out during operation. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize for both compactness and stability at different operational states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the driving elements are folded out horizontally perpendicular to the chassis extension, then the horizontal distance between support points and center of gravity is maximized, improving tilting stability, but the storage space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetilting stabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The driving elements are nested within or integrated into the chassis structure when retracted. The horizontal folding mechanism allows the driving elements to be stored compactly within the chassis volume, minimizing the storage space requirement while maintaining the ability to deploy them horizontally for optimal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If the driving elements are positioned close to the center of gravity for compact storage, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the tilting stability during movement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage configurationVSAvoidtilting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static compact configuration to a dynamic deployable configuration. During storage, the driving elements are retracted close to the center of gravity for compactness. During operation, they are folded out horizontally to maximize the distance from the center of gravity, optimizing stability without permanently increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2784221B1Travelling device for guard rail systems
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 KAUFMANN GMBH
  • EP2784221B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2784221B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP2784221B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

The present invention relates to a chassis device (1) for a guardrail guidance system, comprising a mounting element (12) for mounting the chassis device (1) to a guardrail section (2) of the guardrail guidance system, and a chassis (16) for moving the guardrail section (2) on a plane (3). The device (1) further comprises an actuator element (14) by means of which the chassis (16) can be extended and retracted between a rest position and a travel position. The chassis (16) has at least one travel element (165).This drive element (165) is movable from an initial position to an end position in a direction of travel (F) that is transverse to the direction of movement (B) of the chassis (16) between the rest position and the driving position and lies in the plane (3), and in particular is foldable along the direction of travel (F) such that the drive element (165) moves from the initial position to the end position when the chassis (16) extends from the rest position to the driving position, and from the end position to the initial position when the chassis (16) retracts from the driving position to the rest position. The invention further relates to a movable guardrail section 2 with such a drive device 1.