Hinge Pin Retention Mechanism for Road Porthole Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hinged mounting of crowning elements, such as grids or buffers, on support frames does not allow for the secure retention of hinge pins, leading to a risk of loss during handling and installation due to the pins being removable only after resin hardening, which makes them difficult to handle and install without risk of loss.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses a removably fixed pin in a bore of the crowning element, combined with a prestressed elastic member, such as a helical compression spring, to retain the hinge pin axially within its housing, allowing it to protrude and be easily removed for secure handling and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge pin is held captive in the housing using resin before installation, then the pin is retained in the housing, but the pin can come out during handling and installation, risking loss
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is designed to be dynamically retained in the housing through a spring mechanism that allows it to be held captive during storage and handling, but enables easy extraction during installation by applying force to overcome the spring resistance. This dynamic retention system resolves the contradiction between reliable retention and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable retaining element acts as an intermediary between the hinge pin and the housing, providing controlled retention. This intermediary component allows the pin to be securely held during handling while permitting intentional removal during installation, thus resolving the contradiction between retention reliability and operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If the hinge pin is made removable for installation, then the pin can be extracted and inserted into the frame, but the pin may be lost during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin is preliminarily retained in the housing using a spring mechanism before installation occurs. This preliminary retention action ensures the pin remains secure during handling and storage, while still allowing for intentional extraction when installation is required, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and retention reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention system transitions from a static removable state to a dynamic spring-retained state, providing automatic retention during handling while maintaining ease of extraction for installation. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between preventing loss and enabling installation.
3Reliability
If the hinge pin is permanently fixed in the housing, then the pin cannot be lost, but the crowning element cannot be dismantled or extracted from the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is segmented into two functional parts: a permanent spring mechanism that prevents pin loss during handling, and a removable retaining element that allows controlled extraction of the pin for installation and future dismantling. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between preventing loss and maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic retention where the spring provides continuous retention force to prevent loss, while the removable component allows temporary release for installation purposes. This dynamic approach maintains both reliability and adaptability.
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 ensures the hinge pin remains captive within the crowning element, preventing loss during handling and enabling secure, unremovable articulation to the frame by allowing the pin to be easily inserted into a blind hole, ensuring reliable assembly and preventing extraction of the crowning element from the frame.
Implementation Method 1
a prestressed elastic member, such as a helical compression spring, to retain the hinge pin axially within its housing
Implementation Method 2
the pin partially protrudes from the crowning element under the action of the restoring force of the elastic member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for blocking an articulation axis in the housing of a crown member, such as a grid our a buffer, in a road porthole. The device is characterised in that it comprises a pin (9) removably attached to the crown member (2) so as to hold axially the articulation axis (7) in the housing (8) of the member (2) against the return force of an elastic organ (11) provided between the axis (7) and the bottom (8a) of the housing (8). The invention can be used in the field of road maintenance.