Hollow End Element for In-Situ Concrete Barrier Precision

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transition from in-situ concrete guide walls to connected elements in vehicle restraint systems is complex and often results in unsatisfactory and life-threatening impacts, due to the difficulty in forming and connecting the ends of the in-situ concrete barrier with predictable shape and precision.

Innovation Solution

A closing element with a hollow body that can be filled with in-situ concrete, featuring a cavity that determines the shape of the end of the in-situ concrete guide wall, allowing for precise and reliable connection with prefabricated guide wall elements and reinforcement, and incorporating stiffening elements to enhance the connection's rigidity and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the in-situ concrete guide wall is manufactured using a paver with the finisher shifted from front end to front second end, then the in-situ concrete can be applied to the subsoil and brought into a predetermined shape, but the transition from the in-situ concrete guide wall to a connected guide wall element becomes complex and unsatisfactory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredeterminable shape of in-situ concrete guide wallVSAvoidtransition from in-situ concrete guide wall to connected element
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closing element is designed with a pre-formed hollow body that defines the exact shape and dimensions of the end of the in-situ concrete guide wall. This closing element is placed at the end of the guide wall before the in-situ concrete is poured, so that the concrete automatically assumes the correct shape and the transition to the next element is pre-determined, eliminating the complexity of forming the transition during the concrete pouring process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The closing element acts as an intermediary component between the in-situ concrete guide wall and the next guide wall element. It provides a standardized, pre-formed interface that simplifies the transition by mediating between the continuously poured concrete and the discrete next element, ensuring a reliable and repeatable connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the closing element is designed with a hollow body that can be filled with in-situ concrete, then the end element is reliably connected to the in-situ concrete and fixed in its position, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection between closing element and in-situ concreteVSAvoidmanufacturing process of closing element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closing element is manufactured as a separate, pre-formed hollow body component that is distinct from the in-situ concrete guide wall. This segmentation allows the closing element to be produced with high precision using standard manufacturing processes, and then easily integrated into the in-situ concrete system by filling the hollow body with concrete, thereby achieving reliable connection without overly complex manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If further connection elements and stiffening elements are attached to the closing element, then the connection of prefabricated baffle element is simplified and rigidity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection of prefabricated baffle elementVSAvoidnumber of elements and components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closing element is designed to integrate multiple functions into a single component: it provides the end shape of the guide wall, serves as a connection interface for the next element, incorporates stiffening elements to enhance rigidity, and provides attachment points for connection elements. By merging these functions, the overall system becomes easier to manufacture and assemble, despite the increased complexity of the individual closing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2446088B1End element
Publication Date: 2014.11.05 KIRCHDORFER FERTIGTEILHOLDING GMBH
  • EP2446088B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2446088B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2446088B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a terminating element (1) for terminating an in-situ concrete barrier (2) of a vehicle restraint system (10) at the end face thereof, said in-situ concrete barrier comprising in-situ concrete, wherein the in-situ concrete barrier (2) can be reliably terminated and with highly reproducible dimensional accuracy at the end face thereof. According to the invention, the terminating element (1) is designed as a hollow body that can be filled with in-situ concrete and that has two opposite side surfaces (12) and a first end face (11).