Inflatable Barrier Arm for Vehicle Safety Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Road workers such as refuse collectors and delivery drivers face risks of injury or death due to vehicles passing too close while they are working alongside the road, as existing safety measures like high-visibility cones and lights do not effectively deter dangerous driving and may not be practical or visible enough.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle safety barrier system with an inflatable barrier arm that can move between stowed and operational positions, equipped with lights, sensors, and a pneumatic system for deployment, which creates a safe passing distance and can be activated remotely or automatically to deter vehicles from passing too close.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-visibility cones are placed on the road to define a safe space, then road workers are provided with a safer working environment, but it is not always practical to lay out cones when the vehicle is required to move frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier arm is designed to be movable between a stowed position (alongside the vehicle) and a deployed position (extending into the road). This dynamic configuration allows the barrier to adapt to different working conditions - providing safety when needed and being compact when the vehicle needs to move, thus resolving the contradiction between safety reliability and operational practicality
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier arm is inflatable, using pneumatic pressure to extend the barrier into the road and deflate to retract it. This pneumatic mechanism enables rapid deployment and retraction without manual handling of physical cones, making the safety system both reliable and practical for frequently moving vehicles
2Loss of information
If additional lights are used to indicate a safe passing distance, then an additional indication is provided, but there may be difficulties in seeing them in daylight and they do not physically deter a third-party vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines both visual indication (lights on the barrier arm) and physical deterrence (the actual barrier arm extending into the road) into a single integrated system. The barrier arm itself serves as both the warning indicator and the physical obstacle, merging two functions that were previously separate and ineffective when used alone
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier arm incorporates lights that can change color or flash to enhance visibility in daylight conditions. This addresses the visibility issue by using optical signals that remain effective during daytime, complementing the physical presence of the barrier
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a barrier arm is deployed to physically deter vehicles, then a safe passing distance is enforced, but the system becomes more complex with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier arm incorporates sensors that automatically detect when a vehicle is approaching too closely and trigger the barrier to deploy without manual intervention. The system also includes automatic retraction when the threat passes. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex manual control systems while maintaining effective deterrence
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical control systems with sensor-based detection and automated pneumatic actuation. Instead of requiring complex mechanical linkages and manual controls, the system uses electronic sensors to detect vehicle proximity and triggers pneumatic inflation to deploy the barrier, simplifying the overall system architecture
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 system effectively creates a safe working environment by physically indicating a safe passing distance and deterring vehicles from passing too close, enhancing visibility and safety through dynamic deployment and sensor feedback, while being adaptable to various working conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator, wherein the actuator is arranged in use to cause the or each vehicle safety barrier to move between a first, stowed position, and a second, operational position. The actuator may be a pneumatic system.
Implementation Method 2
The vehicle safety barrier may further comprise a biasing means for biasing the barrier arm into the stowed position. The biasing means may be a recoil spring.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle safety barrier, for mounting on a vehicle, comprises a deployable barrier arm, wherein the barrier arm is configured for movement between a first, stowed position, and a second, operational position and wherein, in the second position, the barrier arm is arranged to project a predetermined distance from the vehicle to indicate a safe passing distance for another road user.