Protective Barrier With Rounded Metallic End Caps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Collisions between stock handling equipment and obstacles such as shelving, support columns, or walls in industrial facilities often result in damage to both the equipment and the obstacles, particularly around corners where collisions are common and can lead to shelving collapse.

Innovation Solution

A protective barrier system featuring plastic bumper rails and rounded metallic end caps or connectors is anchored to the ground, deflecting and absorbing collision forces to prevent damage, with the metallic components fabricated using a sand casting process for increased strength and complex shape integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective barrier is installed at the end of a shelf to prevent collisions, then the shelf is protected from damage, but the complexity of the protective barrier structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidbarrier structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective barrier is divided into multiple functional segments: plastic bumper rails for absorbing direct collisions, and rounded metallic end caps for deflecting glancing collisions. Each segment is independently optimized for its specific protective function, allowing the system to address multiple collision types without requiring a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier combines two different materials with complementary properties: plastic material for energy absorption through deformation, and metallic material for force deflection through rigidity and rounded geometry. This composite approach enables the barrier to handle both direct and glancing collisions effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If rounded metallic end caps are used to deflect glancing collisions, then the shelf corner is protected, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorner protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The metallic end caps feature rounded surfaces instead of sharp edges. This curvature enables glancing collisions to be deflected along the rounded surface, preventing concentrated forces at corners. The rounded geometry is achieved through standard casting processes, balancing protective effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If plastic bumper rails are used to absorb direct collision forces, then the shelf end is protected, but the barrier becomes less rigid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision absorptionVSAvoidbarrier rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic bumper rails are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters optimized for energy absorption. The plastic material's viscoelastic properties allow it to deform under impact forces, converting kinetic energy into deformation energy. The rail's cross-sectional geometry and mounting configuration are tuned to provide adequate rigidity while maintaining absorption capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 reduces collision forces, preventing significant damage to stock handling equipment, obstacles, and the protective barriers themselves by deflecting and absorbing impacts, thereby enhancing safety and reducing maintenance costs in industrial facilities.

Implementation Method 1

The rounded shape of the metallic caps deflects stock handling equipment that is about to collide with a corner of the end of the shelf away from the corner, thereby preventing a collision between the shelf and the stock handling equipment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeflection:

Implementation Method 2

The plastic bumper rail of the protective barrier prevents the stock handling equipment from directly colliding with the end of the shelf by absorbing the force of direct collisions between the barrier and the stock handling equipment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

A protective barrier includes a plastic bumper rail with two ends. A rounded metallic end cap is installed at each of the two ends of the plastic bumper rail. The protective barrier is positioned and anchored into the ground at an end of a shelf

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical anchoring: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10060154B2Protective barrier

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 MCCUE CORP

AI summary

A protective barrier includes a hollow plastic rail including first and second ends, a rounded metallic member disposed on the first end and a second metallic member disposed on the second end. The rounded metallic member includes a first opening for receiving the first end of the hollow plastic rail, a first anchoring mechanism for anchoring the rounded metallic member and the first end of the hollow plastic rail to a surface, and a rounded protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the rounded metallic member for receiving a force of impact and deflecting the force of impact away from the rounded metallic member. The second metallic member includes a second opening for receiving the second end of the hollow plastic rail and a second anchoring mechanism for anchoring the second metallic member and the second end of the hollow plastic rail to the surface.