Arcuate Rack Impact Barrier With Deflection Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support structures, such as warehouse storage racks, are vulnerable to damage from direct impact by moving vehicles, leading to potential collapse and increased risk of injury, along with associated repair and disruption costs.
Innovation Solution
An impact barrier with deflection elements and living hinges is designed to absorb and dissipate impact energy, featuring an arcuate outer wall with non-contiguous deflection elements that deform upon impact, and hinges facilitating easy installation and removal, allowing the barrier to securely attach to the support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If protective barrier guards and guide rails are used to protect support members, then protection against contact is improved, but protection against direct impact load is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier incorporates deflection elements with specific geometric parameters (arcuate shape, thickness variations, material properties) that enable controlled deformation under impact loads. These parameter changes allow the barrier to transition from a rigid protective shell to a energy-absorbing structure during direct impact, resolving the contradiction between contact protection and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection elements are pre-configured with inherent flexibility and energy-absorbing characteristics before impact occurs. The arcuate outer wall and internally positioned deflection elements create a cushioning effect that activates upon direct impact, providing beforehand prepared protection against impact loads while maintaining contact protection functionality.
2Reliability
If a rigid barrier structure is used to protect against impact, then impact resistance is improved, but ease of installation and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is segmented into multiple functional elements: an outer wall, three deflection elements positioned at specific intervals, and hinge mechanisms. This segmentation allows the barrier to maintain rigid impact resistance through the structured arrangement of elements while enabling easy installation and removal through the hinge-based attachment system that facilitates controlled deformation and repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier incorporates dynamic characteristics through deflection elements that can deform under impact loads and hinge mechanisms that enable movement between attached and removed states. The deflection elements transition from a static protective configuration to a dynamic energy-absorbing state during impact, while the hinges provide dynamic attachment/detachment capability, resolving the contradiction between rigid impact resistance and ease of operation.
3Loss of energy
If multiple deflection elements are added to dissipate impact energy, then impact energy absorption is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption function is segmented across three deflection elements positioned at different locations within the barrier structure. This segmentation distributes the impact energy dissipation across multiple controlled deformation points rather than requiring a single complex energy-absorbing mechanism, thereby improving energy absorption while managing device complexity through modular positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
Each deflection element is positioned to address specific impact scenarios: the first deflection element handles impacts from one direction, the third deflection element (positioned between the first and second) addresses central impact zones, and the second deflection element handles impacts from the opposite direction. This local quality assignment optimizes energy absorption for different impact vectors while maintaining manageable complexity through targeted placement.
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 impact barrier effectively reduces the risk of damage to support structures by absorbing impact energy, preventing collapse and minimizing disruption, while allowing for easy installation and removal without requiring tools or anchoring.
Implementation Method 1
In response to an impact, at least one of the first, second or third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated from the impact
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the first, second or third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated from the impact
Implementation Method 3
the first and second hinges facilitate movement of the first and second ends between a locked position to secure the protector to the storage rack and an unlocked position
Implementation Method 4
The first and second deflection elements each include a planar segment positioned to abut and otherwise frictionally contact the support structure
Data Source
AI summary
An impact barrier for a storage rack support structure includes an arcuate outer wall having opposed first and second ends, the first and second ends being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. The impact barrier further includes a first deflection element, a second deflection element, and a third deflection element, wherein the third deflection element is position between the first and second deflection elements. The first deflection element extends from the first end to a first medial position on the outer wall between the first end and the third deflection element, and the second deflection element extends from the second end to a second medial position on the outer wall between the second end and the third deflection element. Upon impact, the first, second and third deflection elements deform to dissipate the energy generated by the impact.