Rack protector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protection devices for rack systems fail to securely clamp onto columns during impacts, leading to detachment and increased damage, as they do not effectively utilize impact forces to enhance the clamping effect.
Innovation Solution
A protection device with a hingeably connected inner element to the outer shell, featuring guide ducts and thickened longitudinal ends, which upon impact, causes the outer shell's upright edges to move towards each other, enhancing the clamping effect and preventing detachment, while the inner element's bends and varying thicknesses absorb and distribute forces efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner element is fixedly connected to the outer shell, then the structure is stable, but the clamping effect cannot be enhanced during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The inner element is hingeably connected to the outer shell instead of being fixedly connected, allowing the structure to dynamically respond to impact forces. The hinge connection enables the inner element to rotate and generate counterforce that moves the upright edges of the outer shell towards each other, enhancing the clamping effect during impact while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.
2Force
If the inner element is made rigid, then force transmission is efficient, but the device cannot absorb and distribute impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The inner element is made of flexible material with varying thickness instead of rigid material, changing the mechanical parameters to allow both force transmission and energy absorption. The varying thickness design enables different regions to deform under impact, absorbing energy while still transmitting necessary forces, and the hinge connection allows the element to bend in a controlled manner.
3Reliability
If the outer shell is tightly clamped to the column, then protection is effective, but the device cannot adapt to different column widths
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection between the inner element and outer shell creates a dynamic system that can adapt to different column widths. When installed, the inner element can rotate at the hinge to accommodate variations in column diameter, allowing the outer shell to achieve effective clamping on columns of different sizes without requiring multiple specialized designs.
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 device securely attaches the outer shell to the column during impacts, minimizing damage and preventing detachment, and can be universally applied to different column widths due to its adaptable design, offering improved protection against collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the inner element bends in the direction of the outer shell upon impact
Implementation Method 2
the inner element, which is made of a flexible material
Implementation Method 3
the inner element will develop a counterforce upon impact which will ensure that the upright edges of the outer shell will move towards each other
Implementation Method 4
the outer shell is clamped more securely to the column
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 8~10
AI summary
The present invention relates to a protection device (1) for protecting a rack system against impact, comprising an outer shell (2) which is configured to be fitted on an upright column of a rack system, and an inner element (3) which is provided in the outer shell (2) and is made of a flexible material and which, in use, is arranged against or adjacent to a part of the column, in which the inner element (3) is hingeably connected to the inner periphery of the outer shell (2) by its longitudinal ends (6), so that the inner element (3) bends in the direction of the outer shell (2) upon impact so that this outer shell (2) is clamped more securely to the column onto which this outer shell (2) is fitted.