Vehicle Restraint System Front End Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle restraint systems, particularly the standard lowering constructions, face issues with stability and guiding behavior for approaching vehicles, leading to potential loss of contact with the ground and uncontrolled entry into traffic or tipping over, especially on high-speed roads.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle restraint system incorporates spacers with a connection area in the roadway-side front half of their length, offsetting posts from the roadway edge, providing a support surface for vehicles and widening the base for better stability and guidance, with a tension belt along the spacers to ensure safe vehicle guidance and prevent tipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If posts are offset to the rear away from the roadway and crash barriers are connected via spacers, then the lowering structure is formed, but the stability and guiding behavior for approaching vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional connection approach by positioning the connection area in the front half of the spacer instead of the rear half. This reversal changes the mechanical leverage and support characteristics, improving vehicle guidance and stability while maintaining the lowering structure's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a longitudinal offset dimension to the connection area, positioning it forward along the spacer length. This dimensional change creates a more favorable support geometry for approaching vehicles, enhancing stability without compromising the lowering effect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a standard lowering is used, then the transition from non-existent to full containment capacity is achieved, but vehicles may lose contact with the ground and enter flowing traffic in an uncontrolled manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing support surfaces and guidance structures before the vehicle fully engages with the lowering. The connection area in the front half of the spacer creates early contact points that guide the vehicle safely through the transition, preventing loss of control before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer with its forward-positioned connection area acts as an intermediary element between the post and the crash barrier. This intermediary structure provides gradual support and guidance, mediating the transition from no containment to full containment while maintaining vehicle control.
3Device complexity
If the connection area is in the center of the spacer, then the structure is simple, but the support capacity and guiding behavior for vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the connection function in a specific region (front half) of the spacer rather than distributing it uniformly. This localized connection area provides optimized support characteristics for vehicle guidance while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle restraint system 1 for arrangement alongside a roadway, comprising posts 3 fixed to the ground 2 and a guardrail section 5 extending along the roadway side along the post 3, consisting of interconnected guardrail sections 6, and featuring a start/end structure in the form of a depression 7. In the depression 7, the guardrail sections 6 are lowered from a start/end point A/E of the guardrail section 5 towards the ground 2. The guardrail sections 6 are mounted at the roadway-side ends of spacers 9 in the depression 7. The spacers 9 are fixed to the free ends of posts 10, with the connection between the spacer 9 and the post 10 being located in a connection area situated in the roadway-side front half of the length of a spacer.The spacers 9 are used to support the guardrails 6 and to create a support surface for a vehicle driving onto them. This reduces the risk of a vehicle driving onto the dip 7 being deflected back onto the roadway into the flow of traffic or tipping over on the other side of the dip 7.