Retrofit Parking Meter Assembly with Segmented Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional single space parking meters are constrained by existing metal housings, limiting the integration of new features like displays, user input, power generation, and payment systems, and face issues with security, maintenance, and aesthetics due to heavy, rust-prone metal components.
Innovation Solution
A single space parking meter design that retrofits onto an existing coin vault housing using a saddle plate and modular components, including a locking mechanism, allowing for a flexible and secure housing structure with improved user interaction and maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metal housings (cast iron or ZAMAK) are used for parking meters, then security and durability are improved, but weight and cost of repair/replacement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separate parts: the existing coin vault housing (base) and the new meter assembly (top portion). This segmentation allows the heavy, secure base to remain while the lighter, feature-rich meter mechanism can be easily replaced and upgraded without replacing the entire housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The new meter assembly is designed to nest onto the existing coin vault housing, with the meter mechanism fitting within a housing cap that secures to the base. This nested structure combines the security of the metal base with the flexibility of a replaceable upper assembly.
2Reliability
If traditional metal housings are used, then security is improved, but maintenance and aesthetic quality worsen due to rust and oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the housing into a permanent metal base and a replaceable upper assembly, maintenance is simplified. The upper assembly can be easily removed and replaced without disturbing the secure metal base, and the modular design allows for easier servicing of internal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the upper housing cap or entire meter assembly to be discarded and replaced when worn or damaged, while the valuable metal base housing is retained and reused. This reduces long-term maintenance costs and material waste.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing traditional housings are reused for retrofits, then cost is reduced, but feature integration and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a fixed base and a modular upper assembly, allowing the base to be retained for cost savings while the upper assembly can be configured with various features (solar panels, displays, payment systems) to meet different requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper housing cap or meter assembly is designed as a dynamic, replaceable component that can be upgraded or reconfigured to add new features over time, transforming the static traditional housing into an adaptable platform for evolving parking meter technologies.
4Volume of moving object
If housing caps or covers are added to secure new meter mechanisms, then available space increases, but weight increases and physical security may be compromised due to gaps or tolerance sloppiness
Solution Approach 1:
The housing cap and locking mechanism are merged into an integrated assembly that works with the existing coin vault housing. The locking mechanism ensures that the combined structure maintains the high security standards of the original metal housing while providing the necessary space for modern features.
5Ease of manufacture
If the meter mechanism is placed into existing traditional housings, then retrofit cost is reduced, but serviceability challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The meter mechanism is segmented into a self-contained module within the upper assembly that can be easily removed and replaced. This modular design, combined with the secure mounting to the base, allows for quick servicing and replacement without complex disassembly, improving serviceability while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A single space parking meter assembly for retrofitting onto an existing coin vault assembly includes a number of parking meter components enclosed within a protective outer covering that is rotatably or slidably engageable with the coin vault assembly when a bottom surface of the protective outer covering is positioned against or adjacent to an upper surface of the coin vault assembly. A locking mechanism secures the protective outer covering to the coin vault assembly when the protective outer covering is engaged with the coin vault assembly.