Piezoelectric Road Sensor Hollow Profile with Force Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements for roadways are cumbersome due to the high weight of the roadway pouring compound, making transportation and installation difficult, and are prone to inaccuracies and reduced availability due to rolling forces and potential detachment of the compound under vehicle braking.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement with a hollow profile and piezoelectric measuring arrangement that includes a separating element with distribution openings, eliminating the need for roadway pouring compound, allowing for flexible installation and improved anchoring of the embedding compound, which prevents rolling forces from interfering with weight detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If road surface grout is used to encase the sensor assembly, then the sensor assembly is anchored in the road surface, but the weight of the sensor assembly increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the road surface grout from the sensor assembly design. Instead of encasing the sensor in grout, the invention uses a hollow profile that is directly anchored into the road surface through its force anchoring flange, eliminating the need for heavy grout material while maintaining anchoring reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the hollow profile with force application flange, tube section, and force anchoring flange are separate elements that work together. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without requiring heavy encasement material
2Object-affected harmful factors
If road surface grout is used to encase the sensor assembly, then the sensor assembly is protected from environmental influences, but transportation and installation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The road surface grout is extracted and removed from the design. Protection from environmental influences is achieved through the hollow profile structure itself and the force anchoring flange that secures the assembly in place, eliminating the need for heavy grout encasement that complicates installation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the protective mechanism from chemical/physical encasement in grout to mechanical anchoring through the force anchoring flange. This parameter change in the protection method reduces weight and simplifies installation while maintaining corrosion protection
3Stability of the object's composition
If road surface grout is used, then the sensor assembly is stable in the road surface, but rolling forces distort the measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating foam sections and insulating compounds act as intermediary elements between the road surface and the hollow profile. These intermediaries provide stable anchoring while preventing the transmission of rolling forces to the piezoelectric measuring device, thus maintaining both stability and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the road surface grout that was causing rolling force transmission. The hollow profile is anchored directly into the road surface without grout encasement, and the insulating materials provide the necessary isolation to prevent rolling force distortion
4Adaptability or versatility
If road surface grout protrudes from the road surface in ruts, then the sensor assembly can be installed in ruts, but additional grinding work is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the installation parameter by eliminating the grout encasement that required grinding. The hollow profile can be directly installed in ruts at various depths without requiring the grout to be ground down, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining adaptability to different road conditions
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
This solution simplifies the installation process, reduces the weight and cost of transporting the sensor, enhances accuracy, and increases the availability by preventing rolling force interference and compound detachment, ensuring reliable weight detection.
Implementation Method 1
the piezoelectric measuring arrangement detects a weight force acting on the force application surface and directs into the hollow profile and outputs electrical signals which are proportional to the magnitude of the detected weight force
Implementation Method 2
The separating element prevents rolling forces from being directed into the hollow profile. The separating element has at least one distribution opening through which embedding material can flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a receptacle arrangement (1) for installation in a road surface; wherein the receptacle arrangement (1) comprises a hollow profile (2) and a piezoelectric measuring system (3); wherein the hollow profile (2) comprises a chamber and the piezoelectric measuring system (3) is arranged in mechanical contact with the hollow profile (2) in the chamber; wherein the hollow profile (2) comprises an external force introduction area (200) and the hollow profile (2) directs a gravity force acting on the force introduction area (200) onto the piezoelectric measuring system (3); and wherein the piezoelectric measuring system (3) detects an introduced gravity force and outputs electrical signals proportional to a variable of the detected gravity force; wherein the receptacle arrangement (1) comprises a partition element (4, 4`, 4``), which partition element (4, 4`, 4``) does not direct a rolling force acting on the partition element (4, 4`, 4``) into the hollow profile (2); and wherein the partition element (4, 4`, 4``) comprises at least one distribution opening (40, 40`) through which distribution opening (40, 40`) bedding compound (5) can flow.