Road Shoulder Stone With Gradient Grooves For Drainage And Warning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing road shoulder stones lack multifunctionality in effectively draining rainwater and providing a warning mechanism for drivers as they leave the lane, with existing solutions failing to combine these functions efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A concrete block with grooves of increasing depth on its top surface, designed to drain rainwater and generate a noise warning as vehicles deviate from the lane, featuring a flat top surface for good trafficability, varying channel gradients for optimized drainage and noise generation, and a connecting pin for additional functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If grooves are formed on the top surface of the stone, then water drainage capability is improved, but the surface flatness and trafficability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage capabilityVSAvoidtrafficability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The top surface of the stone is designed with local quality variation: the edge region maintains a completely flat surface for vehicle trafficability, while the inner region contains grooves for water drainage. This spatial differentiation allows both functions to coexist without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the depth of grooves increases towards the outside, then water drainage efficiency is improved, but the noise generation for warning drivers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage efficiencyVSAvoidwarning noise generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The groove depth is varied as a gradient parameter, increasing from the inside towards the outside of the stone. This parameter change optimizes water drainage towards the outer edges while the varying depth creates turbulence that generates warning noise when vehicles pass over.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of repair

If channels are formed obliquely towards the outside, then cleaning by wind from passing vehicles is improved, but the structural complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidchannel arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The channels are arranged obliquely at angles of 45° to 85° relative to the outside, utilizing the angular dimension to enable wind from passing vehicles to effectively clean the channels. This angular arrangement transforms the cleaning mechanism from vertical to oblique flow, improving accessibility while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Strength

If the edge region of the top surface is kept flat without channels, then the strength of the stone and driving ability are improved, but the water drainage coverage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestone strengthVSAvoidwater drainage coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The top surface is segmented into two functional zones: a flat edge region for structural strength and vehicle passage, and an inner region with grooves for water drainage. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution ensures stable and easily passable road shoulders with effective water drainage and a warning noise that increases in loudness as vehicles leave the lane, enhancing safety and durability while allowing for compact laying and easy cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

rainwater that flows, for example, from the roadway onto the shoulder, is reliably drained away

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

vehicles driving over the gutters produce a noise that serves as a warning sound to the driver that they are leaving the lane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical to acoustic energy conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3091124B1Stone for reinforcing the embankments of roads
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 GEIGER PETER
  • EP3091124B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3091124B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3091124B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a stone (1) for securing road shoulders, which has a roadway side (2) facing the road in the installed state of the stone of a roadway (100), an outer side (3) opposite the roadway side (2), and a top surface (4), wherein grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) are formed on the top surface (4), and wherein the respective depth of the grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) increases in the direction of the outer side (3).