Rotatable Bollard Design for Impact Energy Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bollards either lack sufficient impact protection or are overly expensive and complex to install, as they are either under-sized for high-energy impacts or require significant ground disruption for core-drilled installations.

Innovation Solution

A bollard design featuring an elongate outer tubular cover and inner tubular core that can rotate relative to each other, with a damper and washer system to absorb and disperse collision energy, allowing for effective impact protection without damaging the bollard or ground, and is simpler and less costly to manufacture and install.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a core-drilled bollard is used to provide high impact protection, then impact protection capability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protection capabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bollard is segmented into an outer tubular cover and an inner tubular core that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the bollard to absorb impact energy through relative rotation without requiring complex installation procedures like core-drilling. The segmented structure enables high impact protection while maintaining simple plate-mounted installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner tubular core is designed to rotate dynamically within the outer tubular cover during impact events. This dynamic movement allows the bollard to absorb and dissipate impact energy, providing high impact protection capability while maintaining a simple static installation structure that does not require core-drilling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a plate-mounted bollard is used for simple installation, then installation complexity is reduced, but impact protection capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidimpact protection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The inner tubular core rotates dynamically within the outer tubular cover when subjected to impact forces. This dynamic rotation mechanism enables the simple plate-mounted bollard to achieve high impact protection capability by dissipating impact energy through rotational movement, effectively resolving the contradiction between simple installation and adequate protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bollard utilizes changes in rotational parameters during impact events. The inner core's rotation within the outer cover transforms the impact energy, allowing a simple plate-mounted structure to provide protection comparable to or exceeding that of complex core-drilled bollards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If a conventional plate-mounted bollard is used, then installation cost is reduced, but impact energy absorption is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation costVSAvoidimpact energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable inner tubular core provides a dynamic energy absorption mechanism that allows the cost-effective plate-mounted bollard to absorb high impact energies. The rotation converts kinetic energy from impacts into rotational motion, significantly improving energy absorption capability while maintaining low installation costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bollard converts the harmful impact energy into beneficial rotational motion of the inner core. This energy transformation allows the simple, low-cost plate-mounted structure to effectively absorb and dissipate impact energies that would otherwise cause damage, turning a potential weakness into a strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 bollard provides effective collision protection by dispersing energy through the damper and allowing the outer cover to rotate, reducing damage and installation complexity, while being easier to assemble and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

a damper located at a lower end of the inner tubular core

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the outer tubular cover and the inner tubular core are both substantially circular in horizontal cross-section and the outer tubular cover is able to rotate relative to the inner tubular core

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9228305B2Bollard

Publication Date: 2016.01.05 MCCUE INT

AI summary

A bollard comprises an elongate outer tubular cover, an elongate inner tubular core located within the outer tubular cover, a damper located at a lower end of the inner tubular core, and a washer arranged to locate the damper against the inner tubular core. The outer tubular cover and the inner tubular core are both substantially circular in horizontal cross-section and the outer tubular cover and the inner tubular core are not connected together. The bollard further comprises one or more bolts, each bolt passing through the washer, damper and inner tubular core and into the ground.