Modular Security Barrier with Anchoring Spurs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security barriers are not suitable for civil engineering applications as they are not easily transportable, installable, or removable, and often cause protruding parts that pose dangers to crowds, while also being ineffective at stopping vehicles at high speeds in limited spaces.

Innovation Solution

A safety barrier with a serrated or tapered spur design that penetrates deeper into the soil, equipped with stiffening structures and a tire killer to disable vehicles, and a base plate with increased friction and a telescopic design to prevent lifting, allowing for efficient stopping and immobilization of vehicles without protruding parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed structures with fixings or anchors are used to protect sensitive objects, then stopping efficiency is improved, but transportability and ease of installation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping efficiencyVSAvoidtransportability and ease of installation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier is divided into modular components: a base plate with anchoring elements, a frame structure, and vertical bars. This segmentation allows the barrier to be transported in manageable parts and assembled on-site without requiring heavy machinery or permanent foundation work, thus maintaining both stopping efficiency and transportability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate incorporates pre-designed anchoring elements (spurs with serrated or tapered edges) that are prepared in advance. These elements are designed to penetrate and anchor into the ground upon impact or during installation, providing immediate anchoring capability without requiring complex installation procedures or heavy equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If modular reconfigurable barriers are used for civil engineering applications, then ease of installation and transportability are improved, but stopping efficiency against high-speed vehicles is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installation and transportabilityVSAvoidstopping efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical bars are designed with specific geometric features (inclined upper sections orthogonal to load-bearing bars) that concentrate impact forces onto the anchored base plate. The spurs on the base plate have optimized shapes (serrated or tapered) that maximize ground penetration and anchoring strength. These localized quality enhancements ensure high stopping efficiency despite the modular nature of the barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The spurs on the base plate feature curved or tapered geometries rather than flat surfaces. This curvature allows the spurs to more effectively penetrate and anchor into the ground upon impact, converting the horizontal impact force into vertical anchoring force, thereby improving stopping efficiency while maintaining modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If conventional barriers like Jersey-type road barriers are used, then stopping capability is improved, but weight and bulk are increased, making transport and removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping capabilityVSAvoidweight and bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on the barrier's own weight to stop vehicles, the design uses anchoring elements (spurs) that transfer impact forces into the ground. The lightweight modular structure compensates for its low mass through these anchoring mechanisms, achieving high stopping capability without requiring heavy materials or bulky construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier replaces the traditional mass-based stopping mechanism (heavy concrete barriers) with a force-transfer mechanism. The modular frame and anchored base plate create a mechanical system that transfers vehicle impact forces into the ground through the spurs, eliminating the need for heavy weights while maintaining stopping effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If barriers are designed to stop vehicles effectively, then stopping efficiency is improved, but protruding parts are created that pose dangers to surrounding crowds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping efficiencyVSAvoidprotruding parts dangerous to crowds
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The potentially dangerous protruding elements (spurs and anchoring features) are extracted from the visible barrier structure and placed underground within the base plate. Only the essential frame and vertical bars remain visible above ground, eliminating hazardous protrusions while maintaining the anchoring functionality needed for effective vehicle stopping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring spurs are nested within the base plate structure, with the sharp or serrated edges positioned to penetrate the ground while the bulk of the anchoring mechanism remains concealed within or below the surface level. This nesting allows the barrier to achieve strong ground anchoring without exposing dangerous protrusions to the surrounding environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 safety barrier effectively stops and immobilizes vehicles by penetrating deeper into the ground, reducing deformation, and preventing vehicle parts from protruding, thus ensuring crowd safety and efficient deployment in urban areas.

Implementation Method 1

The spur can be tapered to a point, i.e. have an arrowhead shape or the form of a claw. This allows the spur to penetrate deeper and more firmly into the ground.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The base plate can have a front section extending forward from the frame, the length of which is selected to be greater than or equal to the distance between the front tires and the front of a truck.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The base plate can incorporate a tire killer, which may be made of one or more pointed metal plates. This allows the vehicle to be rendered inoperable even before impact with the frame.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3759282B1Security barrier for forcing vehicles to a stop
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 VOLKMANN & ROSSBACH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3759282B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3759282B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3759282B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a security barrier for stopping a vehicle, comprising - a base (2) which is designed to lie on the ground, - a frame (3) which extends above the base (2) and is designed to absorb the impact of the vehicle, and - a pair of loading structures (4) which are designed to connect the frame (3) to the base, wherein each loading structure (4) comprises a spur (14) which is designed to contact the ground from the side opposite the impact of the vehicle and which is connected to the base (2) by means of at least one hinge (22) that has an axis (A), said axis sliding relative to the loading structure (4) in a direction which is inclined downwards from the frame (3) to the spur (14).