Segmented Barrier Arm Assembly for Breakaway Reset
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Barrier arm operators often require replacement or reattachment if struck by a vehicle due to damage, lacking breakaway and resetting capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A movable barrier assembly with a multi-segmented arm assembly and a forcing rod assembly that passively articulates segments, allowing the arm to break away and reset upon impact, reducing damage and enabling easy repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the barrier arm is made as a single rigid segment, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to break away and reset upon impact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier arm is divided into multiple segments (first arm segment and second arm segment) connected by an articulation point. This segmentation allows the arm to break away at the articulation point upon impact, preventing damage to the entire arm while maintaining structural integrity of individual segments. The segments can then be independently reset, solving the contradiction between strength and breakaway capability.
2Length of moving object
If the forcing rod assembly is positioned above the arm, then the vehicle clearance is improved, but the installation in overhead-restricted environments is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the forcing rod assembly above the arm (conventional approach), the invention inverts the arrangement by positioning it below the arm. This inversion resolves the contradiction by providing adequate vehicle clearance through the multi-segmented arm design while allowing the forcing rod assembly to be installed in environments with overhead restrictions, thus improving both clearance and installation adaptability.
3Ease of repair
If the barrier arm is designed to be replaceable, then the ease of repair is improved, but the loss of time for replacement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the barrier arm segments to be discarded (broken away) from the damaged section and recovered (reset) into position. The multi-segmented design with articulation points allows damaged segments to be easily separated and discarded, while intact segments can be recovered and reset without replacing the entire arm, thus improving ease of repair while reducing replacement time.
Data Source
AI summary
A movable barrier assembly including a barrier arm operator including: a housing; a driving mechanism supported by the housing; and a bracket coupled to the driving mechanism and driven to rotate about a rotational axis by the driving mechanism; a multi-segmented arm assembly movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the multi-segmented arm assembly including: a first arm segment coupled to the bracket; and a second arm segment coupled to the first arm segment at an articulation; and a forcing rod assembly that passively articulates the first arm segment relative to the second arm segment in response to rotation of the driving mechanism, wherein the forcing rod assembly is disposed at a vertical elevation below the arm when the arm is in the lowered position.