Energetically Separated Damper Support for Road Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damping devices for vehicles mounted on terminals, such as crash barriers, often suffer partial damage due to the transfer of impact energy into the steel structure, requiring significant effort to restore functionality.
Innovation Solution
The damper support is designed to be energetically separate from the terminal, with impact energy absorbed by a support post embedded in the ground, which introduces the energy directly into the subsoil, using an independent bracing system with inclined posts and a tensioning device to dissipate forces without damaging the terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the damper support is connected to the terminal structure, then the impact energy can be absorbed by the terminal, but the terminal structure suffers partial damage requiring significant restoration effort
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is segmented into independent components: the damper support, the terminal structure, and the bracing system. This segmentation allows the damper support to absorb impact energy independently without transferring damaging forces to the terminal structure, eliminating restoration needs while maintaining energy absorption capability
Solution Approach 2:
The energy-absorbing function is extracted from the terminal structure and placed into a separate damper support component. By removing the connection between the damper support and terminal structure, the terminal is protected from damage while the damper support independently handles impact energy through its bracing system
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support post is rigidly connected to the terminal, then structural stability is improved, but impact forces are transmitted to the terminal causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing system acts as an intermediary between the support post and the terminal structure. It provides the necessary stability and support for the damper while preventing direct transmission of impact forces to the terminal, thus protecting the terminal from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The bracing system is designed with specific local properties (cables, steel bands, or other bracing elements) that provide structural support where needed while allowing controlled movement and energy dissipation. This localized design ensures stability at the support post while preventing force transmission to the terminal
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 design effectively absorbs and dissipates impact energy without causing damage to the terminal, ensuring efficient operation and reduced maintenance costs by preventing force transmission to the terminal structure.
Implementation Method 1
the damper support absorbs the impact energy of the approaching vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the impact energy is introduced directly into the subsoil and the subsoil thus directly provides the counterforce for the damper support
Implementation Method 3
the support post and the anchor post are sunk into the ground at an incline, with the angle of inclination of the support post being determined by the slope angle of the lowering and the anchor post at an angle of inclination of 10° from the vertical
Implementation Method 4
the posts offer sufficient resistance against being torn out in the event of an impact
Implementation Method 5
the bracing consists of at least one cable or steel band or the like arranged between the support post and the anchor post, which is held under tension between the two posts mentioned by means of a tensioning device having springs
Implementation Method 6
the spring force of which keeps the cable or steel strip under tension
Implementation Method 7
the pressure/tension absorbing device consisting of at least one plate protruding in the ground transversely to the direction of travel. Depending on the requirements of the damping device, the plate can have an adapted surface, so that the absorption torque can be increased or decreased according to the areas of application. This increases the contact surface of the ground on the post and thus the moment of resistance when a moment acts on these posts as a result of an impact
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The invention describes a damping device (1) arranged on a terminal (2) in front of a restraint system (3) extending along a road, e.g., a guardrail system, and comprising a plurality of damping elements (4..4n) arranged one behind the other, wherein the terminal is designed as a depression (6) supported on support posts (5) and a guide (7) is formed in the longitudinal direction between the damping device (1) and the depression (6) and is held by it, wherein a damper support (8) absorbs the impact energy of a vehicle (9) that collides with it, characterized in that the damper support (1) is energetically separated from the depression (6) and introduces the impact energy directly into the ground (10), and thus the ground directly provides the counterforce for the damper support (1).