Signpost Support With Angled Spring Anchor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Signposts often bend or rotate due to wind and external pressures, as existing support systems fail to provide adequate stability and prevent rotation effectively.
Innovation Solution
A signpost support system featuring a vertical bar with a ground anchor that includes a spike, tab, and spring section, where the spring section is angled away from the vertical bar to exert a spring force and prevent rotation, and the tab and spike configurations enhance stability by preventing the signpost from being inserted too far into the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple vertical bar is used to support a signpost, then the installation is easy and device complexity is low, but the signpost bends or rotates due to wind and external pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate functional components: a vertical bar for positioning, a ground anchor with spikes for securing to the ground, a spring section for preventing rotation, and tabs for limiting insertion depth. Each component addresses a specific stability issue independently, maintaining overall system simplicity while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If a rigid support structure is used to prevent rotation, then stability is improved, but the structure cannot accommodate signpost movement or installation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The spring section provides a dynamic, flexible connection between the vertical bar and the ground anchor. It allows controlled movement and adjustment during installation while maintaining rotation prevention during operation. The spring's elasticity enables the structure to adapt to installation variations and environmental forces without compromising stability.
3Reliability
If the spring section extends far from the vertical bar to prevent rotation, then rotation resistance is improved, but the insertion depth becomes uncontrolled and installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is positioned to protrude from the ground anchor before the spring section is fully compressed during insertion. This preliminary positioning of the tab provides a mechanical stop that automatically limits the insertion depth of the vertical bar into the signpost, ensuring proper positioning without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
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 system effectively stabilizes signposts against rotation and bending, ensuring they remain upright under various environmental and external forces, such as wind and human interaction, while allowing easy installation and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring section coupled to the body section and extending toward the first end of the vertical bar. The spring section is angled away from the vertical bar... where the spring section exerts a spring force away from the vertical bar
Data Source
AI summary
A signpost support includes a vertical bar with a first end and a second end, and a ground anchor coupled to the vertical bar between the first end and the second end of the vertical bar. The ground anchor includes a body section coupled to the vertical bar, a spike extending from the body section, where the spike is oriented toward the second end of the vertical bar, a tab coupled to the body section and oriented perpendicular the vertical bar, and a spring section coupled to the body section and extending toward the first end of the vertical bar. The spring section is angled away from the vertical bar.