Traffic Barrier Terminal Element Rotating Impact Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic barrier devices with terminal elements face challenges in efficiently absorbing high longitudinal forces and maintaining precise locking mechanisms, leading to complex constructions and high precision requirements.
Innovation Solution
A terminal element for a traffic barrier device featuring a guiding element and a rotatable or swivelable impact element, designed to absorb forces and simplify production and assembly, with a retaining device and locking mechanism for secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is incorporated in the flap element to absorb high longitudinal forces, then the collision protection is improved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is extracted from the flap element and integrated into the terminal element instead. This separation allows the flap element to focus solely on its primary function of providing collision protection, while the terminal element handles the locking and force absorption functions, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates in a different dimensional space by utilizing the rotational movement of the terminal element around its longitudinal axis. The locking elements engage in radial slots created by the rotational movement, transforming a complex linear locking system into a more manageable rotational locking system.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is incorporated in the flap element to absorb high longitudinal forces, then the collision protection is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal element is designed to over-constrain the locking mechanism by providing multiple locking elements that engage with radial slots. This excessive constraint ensures that even if manufacturing tolerances cause slight misalignments, the locking mechanism will still engage properly, reducing the stringency of precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes the rotational angle of the terminal element as a variable parameter. By allowing the locking elements to engage at different radial positions depending on the rotation angle, the system can accommodate manufacturing tolerances while maintaining reliable locking functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the impact element is designed to be rotatable or swivelable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding element and impact element are merged into a single integrated terminal element structure. The guiding element provides both the guidance function and the rotational mounting structure for the impact element, eliminating the need for separate complex mounting mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact element is designed to be dynamically positionable through rotation or swiveling movements. This dynamic capability allows the impact element to be easily positioned in different orientations to face oncoming traffic or be stored in a retracted position, improving ease of operation without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal element (100) of a traffic barrier device (1), having a longitudinal axis and comprising a guide element (10) and an impact element (20). The impact element (20) is pivotally mounted on the guide element (10) about an axis (A) which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (L).