Tripod Lane Separator with Hollow Foot for Uneven Ground Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportable lane separator elements are unstable on uneven ground, prone to wear, difficult to stack and transport, and lack efficient assembly mechanisms, making them inefficient for forming effective separation barriers.
Innovation Solution
A transportable lane separator element with a flattened parallelepiped body and a hollow foot forming a tripod structure, capable of receiving ballast load, featuring reinforced supports and reversible attachment means for stability and easy assembly, made from plastic via extrusion blow molding and injection for enhanced durability and stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat base is used for support, then the shape is simple to manufacture, but the element becomes unstable on uneven ground
Solution Approach 1:
The flat base is replaced with a curved base featuring an arc-shaped lower surface that can adapt to uneven ground surfaces. This curvature allows the separator element to maintain stable contact with irregular terrain while preserving manufacturing simplicity through rotational molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is extended from a two-dimensional flat surface to a three-dimensional curved surface with adaptive geometry. The arc-shaped lower surface introduces a new dimensional characteristic that enables the base to conform to varying ground profiles, thereby achieving stability without compromising manufacturing ease.
2Length of moving object
If the separator element is made narrow, then it is easier to transport, but it becomes unstable due to small lateral wheelbase
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element employs an asymmetric cross-sectional design where the width varies along its length. The body is narrower at the top for transportability but widens toward the base, creating a larger lateral wheelbase at the support level. This asymmetric geometry reconciles the conflicting requirements of easy transport and lateral stability.
3Device complexity
If the bottom of the body is used as support surface, then the structure is simple, but it suffers from rapid wear due to friction on rough ground
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is extracted from the main body of the separator element and assigned to a dedicated base component. This separation allows the base to be specifically designed for wear resistance through material selection and geometric features, while the main body retains its structural simplicity and primary separation function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the separator element are assigned different material properties and functional characteristics. The base is designed with enhanced wear resistance through material selection and geometric features such as increased thickness or protective coatings at the contact surface, while the main body maintains its original properties for optimal separation performance.
4Ease of operation
If male-female assembly means are used, then the elements can be connected, but they are difficult to disassemble and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly mechanism transitions from a static interlocking system to a dynamic one with controlled engagement and disengagement. The connection means incorporate movable elements such as spring-loaded latches or cam mechanisms that allow easy insertion but require deliberate action for removal, balancing assembly ease with controlled disassembly.
5Stability of the object's composition
If the separator element is made heavy for stability, then it resists displacement, but it becomes difficult to maneuver and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element incorporates an internal ballast cavity that can be selectively filled with ballast material to provide counterweight for stability. When stability is needed, the cavity is filled; when maneuverability is required, the ballast can be removed or reduced, allowing dynamic adjustment of the weight-stability-manueverability balance.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a stackable, temporary, and transportable lane separator (1) and/or temporary road marking element, intended to be connected to at least one similar lane separator element to form, in particular, a lane separation barrier. This lane separator element is notable in that it comprises at least one body (2) in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped curved downwards and a hollow foot (3) extending laterally from said body (2). Each body (2) and foot (3) is capable of receiving a ballast load from said lane separator element (1). The body (2) defines at least two supports, and the foot (3) defines at least one support. The feet (3) and body (2) are arranged to define three support points and form a tripod lane separator element (1). The present invention also relates to a lane separation barrier obtained by means of lane separator elements.