Vehicle-Mounted Traffic Barrier Deployment System

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Solution Overview

Problem

The deployment and retrieval of traffic barriers on highways are hazardous and costly due to the need for manual handling by workers, exposing them to high-speed traffic and requiring large numbers of workers, which increases costs and risks manual handling injuries.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-mounted system with a gantry frame assembly, powered hoists, and transfer assemblies for automated deployment and retrieval of traffic barriers, including grappling and conveyor systems to manage and distribute traffic cones efficiently, reducing manual labor and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual handling of traffic barriers is used, then deployment can be performed with simple equipment, but worker safety is compromised due to exposure to high-speed traffic and manual handling injuries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker safetyVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-service deployment and retrieval of traffic barriers through robotic manipulation. The robotic arm autonomously picks up barriers from storage, transports them to deployment locations, and retrieves them after use, eliminating the need for manual worker intervention and thereby ensuring worker safety while managing equipment complexity through integrated automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical handling system with an automated robotic mechanical system. The robotic arm with gripper mechanisms substitutes human workers' hands, and the automated transport system replaces manual carrying, thereby improving safety by removing workers from hazardous traffic environments while maintaining functional efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual handling of traffic barriers is used, then equipment costs are low, but operational costs increase due to requiring large numbers of workers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of workers required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs deployment and retrieval operations autonomously without requiring multiple workers. The robotic arm independently executes the complete sequence of picking up barriers, transporting them along the roadway, positioning them at appropriate locations, and retrieving them after deployment, thereby significantly reducing the quantity of human labor required while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the labor-intensive tasks of barrier handling, transport, and positioning from human workers and assigns them to an automated robotic system. This extraction of manual operations eliminates the need for large numbers of workers while preserving the productivity benefits of rapid deployment and retrieval

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If manual handling of traffic barriers is used, then deployment speed can be controlled, but the process becomes time-consuming over long stretches of highway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidtotal deployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system enables continuous deployment operations along long stretches of highway without interruption. The automated arm continuously picks up barriers from storage, transports them to deployment locations, and retrieves them after use, maintaining an unbroken sequence of operations that eliminates the time losses associated with manual repositioning, tool handling, and worker coordination that would occur over extended deployment distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If traffic barriers are frequently deployed and retrieved, then traffic control flexibility is improved, but manual handling injuries increase due to repeated handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic control flexibilityVSAvoidmanual handling injuries

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system autonomously performs repeated deployment and retrieval operations without human intervention. The automated arm continuously executes the full cycle of barrier handling, transport, positioning, and retrieval, enabling frequent traffic control adjustments while completely eliminating manual handling injuries by removing workers from the barrier handling process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12139864B2Vehicle mounted system for deploying and retrieving traffic barriers

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 ARROWES IP HLDG PTY LTD

AI summary

A vehicle mountable system for deploying and retrieving traffic barriers to and from a plurality of locations on a road, the system comprising: a gantry frame assembly with one or more horizontal frame members adapted to be positioned on a tray of a vehicle, a first transfer assembly movably coupled with the gantry frame for transferring one or more traffic barriers positioned on the vehicle tray between a storage location on the tray of the vehicle and an intermediate holding location on a platform assembly located below the one or more horizontal frame members of gantry frame assembly, and a second transfer assembly for transfer of the barriers between the intermediate holding location on the platform and a deployment location on the road.