Granted Patent B2

US 12,601,127 · App. 18/448,190 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inventors: Kang Zhang (Hong Kong, HK); Xiyao Zhang (Hong Kong, HK); Meishan Chan (Hong Kong, HK); Shilong Zhang (Hong Kong, HK); Christopher Cheung Yec (Hong Kong, HK); Pak Chung Lau (Hong Kong, HK); Jifan Li (Hong Kong, HK); Jian Zhang (Hong Kong, HK); Jianzhuo Xin (Hong Kong, HK); Jianying Miao (Hong Kong, HK)

Assignee: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited

E01F15/146E01F15/003

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . An impact-dissipating bollard system comprising:

a vertical stanchion having a first portion extending above a retaining foundation and a second portion extending beneath a retaining foundation;

a composite energy-absorbing dumbbell-shaped deformable cartridge configured to be positioned within the retaining foundation, the composite energy-absorbing dumbbell-shaped deformable cartridge including:

a rigid core portion including a stanchion-receiving aperture;

first and second projections extending from the rigid core portion, the first and second projections, together with the core portion, forming the dumbbell shape;

energy-absorbing resilient elastic material surrounding the rigid core portion and positioned within recesses within the first and second projections;

wherein the bollard system is configured such that impact energy is transferred from the vertical stanchion to deform the composite energy-absorbing deformable cartridge; and

wherein the retaining foundation includes a reinforcing frame embedded in concrete and having a strength of least 30 MPa.

2 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 1 , wherein the energy-absorbing resilient elastic material comprises foam.

3 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 1 , wherein the vertical stanchion comprises a hollow, reinforced structure.

4 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 3 , wherein the hollow, reinforced structure includes a network of interconnected supports.

5 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 4 , wherein the interconnected supports are interconnected hollow polygons or cylinders.

6 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 5 , wherein the interconnected supports are interconnected polygons selected from triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, or hexagons.

7 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 3 , wherein the hollow, reinforced structure includes a filler material.

8 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 7 , wherein the filler material is selected from polymers, foams, shear-thickening fluids, or particulates.

9 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 3 , wherein the vertical stanchion comprises metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber-reinforced composites.

10 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid core portion of the composite energy-absorbing deformable cartridge comprises metal, polymer, fiber-reinforced composites, or ceramic.

11 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 2 , wherein the foam is selected from metal foam, honeycomb metal, ethylene vinyl acetate foam, polyethylene terephthalate foam, polyvinyl chloride foam, polystyrene foam, or polyurethane foam.

12 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 2 , wherein the foam includes a shear-thickening fluid.

13 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 12 , wherein the shear-thickening fluid includes a hydroxyl terminated dialkylsiloxane polymer or a borate cross-linked hydroxyl terminated dialkylsiloxane polymer.

14 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 1 , wherein the projections have an approximately circular cross-section.

15 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 14 , wherein the projections include deformable crumple zones.

16 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 15 , wherein the deformable crumple zones include separating walls within the projection to create internal voids for dissipating impact energy.

17 . The impact-dissipating bollard system of claim 11 , wherein the foam has an auxetic foam structure with a negative Poisson's ratio, such that the foam expands when stretched and hardens when compressed.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (32)