Adjustable ATV Lock Station with Sliding Axle Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
All-terrain vehicles lack effective anti-theft mechanisms that securely prevent access to the tires and axle, making them susceptible to theft.
Innovation Solution
An anti-theft device featuring adjustable wheel cradles connected by a central shaft with locking slides and mounting brackets, which can be secured to a solid surface, preventing tire removal by blocking access to the lug nuts and ensuring secure attachment to the vehicle axle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional anti-theft mechanisms are used on all-terrain vehicles, then the vehicle structure becomes more complex, but they fail to securely prevent access to the tires and axle
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-theft device is divided into separate functional components: wheel cradles that secure individual tires, locking slides that independently secure the axle, and mounting brackets for anchoring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively without requiring a complex integrated system, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary structure between the vehicle and the ground/solid surface. The wheel cradles and locking slides act as intermediate elements that physically block access to the tires and axle, creating a mechanical barrier that prevents theft without modifying the vehicle's original structure, thus improving security while maintaining simplicity.
2Reliability
If a fixed anti-theft device is installed on the vehicle, then theft protection is improved, but the device cannot be easily transferred between different vehicles or locations
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting brackets are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing the device to be easily installed and removed from different solid surfaces. The adjustable shaft enables the wheel cradles to adapt to different tire widths and vehicle configurations. This dynamic design maintains effective theft protection when installed while enabling easy transfer between vehicles and locations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates universal mounting brackets that can be attached to various solid surfaces including ground anchors, trailer beds, and truck beds. The adjustable shaft and wheel cradles can accommodate different tire sizes and vehicle types. This multi-functionality allows a single device to provide reliable theft protection across multiple vehicles and locations without requiring vehicle-specific customization, thereby achieving both reliability and adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wheel cradles are made fixed size, then manufacturing is simpler, but they cannot accommodate different vehicle tire sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft connecting the wheel cradles is designed to be adjustable in length, allowing the distance between cradles to be modified to match different tire widths and vehicle configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same cradle design to accommodate various tire sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size cradle variants, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for parameter changes in the spacing and positioning of the wheel cradles through the adjustable shaft mechanism. By changing the physical parameters of the device configuration rather than the fundamental cradle design, the system can adapt to different tire sizes while keeping the basic cradle structure standardized for simplified manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular anti-theft mechanism having cradles for the vehicle's wheels connected to opposing ends of a central shaft. Two sliding locks are mounted on the central shaft and are moveable relative to the shaft. Each of these sliding locks, e.g. chains, secure the vehicle's axle to the anti-theft device.