Deployable Trailer Chock Assembly for Secure Wheel Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheel chocks are difficult to place and store due to their bulkiness, especially on trailers with limited space, requiring a solution for easy and safe deployment and mounting directly to the trailer frame.
Innovation Solution
A deployable chock assembly with a mounting plate, upper and lower members, and a pivotally connected wedge, allowing for adjustable and secure placement against the tire, using U-bolts for mounting to the trailer frame, enabling quick and effective deployment on either side of the tire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wheel chocks are used, then wheel security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult placement requiring manual crawling
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock system is divided into a stationary mounting plate attached to the trailer frame and a separate deployable chock body. This segmentation allows the mounting infrastructure to remain fixed while the chock itself can be quickly deployed and removed without manual handling of the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is pre-installed on the trailer frame in advance, positioning the chock mechanism ready for immediate deployment. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual crawling and placement during actual wheel chocking operations.
2Reliability
If traditional wheel chocks are used, then wheel security is improved, but device complexity increases due to storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The deployable chock integrates with the stationary mounting plate to form a unified system. The chock body nests within or attaches to the mounting plate structure, combining storage and deployment functions into a single integrated unit that eliminates separate storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a storage receptacle when the chock is not deployed, and serves as the deployment mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage solutions and reduces overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional wheel chocks are used, then wheel security is improved, but loss of time increases due to manual placement and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The chock system transitions from a static, manually handled object to a dynamic deployable mechanism. The chock body can be quickly deployed from the mounting plate and just as quickly removed, transforming the time-consuming manual placement operation into a rapid deployable action.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable chock is designed to be self-deploying through its mechanical connection to the mounting plate. The system serves itself by using the mounting plate's structure to facilitate automatic deployment and removal, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing placement time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy, quick, and secure placement of wheel chocks without the need for manual crawling, providing safety and reliability while optimizing storage space by allowing permanent or semi-permanent mounting to the trailer frame.
Implementation Method 1
a wedge pivotally connected to the lower member
Data Source
AI summary
A deployable chock for a trailer includes a chock hingedly secured to an underside portion of a trailer. The chock is capable of deployment to abut a front or a rear of a wheel of the trailer to prevent a tractor trailer from moving and capable of stowing out of the way when not in use.