Dock Wheel Chock Rail Locking for Reliable Vehicle Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual wedging devices for immobilizing goods transport vehicles are unreliable due to dependence on ground flatness and cleanliness, difficulty in positioning, and issues with mud flaps and wheel protection, leading to poor blocking and potential unlocking under vehicle weight and movement.
Innovation Solution
A manual wedging device with a cylindrical wedge and radial holes in a guide rail, equipped with locking fingers and an actuator, allowing for secure engagement with the tire tread and independent rotation to prevent torque transmission, ensuring reliable locking and easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the wedge is dimensioned to extend above the wheel axis for horizontal force absorption, then the force absorption capability is improved, but the device cannot be placed behind wheels with mud flaps or wheel protection
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge is made movable along the guide rail, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted. It can be positioned behind the wheel axis when needed, accommodating vehicles with mud flaps or wheel protection, while still maintaining the capability to extend above the wheel axis for horizontal force absorption when required.
2Reliability
If the wheel pressure is absorbed by the wedge pressing against the ground, then the immobilization function is achieved, but the device becomes dependent on ground flatness and condition
Solution Approach 1:
The dependency on ground conditions is extracted from the immobilization mechanism. Instead of relying on the wedge pressing against the ground, the device uses a guide rail fixed to the ground that guides the wedge's movement, and locking fingers that engage with the guide rail's holes to secure the wedge in position independent of ground flatness or condition.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the head is locked in position along the guide rail, then the positioning stability is improved, but the device complexity increases with locking fingers and holes
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into discrete, simple components: holes drilled at regular intervals in the guide rail and corresponding locking fingers on the head. This segmentation allows for stable positioning through multiple discrete lock points while keeping each individual component simple and the overall mechanism not overly complex.
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
The device provides secure immobilization of vehicles regardless of ground deformation or tire conditions, with easy release and operation, effective even for offset vehicles, and prevents tilting forces, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the wedge, by an active part which it presents, is located above the parking area of the vehicle and can be brought, by sliding the head on the rail, against the tread of the corresponding wheel of the vehicle to be immobilized
Data Source
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AI summary
The manual securing device comprises a frame (1) supporting a guide rail (2), upon which is slidably mounted a support head (3) receiving a chock (4) that may occupy a retracted position and a locked position located away from the retracted position. This device is characterised in that the rail (2) has a series of holes (20), said head has a guide sheath (30) slidably engaged on the guide rail (2), said sheath (30) has at least one radial through-hole (31) arranged to line up axially with one of the holes (20) of the guide rail (2) by sliding the head (3), and the head (3) has at least one locking pin (32) arranged to be engaged in the alignment of the hole (20, 31) formed, so that it can be translationally immobilised along the guide rail (2).