Dual-Tire Stone Removal Winch for Confined Debris Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing stones and road debris from between dual tires of large vehicles are often labor-intensive, inefficient, and difficult to use in confined spaces, leading to potential hazards and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A winch-like stone-removing device with a strap and hook mechanism that allows for secure wrapping around debris, leveraging the frame against the tires to apply force and remove the object, while being compact and easy to use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional lever-based tools are used to remove debris from between dual tires, then some debris removal capability is achieved, but the user cannot fully leverage the force of the tool due to limited space between the tires
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pushing debris out from the front with a lever, the device wraps a strap around the debris and pulls it outward from between the tires. This inversion of the removal direction allows full leverage of the winch force without spatial constraints, as the pulling action occurs from the rearward direction where there is adequate clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
A strap serves as an intermediary element between the winch mechanism and the debris. The strap can be wrapped around the debris and connected to the winch, allowing the force to be transmitted effectively without requiring direct contact between the tool and debris, thus overcoming the limited space constraint.
2Productivity
If manual removal methods are used, then debris can be removed from between tires, but the process is labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The manual lever-based mechanical system is replaced with a winch-based mechanical system that can generate and apply greater force with less human effort. The winch mechanism automates the pulling action, significantly reducing the labor intensity and time required for debris removal compared to manual methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The force parameter is dramatically increased by using a winch mechanism instead of manual leverage. The winch can generate sufficient pulling force to remove even tightly lodged debris, changing the force parameter from limited human strength to mechanically amplified force, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
3Reliability
If debris is not removed from between dual tires, then the vehicle can continue operating, but the wheels become unbalanced causing uneven tire wear and potential blowouts
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables preliminary removal of debris before it causes serious problems such as wheel imbalance, uneven tire wear, or blowouts. By providing an efficient debris removal method, the system allows for preventive maintenance that preserves wheel balance and tire integrity, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing downtime through quick debris removal.
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 efficiently and safely removes debris from between dual tires, reducing maintenance time and costs, and can be used in various vehicles with dual-tire configurations, including trucks and buses.
Implementation Method 1
The winch-like reel is fixed to the frame and the strap is adapted to be secured about an object such as a stone stuck between the dual tires, by wrapping the strap about an object stuck between the dual tires, and hooking the hook to the D-ring. The strap is then tightened about the object, and wrapped about the spool to force and remove the object from between the dual tires.
Data Source
AI summary
A stone removal system contains a frame, a winch unit fixed to the frame and in one embodiment containing a belt spooled about a ratcheted reel, and, a spool tightening tool. The frame is adapted to be leveraged against dual tires and the belt is adapted to be trained and tightened about an object stuck between a dual tire configuration on a truck, tractor, bus, or other vehicle to thereby provide an improvement in removing objects stuck between the dual tires.