Remote Wheel Stud Clamp for Safer Heavy Wheel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large vehicles with oversized wheels pose safety risks during wheel installation and removal due to the difficulty in manually manipulating heavy components and the danger of using tire manipulators, which can also cause injuries.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated clamp device that securely grips wheel studs, allowing for remote operation to hold and release the wheel, featuring a gripping mechanism, actuating link, actuator, transmitter, and receiver, enabling safe handling and alignment without direct human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tire manipulator is used to hold the wheel during lug nut removal/installation, then the wheel can be safely held without manual manipulation, but the technician is exposed to injury risk from the heavy machinery in the work area
Solution Approach 1:
A remotely operated clamp device serves as an intermediary between the technician and the wheel. The clamp attaches to the wheel and can be operated remotely via wireless transmitter, allowing the technician to secure the wheel without being in the dangerous work area near the tire manipulator. This mediator eliminates direct exposure to machinery hazards while maintaining wheel holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of traditional clamps is replaced with an automated remote control system. The clamp incorporates an actuator that can be controlled wirelessly from a distance, substituting the need for the technician to physically operate mechanical components in the hazardous zone. This replacement of manual mechanical operation with remote electronic control removes the technician from the danger area.
2Device complexity
If manual manipulation methods are used for heavy wheels, then no additional heavy machinery is required, but the technician cannot safely maneuver very heavy wheels into proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The remotely operated clamp acts as a mediator that provides mechanical advantage without requiring the technician to directly handle the heavy wheel. By attaching to the wheel and being controlled remotely, it enables precise alignment maneuvers that would be impossible through manual effort alone, while keeping the overall system relatively simple compared to full automated manipulation systems.
3Reliability
If the gripping mechanism is designed to securely hold the wheel stud, then the wheel can be firmly secured, but the device complexity increases with additional components needed for secure attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device is segmented into distinct functional components: a gripping mechanism for holding the stud, an actuating link for movement control, an actuator for power, and an attachment mechanism for securing to the wheel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Clamp devices can be operated remotely to facilitate the installation, removal and other handling of wheels and tires for large vehicles. The clamp devices generally include an attachment mechanism, a gripping mechanism, an actuating link operable to move the gripping mechanism between an open and closed position, an actuator to activate the actuating link, a transmitter for sending command signals to the clamp devices for the purpose of opening or closing the gripping mechanism and a receiver for receiving such command signals.