Vehicle Restraint Barrier with Spring-Loaded Brace
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Solution Overview
Problem
The varying supporting structures of truck Rear Impact Guards (RIGs) can interfere with the operation of vehicle restraints, making it difficult for them to accurately sense and properly restrain the RIG, which is crucial for preventing trucks from moving away from loading docks during cargo operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle restraint system with a movable brace and catch mechanism, combined with a drive unit and biasing elements, allows for selective engagement and release of the RIG, using a barrier that can rotate and pivot to capture and restrain the RIG, ensuring secure positioning and preventing unwanted movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hook-style vehicle restraint is used to engage the RIG bar, then the truck is restrained from moving away from the dock, but varying supporting structures of the RIG can interfere with the restraint's operation and sensing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system employs a movable barrier that can rotate between multiple positions (retracted, intermediated, and blocked positions) to adapt to different RIG configurations. The barrier's dynamic positioning allows it to sense the RIG's location and adjust its engagement accordingly, resolving the contradiction between reliable restraint operation and adaptability to varying supporting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier acts as an intermediary element between the restraint mechanism and the RIG bar. It first contacts the RIG to sense its position, then transmits this information to the drive unit to determine the appropriate response. This intermediary function enables the system to handle various RIG supporting structures without compromising restraint reliability.
2Reliability
If the barrier is in the blocked position to restrain the RIG, then the truck cannot move away from the dock, but the barrier must be able to rotate and pivot to engage different RIG configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is designed as a dynamic component that can rotate about a pivot point in the barrier shaft. This rotational capability allows the barrier to transition between retracted, intermediated, and blocked positions, enabling reliable engagement with various RIG configurations while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint system divides the barrier engagement into distinct segments or positions (retracted, intermediated, blocked). Each position serves a specific function in the restraint process, allowing the complex engagement task to be broken down into manageable steps that simplify the overall mechanism design.
Data Source
AI summary
Some example vehicle restraints that include a movable barrier for selectively blocking a vehicle's RIG (Rear Impact Guard) near the dock face of a loading dock also include a spring loaded brace that helps hold the barrier in its blocking position, even when the RIG separates from the barrier. To hold the brace in its activated position where it supports the barrier, some examples of the brace include a tooth that engages a detent in a catch. The catch, in some examples, includes a tooth-engaging surface that protrudes into a circular path along which the tooth can travel relative to the barrier.