Retractable Wheel Brake Assembly for Boat Lift Axle Wear Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable wheel mechanisms for boat lifts and docks face issues with tire rotation prevention, particularly when the tire has a small diameter or is not fully retracted, leading to axle wear due to unwanted rotation.
Innovation Solution
A brake assembly comprising a contact plate, axle insert, and brake member is used, where the brake member is pivotally secured to the axle insert, allowing it to pivot perpendicular to the tire's rotational axis while preventing rotation, and can be easily switched between engaged and disengaged positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wheel stop mechanism is used to prevent tire rotation, then axle wear is reduced, but the mechanism only works when the tire is in the fully-retracted position
Solution Approach 1:
The brake member is made dynamically adjustable between engaged and disengaged positions through a pivot mechanism. This allows the brake member to adapt to different tire positions and diameters, unlike the fixed wheel stop mechanism. The pivot axis enables the brake member to move from a retracted position (disengaged) to an extended position (engaged) to contact the tire face and prevent rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake assembly is divided into separate functional components: a contact plate for mounting, an axle insert for structural support, and a pivotally-connected brake member for rotation prevention. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy assembly, disassembly, and adjustment of the brake member to different positions.
2Volume of moving object
If the tire diameter is small, then the retractable wheel mechanism is more compact, but the existing wheel stop mechanism fails to engage properly
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotally-connected brake member can dynamically adjust its position and angle to accommodate tires of various diameters. Unlike the fixed wheel stop mechanism, the brake member can be positioned at different distances from the axle center and at different angles to effectively engage with small-diameter tires, ensuring reliable rotation prevention regardless of tire size.
3Device complexity
If a fixed wheel stop mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but the mechanism cannot be easily adjusted or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly is segmented into modular components (contact plate, axle insert, brake member) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The pivot connection between the brake member and axle insert allows the brake member to be easily adjusted to different positions or removed entirely, providing operational flexibility while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism provides dynamic adjustability, allowing the brake member to be easily repositioned between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic capability enables simple operation for adjusting the brake to different tire positions or removing it, without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake assembly for a retractable wheel mechanism for boat lifts and docks can include a contact plate, an axle insert and a brake. The contact plate can include an aperture therethrough so that the contact plate can be disposed on an axle about which a tire rotates. The axle insert can be sized and shaped to fit into a hollow portion of the axle. The brake can be configured to be pivotally secured to the axle insert such that the brake cannot rotate about a rotational axis of the tire while still allowing the brake to pivot perpendicular to a rotational axis of the tire. The brake member can be pivoted from an engaged position that prevents the tire from fully rotating to a disengaged position where the tire can freely rotate.