Rotatable Wheel Chock with Deck Clamping for Auto-Rack Railcars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel chocks for auto-rack railroad cars are difficult to set up, maneuver, and release, and often fail to securely restrain vehicle tires during transport, leading to potential damage to vehicles and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A wheel chock apparatus with a lightweight design, featuring a rotatable tire-engagement ramp, lateral restraint arms, and a deck clamping system with a lever mechanism that easily engages and disengages from the metal floor grating system, allowing for secure tire restraint without complex setup or removal processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wheel chocks are used to secure vehicle tires, then tire restraint reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to difficult setup and manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock incorporates a rotatable ramp abutment that can be rotated between a first position for receiving tires and a second position for compact storage. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the device to transition between operational and storage states, improving ease of manipulation while maintaining restraint reliability when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel chock is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion for stability, a ramp abutment for tire engagement, and lateral restraint arms for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall operation by separating functions into manageable parts
2Force
If wheel chocks are made large and heavy to provide sufficient restraint force, then tire restraint capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in carrying and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock utilizes geometric parameters rather than mass to generate restraint force. The ramp abutment employs mechanical advantage through its inclined geometry to convert small user-applied forces into large restraint forces against the tire, while the lateral restraint arms use lever arms to amplify positioning force. This allows sufficient restraint capability with a lightweight design that is easy to carry and position
3Reliability
If wheel chocks are designed with complex clamping systems to securely engage the metal floor grating, then restraint reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in alignment and clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock base is designed with features that automatically align with and engage the metal floor grating system. The base portion includes engagement elements that self-align with the grating pattern, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment. Once positioned, the chock naturally secures to the grating through its geometric design, providing reliable engagement without complex clamping mechanisms or manual manipulation
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 wheel chock apparatus provides a robust, easy-to-use solution for securing vehicle tires, preventing movement during transport while being simple to set up and release, thus reducing the risk of damage and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a deck clamping system comprising a lever, the lever causing teeth to engage a metal floor grating system when the lever is moved to a locking position, and to disengage the metal floor grating system when the lever is moved to an unlocking position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to wheel chock apparatuses. Specifically, the wheel chock apparatuses of the present invention are utilized on railcars having automobile racks, known as “auto-rack railroad cars,” to hold in place a tire of an automobile thereon, restricting movement of the same during railroad transport of the same. The wheel chock apparatuses comprise a base, a ramp abutment at a front end thereof, lateral restraints at a front end thereof, and a floor grating engaging mechanism at a rear end thereof.