Elastic Coupling Mechanism for Truck Wheel Chock Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing truck wheel chocks lack effective coupling mechanisms with chock-holder devices, leading to instability during transportation and potential misalignment with road regulations.

Innovation Solution

A wedge-shaped truck wheel chock made of moulded plastic with an inclined rear wall and elastic coupling means that deform to securely engage and disengage with the chock-holder device handle, ensuring stability and compliance with road regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coupling means are added to the chock to engage with the chock-holder device, then stability during transportation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability during transportationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling means are integrated directly into the rear wall of the chock body, merging the coupling function with the structural wall rather than being separate components. This reduces device complexity while maintaining stability during transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The chock's rear wall itself provides the coupling function through its structural design, eliminating the need for additional dedicated coupling components. The wall serves both structural and coupling purposes, simplifying the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If elastic coupling means are used to engage with the handle, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling easeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The material properties of the rear wall are modified to exhibit elastic behavior, allowing it to deform and recover for easy engagement and disengagement with the handle. This parameter change enables self-service coupling without additional mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The chock is made from plastic material that combines structural rigidity with elastic properties, allowing the rear wall to provide both structural support and elastic coupling functionality. This composite material approach simplifies manufacturing compared to assembling multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 elastic coupling mechanism enhances the stability of the chock during transportation and facilitates easy handling, ensuring secure engagement with the chock-holder device while maintaining compliance with road regulations.

Implementation Method 1

The coupling means of the chock are configured to deform elastically, that is to say, to yield elastically, in such a way as to produce a relative movement with respect to the rear wall of the chock to allow the handle to engage in the housing and disengage from the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3795434B1Chock for a truck
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 BICMA
  • EP3795434B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3795434B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3795434B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Described is a chock for a truck consisting of a single wedge-shaped body made of moulded plastic material having a base (2) designed to form a surface for resting on the ground, a front wall (3) designed to support a wheel of the truck, a rear wall (4), inclined relative to the front wall (3), and a pair of side walls (5, 6), in particular a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6); the rear wall (4) comprises coupling means (7) configured to house at least part of a handle (23) of a chock-carrying device (24); the coupling means (7) of the chock (1) are configured to deform elastically, that is to say, to yield elastically, in such a way as to produce a relative movement with respect to the rear wall (4) of the chock (1).