Wheel Chock with Grate Lock and Retractor Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel chock systems fail to prevent upward movement of vehicles during transportation, leading to potential damage when significant fore-and-aft impact forces are applied, such as during railroad car coupling.
Innovation Solution
A wheel chock system incorporating a ramp, lateral restraint, grate locks, and a retractor with a strap mechanism that secures the vehicle to the grating, minimizing vertical movement and enhancing overall stability by engaging with the grating's wires to resist both lateral and vertical displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If angled ramps are used to resist fore-and-aft vehicle movement, then lateral vehicle movement is restrained, but upward movement of the vehicle is not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel chock is divided into separate functional segments: the ramp structure for fore-and-aft restraint, the lateral restraint component for side-to-side positioning, and the upward restraint mechanism with engagement features for vertical movement prevention. Each segment addresses a specific directional constraint, allowing the system to provide comprehensive multi-axis stabilization without compromising any single direction of protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional ramp-based restraint (handling fore-and-aft and lateral movements) to three-dimensional restraint by adding vertical engagement features. The upward restraint mechanism introduces a third dimension of control through components that engage with the vehicle undercarriage or grating structure to prevent vertical displacement, thereby providing complete spatial constraint.
2Reliability
If a retractor with strap mechanism is added to prevent upward movement, then vehicle security is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor mechanism is integrated into the wheel chock housing, combining the strap storage, winding drum, and releasing components into a single unified structure. The lateral restraint and upward restraint functions are merged through coordinated engagement features that work together as a cohesive system, reducing the need for separate independent mechanisms and minimizing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor mechanism is designed with automatic strap tensioning and locking features that require minimal operator intervention. The strap automatically engages with engagement features on the vehicle or grating when deployed, and the mechanism includes self-locking capabilities that maintain restraint without continuous manual input, thereby simplifying operation despite the added functional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel chock for restraining movement of a vehicle tire on a supporting grating during transit includes a base, a grate lock mechanism for locking the base to the grating, and a ramp on the base for engagement with a circumference of a vehicle tire. A strap connected with the base is extensible around the vehicle tire to help restrain movement of the tire on the grating. The chock includes a retractor for retracting the strap and for taking up slack that forms in the strap during transit.