Wheel Lock Mating Profiles Reduce Fastener Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel lock devices for wheeled mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, face issues with wear and failure due to various forces acting on their locking mechanisms, leading to reduced longevity and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates complementary component mating portions with specific cross-sectional profiles that efficiently transfer forces and reduce wear on fasteners, allowing them to extend through apertures without contacting interior surfaces, along with adjustable and interchangeable components for improved fitting and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is designed to sufficiently engage a wheel to prevent unintended rotational movement, then the reliability of the locking mechanism is improved, but the wear on fastener components increases and longevity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary surface (the mating portion of the clamp body) between the fastener and the wheel locking mechanism. This intermediary surface absorbs and distributes the engagement forces, preventing direct transmission of stress to the fastener. The clamp body acts as a mediator that transfers forces from the wheel engagement point to the mounting structure without concentrating stress on the fastener, thereby maintaining reliable wheel engagement while reducing fastener wear.
2Ease of operation
If the locking mechanism is positioned to be easily accessible to the user for operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity and force resistance of the mechanism may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the locking mechanism into functionally independent segments: the clamp body for structural force resistance, the foot for wheel engagement, and the actuator for user operation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the clamp body maintains structural integrity while the actuator provides accessible user control. The modular arrangement enables the actuator to be positioned for ease of access without compromising the overall strength of the mounting structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the wheel lock device is designed with fixed component configurations, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different wheeled devices and applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability in the wheel lock device through movable components such as the adjustable foot position and interchangeable actuator configurations. These dynamic features allow the device to adapt to different wheel sizes, mounting locations, and application requirements while maintaining precise manufacturing tolerances. The ability to reposition components during installation or operation provides versatility without sacrificing the precision engineering of individual parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel lock device includes a base, a first arm, and a second arm. A base/first-arm mating portion includes a base/first-arm mating portion cross-sectional profile that changes along a length of the base/first-arm mating portion. A base/second-arm mating portion includes a base/second-arm mating portion cross-sectional profile that changes along a length of the base/second-arm mating portion. The first arm includes a first-arm/base mating portion that includes a first-arm/base mating portion cross-sectional profile that changes along a length of the first-arm/base mating portion in a direction toward the first-arm first aperture in a manner complementary to the base/first-arm mating portion cross-sectional profile. The second arm includes a second-arm/base mating portion that includes a second-arm/base mating portion cross-sectional profile that changes along a length of the second-arm/base mating portion in a direction toward the second-arm first aperture in a manner complementary to the base/second-arm mating portion cross-sectional profile.