Catcher tire abutment device for restraining road vehicle on a transport vehicle

Abstract

A catcher tire abutment device is described for restraining road vehicles transported on a support surface of a transport vehicle. Primary wheel restraining devices are secured to the support surface on outward sides of pairs of wheels of each road vehicle adjacent the thread surface of the wheels. A catcher tire abutment device is also secured to the support surface an approximate predetermined distance spaced adjacent the thread face on inward sides of front and rear pairs of wheels of the vehicle. When the road vehicles are subjected to an impact force, from either a front or rear direction, kinetic energy from the impacted vehicle is absorbed and dissipated softly in a sequential manner by (a) contact of the tires of one of the front and rear pairs of wheels against an arresting surface of the primary wheel restraining devices and (b) by the tires of the other pair of wheels contacting the arresting surface of the catcher tire abutment devices.

1 . A catcher tire abutment device for use in a system for restraining road vehicles on a vehicle support surface of a transport vehicle, said catcher tire abutment device having a flat bottom wall, a rearwardly and upwardly extending arresting front surface, securement arresting means projecting from said flat bottom wall and adapted for release engagement with a vehicle support surface, and clamping means spaced rearwardly of said flat bottom wall for engagement with said vehicle support surface, and means to engage and disengage said clamping means.  
   
   
       2 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle support surface is formed by spaced-apart transverse welded metal rods, said securement arresting means is constituted by a plurality of rearwardly sloping teeth extending rearwards of said bottom wall for engagement with said vehicle support surface.  
   
   
       3 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said teeth are spaced apart in transverse equidistantly spaced rows and disposed for projection in openings in said support surface defined between said transversely welded metal rods for engagement with at least some transverse ones of said rods.  
   
   
       4 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said teeth in adjacent rows define therebetween rearwardly inclined slots terminating in an arcuately shaped base above said flat bottom wall dimensioned for close fit about a peripheral portion of said at least some of said transverse ones of said rods.  
   
   
       5 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said clamping means comprises grating engagement means spaced from a rear lower edge of said bottom wall on a displaceable section whereby to cause said grating engagement means to project into some of said openings for engagement with some of said transverse rods after said teeth of said arresting means have been engaged to prevent displacement of said catcher tire abutment device.  
   
   
       6 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said displaceable section is a projecting tongue section extending co-extensively with said bottom wall and formed of flexible material capable of restoring its shape.  
   
   
       7 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said means to engage and disengage said clamping means is a handle formed at a free end of said projecting tongue section, said handle permitting said grating engagement means to be engaged and disengaged with some of said transverse rods by pushing said projecting tongue section on said grating for engagement and pulling it away from said grating for disengagement.  
   
   
       8 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said grating engagement means is constituted by forwardly sloping teeth for engagement with some of said transverse rods.  
   
   
       9 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said grating engagement means is constituted by downwardly projecting transversely extending teeth dimensioned for friction fit engagement in said rectangular openings of said grating.  
   
   
       10 . A catcher tire abutment device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said catcher tire abutment devices are molded from a structural plastics material, said tongue section being dimensioned to flex by pulling a force on said handle which is molded integrally therewith.