An Improved Non-Wood Wheel Chock Design for USAF Operational Aircraft

The currently accepted aircraft wheel chock in use at most USAF and other military facilities is made of wood which routinely chips, cracks, becomes waterlogged and requires significant maintenance such as refurbishment and painting.  In this Phase II SBIR project. Rimstar, Inc, and its sister company, Checkers Industrial Safety Products will design a non-wood wheel chock that will overcome these problems.  The improved design will incorporate an innovative inner structural member which will provide the major portion of the load-bearing capabilities.  Rimstar will produce prototypes for testing that will consider load testing, impact, and low and high temperature performance including surface traction.  The potential cost savings to the U.S. government is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by reducing aircraft damage, improving chock performance and reducing injuries to personnel.  The data developed utilizing the methods outlined in this proposal will be provided to the USAF engineering authority governing MIl-PRF-32058 (the current performance specification for aircraft wheel chocks) for consideration and possible inclusion in a future revision of the specification. BENEFITS: The anticipated benefits and applications of this improved chock will be: Greatly improved performance of chocks in all weather conditions; Improved service life of chocks; Elimination of Foreign Object Damage/Debris (FOD) hazards; Lighter chocks for less physical stress on flight line personnel; Significant Cost savings; Eliminate maintenance of chocks such as painting/sanding; reduced procurement cycles/cost; Provide standardization of chocks used by the Air Force; Improved quality control; Chocks will be resistant to deterioration caused by heat, cold, humidity, aviation fluids, insects; Will not absorb molds or other infestations that wood chocks can absorb, thus they can be used globally and pass customs on return to the U.S.