Chock (wheel)

For other uses, see Chock (disambiguation).

Wheel chocks placed around an aircraft's landing gear.

Chocks being removed from a British Airways Airbus A321.

An Airman prepares to pull the landing gear wheel chock of an F-117 Nighthawk fighter during an end of runway check at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

Wheel chocks (or chocks) are wedges of sturdy material placed behind a vehicle's wheels to prevent accidental movement. Chocks are placed for safety in addition to setting the brakes. The bottom surface is sometimes coated in rubber to enhance grip with the ground. For ease of removal, a rope may be tied to the chock or a set of two chocks. One edge of the wedge has a concave profile to contour to the wheel and increase the force necessary to overrun the chock. Most commonly, chocks are seen on aircraft and train cars.

Automobiles usually have parking brakes on the rear wheels. If the rear axle is jacked off the ground with only the parking brake set, the vehicle may roll on the front wheels and fall. Chocking the front wheels prevents this mishap.

Motorcycle and bicycle chocks are bifurcated and fit around the wheel, supporting the bike and preventing its movement.

The mining industry uses wheel chocks to protect lubrication trucks and heavy maintenance vehicles from slipping on off-road terrain when placed in Park. The huge haul trucks, which can weigh up to a million pounds, require a much larger wheel chock that itself will weight almost 80 pounds. These circumstances will benefit from urethane wheel chocks that are lightweight enough to be maneuvered, yet can withstand the responsibility of holding a truck if a brake should fail. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has established standards that wheel chocks are used when a vehicle is parked on a grade, and OSHA has guidelines that require wheel chocks during loading or unloading of a heavy truck.

How to use wheel chocks

• To use wheel chocks, they must be selected to match the size of the tires on the vehicle, and used in pairs.
• Use the wheel chocks on a firm surface - some rubber wheel chocks have steel grates and ice cleat accessories.
• Place the vehicle in Park and apply the parking/emergency brake.
• Position wheel chocks snugly against the center of the tire, in the direction of the grade.
• Chock both of the tires in the direction of the grade.
• If the vehicle is on a flat surface, chock on both sides of the tire, and use two sets of chocks.
• The above ruling is especially helpful if the vehicle will be undergoing engine work or is being loaded or unloaded with the engine running.
• Make sure the chocks meet holding requirements, improperly used chocks can result in product failure.

Parking chocks

A parking space commonly contains a parking chock, a barrier which is used to prevent cars from pulling too far into the space and obstructing a neighboring parking space, curb, or sidewalk.

This barrier, also called a parking stop, is usually made of concrete or recycled plastic and will normally be a horizontal bar to stop the tires from moving forward or a vertical bar that may cause damage to the vehicle if contact is made. In a parking garage, the barrier will often be a concrete wall. The recycled plastic parking stops are more lightweight than concrete and will not crack or chip. This lighter version can be installed with one person and will resist auto oils and fuels and will never need maintenance such as re-painting.

External links

Media related to Wheel chocks at Wikimedia Commons

This tool article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Tool stubs Aviation terminology Aviation ground support equipment Tools Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? AME School Strong Rock Christian School Look at other dictionaries: Chock — may refer to: Chock (surname) Devices for preventing movement: Chock (wheel) Chock (climbing), anchor Chock, component of a sailing block See also Choc (disambiguation) Chok (disambiguation) Chocky , short story …   Wikipedia Chock — Chock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chocked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chocking}.] To stop or fasten, as with a wedge, or block; to scotch; as, to chock a wheel or cask. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English chock — [chäk] n. [NormFr choque, a block < Gaul * tsukka, akin to PGmc * stuk , a tree trunk, stump: for IE base see STOCK] 1. a block or wedge placed under a wheel, barrel, etc. to keep it from rolling or used to fill in a space 2. Naut. a heavy… …   English World dictionary chock — [tʃɔk US tʃa:k] n [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Probably from an unrecorded Old North French choque] a block of wood or metal that you put in front of the wheel of a vehicle to prevent it from moving …   Dictionary of contemporary English chock — [ tʃak ] noun count a block of wood or metal that you put against a wheel to stop a vehicle from moving …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English chock — ► NOUN 1) a wedge or block placed against a wheel to prevent it from moving. 2) a ring with a gap at the top, through which a rope or line is run. ORIGIN Old French çoche block, log …   English terms dictionary chock — [1] A wedge used to prevent a wheel from rolling especially when replacing a tire/wheel. Also called a wheel chock. [2] A heavy smooth surfaced fitting usually located near the edge of the weather deck through which wire ropes or fiber hawsers… …   Dictionary of automotive terms chock — /tʃɒk / (say chok) noun 1. a block or wedge of wood, etc., for filling in a space, especially for preventing movement, as of a wheel or a cask. 2. Nautical a. a metal or wooden fitting through which a mooring line, anchor cable, towline, or… …   wheel changing — Changing a defective wheel involving: stop the car on firm, level ground and put on the handbrake; turn on the four way warning light; put a chock against the wheel in the opposite corner to prevent vehicle movement; place a warning triangle or… …   Dictionary of automotive terms chock — UK [tʃɒk] / US [tʃɑk] noun [countable] Word forms chock : singular chock plural chocks a block of wood or metal that you put against a wheel to stop a vehicle from moving …   English dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”