Wheel Grippers

KMK have designed a unique “Surface Mounted” wagon Wheel Gripper. The Wheel Gripper is used to restrain a train of wagons as part of a wagon handling system.

The whole Gripper system is:

• At or above ground level
• Accessible for ease of maintenance
• Accessible for inspection and replacement of parts
• Free of pits which can fill with material, rain, etc.
• Able to adjust to individual wagon wheels, giving consistent gripping force
• Compact – no expensive support structure

This new system has already been installed on an existing site to replace old style Grippers which required a deep pit. It is proving to be a success with the client, upgrading holding capacity assurance with the ability to cater for variations in wagon wheel tolerance, due to single wheel gripping.

The mounting baseplate for the Gripper is set in the foundations at surface level. This results in all Gripper components (including hydraulics) being surface mounted and removing the need for an old style of deep pit that can fill with material, rain, or snow.

The new Gripper is also compact, greatly reducing excess structural steelwork sitting in the pit, and reducing costs for customers.

Benefits of KMK Wheel Grippers:

• Fast Engagement
• Fast Release
• Consistant and predictable Gripping Force – Each Wheel Individually Gripped
• High Capacity – Upwards of 15t per Wagon Axle
• Can be Surface Mounted – Flush With Concrete – Shallow Foundations – Lower Installation Cost
• No Foundation Pit: Flooding eliminated – Maintenance/Inpsection: Quick, Safe and Straightforward.
• Customisable For All Sites/Wagons/Locos – Loco Passage Permissible.
• Less Steelwork than Conventional Designs; Lower Cost
• Simple Design – Low Maintenance