A locking structure for a trailer steering axle

Abstract

The present application discloses a locking structure for a trailer steering axle, which includes a positioning seat, an airbag assembly, a limiting piece and a locking assembly. The state of the limiting piece is controlled by the inflation and exhaust of the airbag assembly. The driving piece in the locking assembly drives the stop block to cooperate with the clamping seat to realize the locking and unlocking functions of the steering wheel. When steering is not required, the airbag assembly expands to push the limiting piece, prompting the tie rod to straighten the steering wheel and locking it through the locking assembly; when steering is required, the locking state is released. The present application achieves the effect of accurately controlling the locking of the trailer steering axle, effectively improving the driving stability and safety of the vehicle, while simplifying the operation process and enhancing the reliability of the system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of trailer steering structures, and in particular, to a locking structure for a trailer steering axle. Background Art

[0002] The trailer steering locking device is an important part of the modern transportation field. With the rapid development of the logistics industry, trailers are more and more widely used. To meet the transportation needs under different working conditions, the steering and stability of trailers have become one of the key technical points. The traditional trailer steering locking device mainly realizes the state switching of the wheels through a mechanical structure to ensure good straight-line and turning performance during vehicle driving, thereby improving the overall operation efficiency and safety.

[0003] Currently, the steering structure of a trailer mainly includes a steering axle installed under the vehicle frame and steering wheels rotatably connected to both ends of the steering axle through pin shafts. A tie rod is connected between the two steering wheels, and the end of the tie rod is rotatably connected to the adjacent steering wheel to realize the synchronous steering function of the two steering wheels. When solving the problems of trailer steering and locking, common methods mainly adopt a lever support type locking and stabilizing mechanism and equipment based on traditional pneumatic drive. The lever support type locking and stabilizing mechanism is distributed at the front and rear positions of the steering axle, and uses the lever principle to transfer the external force to the tie rod to limit its rotation.

[0004] The above conventional technical means generally have a problem: that is, due to the dispersed layout design idea, the structure of the whole system is relatively loose and is easily affected by external environmental factors, resulting in a reduction in working reliability. Especially after long-term use, because there are many components and it is difficult to maintain the same tightness between them for a long time, the system not only occupies a large space, affecting the reasonable planning of other vehicle-mounted facilities, but also the frequently moving parts are prone to a high degree of wear, thus shortening the service life and increasing the difficulty of later maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to reduce space occupation and improve the wear situation between structures, the present application provides a locking structure for a trailer steering axle.

[0006] The locking structure for a trailer steering axle provided by the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A locking structure for a trailer steering axle, comprising:

[0008] A positioning seat and an airbag assembly, the positioning seat is connected to the steering axle and is located in the gap between the steering axle and the tie rod, and the airbag assembly is arranged in the positioning seat;

[0009] Two limiting plate members, the two limiting plate members are connected to the same side of the tie rod and are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the airbag assembly;

[0010] A locking assembly, which includes a clamping seat arranged at the tie rod, a stop block for clamping and cooperating with the clamping seat, and a driving member arranged at the positioning seat and used to drive the stop block to move;

[0011] When the steering wheel does not need to be steered, the airbag assembly presses against the inner sides of the two limiting plate members by inflating and expanding. Under the pushing action of the limiting plate members, the tie rod pulls the steering wheels at both ends of the steering shaft back to the straight position, and aligns the clamping seat with the stop block. The driving member drives the stop block to move towards the clamping seat and clamps and locks it;

[0012] When the steering wheel needs to be steered, the driving member drives the stop block to move away from the clamping seat to unlock, and the airbag assembly releases the movement restriction on the two limiting plate members by exhausting air.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solutions, the airbag assembly presses against the inner sides of the two limiting plate members by inflating and expanding, achieving precise control of the tie rod, ensuring that the steering wheels are reliably pulled back to the straight position when they do not need to be steered, improving the straight-line performance during vehicle driving, and facilitating the cooperation between the clamping seat and the stop block in the locking assembly to achieve quick locking when the steering wheels do not need to be steered, enhancing the stability of the system. When the steering wheel needs to be steered, the driving member drives the stop block to move to unlock, and at the same time the airbag assembly exhausts air to release the restriction, ensuring the flexibility and convenience of the steering operation. The overall structure is designed compactly, reducing the number of components and the complex cooperation between them, reducing the risk of decreased working reliability caused by long-term use, extending the service life and reducing the later maintenance burden.

[0014] Preferably, the positioning seat is welded to the steering shaft and is centered, and the clamping seat is welded to the tie rod and is centered.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solutions, both between the positioning seat and the steering shaft and between the clamping seat and the tie rod are firmly connected by welding to form an integral structure, effectively reducing the number of traditional bolt fasteners used. This design not only simplifies the assembly process, improves the connection strength and reliability between components, but also avoids potential safety hazards caused by bolt loosening or corrosion, thus enhancing the stability and durability of the overall locking structure. At the same time, the centered setting method can ensure uniform force distribution and further enhance the working performance of the structure.

[0016] Preferably, the positioning seat includes two side plates and a bottom plate arranged between the two guard plates. The two side plates are symmetrically distributed in the gap between the steering shaft and the tie rod. The airbag assembly is arranged in the accommodation space formed by the two side plates, and the driving member and the stop block are both arranged on the bottom plate.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the spatial optimization design of the trailer steering axle locking structure is realized. Specifically, the positioning seat is composed of two side plates and a bottom plate, forming a compact accommodating space, which can effectively protect the internal components and reduce the overall volume. The airbag assembly is arranged in the accommodating space between the two side plates, making full use of the gap between the steering axle and the tie rod, and avoiding occupying extra space. At the same time, the driving part and the stop block are integrated at the bottom plate, further simplifying the structural layout, improving the assembly efficiency and reliability. This design significantly reduces the number of components and their complex cooperation relationships, reduces the wear risk caused by frequent activities, extends the service life, and facilitates subsequent maintenance operations.

[0018] Preferably, the airbag assembly includes an airbag body and two guiding members respectively arranged at both ends of the airbag body, and the guiding members are slidably fitted along the length of the steering axle at the adjacent side plates.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, guiding members are arranged at both ends of the airbag body, and the guiding members are slidably fitted along the length direction of the steering axle at the adjacent side plates, which can effectively improve the movement stability of the airbag assembly during the inflation and deflation process. Specifically, the arrangement of the guiding members avoids the offset or skew of the airbag body during expansion or contraction, ensuring that the driving force on the limiting plate member is more uniform and reliable, and further improving the overall performance and service life of the locking structure.

[0020] Preferably, the guiding member includes a fixing plate fixed to the end of the airbag and a guiding rod arranged at the fixing plate, the guiding rod is parallel to the steering axle, and the side plate is provided with a guiding hole for the guiding rod to pass through.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the guiding member in the airbag assembly can effectively restrict the movement direction of the airbag body. Specifically, the combined design of the fixing plate and the guiding rod makes the expansion or contraction of the airbag during the inflation and deflation process more stable, avoiding the problems of position offset or uneven force caused by the lack of restraint of the airbag. The guiding rod is arranged parallel to the steering axle and is slidably fitted through the guiding hole on the side plate, further improving the accuracy of the action of the airbag assembly, reducing unnecessary friction and wear, and thus enhancing the working reliability and service life of the entire locking structure.

[0022] Preferably, the limiting plate member includes a connecting section and a bending section, the bending section is perpendicular to the connecting section, and when the airbag body inflates and expands, the outside of the fixing plate simultaneously presses against the inner sides of the connecting section and the bending section of the limiting plate member.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solution, the connecting section and the bending section of the limiting plate can form a stable L-shaped structure. When the airbag body inflates and expands, the outer side of the fixing plate simultaneously presses against the inner sides of the connecting section and the bending section, thereby effectively increasing the contact area between the airbag assembly and the limiting plate, and improving the friction and stability between the two. This design can more reliably limit the movement range of the cross tie rod, prevent unnecessary offset during non-steering states, and further enhance the overall reliability of the locking of the trailer steering axle.

[0024] Preferably, the clamping seat includes a horizontal plate and a vertical plate that are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal plate is provided with a card slot adapted to the stop block, and the bottom plate is provided with a sliding groove for the stop block to slide up and down. When the stop block is simultaneously received in the card slot and the sliding groove, the purpose of clamping and locking between the clamping seat and the bottom plate is achieved.

[0025] By adopting the above technical solution, the clamping seat is composed of a horizontal plate and a vertical plate that are perpendicular to each other. The card slot on the horizontal plate and the sliding groove on the bottom plate jointly form a precise matching structure. This design can ensure that the stop block has a stable movement track during the up and down sliding process, effectively avoiding the occurrence of offset or jamming phenomena. When the stop block is simultaneously received in the card slot and the sliding groove, firm locking between the clamping seat and the bottom plate is achieved, improving the overall reliability and stability of the locking structure, so as to ensure that the trailer steering wheel can accurately return to the correct position and maintain a stable state when steering is not required.

[0026] Preferably, two guiding plates are provided on the side of the bottom plate facing away from the clamping seat. The two guiding plates are respectively disposed on both sides of the sliding groove, and the guiding plates and the sliding groove jointly form a sliding channel for the stop block.

[0027] By adopting the above technical solution, adding guiding plates and jointly forming a sliding channel for the stop block with the sliding groove can effectively improve the movement distance and movement stability of the stop block. This design reduces the possible position offset or jamming phenomena that may occur during the sliding process of the stop block, thereby enhancing the operation reliability and service life of the entire locking structure. At the same time, the clear sliding path helps to reduce the friction loss between components, further enhancing the durability of the system.

[0028] In summary, the present application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0029] 1. The airbag assembly directly presses against the inner side of the limiting plate by inflating and expanding, which can effectively reduce the number and complexity of components in the traditional mechanical structure, thereby simplifying the overall layout and saving installation space;

[0030] 2. The locking assembly uses the driving member to precisely control the locking or separating action of the stop block and the clamping seat, quickly realizing the return and locking of the steering wheel when steering is not required, and enhancing the reliability and response speed of the system;

[0031] 3. When it is necessary to release the locked state, the airbag assembly can be exhausted to release the restraint on the limit plate member, avoiding the high wear problem caused by frequent activities in the traditional mechanism, extending the service life of the equipment and reducing the maintenance frequency. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a locking structure of a trailer steering axle according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an enlarged schematic diagram of part A in

[0034] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure welded to the steering axle in a locking structure of a trailer steering axle according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a positioning seat in a locking structure of a trailer steering axle according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure welded to the cross tie rod in a locking structure of a trailer steering axle according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Description of the Reference Numerals: 1, steering axle; 2, cross tie rod; 3, limit plate member; 31, connecting section; 32, bending section; 4, airbag assembly; 41, airbag body; 42, guiding member; 421, fixing plate; 422, guiding rod; 5, positioning seat; 51, side plate; 511, guiding hole; 52, bottom plate; 53, sliding groove; 54, guiding plate; 6, clamping seat; 61, horizontal plate; 62, vertical plate; 63, clamping groove; 7, driving member; 8, stop block; 9, steering wheel. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0038] The following will further elaborate on the present application in conjunction with the attached Figures 1-5 drawings.

[0039] An embodiment of the present application discloses a locking structure of a trailer steering axle. Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, including a positioning seat 5, an airbag assembly 4, two limiting plate members 3, and a locking assembly. Among them, the positioning seat 5 is welded and fixed to the steering shaft 1 and is centrally disposed in the gap between the steering shaft 1 and the tie rod 2. The airbag assembly 4 is located inside the positioning seat 5 and is used to adjust the locking state by inflating and deflating. The positioning seat 5 plays a role in fixing and supporting the airbag assembly 4. The two limiting plate members 3 are welded and fixed on the same side of the tie rod 2 and are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the airbag assembly 4. The locking assembly includes a clamping seat 6, a stop block 8, and a driving member 7. Among them, the clamping seat 6 is welded and fixed at the tie rod 2 and is centrally disposed. The stop block 8 is used for clamping and cooperating with the clamping seat 6. The driving member 7 realizes an accurate mechanical locking function by driving the stop block 8 to move. This structural design effectively reduces the space occupation and improves the reliability.

[0040] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the positioning seat 5 includes two side plates 51 welded to the steering shaft 1 and a bottom plate 52. The side plates 51 are symmetrically distributed in the gap between the steering shaft 1 and the tie rod 2. The bottom plate 52 and the two side plates 51 form a specific chamber for accommodating the airbag assembly 4. As an example, the side plates 51 and the bottom plate 52 of the positioning seat 5 can be in the form of a welded steel plate combination or an integrally formed cast iron part, preferably made of high-strength low-carbon steel or aluminum alloy materials to balance the requirements of strength and light weight. In addition, an arc-shaped groove adapted to the peripheral wall of the steering shaft 1 is provided on the side of the side plate 51 facing the steering shaft 1 to increase the welding area between the side plate 51 and the steering shaft 1. And an arc-shaped avoidance groove is provided on the side of the side plate 51 facing the tie rod 2 for the tie rod 2 to pass through. The bottom plate 52 of the positioning seat 5 passes under the tie rod 2, and the driving member 7 and the stop block 8 are both arranged at the distal end position of the bottom plate 52, thus ensuring the stability of the entire locking structure while maximizing the compactness of the locking structure.

[0041] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , in this embodiment, the airbag assembly 4 is embedded in a specific chamber in the positioning seat 5. The airbag assembly 4 includes an airbag body 41 and guide members 42 installed at both ends of the airbag body 41. The airbag body 41 is made of flexible rubber, and rigid guide members 42 are provided at both ends for precise positioning. Specifically, the guide member 42 includes a fixing plate 421 and an extended guide rod 422. The guide rod 422 is parallel to the steering shaft 1 and matches the guide holes 511 reserved on the corresponding side plates 51. When gas enters the airbag body 41, it will expand and squeeze, filling the specific chamber in the positioning seat 5 and also forcing the fixing plate 421 to push against the limiting plate member 3, so that the tie rod 2 pulls the steering wheels 9 at both ends of the steering shaft 1 back to the correct position under the pushing action of the limiting plate member 3. On the contrary, after the airbag body 41 releases air, it will return to its original state and no longer exert an external force, providing a moving space for the limiting plate member 3, thus facilitating the left and right movement of the tie rod 2.

[0042] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the limiting plate member 3 is a member formed by a right-angle bend, specifically including two main parts: a connecting section 31 and a bending section 32. The connecting section 31 is firmly welded to the surface of the cross tie rod 2, and the bending section 32 extends obliquely towards the center direction and is exactly on the airbag expansion path. When the airbag body 41 starts to bulge, the fixing plate 421 at the end of the airbag body 41 will simultaneously press on these two parts of the adjacent limiting plate member 3 to make them fit tightly together, thereby effectively increasing the contact area between the airbag assembly 4 and the limiting plate member 3, and improving the friction and stability between the two. This design can more reliably limit the movement range of the cross tie rod 2 and prevent it from making unnecessary offsets in the non-steering state, further enhancing the overall reliability of the locking of the trailer steering axle 1.

[0043] In this embodiment, the clamping seat 6 includes a horizontal plate 61 and a vertical plate 62 that are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal plate 61 and the vertical plate 62 are both welded below the cross tie rod 2. A small section of a slot 63 that can be adapted to the stop block 8 is reserved in the middle of the horizontal plate 61 of the clamping seat 6. In addition, a sliding slot 53 for the stop block 8 to slide up and down is provided at the distal end of the bottom plate 52 of the positioning seat 5. The stop block 8 is a small metal rectangular block, and the driving member 7 uses an air chamber that can drive the stop block 8 to move up and down stably. A return spring connected to the stop block 8 is arranged inside the air chamber. When the air chamber is inflated, it can overcome the elastic force of the return spring and push the stop block 8 downward. When the stop block 8 is separated from the slot 63, the unlocking function is realized between the clamping seat 6 and the bottom plate 52. When the air chamber exhausts air, the stop block 8 returns upward under the elastic force of the return spring, so that the stop block 8 returns to the initial position and engages with the slot 63. At this time, the stop block 8 is simultaneously accommodated in the slot 63 and the sliding slot 53, and the purpose of clamping and locking between the clamping seat 6 and the bottom plate 52 is realized.

[0044] In this embodiment, two guide plates 54 are provided on the side of the bottom plate 52 facing away from the clamping seat 6. The two guide plates 54 are respectively arranged on both sides of the sliding slot 53. The sliding slot 53 correspondingly cut out on the bottom plate 52 and the additional guide plates 54 on the left and right sides together construct a closed track network to ensure that the movement trajectory is always accurate and does not deviate from the expected route. In order to avoid the risk of impact damage, a lubricant can be applied to the contact surface to reduce the friction coefficient.

[0045] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0046] When the trailer steering wheel 9 does not need to be turned, the external air source is activated to inflate the airbag assembly 4. After the gas enters the airbag body 41, the airbag body 41 gradually expands and expands to both sides, and finally presses against the inner surface of the two limit plates 3. In this process, the fixing plate 421 at the end of the airbag body 41 simultaneously applies pressure to the connecting section 31 and the bending section 32 of the limit plate 3, thereby stably limiting the tie rod 2 in the middle position. Under the action of the limit plate 3, the tie rod 2 pulls the steering wheels 9 at both ends back to the center, ensuring the straight-line driving stability of the vehicle.

[0047] At the same time, the card holder 6 and the stopper 8 reach the preset alignment position. At this time, the driving member 7 (such as the air chamber) starts to work, the gas in the air chamber is discharged, and the stopper 8 without air pressure support is quickly reset to the upper initial position under the action of the return spring. The stopper 8 passes through the slide groove 53 on the bottom plate 52 and enters the card groove 63 of the card holder 6 in turn, and finally realizes the secure locking between the card holder 6 and the bottom plate 52. This process ensures that the steering system is in a completely locked state, prevents accidental steering, and improves driving safety and reliability.

[0048] When the trailer needs to turn, the control unit first sends a signal to the driving member 7 to make the driving member 7 operate in the reverse direction. Specifically, compressed air is injected into the air chamber to overcome the elastic force of the return spring and push the stop block 8 downward along the slide groove 53, so that the stop block 8 is separated from the card slot 63 area, thereby unlocking the card seat 6 and the bottom plate 52. Subsequently, the airbag assembly 4 releases the internal gas through the exhaust port, and the airbag body 41 shrinks back to the original shape, releasing the pressure restraint on the limit plate 3. In this way, the tie rod 2 has free space for movement, and the steering angle can be flexibly adjusted according to the driver's operation to complete the required steering action.

[0049] The entire structural design cleverly combines the advantages of pneumatic components and mechanical components, which not only simplifies the complex locking mechanism composed of traditional multiple components, but also greatly improves the response speed and service life of the system. In particular, it exhibits excellent durability in harsh environments, effectively solves the high wear problem caused by frequent activities in the past, reduces the subsequent maintenance cost, and fully reflects its practical value and technological progress.

[0050] The above are all preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Therefore, any equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A locking structure for a trailer steering shaft, characterized in that: include: A positioning seat (5) and an airbag assembly (4), wherein the positioning seat (5) is connected to the steering shaft (1) and is located in the gap between the steering shaft (1) and the tie rod (2), and the airbag assembly (4) is arranged in the positioning seat (5); the airbag assembly (4) comprises an airbag body (41) and two guide members (42) respectively arranged at two ends of the airbag body (41), and the guide members (42) are slidably matched at adjacent side plates (51) along the length of the steering shaft (1); the guide members (42) comprise a fixing plate (421) fixed to the end of the airbag and a guide rod (422) arranged at the fixing plate (421), and the guide rod (422) is parallel to the steering shaft (1), and the side plate (51) is provided with a guide hole (511) for the guide rod (422) to pass through; Two limiting plates (3), the two limiting plates (3) being connected to the same side of the transverse tie rod (2) and symmetrically distributed on both sides of the airbag assembly (4); A locking assembly, the locking assembly comprising a clamping seat (6) arranged at the tie rod (2), a stop block (8) for clamping and cooperating with the clamping seat (6), and a driving member (7) arranged at the positioning seat (5) and for driving the stop block (8) to move; When the steering wheel (9) does not need to steer, the gas will expand and squeeze when entering the airbag body (41), filling the specific chamber in the positioning seat (5) and forcing the fixing plate (421) to push the limiting plate (3), so that the tie rod (2) pulls the steering wheels (9) at both ends of the steering shaft (1) back to the center under the pushing action of the limiting plate (3), and aligns the seat (6) with the stop block (8), and the driving member (7) drives the stop block (8) to move in the direction of the seat (6) and lock it; When the steering wheel (9) needs to turn, the driving member (7) drives the stop block (8) to move away from the card seat (6) and unlock, and the airbag assembly (4) releases the activity restriction on the two limit plates (3) by exhausting air.

2. The locking structure of the trailer steering shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning seat (5) is welded to the steering shaft (1) and arranged in the center, and the clamping seat (6) is welded to the tie rod (2) and arranged in the center.

3. The locking structure of the trailer steering shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning seat (5) comprises two side plates (51) and a bottom plate (52) arranged between the two guard plates, the two side plates (51) are symmetrically distributed in the gap between the steering shaft (1) and the tie rod (2), the airbag assembly (4) is arranged in the accommodating space formed by the two side plates (51), and the driving member (7) and the stop block (8) are both arranged on the bottom plate (52).

4. The locking structure of the trailer steering shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting plate (3) comprises a connecting section (31) and a bending section (32), wherein the bending section (32) and the connecting section (31) are perpendicular to each other, and when the airbag body (41) is inflated, the outer side of the fixing plate (421) simultaneously presses against the inner sides of the connecting section (31) and the bending section (32) of the limiting plate (3).

5. The locking structure of the trailer steering shaft according to claim 3, characterized in that: The holder (6) comprises a horizontal plate (61) and a vertical plate (62) which are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal plate (61) is provided with a slot (63) adapted to the stop block (8). The bottom plate (52) is provided with a slide groove (53) for the stop block (8) to slide up and down. When the stop block (8) is accommodated in the slot (63) and the slide groove (53) at the same time, the holder (6) and the bottom plate (52) are locked by a snap connection.

6. The locking structure of the trailer steering shaft according to claim 5, characterized in that: Two guide plates (54) are arranged on the side of the bottom plate (52) facing away from the card seat (6), and the two guide plates (54) are respectively arranged on both sides of the slide groove (53), and the guide plates (54) and the slide groove (53) together constitute a sliding channel of the stop block (8).

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