Saddle for a towing vehicle and method of mounting the same

Abstract

The present application belongs to the general vehicle technical field, and particularly relates to a towing connector, especially a saddle for a towing vehicle and a mounting method thereof; wherein the saddle for the towing vehicle comprises: two limiting baffle plates, which are slidingly arranged at the bottom of a grinding disc body, and one limiting baffle plate corresponds to one towing pin; a control unit, which is in communication connection with a displacement sensor at the end of a trailer; the control unit is configured to collect the moving stroke data of the two limiting baffle plates in real time, calculate the stroke difference value, and compare with a preset threshold value; wherein the grinding disc body moves to the direction of the trailer until the locking hooks abut against the towing pins of the trailer; the towing pins push the two locking hooks to outwardly turn around the hinge points, so as to make the towing pins abut against the bottom wall of the guide groove; the locking hooks push the limiting baffle plates to outwardly move when outwardly turning, and the displacement sensor monitors the outward moving stroke of the limiting baffle plates; if the stroke difference value of the outward moving of the two limiting baffle plates is not greater than the threshold value, the control unit outputs an alignment success signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of general vehicle technology, specifically relating to traction connectors, and more particularly to saddles for tractor vehicles and their installation methods. Background Technology

[0002] Semi-trailers, as a major tool in modern road transportation, consist of a tractor unit and a trailer connected by a saddle-to-trailer pin mechanism. Therefore, the safety, reliability, and ease of operation of this connection mechanism directly affect the efficiency and safety of the entire transportation process. In practical operations, especially in scenarios involving repeated joining and unjoining of trailers, how to quickly and accurately complete alignment and connection operations has always been a focus of industry attention and a key technical challenge.

[0003] Although the saddle-traction pin connection mechanism is relatively mature in mechanical design, there are still many technical challenges in actual operation, especially in the manual connection process. These challenges mainly manifest in the following aspects:

[0004] Blind spots and operational precision issues: During the reversing docking process, the driver cannot directly observe the actual alignment of the saddle and the towing pin. Although rearview mirrors can be used, significant blind spots still exist, making it difficult for the driver to accurately judge the relative position. This often leads to the need for multiple forward and backward movements of the tractor (commonly known as "parking") for fine-tuning or the need for ground personnel to provide assistance. This process is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, reducing transportation efficiency, but also places high demands on the driver's skills and experience, especially for novices.

[0005] Technical specifications provide clear quantitative indicators for the connection process, but in the absence of effective auxiliary tools, it is difficult to accurately control the process relying solely on visual inspection and experience: Centerline alignment: The offset between the centerlines of the tractor and semi-trailer must be limited to less than 40 mm. Angle control: The angle between the centerlines of the two vehicles must be ≤5° when fully loaded and ≤7° when unloaded. Height matching: The support legs need to be adjusted so that the center of the semi-trailer's towing plate is 1-3 cm lower than the center of the upper plane of the tractor's towing saddle. Excessive height not only makes connection difficult but may also damage the towing seat, towing pin, and related parts.

[0006] Therefore, how to solve the problem of slow alignment between tractor and trailer, which requires personnel assistance and command, is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field.

[0007] It should be noted that the information disclosed in this background section is only for understanding the background technology of this application concept, and therefore, the above description is not considered to constitute information related to the technology. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This disclosure provides at least one embodiment of a saddle for a tractor and a method for installing the same.

[0009] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a saddle for a tractor, comprising:

[0010] The grinding disc body is fixed to the rear of the tractor, and a "V"-shaped guide groove is opened at the rear.

[0011] Two locking hooks are symmetrically arranged and hinged to the bottom of the grinding disc body;

[0012] Two limiting baffles are slidably disposed at the bottom of the grinding disc body, and one limiting baffle corresponds to one traction pin;

[0013] The control unit is communicatively connected to the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer;

[0014] The control unit is configured to collect the travel data of the two limit baffles in real time, calculate the travel difference, and compare it with a preset threshold; wherein, the grinding disc body moves toward the trailer until the locking hook abuts against the trailer's traction pin.

[0015] The traction pin pushes the two locking hooks to rotate outward around the hinge point, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the guide groove.

[0016] The locking hook flips outward to push the limiting baffle to move outward, and the displacement sensor monitors the outward movement of the limiting baffle;

[0017] If the difference in the outward movement of the two limit baffles is not greater than the threshold, the control unit outputs an alignment success signal. In an optional embodiment, a linkage post is vertically provided at the bottom of the locking hook;

[0018] An adjustment groove is provided on the limiting baffle, and the linkage column is slidably disposed in the adjustment groove;

[0019] When the locking hook rotates outward with the hinge point as the axis, the linkage column abuts against the side wall of the adjustment groove to push the limiting baffle to move horizontally outward.

[0020] In one optional embodiment, the adjusting groove is arc-shaped, with its outer and inner rings being concentric and concentric arcs;

[0021] The radius of the outer ring is R, and the radius of the inner ring is R-2r-e, where r is the radius of the linkage column and e is the eccentricity, and the value of the eccentricity e ranges from 0.2R to 0.4R.

[0022] In one optional embodiment, the limiting baffle includes two extension plates, which are parallel to each other and are adapted to protrude from the outer wall of the grinding disc body.

[0023] When the locking hook rotates outward around the hinge point, the displacement sensor contacts a location suitable for monitoring the horizontal outward movement of the limiting plate. In an optional embodiment, a guide post is provided at one end of the limiting baffle, and a circular hole adapted to the guide post is opened on the bottom wall of the grinding disc body, with the guide post slidably disposed within the circular hole.

[0024] In one optional embodiment, a positioning block is provided at one end of the guide post, and a reset spring is sleeved on the outer wall of the guide post, with the two ends of the reset spring abutting against the positioning block and the bottom wall of the grinding disc body, respectively.

[0025] In one alternative implementation, a control unit is also included, which is communicatively connected to a displacement sensor at the end of the trailer.

[0026] The control unit is configured to collect the movement travel data of the two limit baffles in real time, calculate the travel difference, and compare it with a preset threshold.

[0027] When the travel difference is not greater than the preset threshold, an alignment success signal is output.

[0028] In an alternative implementation, the control unit is further configured to transmit a successful alignment signal to a display device in the tractor cab.

[0029] In one alternative embodiment, a tractor is also provided, wherein the rear of the tractor frame is provided with a mounting base adapted to the grinding disc body.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, a trailer is also provided, the end of which is provided with a bracket for mounting the displacement sensor, the position of which corresponds to the movement trajectory of the limiting baffle.

[0031] In one alternative embodiment, the grinding disc body is fixed to the rear of the tractor, and a "V"-shaped guide groove is provided at the rear.

[0032] Two locking hooks are symmetrically arranged and hinged to the bottom of the grinding disc body;

[0033] Two limiting baffles are slidably disposed at the bottom of the grinding disc body, and one limiting baffle corresponds to one traction pin;

[0034] The linkage column is vertically installed at the bottom of the locking hook;

[0035] An adjustment groove is provided on the limiting baffle, the linkage column is slidably disposed in the adjustment groove, and there is an eccentricity between the inner and outer rings of the adjustment groove.

[0036] When the locking hook flips outward, the linkage column slides in the adjustment groove, and the outer wall of the linkage column abuts against the outer ring of the adjustment groove, so as to push the limiting baffle to slide horizontally outward relative to the grinding disc body.

[0037] Secondly, this disclosure also provides a method for installing a tractor saddle, the method comprising:

[0038] The grinding disc moves toward the trailer until the locking hook abuts against the towing pin at the end of the trailer;

[0039] The traction pin pushes the two locking hooks to rotate outward around the hinge point, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the guide groove.

[0040] The locking hook flips outward, pushing the limit baffle to move outward and contact the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer;

[0041] If the difference in the outward movement of the two limit baffles is not greater than the threshold, then the alignment of the grinding disc body with the trailer meets the technical specifications.

[0042] The beneficial effects of this invention are that it provides a saddle for a tractor unit and its installation method. Through the cooperation of a limiting baffle, a locking hook, and a towing pin, a mechanical alignment detection mechanism is achieved, enabling semi-automatic judgment during connection. When the towing pin pushes the locking hook outward, the limiting baffle automatically moves outward and contacts a displacement sensor. The system automatically detects the travel difference between the two limiting baffles. This design greatly reduces the reliance on driver experience, allowing even novice drivers to quickly and accurately connect the tractor unit, reducing connection time. It is particularly suitable for modern logistics scenarios requiring frequent trailer swapping operations.

[0043] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention are realized and obtained through the structures particularly pointed out in the description and the drawings.

[0044] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0045] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments or related technologies of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0046] Figure 1 A perspective view of the bottom wall of a saddle for a tractor provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0047] Figure 2 A perspective view of the limiting baffle provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0048] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the linkage column not pushing the limit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating how the linkage column pushes the limiting baffle to move outward, as provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0050] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the frame of the control unit and displacement sensor provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0051] Figure 6 This is a front view of the millstone body and trailer provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0052] In the picture:

[0053] 1. Grinding disc body; 10. Guide groove;

[0054] 2. Locking hook; 20. Linkage column;

[0055] 3. Limiting baffle; 30. Adjusting groove; 31. Outer ring; 32. Inner ring; 33. Extension plate; 34. Guide post; 35. Return spring; 36. Positioning block;

[0056] 4. Trailer. Detailed Implementation

[0057] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0058] In this document, when it is mentioned that a first component is located on a second component, this can mean that the first component can be directly formed on the second component, or that a third component can be inserted between the first and second components. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the thickness of the components may be exaggerated or reduced for the purpose of effectively describing the technical content.

[0059] In this document, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of…” modify an entire column of elements when following a column of elements. For example, the expression “at least one of a, b, and c” should be understood to include only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c.

[0060] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles “a,” “an,” and “the” may also be intended to include plural forms unless otherwise expressly stated herein. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are inclusive and thus specify the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein should not be construed as requiring them to be performed in the specific order discussed or shown, unless specifically identified as such. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0061] As used herein, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” etc., generally refer to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase can be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. Therefore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic can be included in more than one embodiment of this disclosure, such that these phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. As used herein, the terms “example,” “exemplary,” etc., are used to “serve as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation, aspect, or design described herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or superior to other implementations, aspects, or designs. Rather, the use of the terms “example,” “exemplary,” etc., is intended to present concepts in a specific manner.

[0062] Research has revealed that semi-trailers, as a primary tool in modern road transport, consist of a tractor unit and a trailer connected by a saddle-to-trailer pin mechanism. Therefore, the safety, reliability, and ease of operation of this connection mechanism directly impact the efficiency and safety of the entire transport process. In practical operations, especially in scenarios involving repeated connection and separation of trailers, how to quickly and accurately complete alignment and connection operations has always been a focus of industry attention and a key technical challenge.

[0063] Although the saddle-traction pin connection mechanism is relatively mature in mechanical design, there are still many technical challenges in actual operation, especially in the manual connection process. These challenges mainly manifest in the following aspects:

[0064] Blind spots and operational precision issues: During the reversing docking process, the driver cannot directly observe the actual alignment of the saddle and the towing pin. Although rearview mirrors can be used, significant blind spots still exist, making it difficult for the driver to accurately judge the relative position. This often necessitates multiple forward and backward movements of the tractor (commonly known as "parking") for fine-tuning. This process is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, reducing transportation efficiency, but also places higher demands on the driver's skills and experience, especially for novices.

[0065] Technical specifications provide clear quantitative indicators for the connection process, but in the absence of effective auxiliary tools, it is difficult to accurately control the process relying solely on visual inspection and experience: Centerline alignment: The offset between the centerlines of the tractor and semi-trailer must be limited to less than 40 mm. Angle control: The angle between the centerlines of the two vehicles must be ≤5° when fully loaded and ≤7° when unloaded. Height matching: The support legs need to be adjusted so that the center of the semi-trailer's towing plate is 1-3 cm lower than the center of the upper plane of the tractor's towing saddle. Excessive height not only makes connection difficult but may also damage the towing seat, towing pin, and related parts.

[0066] To improve connectivity efficiency and security, the industry has tried several improvement solutions, such as:

[0067] Technical training and standardized operation: Emphasis is placed on providing systematic training for drivers, especially those engaged in trailer swapping, and paying attention to every detail in the connection process.

[0068] Technological improvements: For example, tractors equipped with ECAS (Electronic Air Suspension System) can simplify the manual operation of semi-trailer height by adjusting the vehicle height.

[0069] However, these methods do not fundamentally solve the problem of the alignment process relying on the driver's subjective experience and sense. The ECAS system is not standard equipment on all vehicles, and even after adjustment, it still requires manual fine-tuning. Many auxiliary devices have limited effectiveness or reduced practicality in complex conditions (such as low light or uneven ground).

[0070] In summary, current technology for connecting tractor-trailers and semi-trailers relies excessively on the driver's experience and skills, resulting in significant shortcomings such as low docking efficiency, high operational difficulty (especially unfriendly to novice drivers), and risks to connection reliability.

[0071] Therefore, how to solve the problem of the difficulty in aligning the tractor and trailer is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field.

[0072] The defects in the above solutions and the reasons for their occurrence are the results of the inventors' practice and careful research. Therefore, the discovery process of the above problems and the solutions proposed in this disclosure should be considered as the inventors' contributions to this disclosure.

[0073] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0074] The following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0075] like Figure 1 As shown, at least one embodiment provides a saddle for a tractor, comprising:

[0076] The grinding disc body 1 is fixed to the rear frame of the tractor unit with high-strength bolts. A precise "V"-shaped guide groove 10 is formed at the rear of the grinding disc body 1. The guide groove 10 is surface hardened and has high wear resistance. The "V"-shaped design can effectively guide the traction pin to initial centering. Two locking hooks 2 are forged from high-quality alloy steel and are symmetrically hinged to the bottom of the grinding disc body 1 by pin shafts. The hinge point position of the locking hooks 2 has been precisely calculated to ensure balanced force distribution.

[0077] Reference Appendix Figure 6 The control unit, powered by a 32-bit microprocessor, communicates with two high-precision magnetostrictive displacement sensors mounted at the end of the trailer 4 via waterproof connectors. The control unit is configured to acquire the absolute displacement data of the two limit baffles 3 in real time at a frequency of 100Hz, calculating the travel difference ΔS between them. The preset threshold δ is set to 4mm according to industry standards. When ΔS ≤ δ, the control unit determines that the alignment meets the technical specifications and outputs an alignment success signal. The control unit transmits the alignment success signal to the display device in the tractor cab via a CAN bus. The display device includes a green LED indicator and an LCD screen. When a success signal is received, the LED indicator remains lit, and the LCD screen simultaneously displays the text "Alignment Successful" and the specific travel difference value, providing the driver with clear and intuitive dual confirmation.

[0078] Reference Appendix Figure 2Two limiting baffles 3 are slidably disposed at the bottom of the grinding disc body 1, with each limiting baffle 3 corresponding to one traction pin. The two limiting baffles 3 are made of high-strength wear-resistant material and are slidably disposed at the bottom of the grinding disc body 1 via guide posts 34. Each limiting baffle 3 corresponds to a locking hook 2, and its initial position can be finely adjusted by adjusting screws. When the trailer 4 is not connected to the grinding disc body 1, the two limiting baffles 3 abut against each other to prevent impurities from splashing from the bottom of the grinding disc body 1 onto the guide groove 10. In this process, the grinding disc body 1 moves towards the trailer 4 until the locking hook 2 abuts against the traction pin of the trailer 4; the traction pin pushes the two locking hooks 2 to rotate outward around the hinge point, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the guide groove 10; the locking hooks 2 rotate outward and push the limiting baffle 3 to move outward, so that the limiting baffle 3 contacts the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer 4; if the difference in the outward movement of the two limiting baffles 3 is not greater than a threshold, further, the threshold is set to 4mm (corresponding to a centerline offset of 40mm), which conforms to the GB / T 32860-2016 standard (centerline offset ≤40mm). Then the alignment of the grinding disc body 1 and the trailer 4 meets the technical specifications. Through the cooperation of the limiting baffle 3, the locking hook 2 and the traction pin, a mechanical alignment detection mechanism is realized, realizing semi-automatic judgment during connection. When the traction pin pushes the locking hook 2 to rotate outward, through the cooperation of the linkage column 20 and the adjustment groove 30, the limiting baffle 3 automatically moves outward and contacts the displacement sensor, and the system automatically detects the difference in the movement of the two limiting baffles 3. This design greatly reduces the reliance on driver experience, enabling even novice drivers to quickly and accurately complete the connection, reducing connection time and making it particularly suitable for modern logistics scenarios that require frequent trailer swapping operations.

[0079] Reference Appendix Figure 2 A linkage column 20 is vertically welded to the bottom of the locking hook 2; the linkage column 20 is surface hardened; furthermore, a positioning plate is provided at the end of the linkage column 20 that passes through the adjustment groove 30, and the diameter of the positioning plate is larger than the opening width of the adjustment groove 30.

[0080] Reference Appendix Figure 3 and Figure 5 The limiting baffle 3 has a precision-machined adjustment groove 30, which is arc-shaped with its outer ring 31 and inner ring 32 being concentric and concentric arcs. The linkage column 20 is slidably disposed within the adjustment groove 30. The radius of the outer ring 31 is R, and the radius of the inner ring 32 is R-2r-e, where r is the radius of the linkage column 20 and e is the eccentricity. The eccentricity e ranges from 0.2R to 0.4R. Further, the eccentricity e is optimized and calculated to be 0.3R. When the locking hook 2 rotates outward around the hinge point, the linkage column 20 abuts against the side wall of the adjustment groove 30, pushing the limiting baffle 3 to move horizontally outward. Figure 5 In the diagram, F1 represents the horizontal movement direction of the limit baffle 3, and F2 represents the flipping direction of the linkage column 20.

[0081] Continue to refer to the appendix Figure 3 The limiting baffle 3 includes two extension plates 33, which are parallel to each other and adapted to protrude from the outer wall of the grinding disc body 1. The extension plates 33 are laser-cut and their lengths are precisely calculated to ensure that they retract into the bottom wall of the grinding disc body 1 when not in operation and protrude from the grinding disc body 1 when in operation. When the extension plates 33 move outward, they can contact the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer 4. When the locking hook 2 rotates outward with the hinge point as the axis, the limiting plate slides horizontally outward to make the extension plates 33 contact the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer 4.

[0082] Reference Appendix Figure 4 The limiting baffle 3 has a guide post 34 at one end, and the bottom wall of the grinding disc body 1 has a circular hole adapted to the guide post 34. The guide post 34 is slidably disposed in the circular hole. The bottom wall of the grinding disc body 1 has a high-precision circular hole machined at a corresponding position, and the guide post 34 is clearance-fitted with the circular hole to ensure smooth sliding without shaking.

[0083] A positioning block 36 is provided at one end of the guide post 34, and a return spring 35 is sleeved on the outer wall of the guide post 34. The two ends of the return spring 35 abut against the positioning block 36 and the bottom wall of the grinding disc body 1, respectively. The preload of the return spring 35 is calculated to ensure that the limit baffle 3 resets in time without hindering its normal movement.

[0084] Reference Appendix Figure 6 If the turning radius of the tractor unit 1 relative to the trailer 4 is too large during the turning process, the traction pin of the trailer 4 may disengage from the locking hook 2. During the disengagement process, the traction pin pushes the locking hook 2 to rotate outward around the hinge axis. In this process, the locking hook 2 pushes the extension plate 33 of the limiting baffle 3 to move outward to protrude from the tractor unit 1. The protruding extension plate 33 can support the trailer 4 from the bottom, thereby improving the support of the tractor unit 1 for the trailer 4 and preventing the trailer 4 from completely disengaging from the tractor unit 1 due to excessive turning. Figure 6 In the diagram, F1 represents the direction of movement of the trailer, F2 represents the direction of travel of the tractor when turning, and a represents the turning angle of the tractor relative to the trailer when turning.

[0085] At least one embodiment provides a saddle for a tractor, comprising: a grinding disc body 1, which is fixed to the rear of the tractor and has a "V"-shaped guide groove 10 at the rear; two locking hooks 2, which are symmetrically arranged and hinged to the bottom of the grinding disc body 1; two limiting baffles 3, which are slidably arranged at the bottom of the grinding disc body 1, and one limiting baffle 3 corresponds to one traction pin; a linkage column 20, which is vertically arranged at the bottom of the locking hooks 2; an adjustment groove 30 is provided on the limiting baffles 3, the linkage column 20 is slidably arranged in the adjustment groove 30, and there is an eccentricity between the inner ring 32 and the outer ring 31 of the adjustment groove 30; wherein, when the locking hooks 2 are flipped outward, the linkage column 20 slides in the adjustment groove 30, and the outer wall of the linkage column 20 abuts against the outer ring 31 of the adjustment groove 30, so as to push the limiting baffles 3 to slide horizontally outward relative to the grinding disc body 1.

[0086] At least one embodiment provides a tractor unit, the rear of which is provided with a mounting base adapted to the grinding disc body 1.

[0087] At least one embodiment provides a trailer 4, the end of which is provided with a bracket for mounting the displacement sensor, the position of which corresponds to the movement trajectory of the limiting baffle 3.

[0088] At least one embodiment provides a method for installing a tractor saddle, the method comprising:

[0089] The grinding disc body 1 moves toward the trailer 4 until the locking hook 2 abuts against the traction pin at the end of the trailer 4; the traction pin pushes the two locking hooks 2 to rotate outward around the hinge point, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the guide groove 10; the locking hooks 2 rotate outward and push the limiting baffle 3 to move outward and contact the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer 4; if the difference in the outward movement of the two limiting baffles 3 is not greater than the threshold, then the grinding disc body 1 and the trailer 4 are aligned in accordance with the technical specifications.

[0090] The working process and principle of the saddle for a tractor are as follows:

[0091] Initial state: The tractor unit reverses and approaches the trailer 4. Under the action of the return spring 35, the two limit baffles 3 are in the initial position, and the extension plates 33 on them retract into the bottom wall of the grinding disc body 1. The two locking hooks 2 remain closed under their own weight and the action of the internal torsion spring.

[0092] Contact and guidance: As the tractor continues to reverse, the "V"-shaped guide groove 10 of the millstone body 1 initially encloses the towing pin of the trailer 4. The towing pin then contacts the two locking hooks 2.

[0093] Pushing and flipping: The traction pin pushes the two locking hooks 2 to overcome resistance and flips them outward with the hinge point as the axis.

[0094] Displacement Conversion and Detection: When the locking hook 2 flips, its bottom linkage column 20 slides within the adjustment groove 30 of the limiting baffle 3. Due to the eccentric design of the adjustment groove 30, the linkage column 20 abuts against the outer ring 31 wall, converting the rotational motion of the locking hook 2 into the horizontal outward linear motion of the limiting baffle 3. The limiting baffle 3 drives the extension plate 33 to move outward, eventually contacting the probe of the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer 4 and compressing it by a certain stroke. The displacement sensor detects this stroke value L in real time.

[0095] Judgment and Prompt: The control unit acquires the travel values ​​L1 and L2 detected by the two sensors (L1 and L2 refer to the travel distance of the two extension plates 33) and calculates the difference |L1-L2|. If this difference is not greater than the threshold of 4mm, it is determined that the alignment accuracy of the center lines of the two vehicles meets the requirements, and the control unit immediately outputs a signal, with the display device in the driver's cab providing a clear visual prompt of "alignment successful". After receiving the prompt, the driver can confirm that the connecting mechanism is accurately in place and then perform subsequent locking and other operations. If the difference exceeds the tolerance, there will be no success signal, and the driver needs to adjust the vehicle position and try docking again.

[0096] Reset: When the tractor moves away from the trailer 4, the force of the traction pin on the locking hook 2 disappears. Under the action of the reset spring 35, the limit baffle 3 drives the extension plate 33 on it to automatically retract to the initial position. At the same time, the locking hook 2 also returns to its original position under the action of the built-in torsion spring, so as to achieve the effect of locking and fixing the trailer 4.

[0097] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0098] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence unless expressly indicated herein. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed above may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or segment.

[0099] Based on the above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention, and through the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the inventive concept. The technical scope of this invention is not limited to the contents of the specification, but must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A saddle for a tractor, characterized in that, include: The grinding disc body (1) is fixed to the rear of the tractor, and a "V"-shaped guide groove (10) is opened at the rear. Two locking hooks (2) are symmetrically arranged and hinged to the bottom of the grinding disc body (1); Two limiting baffles (3) are slidably set at the bottom of the grinding disc body (1), and one limiting baffle (3) corresponds to one traction pin; The control unit is in communication with the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer (4); The control unit is configured to collect the travel data of the two limit baffles (3) in real time, calculate the travel difference, and compare it with a preset threshold; wherein, the grinding disc body (1) moves toward the trailer (4) until the locking hook (2) abuts against the traction pin of the trailer (4); The traction pin pushes the two locking hooks (2) to rotate outward with the hinge point as the axis, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the "V" guide groove (10); The locking hook (2) flips outward to push the limiting baffle (3) to move outward, and the displacement sensor monitors the outward movement of the limiting baffle (3); If the difference in the outward movement of the two limit baffles (3) is not greater than the threshold, the control unit outputs a successful alignment signal; A linkage post (20) is vertically installed at the bottom of the locking hook (2); An adjustment groove (30) is provided on the limiting baffle (3), and the linkage column (20) is slidably disposed in the adjustment groove (30); When the locking hook (2) rotates outward with the hinge point as the axis, the linkage column (20) abuts against the side wall of the adjustment groove (30) to push the limiting baffle (3) to move outward horizontally; The adjustment groove (30) is arc-shaped, and its outer ring (31) and inner ring (32) are concentric arcs; The radius of the outer ring (31) is R, and the radius of the inner ring (32) is R-2r-e, where r is the radius of the linkage column (20), e is the eccentricity, and the value range of the eccentricity e is 0.2R-0.4R. The limiting baffle (3) includes two extension plates (33), which are parallel to each other and are adapted to protrude from the outer wall of the grinding disc body (1); When the locking hook (2) rotates outward with the hinge point as the axis, the displacement sensor is suitable for monitoring the horizontal outward movement of the limit baffle.

2. The saddle for a tractor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A guide post (34) is provided on one side of the limiting baffle (3), and a round hole adapted to the guide post (34) is opened on the bottom wall of the grinding disc body (1), and the guide post (34) is slidably disposed in the round hole.

3. The saddle for a tractor as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A positioning block (36) is provided at one end of the guide post (34), and the positioning block (36) is fixed to the side wall of the limiting baffle (3); A reset spring (35) is fitted on the outer wall of the guide post (34), and the two ends of the reset spring (35) abut against the positioning block (36) and the bottom wall of the grinding disc body (1), respectively.

4. The saddle for a tractor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit is also configured to transmit a successful alignment signal to a display device in the tractor cab.

5. A tractor unit, characterized in that, The tractor saddle as described in any one of claims 1-4 is used, wherein the rear of the tractor frame is provided with a mounting base adapted to the grinding disc body (1).

6. A trailer, characterized in that, The tractor saddle as described in any one of claims 1-4 is used, and the end of the trailer (4) is provided with a bracket for mounting the displacement sensor, the position of which corresponds to the movement trajectory of the limiting baffle (3).

7. A method for installing a tractor saddle, characterized in that, The installation method of the tractor saddle as described in any one of claims 1-4 includes: The grinding disc body (1) moves toward the trailer (4) until the locking hook (2) abuts against the traction pin at the end of the trailer (4); The traction pin pushes the two locking hooks (2) to rotate outward with the hinge point as the axis, so that the traction pin abuts against the bottom wall of the "V" guide groove (10); The locking hook (2) flips outward to push the limiting baffle (3) outward to contact the displacement sensor at the end of the trailer (4); If the difference in the outward movement of the two limit baffles (3) is not greater than the threshold, then the grinding disc body (1) and the trailer (4) are aligned.

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