Adjustable Hitch Bar for Parallel Modular Power Unit Tractive Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
When multiple modular traction power units (MPUs) are connected in parallel, achieving coordinated tractive effort becomes challenging due to misalignment of force vectors, especially during turns, and differences in tractive capacity among units, which existing methods like series or parallel connections and manual supervision fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A dynamically adjustable hitch bar system that adjusts the relative distances between MPUs and an implement hitch point to achieve desired tractive effort contributions by varying the length of hitch bar portions using actuators and position sensors, allowing for real-time control of tractive force distribution among MPUs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If multiple MPUs are connected in series, then the tractive effort is combined, but the force vectors become misaligned with the towed implement, especially on turns
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch bar is made dynamically adjustable with actuators that can change the relative positions of MPUs in real-time. This allows the system to adapt the force vector alignment dynamically during operation, especially during turns, resolving the contradiction between combining tractive effort and maintaining alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple MPUs are connected in parallel, then the force vectors remain aligned, but the MPUs may be mismatched in tractive capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically adjustable hitch bar portions with actuators to modify the relative positions of MPUs based on their individual tractive capacities. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to accommodate mismatched MPUs while maintaining proper force vector alignment, resolving the contradiction between alignment and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Position sensors provide feedback on the relative positions of MPUs, allowing the control system to adjust the hitch bar configuration to achieve optimal tractive effort distribution. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different MPU capacities and maintain proper alignment simultaneously.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical connections are used at the front and rear of MPUs to maintain relative position, then position synchronization is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the position synchronization function from complex mechanical connections and implements it through a simplified hitch bar system with actuators and position sensors. This reduces device complexity while maintaining position synchronization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical connections with a combination of actuators and position sensors that use electronic control and feedback. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the same position synchronization function.
Data Source
AI summary
During coordinated operation of multiple different modular traction power units (MPUs), a desired change in relative tractive effort contributed by each of the MPUs is identified. Relative distances between a connection point for each MPU and an implement hitch point is determined, in order to identify a hitch bar target position that will achieve the identified relative tractive effort contribution. The hitch bar is adjusted to make distance adjustments, based on the target position, to achieve the identified relative tractive effort for the MPUs.