Fifth Wheel Camera Placement Outside Grease and King Pin Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fifth wheel coupling systems with cameras are prone to damage and optical impairment due to their exposed positions, which leads to increased costs with the need for additional cameras for reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
Securing the camera to a bearing element connected to the fifth wheel coupling plate, positioning it outside the area of influence of the king pin and lubricating grease, with a fixed and calibrated installation that avoids pivoting movements and maintains a low overall height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera is mounted on a crossbar between the bars of the towing vehicle in the longitudinal direction between the fifth wheel coupling and the rear of the towing vehicle, then the camera can be aligned in the middle of the vehicle's longitudinal axis and enable the towing vehicle to approach the trailer exactly, but the camera is located behind the wheels and is particularly exposed to dirt that is thrown up, which leads to significant optical impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is mounted on the fifth wheel coupling plate itself, utilizing the vertical dimension and the structure of the coupling plate to position the camera at a height and location that avoids ground-level dirt while maintaining alignment capability. This dimensional relocation from the rear crossbar to the coupling plate resolves the contradiction between alignment precision and exposure to dirt.
2Reliability
If the camera is positioned at the rear end of the towing vehicle, then the camera can detect the approach, but the camera can easily be hit and destroyed by the king pin when the air suspension is extended during coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the vulnerable rear end position and relocated to the fifth wheel coupling plate, which is structurally protected and positioned higher. This extraction from the danger zone of king pin movement eliminates the risk of damage while preserving the camera's detection function through strategic positioning on the coupling plate.
3Measurement precision
If the camera is arranged under or in the fifth wheel coupling in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, then the camera can detect the king pin much more easily due to the central position, but the camera is always located in the area of influence of the king pin and is exposed to an increased risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned at a specific location on the fifth wheel coupling plate that provides central alignment for detecting the king pin's approach, while simultaneously being located in a zone that is not directly in the king pin's path. This localized positioning on the coupling plate achieves both detection precision and damage avoidance by exploiting the spatial characteristics of the coupling structure.
4Reliability
If the locking region located in the center of the coupling plate is supplied with lubricating grease, then the locking mechanism functions properly, but the grease constantly gets onto the camera and causes optical impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned on the fifth wheel coupling plate at a height and location that places it in a different vertical dimension from the lubricated locking region. This dimensional separation ensures that while the locking mechanism receives necessary lubrication for reliable operation, the camera remains above the grease spray zone, avoiding optical impairment.
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth wheel coupling with a camera, including a coupling plate and a bearing element, with which the coupling plate can be secured to a towing vehicle, wherein the coupling plate has a centrally arranged locking region for receiving a king pin, as well as an insertion opening running along a longitudinal axis (x) and bordered on both sides by two insertion flanges. The camera is mounted in a position in the region of the fifth wheel coupling with the lowest possible risk of soiling and damage, with the camera being secured to the bearing element.