Vehicle Coupling Device with Ball-Bearing Locking and 360-Degree Articulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling devices for linking vehicles to trailers lack sufficient articulation range, automatic locking mechanisms, and ease of use, particularly on uneven terrain, leading to difficulties in alignment, disengagement, and security concerns.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device featuring a pillar with a hemispherical head and neck design, a sleeve with ball-bearing locking elements, and a collar for automatic primary and secondary locking, allowing 360-degree rotation and easy engagement/disengagement, while maintaining trailer ball weight alignment and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional ball-coupling is used, then ease of attachment is achieved through self-centring, but the range of articulation is restricted by the neck of the tow-ball contacting the edges of the cup
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into separate functional components: a pillar with head and neck, a sleeve with locking elements, and a collar with cam surfaces. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling both easy attachment through self-centring and extended articulation range through the sleeve's ability to rotate and articulate relative to the pillar
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device incorporates dynamic elements including the sleeve that can rotate about the pillar axis, the collar that can rotate to engage/disengage locking elements, and the cam surfaces that convert rotational motion into locking/unlocking actions. These dynamic features enable the coupling to adapt to various articulation angles while maintaining secure connection
2Adaptability or versatility
If a ball-coupling with tongue locking mechanism and supplementary axes of rotation is used, then range of articulation is improved, but the cup binds on the tow-ball causing damage or disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar head is designed with a hemispherical shape that provides a smooth, curved surface for the sleeve to rotate against. This spherical geometry eliminates binding by distributing contact forces evenly across the curved surface, allowing the sleeve to articulate through a wide range of angles without the cup-edge binding problem experienced with conventional ball-couplings
3Reliability
If a ball-coupling with automatic primary-locking is used, then security against coupling separation is improved, but considerable force is required to retract the tongue for disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses periodic action through the collar's rotation to engage and disengage locking elements at specific positions. The cam surfaces are positioned such that rotation of the collar to specific angular positions automatically engages the locking elements with the groove, providing secure locking without requiring continuous force. Disengagement occurs automatically when the collar rotates to the position where cam surfaces redirect the locking elements out of the groove
4Adaptability or versatility
If a hitching-pin coupling is used, then linking of vehicle and trailer is achieved, but difficulty of inserting the hitching-pin occurs when components are not accurately aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device provides self-alignment and self-centring capabilities where the sleeve automatically centers on the pillar during approach, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment. The self-centring action is achieved through the geometric relationship between the pillar's head and neck and the sleeve's internal surfaces, which guide the sleeve into proper alignment as it approaches the pillar, allowing easy connection even when components are not initially perfectly aligned
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The coupling device provides a wide range of articulation, secure automatic locking, and ease of use, reducing manual alignment issues and wear, while preventing trailer theft and accommodating uneven terrain.
Implementation Method 1
a sleeve linked to the connector and adapted for engagement with the pillar by fitting over the pillar; and a collar adapted to fit over and engage with a portion of the sleeve for movement with respect to the sleeve; wherein the collar is movable with respect to the sleeve between a first unlocked position in which the sleeve is removable from the pillar and a second locked position in which the sleeve is not removable from the pillar
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling device for coupling a first vehicle to a second towed vehicle, the coupling device including a pillar (3) for mounting to a towbar attached to the first vehicle; a connector (30) for connection to the second towed vehicle; a sleeve (13) linked to the connector (30) and adapted for engagement with the pillar (3) by fitting over the pillar (3); and a collar (15) adapted to fit over and engage with a portion of the sleeve (13) for movement with respect to the sleeve (13); wherein the collar (15) is movable with respect to the sleeve (13) between a first unlocked position in which the sleeve (13) is removable from the pillar (3) and a second locked position in which the sleeve (13) is not removable from the pillar (3).