Towing Coupling Sensor Actuation for Low-Stress Angle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor devices for towing vehicle couplings face challenges in efficiently managing mechanical stress and facilitating easy engagement and disengagement of coupling elements, leading to potential mechanical load issues during the coupling process.
Innovation Solution
The sensor device incorporates an actuator that adjusts both the driver and the bearing body between driving and release positions, allowing for reduced mechanical load and improved coupling efficiency by enabling the driver to be held in a release position during coupling, and moved to a driving position when engaged, using a combination of mechanical and electrical control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the driver is rotatably mounted on the coupling element to detect rotation, then the angular position can be detected, but mechanical stress accumulates on the driver during coupling processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two functional parts: the driver that remains stationary on the coupling element for detection, and the bearing body that rotates with the coupling counter-element. This segmentation allows the detection function to be separated from the load-bearing function, reducing mechanical stress on the driver while maintaining angular position detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing body acts as an intermediary between the rotating coupling counter-element and the stationary driver. It transfers the rotational information to the driver through the sensor arrangement, allowing the driver to detect angular position without directly experiencing the mechanical stress of rotation and coupling forces.
2Reliability
If the driver remains in contact with the coupling element during coupling, then continuous detection is possible, but engagement and disengagement become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of the bearing body relative to the driver. During coupling and disengagement, the bearing body can be positioned to facilitate easy engagement by the coupling counter-element. During normal operation, the bearing body rotates with the coupling counter-element to maintain continuous angular position detection, thus adapting to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
Before the coupling counter-element engages with the coupling element, the bearing body is positioned in advance to receive the coupling counter-element without resistance. This preliminary positioning ensures smooth engagement while maintaining the detection capability once coupled.
3Stress or pressure
If the driver is adjusted between engagement and release positions, then mechanical stress is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator serves multiple functions: it adjusts the bearing body position to reduce mechanical stress on the driver, facilitates coupling and disengagement operations, and maintains the detection capability throughout different operational states. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating several requirements into a single mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically controls the actuator based on the operational state of the coupling, reducing the need for manual intervention. The system self-adjusts the driver and bearing body positions to optimize mechanical stress distribution and maintain detection accuracy throughout the coupling process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor device (10) for a towing vehicle coupling (60) or forming part of a towing vehicle coupling (60) with which a trailer vehicle (A), in particular a semi-trailer, can be coupled to a towing vehicle (Z), in particular a lorry, wherein the towing vehicle coupling (60) has a coupling element (61) for releasably coupling a coupling mating element (81), which elements are or can be secured to the towing vehicle (Z) and the trailer vehicle (A), and when coupled together can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis (GZ), forming a joint, and wherein the sensor device (10) has a follower (20) which: is mounted on a bearing body (30) such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element (61) about a follower rotational axis (M); can be rotatably carried about the follower rotational axis (M), by the rotation of the coupling mating element (81) about the at least one joint rotational axis (GZ), in order to sense a rotation of the coupling mating element (81) relative to the coupling element (61) about the at least one joint rotational axis (GZ), and wherein the sensor device (10) has at least one sensor (11) for sensing a respective rotational position of the follower (20) relative to the bearing body (30) in relation to the follower rotational axis (M). The sensor device (10) has an actuator (50, 150) for moving at least the follower (20) between a follower position closer to the coupling mating element (81) and a release position further away from the coupling mating element (81), wherein the actuator (50, 150) can be controlled with the aid of a control device (56, 156) in order to move the follower (20).