Towing Vehicle Coupling Sensor Friction Follower
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sensor devices for towing vehicle couplings face issues with accurately determining the rotational position of the coupling elements due to slipping of the driver projections on the ball socket surface, leading to inaccuracies in rotational position detection.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a sensor device with a frictional contact surface featuring a large number of particles on the driver and counter-entrainment elements, which enhances the frictional engagement and maintains precise rotational position detection by utilizing particles that are harder than steel and embedded in elastic materials, ensuring high friction and resistance to slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frictional connection is used between the driver and coupling counter-element, then the driver can be rotatably actuated by the coupling counter-element, but slippage occurs causing inaccurate rotational position detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating particles with different properties (harder than steel) at specific locations on the frictional contact surfaces of both the driver and coupling counter-element. These localized particle enhancements create high-friction zones precisely where contact occurs, preventing slippage without requiring changes to the entire component structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining particles harder than steel with elastic material matrices on the frictional contact surfaces. This composite structure provides both high friction (from the hard particles) and flexibility (from the elastic material), resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable frictional engagement and preventing slippage for accurate measurement.
2Force
If the driver projections are compressed to create frictional connection, then rotational actuation is achieved, but the drive lugs slide past the ball socket surface causing slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the frictional contact surfaces by incorporating particles with hardness greater than steel into the elastic material. This parameter change (increased hardness and friction coefficient) allows the compressed driver projections to maintain reliable frictional engagement without sliding past the coupling counter-element surface.
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 solution provides a reliable and accurate method for detecting the rotational position of the coupling elements, minimizing slipping and maintaining precise contact, even with irregularities in the coupling counter-element, thereby improving the overall accuracy and reliability of the sensor device.
Implementation Method 1
the driver has at least one frictional contact surface for frictional contact with the coupling counter element
Implementation Method 2
utilizing particles that are harder than steel and embedded in elastic materials, ensuring high friction and resistance to slipping
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor apparatus for a towing vehicle coupling (60) or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling (60), by means of 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 detachably coupling a coupling counter element (81), which are/can be secured to the towing vehicle (Z) and the trailer vehicle (A), and in the coupled state forming a joint (95), they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor apparatus (610) has a follower (620), which is mounted such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element (61) about a follower rotational axis (M), which can rotate about the follower rotational axis (M) by rotationally following the coupling counter element (81) in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and which is provided for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element (81) relative to the coupling element (61) about the at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the follower (620) has at least one frictional connection surface (681) for frictional contact to the coupling counter element (81), and wherein the sensor apparatus (610) has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower (620) relative to the coupling element (61) in relation to the follower rotational axis (M). According to the invention, a plurality of particles (683) for contacting the coupling counter element (81) is disposed on the at least one frictional connection surface (681) and/or the coupling has a counter follower element (990) which is arranged or is can be arranged on the coupling counter element (81) and which has a follower surface (690) having a plurality of particles (683) for contacting the frictional connection surface (681) of the follower.