Elastic Member Coupling Restraint for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Vibrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mechanical coupling between plug and socket elements in heavy-duty vehicles, such as semi-trailer trucks, tends to weaken over time, leading to disengagement and disruption of the electrical connection between the tractor unit and the trailer unit due to vibrations and disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing an elastic member with a slot, detachably connected to the socket member and operably engaged with the plug member through the slot, ensures a secure mechanical connection by stretching the elastic member to accommodate the plug member's wings, maintaining engagement even under dynamic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring and ratchet mechanism is used to mechanically couple the plug element with the socket element, then the coupling can be initially secured, but the coupling weakens over time causing disengagement due to vibrations and disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by using an elastic member that can dynamically adapt to vibrations and movements. The elastic member stretches and contracts in response to external forces, maintaining continuous engagement between the plug and socket elements despite vehicle vibrations and disturbances, thereby resolving the issue of coupling weakening over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing the elastic properties of the elastic member. The elastic member changes its physical state (stretched/compressed) in response to external forces, allowing it to maintain engagement under varying conditions. This parameter change enables the coupling to remain secure despite vibrations and movements during vehicle operation
2Reliability
If the elastic member is stretched to engage the plug member, then secure mechanical connection is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the flexible shells and thin films principle by using an elastic member that functions as a flexible restraining element. This single flexible component provides the restraining function through its elastic properties, avoiding the need for complex rigid mechanisms with multiple parts, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential restraining function from complex mechanical mechanisms and implements it through a single elastic member. By taking out the core function of restraining the plug from disengagement and implementing it through elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical interlocking, the solution achieves secure connection with minimal complexity
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
This solution provides a consistent power supply and electrical communication by preventing disengagement of the plug and socket members, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring reliable connectivity despite vibrations and disturbances.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic member is stretched until the slot is placed on a wing unit of the plug member. This connected arrangement, of the elastic, stretchable member, ensures a secure mechanical connection of the plug member to the socket member even when the coupling is subjected to disturbances or vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A device for restraining a coupling from disengaging is provided. The coupling includes a plug member and a socket member. The plug member couples with the socket member. The device includes an elastic member. The elastic member has a slot in a first portion. The elastic member detachably connects to the socket member at a first end and operably engages to the plug member at a second end through the slot.