Electric Drive Unit Retrofit for Caravan Steady
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for retrofitting manually operated trailer steadies to electric operation are costly, complex, and often require modifying the trailer's structure, taking up additional space and requiring new mounting holes.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit with an integrated gearbox and motor attached to a bracket that fits under and into the existing structure of a manually operated steady, allowing for easy retrofitting without external transmission shafts or additional structural modifications, utilizing existing attachment points and minimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If an electric motor and gearbox are integrated with a bracket that fits under and into the fixed part of the steady, then the drive unit takes up less space outside structural frame parts and requires no additional mounting holes, but the design complexity of integrating motor, gearbox, and bracket increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor (8) and gearbox (9) are integrated with the bracket (7) to form a unified drive unit. The motor is disposed projecting to the same side of the bracket as the screw spindle, with the output shaft of the motor connected directly to the input shaft of the gearbox, eliminating the need for external transmission shafts and reducing the overall space occupied outside structural frame parts.
2Device complexity
If the electric motor is disposed projecting to the same side of the bracket as the screw spindle, then no external transmission shafts are required, but the motor and gearbox occupy more space on one side of the bracket
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is positioned to project from the bracket in a direction that aligns with the screw spindle, utilizing the same side space. This dimensional arrangement allows direct connection of the motor output shaft to the gearbox input shaft, eliminating external transmission shafts while confining the motor-gearbox assembly to one side of the bracket.
3Extent of automation
If retrofitting is performed by removing the manual steady and replacing it with an entire new electric unit including leg and frame, then electric operation is achieved, but the cost includes structural parts of the steady
Solution Approach 1:
The electric drive unit is segmented into separate functional components: the motor (8), gearbox (9), and bracket (7) assembly, which can be retrofitted onto the existing manual steady structure. This allows the electric propulsion system to be added independently without replacing the entire steady assembly, reducing retrofitting costs by preserving existing structural parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed to be adaptable to existing manual steady structures, allowing the electric drive unit to be mounted on various steady types. The motor and gearbox integration with the bracket creates a universal mounting solution that can be applied to different steady configurations without requiring complete replacement of the original structure.
4Ease of operation
If mounting the motor box at the front end of the spindle is performed, then easy mounting is achieved, but there is often no space for the motor box due to plastic covers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the motor box at the front end of the spindle where space is limited, the motor is integrated with the bracket and disposed projecting to the same side as the screw spindle. This inverted mounting approach utilizes the bracket structure as the primary mounting platform, avoiding the space constraints at the spindle front end while maintaining easy mounting through the bracket's attachment points.
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
Enables simple, cost-effective retrofitting of trailer steadies with reduced structural interference and space usage, maintaining manual operation capabilities and reducing friction through axial bearings, while preserving the trailer's structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an extendable steady for a trailer vehicle comprising a leg, a screw spindle and a nut, where the leg is extendable and retractable by rotating the spindle in a first and second direction, respectively
Implementation Method 2
a drive unit for an electrically operated steady for a trailer vehicle, comprising a screw spindle connected with a gearbox at one side thereof, where the gearbox is drivingly connected with an electric motor
Implementation Method 3
a drive unit for an electrically operated steady for a trailer vehicle, comprising a screw spindle connected with a gearbox at one side thereof, where the gearbox is drivingly connected with an electric motor
Implementation Method 4
reducing friction through axial bearings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A manually operated corner steady for a caravan may be retrofitted with an inventive electric drive unit (1) comprising a gearbox/motor unit (3) and a screw spindle (5) that are attached to a bracket (7). The bracket (7) is adapted to fit under and into an existing fixed part (22) of the steady, and the motor (8) is disposed under the screw spindle (5), thus obviating the need for space for the drive unit besides the steady under the caravan bottom. The structural parts (20, 21, 22, 23) of the steady are reused. The retrofitted powered steady may be operated by electric control or by using a wrench on a hexagon head (11). The invention also comprises a method for mounting the inventive drive unit (1) to an existing steady. The original spindle is removed and the drive unit (1) is mounted in its place such that the bracket (7) is lodged in the fixed part (22) of the steady, aligning mounting holes (15) on the bracket (7) with existing mounting holes in the fixed part (22). Original screws (28) are then used for mounting the steady with drive unit again at the bottom of the caravan, providing a simpler and more readily performed retrofitting operation.