Electric Landing Gear Motor Controller for Semi-Trailer Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing landing gear systems for semi-truck trailers are manually intensive, time-consuming, and pose a risk of injury, with existing automated solutions being complex, heavy, inefficient, and requiring external battery charging, which limits their commercialization in the trucking industry.
Innovation Solution
An electric powered device with a motorized system using a sprocket-and-chain mechanism driven by a 3-phase electric motor and a motor controller for variable speed and torque control, eliminating the need for dual gear ratios and external charging, and providing a compact, efficient, and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a hand-crank handle is used to lower or raise the landing gear legs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operation time increases and the risk of injury to the user increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical hand-crank system with an automated electric motor system. The motor is mounted on the cross-shaft between the two legs of landing gear and automatically raises or lowers the legs without requiring manual cranking, thereby reducing operation time while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through direct motor-to-gearbox coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing gear system performs the raising and lowering operation autonomously through the electric motor without requiring external manual intervention. The motor self-activates to adjust the landing gear position, eliminating the need for users to manually crank the handle and reducing both operation time and injury risk.
2Loss of time
If hydraulic pistons or air cylinders are used to raise and lower the landing gear, then the operation time is reduced, but the device weight increases and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes hydraulic or pneumatic actuation systems with an electric motor-driven mechanical system. The electric motor directly couples to the landing gear mechanism through a gearbox, eliminating the need for heavy hydraulic pistons or air cylinders while maintaining automated operation and reducing overall system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the actuation method from fluid-based (hydraulic/pneumatic) to electric-based. This parameter change allows for more compact and lighter components while achieving the same function of raising and lowering the landing gear automatically, thereby reducing device weight without sacrificing operational speed.
3Loss of time
If externally charged electric devices are used for automation of the trailer landing gear, then the operation time is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to battery system and charging circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the battery system and external charging circuitry from the automated landing gear system. Instead of using externally charged electric devices, the invention utilizes the trailer's existing electrical system, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining automated operation and fast performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor in the patent is designed to be powered by the trailer's existing electrical system, which serves multiple functions including powering lights, brakes, and now the landing gear automation. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for separate battery systems and charging circuitry, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining automated capabilities.
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 significantly reduces operation time, minimizes the risk of injury, and enhances efficiency by automating the raising and lowering of landing gears, while being easily retrofitted to common landing gear systems and adaptable to various trailer voltages, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
A motorized system is provided comprising a main shaft adapted to be coupled to the landing gear shaft through a sprocket-and-chain mechanism. The sprocket-and-chain mechanism is connected to a 3-phase electric motor which has a motor shaft and a motor controller configured to control motor speed and torque.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an electric powered landing gear system for semi-truck trailers using an electric motor supplied by the available voltage in the trailer via a motor controller. The system automates raising and lowering the landing gear. The system comprises a shaft motorized system operated by a 3-phase motor, a DC-to-AC motor controller, and a set of sprockets-and-chain mechanism. The electric motor implements a 3-phase winding and a brushless structure that requires no maintenance compared to direct current motors. The trailer provides the power for the electric motor through the motor controller. The motor controller comprises a digital electronic processor that implements an algorithm to optimize a sensorless control approach providing a variable speed and torque for the motor, and hence to the landing gear system, therefore simplifying the landing gears to a single speed from dual (or multi) speed/gear ratio. The motor controller implements a protection feature that limits over-currents when the landing gear legs are engaged to the ground or retracted to their static position, or when a fault occurs.