Fifth-Wheel Coupling Centering Unit for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fifth-wheel couplings face issues with centering during the coupling process, leading to errors and increased wear due to relative movements between plug parts, particularly caused by misalignments and vibrations during operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a centering unit with adjusting means and guide springs to center the first plug-in coupling part in its rest position, allowing for small compensating movements during coupling and preventing relative movements in the coupled state, along with a lifting device and conical centering pins for precise alignment and protection from dirt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the plug-in coupling parts are allowed to move relative to each other during coupling, then the coupling process can accommodate misalignments, but wear on the connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering unit performs preliminary centering of the first plug-in coupling part in the rest position before the coupling process begins. This preliminary alignment ensures that when the plug-in parts engage, they are already properly positioned, allowing for misalignment accommodation during coupling while preventing excessive relative movement that would cause wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of the first plug-in coupling part from a centered, fixed position in the rest position to a released, movable position during coupling. This parameter change allows the component to adapt to misalignments during the coupling process while maintaining proper alignment when not in use, thus reducing wear.
2Manufacturing precision
If the first plug-in coupling part is centered in the rest position, then alignment errors are prevented, but compensating movements during coupling are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The centering unit dynamically changes its constraint level based on the operational state. In the rest position, it provides strong centering forces to ensure precise alignment. During coupling, it releases or reduces these constraints to allow compensating movements. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining precision and allowing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering unit establishes precise alignment in the rest position as a preliminary step before coupling begins. This preliminary centering ensures manufacturing precision is achieved when needed, while the system is designed to temporarily release this centering during the coupling process to allow for compensating movements.
3Reliability
If the plug-in coupling parts are fixed in position, then wear is minimized, but misalignments during coupling cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions the first plug-in coupling part from a fixed, centered state in the rest position to a movable, released state during coupling. This dynamic state change allows the system to minimize wear during normal operation while enabling compensation for misalignments when needed during the coupling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering unit changes the positional parameter of the first plug-in coupling part from a fixed centered position to a released position that allows movement. This parameter change enables the system to maintain reliability by fixing the part in the rest position while gaining adaptability during coupling to compensate for misalignments.
4Manufacturing precision
If the centering unit is engaged during coupling, then alignment precision is maintained, but the coupling process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The centering unit performs its centering function in advance during the rest position, before the coupling process begins. This preliminary action ensures alignment precision is established beforehand, simplifying the actual coupling process as the parts are already properly positioned when engagement occurs.
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
Enhances the reliability of the coupling process by ensuring precise alignment and minimizing wear on the connector, while maintaining the centering position even under slight misalignments or vibrations, thus reducing errors and wear.
Implementation Method 1
wherein the lifting device is provided with a centering unit (13) which supports the first plug-in coupling part (11) in its rest position (R) in a centered holding
Implementation Method 2
Inclusion of a centering unit with adjusting means and guide springs to center the first plug-in coupling part in its rest position, allowing for small compensating movements during coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth-wheel coupling for releasably coupling a fifth-wheel tractor (10) to a semitrailer (20). A kingpin on s semitrailer can be brought into engagement with a fifth-wheel plate on the fifth-wheel tractor. A first insertion coupling part is arranged on the fifth-wheel plate in such a way that it can be moved by means of a lifting device from a decoupled, retracted idle position into a protruding coupling position. A centering unit, e.g., conical centering pins, is provided on the lifting device which centers the relative position of the first insertion coupling part in the decoupled position. The centering is mounted floating against the force of springs on the fifth-wheel plate. The centering is released in the coupling position after the coupling process. After coupling the semitrailer to the fifth-wheel tractor, during insertion the first plug-in coupling part can easily move laterally for safe insertion due to the released centering, in the case of any small misalignments between the fifth-wheel plate and the kingpin of the semitrailer. After coupling, an undesirable relative movement between the two plug-in coupling parts is prevented, thus minimizing wear.