Fifth Wheel Lock State Sensing for Wear and Disengagement Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth wheels may not fully lock onto the kingpin, leading to inadvertent disengagement and wear-related issues, which can cause vibrations and safety concerns during towing, and there is a need to verify the locked state and monitor wear effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a magnet on a movable component of the fifth wheel, sensors to detect magnetic flux, and a controller to determine the operational state by comparing the end position of the movable component to threshold positions, logging proper locking and wear conditions, and alerting operators to worn states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is used to secure the kingpin, then the fifth wheel can be locked to the trailer, but wear and improper locking can cause inadvertent disengagement and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors (magnetic, optical, or mechanical) to detect the position of the locking jaw and kingpin, providing real-time feedback to a control system. This feedback mechanism monitors whether the fifth wheel is properly locked, allowing the system to alert operators or automatically adjust the locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent disengagement and vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional purely mechanical locking mechanisms with an integrated system that incorporates electronic sensors and control systems. This substitution allows for more precise monitoring and control of the locking state, improving reliability while reducing harmful vibrations through automated adjustment.
2Reliability
If manual verification of locking is required, then operators can check the locked state, but this increases time consumption and labor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-verification of the locked state through integrated sensors and control systems. The sensors continuously monitor the position of the locking components, and the control system automatically determines whether proper locking has occurred, eliminating the need for manual verification by operators and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism provides real-time information about the locking state to the control system, which automatically verifies whether the fifth wheel is properly locked. This automated feedback loop replaces manual verification processes, significantly reducing the time and labor required while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and control systems are added to monitor locking, then operational state can be determined, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with simpler electronic sensors and digital control systems. Electronic sensors can accurately detect the operational state with fewer moving parts and less mechanical complexity, achieving high measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in physical parameters (such as magnetic field strength, light reflection, or electrical resistance) to determine the operational state of the locking mechanism. By detecting parameter changes rather than mechanical position directly, the system achieves precise measurement with simpler sensing mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the fifth wheel components undergo wear, then locking effectiveness decreases, but detecting wear requires additional monitoring systems
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously monitors the position and alignment of locking components, providing feedback that can indicate wear. By detecting subtle changes in the locking mechanism's behavior or position over time, the system can identify wear before it significantly impacts locking effectiveness, using the existing sensor infrastructure rather than requiring separate dedicated wear-detection systems.
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
Ensures proper locking and monitoring of the fifth wheel's operational state, preventing disengagement and wear-related issues, and providing a log of manual verification and wear alerts for maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining and verifying operational states of fifth wheels. Certain methods for determining the operational state of the fifth wheel may include sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle and determining an end position of the movable component based on the magnetic flux. The end position of the movable component is then compared to a threshold position and an operational state of the fifth wheel is determined based on the comparison of the end position of the movable component to the threshold position.