Fifth-Wheel Coupling Locking Structure for Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fifth wheel couplings suffer from safety devices that are prone to unintentional release due to vibrations, compromising the secure connection between towing vehicles and trailers.
Innovation Solution
A fifth wheel coupling with a locking mechanism, actuating device, and safety device featuring a pivotable locking means that can be moved into a locking or release position, and an actuating device that transfers forces to the locking mechanism, with a pivot axis oriented to minimize vibration sensitivity and include a pretensioning mechanism for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety device with a pivotable locking means is used to prevent unintentional release, then the reliability of the coupling is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is segmented into distinct functional components: a locking means with pivotable elements, a pretensioning mechanism, and an actuating device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The pretensioning mechanism applies preliminary forces to the locking means in the locked position before actual coupling occurs. This preliminary action ensures the locking means is pre-positioned and pre-loaded, preventing unintentional release due to vibrations while the system is being assembled or during normal operation.
2Reliability
If the locking means is made vibration-resistant through pivotable mounting, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device serves as an intermediary between the operator and the locking means. It translates simple linear motion into the complex rotational and forcing motions required to operate the pivotable locking means against vibration loads, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual operation of the locking means is replaced by an actuating device that can be operated more easily. The actuating device mechanically amplifies or simplifies the operator's input force, making it easier to overcome vibration-induced resistance and reliably lock or unlock the coupling.
3Reliability
If the actuating device transfers forces indirectly to the locking mechanism, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission region acts as an intermediary between the actuating device and the locking mechanism. It transfers forces through a defined mechanical path with intermediate elements that ensure stable and controlled force transmission, improving reliability while the modular nature of this intermediary structure keeps complexity manageable.
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 design provides a highly secure and vibration-resistant coupling that prevents unintentional unlocking, ensuring a stable connection even under varying conditions, with automated and manual release options for enhanced operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
the locking means is mounted, in particular pivotably about a pivot axis, in such a way that the locking means can be moved into a locking position and into a release position, wherein the locking means in the locking position prevents transfer of the locking mechanism from the closed position into the open position in a medium-locking and/or direct-locking manner
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth wheel coupling includes a fifth wheel coupling plate having a bearing surface having a normal and an retraction opening for a king pin and configured to prevent the king pin from being moved out of the retraction opening when in a closed position, and allow the king pin to be moved out of the retraction opening when in an open position, an actuating device having an actuating area extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to transfer the locking mechanism from the closed position to the open position, and a transmission area configured to transfer forces to the locking mechanism, and a safety device including a locking arrangement pivotably mounted about a pivot axis such that the locking arrangement can be moved into a locking position and into a release.