Foldable Towing Device with Pivotable Wheel Suspensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices are not efficiently designed for one-man operation and compact transport, particularly on vehicles with limited space, and do not effectively manage forces during cornering or when towing vehicles with broken brakes and steering systems.
Innovation Solution
A foldable towing device with a cross member, hydraulically pivotable wheel suspensions, and a detachable coupling system that allows for easy attachment and detachment from a trailer hitch, enabling one-man operation and compact storage, while the pivotable wheels reduce forces acting on the towed vehicle during cornering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the towing device is designed to be compact and foldable for transport, then the space requirements and ease of storage are improved, but the structural complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The towing device is divided into separable components including the cross-member with coupling connection, wheel suspensions, and wheel mounts that can be detached and stored separately. This segmentation allows the main structure to be compact while maintaining full functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamically adjustable elements including telescopic cross-members that can extend or retract, and wheel suspensions that can be hydraulically adjusted. These dynamic features allow the structure to adapt between compact transport configuration and extended operational configuration.
2Reliability
If the towing device uses a rigid structure for strength and stability, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and one-man operation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel suspensions are equipped with hydraulic cylinders that can be operated manually to adjust wheel position and height. This hydraulic mechanism provides mechanical advantage, allowing a single operator to easily adjust the rigid structure without requiring excessive manual force.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates self-aligning features where the rigid structure automatically positions itself during operation, and the wheel suspensions self-adjust to maintain proper wheel alignment. This reduces the need for manual intervention while maintaining structural stability.
3Device complexity
If the wheels are fixed to the wheel suspension, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ability to reduce forces during cornering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels are mounted on pivotable axles that allow them to rotate independently of the wheel suspension. This dynamic mounting allows the wheels to automatically align with the direction of travel during cornering, reducing lateral forces and improving towing performance without requiring complex suspension mechanisms.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the coupling connection is permanently attached to the cross-member, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability for different operating states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling connection is designed as a detachable component that can be separated from the cross-member. This allows the coupling to be exchanged between different types (e.g., tow hook coupling, clamp coupling) depending on the specific towing requirements, while maintaining a stable connection when attached.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-member is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate different types of coupling connections. This universal design allows the same cross-member structure to work with various coupling types, providing adaptability for different operating states while maintaining structural stability.
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 device allows for safe and efficient towing of vehicles with broken brakes and steering, reduces the risk of accidents by minimizing space requirements and enabling easy transport, and can be operated by a single person, with the pivotable wheels reducing torque and weight distribution during use.
Implementation Method 1
a wheel suspension (4) with a hydraulic cylinder (16) and a stub axle (17)
Implementation Method 2
The pivot bearing makes it possible to transport the towing device in the folded state on the motor vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the wheel is attached to the hydraulically pivotable wheel suspension such that it can pivot about a pivot axis
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a towing device (1) for attaching to a trailer coupling of a motor vehicle for transporting a motor vehicle to be towed, comprising a cross member (2) having a coupling connection (6, 7) which is oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel, and with two hydraulically pivotable wheel suspensions (4) arranged on the cross member (2), to each of which a wheel (18) is attached, wherein the connection between the cross member (2) and the coupling connection (6, 7) is detachable, so that the coupling connection (6, 7) is interchangeable depending on the operating state of the towing device (1), wherein the towing device (1) has a drawbar coupling connection (6) for use, which is positively connected to the cross member (2), and wherein the towing device (1) has a clamp coupling connection (7) for transport, which is connected to the cross member (2) by means of a pivot bearing (8).and wherein the wheel (18) is attached to the hydraulically pivotable wheel suspension (4) in such a way as to be pivotable about an axis.