Hinged Socket for Tractor-Trailer Electrical Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connections in tractor-trailers face high stress and frequent failure due to sideward pull and repeated bending of coiled cables, leading to water ingress and wire breakage, especially when maneuvering around sharp bends or in parking yards.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connection system featuring a coiled cable with a connector plug and a socket hingedly connected to a universal joint-mounted bracket, allowing the socket to pivot during articulation, along with a jumper cable and cable cleat to minimize stress and maintain connection alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If coiled cables are used to provide power to trailer devices, then electrical power can be transmitted during articulation, but high sideward pull stress occurs on the connection during sharp bends
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is made dynamically movable through hinged connection to the mounting bracket, allowing it to pivot and articulate relative to the tractor unit. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the electrical connection to adapt to various articulation angles while reducing stress concentration on the cable and connector components.
2Power
If heavy cables are used to transfer high power at Class 2 voltages, then sufficient power can be delivered, but the cables need to be designed to provide high restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged mounting bracket acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the heavy cable and the tractor unit. It provides a pivot point that allows the cable to change direction and accommodate articulation movements without requiring the cable itself to provide high restoring forces, thus reducing the mechanical strength requirements while maintaining power transfer capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the connector is fixed to the mounting bracket, then the connection is stable, but the connector gets pulled away from the socket due to cable stress
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket, making it dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the socket to pivot and maintain proper alignment with the connector plug during articulation, preventing the connector from being pulled away from the socket and ensuring reliable electrical connection throughout operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If repeated sharp bending of the cable is allowed, then articulation is possible, but the wires break after a few thousand actuations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged socket provides a dynamic pivot point that accommodates articulation movements without requiring repeated sharp bending of the cable. The hinge absorbs the angular movements, allowing the cable to flex naturally at the hinge point rather than at fixed locations along its length, significantly extending cable lifespan while maintaining articulation flexibility.
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 effectively reduces stress on the cable connections, preventing water ingress and wire breakage by allowing the socket to pivot and maintaining alignment, thereby enhancing the reliability and durability of electrical connections in tractor-trailers.
Implementation Method 1
the socket is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket by a universal joint to allow the socket to pivot when the tractor unit articulates relative to the trailer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided an electrical connection 2 for a tractor-trailer comprising: a coiled cable 4 provided with a connector plug 6 at one end; a socket 8 configured to receive the connector plug 6 of the coiled cable 4 to detachably connect the coiled cable 4 to the socket 8; and a mounting bracket 14 attachable to a tractor unit or trailer of the tractor-trailer; wherein the socket 8 is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket 14 to allow the socket 8 to pivot when the tractor unit articulates relative to the trailer.