Hydraulic Trailer Support Foot with Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support apparatuses for trailers require manual operation and lack continuous monitoring of position and stability, leading to potential accidents during connection and disconnection from a drawing vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic support foot with a position sensor and electronic control unit that monitors and controls the position and orientation of the support foot, including a tilt sensor for stability, allowing remote operation and automatic adjustment to ensure safe positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operation and monitoring of support foot is used, then device complexity is reduced, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to lack of continuous monitoring and potential human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback through position sensors that monitor the support foot's location and tilt sensors that detect stability conditions. This feedback is transmitted to a control unit that can automatically adjust the support foot's position or alert operators, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while significantly improving safety and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support foot system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment through integrated sensors and control units. The system automatically detects its own position and stability conditions, and can autonomously correct positioning errors or prevent unsafe operations, reducing reliance on manual intervention while enhancing safety.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring with position sensor and electronic control unit is implemented, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit serves multiple functions: it receives data from position sensors, processes tilt sensor information, controls the actuation group, and communicates with remote devices. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the patent improves safety through comprehensive monitoring while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the position monitoring function, stability monitoring function, control function, and communication function into an integrated electronic control system. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining continuous monitoring and control capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If remote operation capability is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional communication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit acts as an intermediary between the support foot's sensors and the remote device. It processes sensor data, makes control decisions, and communicates only essential information to the remote device, enabling remote operation while minimizing the complexity increase through efficient communication protocols and data processing.
4Productivity
If automatic control of actuation group is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit is pre-programmed with the sequences and parameters for proper support foot deployment and retraction. When activated, it automatically executes the correct sequence of actions based on pre-stored control logic, improving productivity by eliminating manual decision-making while keeping the control system relatively simple through use of pre-defined procedures.
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 safety by continuously monitoring and controlling the support foot's position and stability, preventing accidents and eliminating the need for manual operation, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of trailer operations.
Implementation Method 1
an actuation group of the support foot configured to selectively send a pressurised work fluid to the first chamber or to the second chamber so as to change the relative position of the base with respect to the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
a position sensor configured to monitor the value of a parameter indicative of the position of the base with respect to a reference element fixedly connected to the cylinder
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a support apparatus 10 equipped with a support foot 15,15' of hydraulic type that comprises: a cylinder 25 equipped with a cavity 40 axially shaped that has a longitudinal axis Z, a piston 45 slidably received in a sealed manner in the cavity 40 so as to divide said cavity into a first chamber 50 and a second chamber 55, a stem 70 provided with a first end fixedly connected to the piston 45 and a second end that protrudes from the cylinder 25, a base 80 fixed to the second end of the stem, and an actuation group 85 of the support foot 80 configured to selectively send a pressurised work fluid to the first chamber 50 or to the second chamber 55 so as to change the relative position of the base 80 with respect to the cylinder 25. Where said support apparatus 10 comprises: a position sensor 130 configured to monitor the value of a parameter indicative of the position of the base 80 with respect to a reference element fixedly connected to the cylinder 25, and an electronic control unit 125, electrically connected to said position sensor 130, which is configured to transmit the value of the indicative parameter monitored by the position sensor 130 to a remote device and to control the activation of the actuation group 85 of the support foot 15,15' as a function of an activation signal and the value of the indicative parameter.