Kingpin Trailer Stabilizer for Dock Restraint Without Landing Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Freight trailers at loading docks lack effective stabilization and restraint systems when detached from tractors, leading to instability and potential safety hazards during loading and unloading operations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a kingpin receiver, repositionable jacks, and a tail hold that engages a ground mount, along with a transport receiver, to stabilize and restrain parked freight trailers, allowing for secure positioning without relying on the trailer's landing gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional stabilization methods using landing gear extension are used, then trailers can be stabilized, but the complexity of operation increases due to the need to extend and retract landing gear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the stabilization function from the trailer's landing gear system and implements it through a separate, portable stabilizer device. This external stabilization system includes a stabilizing leg that contacts the ground and a restraining member that engages with ground mounts, completely independent of the trailer's original landing gear mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer device acts as an intermediary between the trailer and the ground. The stabilizing leg serves as a mediator to transfer and distribute the trailer's weight to the ground, while the restraining member with ground engages act as a mediator to prevent trailer movement, eliminating the need for direct landing gear operation.
2Productivity
If landing gear is used for stabilization, then trailers can be restrained, but the system requires active engagement and disengagement of landing gear which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer device is pre-configured with the stabilizing leg and restraining member in ready positions. When deployed, the stabilizing leg is quickly positioned under the trailer and the restraining member is engaged with ground mounts, eliminating the need for sequential landing gear operations and enabling rapid stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer device is designed to be self-contained and portable, requiring no integration with the trailer's existing systems. The device can be independently positioned and engaged, and the transport receiver allows the device to be easily moved and repositioned without requiring trailer movement or landing gear operation.
3Reliability
If a simple portable stabilizer is used, then ease of operation improves, but the stability and restraint effectiveness may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two stabilization functions into a single integrated device: the stabilizing leg for weight support and the restraining member with ground engagement for movement prevention. This combination ensures both vertical stability and horizontal restraint, providing comprehensive trailer stabilization through one device rather than multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer device addresses stabilization in multiple dimensions: the stabilizing leg provides vertical support by contacting the ground, while the restraining member with ground engagement provides horizontal restraint. This multi-dimensional approach ensures comprehensive trailer stability without requiring complex mechanisms in each dimension.
Data Source
AI summary
A parked freight trailer stabilizer and restraint comprising: (a) a kingpin receiver configured to lock onto a kingpin of a parked freight trailer; (b) a jack operatively coupled to the kingpin receiver, the jack repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position; (c) a tail hold operatively coupled to the kingpin receiver, the tail hold repositionable between a stowed position and a restraining position, the tail hold configured to engage a ground mount; and, (d) a transport receiver configured to engage a transport vehicle.