Kingpin Stabilizer Tripod Base for Trailer Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth-wheel trailers experience instability and unbalance when detached from towing vehicles due to the unsupported and extended front section, which existing kingpin stabilizers fail to adequately address, particularly in terms of ease of deployment and stability.
Innovation Solution
A kingpin stabilizer comprising a kingpin-retaining bracket with telescoping legs forming a tripod, equipped with a ratchet mechanism and pin retainers, allowing quick attachment to the kingpin and extension to form a stable base, with the telescoping legs contacting the ground to provide support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional kingpin stabilizers are installed by setting legs on ground then raising connection piece, then the stabilizer can support the trailer, but the deployment process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional installation sequence by having the connection piece automatically engage the kingpin first, then the legs extend downward to the ground. This reversal eliminates the need to manually raise the connection piece after positioning legs, significantly simplifying deployment and reducing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer employs self-aligning and self-latching mechanisms where the connection piece automatically engages the kingpin and the legs self-adjust to reach the ground. The spring-loaded latching system and gravity-assisted leg extension enable the device to stabilize itself without complex manual operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the front section of the trailer extends forward over the towing vehicle, then the fifth-wheel coupling is achieved, but the trailer becomes unstable and unbalanced when detached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the stabilization function at the kingpin location rather than distributing it throughout the trailer structure. The stabilizer creates a localized tripod support system directly under the kingpin, providing targeted stability to the extended front section without requiring complex structural modifications to the entire trailer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar support concept to a three-dimensional tripod configuration. By extending three legs in different directions from the kingpin bracket, the stabilizer creates a stable triangular base that distributes weight and provides balance in multiple spatial dimensions, effectively countering the unbalance caused by the extended front section.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a kingpin stabilizer is designed with telescoping legs forming a tripod, then stability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stabilizer into distinct functional modules: a kingpin bracket for attachment, three telescoping legs for support, and a latching mechanism for securing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design by breaking down the complex stabilization function into manageable, interchangeable parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A kingpin stabilizer having a kingpin-retaining bracket having a base plate and upwardly extending walls along at least two sides of the base plate. The upwardly extending walls and the base plate forming a receiving cavity with the upwardly extending walls spaced apart to fit said kingpin therebetween. At least one upwardly extending wall has a pin retainer. The stabilizer includes three telescoping legs extending from the pin-retaining bracket forming a tripod.