Modular Telescopic Tube Ring Anchor for Trailer Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extendable vehicles require costly and material-intensive modifications to the rear running gear for potential future length adjustments, necessitating upfront decisions and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
A retrofittable central support system with a ring anchor that can be pushed in or out, featuring a ring anchor with a top chord for bending moment absorption and coupling straps for force transfer, allowing for flexible length adjustments without prepping the rear running gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rear running gear is designed with reinforced upper belt, lock between inner and outer tubes, and line connections for future extendability, then the vehicle can be extended later, but the costs and material weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate components: the existing outer tube and the new inner support that can be independently installed. The ring anchor is segmented into coupling straps that attach to the chassis and locking elements that engage with the inner tube, allowing modular assembly without modifying the entire running gear structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner support with ring anchor is inserted into the existing outer tube structure, creating a nested configuration. This allows the extendable inner support to utilize the space within the outer tube without requiring external reinforcement of the rear running gear, thereby avoiding additional weight while maintaining extendability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rear running gear is prepared for later extension with reinforced structures and locking mechanisms, then extendability is enabled, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ring anchor is designed with pre-positioned coupling straps and locking elements that can be attached to the existing chassis without requiring preliminary reinforcement of the rear running gear. The fastening elements are configured to engage with standard chassis structures, eliminating the need for costly pre-preparations while enabling future extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring anchor structure serves its own function of transferring forces to the chassis through its coupling straps, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement structures. The locking elements automatically engage with the inner tube, providing self-contained functionality without requiring additional manufacturing complexity in the rear running gear.
3Reliability
If a lock mechanism is installed between inner and outer tubes to absorb driving forces, then the tubes can be positively connected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are designed to engage with the inner tube at multiple positions along its length, creating equivalent connection points that can absorb driving forces regardless of the inner support's position within the outer tube. This simplifies the locking mechanism by providing uniform force distribution without requiring complex adjustable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring anchor concentrates the locking function at specific localized points where locking elements engage with the inner tube, rather than requiring a continuous complex mechanism along the entire length. The coupling straps are attached at strategic locations on the chassis to optimally transfer forces, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability.
4Strength
If the upper chord of the outer tube is reinforced to transfer bending moments, then the structural integrity is maintained during extension, but the material usage and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The function of resisting bending moments is extracted from the outer tube and transferred to the ring anchor structure. The ring anchor, with its coupling straps attached to the chassis, independently handles the bending forces, allowing the outer tube to remain lightweight without reinforcement while maintaining overall structural integrity through the distributed force transfer to the chassis.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to changing the length of the loading platform of trailers and semi-trailers. To enable retrofitting, a vehicle (1) with a central beam (2) formed from a tube or a recess (2) and an inner beam (3) that can be inserted into and removed from it (which is only optionally provided) is equipped with a ring beam (4) with an upper flange (5), either open at the top (7) or closed all around, and with fastening elements for the ring beam (4) being provided on the vehicle (1). This makes it possible to transfer the bending forces occurring during operation from the inner beam (3) to the central beam. For this purpose, the ring beam (4) has coupling lugs (9) on its underside (8) as fastening elements, which can be fixed to the chassis (1) via bolts with coupling lugs (10).Furthermore, the ring anchor is provided with a locking device (12,14) for positive locking connection with the inner support (3), so that the tensile, braking and acceleration forces occurring can also be transferred from the inner support (3) to the central support (2).