Movable Coupling Pin for Unmanned Towing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing unmanned towing systems face challenges in reliable coupling between the towing vehicle and the cart due to uneven floor surfaces, where the coupling pin may not reach the correct position or insert correctly, especially with heavy loads, resulting in resistance that hinders the coupling process.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with a freely movable coupling pin supported by a rotatable support mechanism and a lock mechanism, allowing the pin to move in a horizontal plane and ensuring smooth alignment with the coupling hole, even on uneven surfaces, by using a lifting mechanism to project the pin and a guide mechanism to facilitate accurate insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coupling pin is used to couple the towing vehicle and the cart, then the coupling function is provided, but the coupling may not be performed favorably when the towing vehicle inclines due to uneven floor surface
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin is made movable relative to the towing vehicle body through a support mechanism, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation. This enables the coupling pin to automatically adapt to uneven floor surfaces and inclinations without requiring complex control systems or manual intervention, thereby maintaining coupling reliability while simplifying operation.
2Ease of operation
If vibrations are applied to move the coupling pin, then the coupling pin may be moved, but the coupling pin may not move easily due to heavy weights and resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The support mechanism enables the coupling pin to move freely in horizontal directions without requiring external vibration or force application. The movable design allows the coupling pin to naturally align with the coupling hole through its own weight and minimal guiding forces, eliminating the need for vibration-based actuation and reducing the impact of heavy weights and resistance.
3Reliability
If the coupling pin is restricted to a fixed position, then the structure is simple, but the coupling pin cannot reach the correct position on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support mechanism provides a relatively simple movable structure that allows the coupling pin to adjust its position horizontally while maintaining coupling accuracy. The design achieves coupling reliability on uneven surfaces through the inherent mobility of the pin rather than complex control systems, thereby improving accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If the coupling pin is made freely movable in horizontal direction, then the coupling accuracy is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support mechanism implements a relatively simple movable structure that enables the coupling pin to move freely in horizontal directions. This design achieves high coupling alignment precision through the natural mobility and self-alignment capability of the pin, rather than requiring complex positioning systems, thereby improving precision while keeping the structural complexity relatively low.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling device includes a coupling device body that includes a coupling pin. The coupling pin projects upward from the coupling device body. The coupling device body includes a support mechanism that supports the coupling pin so as to be freely movable in the direction of one line in a horizontal plane. The coupling device is included in the carrier. During coupling between the carrier and a carried object, the coupling pin is freely movable in the direction of at least one line in the horizontal plane and enabled to smoothly move to a position at which the coupling is performed.