Pivoting Trailer Drawbar Socket for Emergency Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawbars with hemispherical receiving sockets often prevent or hinder access to the coupling in emergency situations, such as fires on vehicle trailers, making it difficult to reliably disconnect the trailer from the towing vehicle, which can lead to the spread of flames between vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A drawbar with a safety device that allows the receiving socket to be pivoted into a position where the coupling ball can slide out, enabling quick and reliable disconnection without requiring personnel at the coupling, facilitated by an actuating device that can be remotely controlled from the towing vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiving socket is fixed or held down during coupling, then the connection reliability between towing vehicle and trailer is improved, but the ability to quickly disconnect in emergency situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving socket is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between a fixed coupled state and a releasable uncoupled state. The safety device enables the socket to pivot between an operating position (for reliable coupling) and a release position (for emergency disconnection), transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is divided into separate functional components: the receiving socket, the safety device with pivot mechanism, and the hold-down device. This segmentation allows the socket to be independently manipulated for release while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the drawbar assembly during normal operation.
2Reliability
If the receiving socket rests on the coupling ball with supporting weight, then the secure connection is improved, but the ability to release the coupling without personnel at the coupling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is pre-configured with a pivot mechanism that, when actuated from the towing vehicle, automatically repositions the receiving socket to facilitate ball release. This preliminary mechanical arrangement eliminates the need for complex manual manipulation or additional release mechanisms at the coupling point.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the towing vehicle's control system and the receiving socket. By pivoting the socket into a release position, it mediates the force transmission from the ball, allowing gravitational and tensile forces to naturally facilitate ball removal without direct human intervention at the coupling.
3Strength
If the coupling structure is made robust and fixed, then the strength of the connection is improved, but the accessibility to the coupling in fire emergencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robust fixed structure is replaced with a dynamic pivot mechanism that maintains structural strength during normal operation but enables rapid reconfiguration during emergencies. The safety device allows the receiving socket to be quickly repositioned, creating a release path that prevents fire spread while maintaining connection integrity when coupled.
4Measurement precision
If manual manipulation of the coupling is required for release, then the control precision is improved, but the speed of disconnection in emergencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical manipulation of the coupling is replaced by a remotely actuated pivot mechanism. The safety device can be actuated from the towing vehicle's cab, substituting direct manual handling with a mechanical system that provides both precision control and rapid response capability through leveraged motion amplification.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism is pre-positioned and pre-loaded during normal operation, so that when the safety device is actuated, the receiving socket rapidly pivots to the release position. This preliminary mechanical arrangement stores potential energy and geometric configuration that enables fast disconnection without requiring precise manual manipulation during the emergency release.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a drawbar (1) for a vehicle trailer, comprising a half-spherical receiving socket (2) with a receiving opening (3) for receiving a coupling ball (4), and a drawbar carrier (5) for connecting said receiving socket (2) to the vehicle trailer. It is suggested that the receiving socket (2) is pivotally connected to the drawbar carrier (5) using a safety device (6); that the receiving socket (2) can be secured in an operating position using an actuating device (7) of said safety device (6); and that the receiving socket (2) can be pivoted relative to the drawbar carrier (5) in a direction away from the receiving opening (3), out of the operating position and into a decoupling position, by means of said actuating device (7).