Powered Trailer Door Automation with Internal Drive Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer door systems require manual operation, which is inefficient and poses safety risks during loading and unloading at vehicle docking stations, especially for swing-type doors.
Innovation Solution
Automated trailer door systems with internal drive components and guide tracks that receive power from the trailer or tractor, controlled by a controller, to open and close trailer doors automatically, including power delivery and charging systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation of trailer doors is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and safety are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer door system operates automatically using its own onboard power source and control mechanisms. The door opens and closes itself in response to control signals from the towing vehicle, eliminating the need for manual intervention and thereby improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through automated self-service operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated electromechanical system. The door actuator uses electrical power from the trailer's power source to drive the door open or closed, substituting human physical effort with an electrically-powered mechanical actuation system, thus improving efficiency without excessive complexity.
2Productivity
If automated door systems are implemented, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated door system operates periodically only when needed - opening the door upon receiving a control signal and closing it after a predetermined time interval or upon receiving a close signal. This periodic operation rather than continuous operation minimizes energy consumption while maintaining high productivity when door operations are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of operational parameters such as the predetermined time interval for automatic door closing. By optimizing these parameters, the system balances energy consumption with productivity requirements, enabling the door to remain open only as long as necessary while automatically closing to conserve energy.
3Ease of operation
If swing-type trailer doors are used, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is worsened due to manual handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The swing-type door system incorporates an automatic actuator that opens and closes the door itself, eliminating the need for dock personnel to manually handle the heavy door. The door serves itself by using the actuator's mechanical force to swing open or closed, thereby maintaining ease of operation while removing safety risks associated with manual door handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pushing or pulling of the door with an automated electromechanical actuator system. The actuator converts electrical energy into mechanical motion to swing the door open or closed, substituting human physical interaction with an automated mechanical system, thus improving safety while preserving the ease of swing-type door operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed generally to powered trailer systems and, more particularly, to powered trailer systems for opening and closing trailer doors at, e.g., a vehicle loading dock, and to vehicle and/or trailer power delivery and charging systems. A powered trailer door operating system can include a guide track having a lower guide track portion and an upper guide track portion; a drive support coupled to the upper guide track portion having a drive shaft positioned within a central cavity; and a carriage slidingly coupled to the drive support and operably coupled to the trailer door. The carriage can be operably engaged with the drive shaft through the slot such that rotation of the drive shaft causes the carriage to translate along the drive support, thereby moving the trailer door between the open and closed positions.