Premounted Spring Trailer Tow-Bar Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of trailer couplings is complicated due to limited access and space for tool operation, making it difficult to pretension the coupling housing against the fastening bearing, which is already attached to the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second spring arrangement ahead of the fastening bearing and using push-through components with a circular or polygonal geometry to facilitate preassembly away from the vehicle, allowing the coupling body and tie rod to be inserted in the direction of repulsion through a mounting opening, with the fastening bearing facing the same direction as the vehicle's travel, enabling easier installation and increased stability through axial preloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fastening bearing is attached to the mounting component on the vehicle first, then the coupling can be assembled with components in place, but the pretensioning step becomes extremely difficult due to limited access and space for tool operation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling body is pretensioned against the elastomer springs and fastening bearing in a preliminary assembly step before installation on the vehicle. This preliminary action is performed when full tool access is available, eliminating the difficult pretensioning operation that would be required after installation. The pre-assembled unit with pre-pretensioned components is then installed as a complete assembly through the mounting opening.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling body is pre-assembled with the pull rod and fastening bearing, then installation at the vehicle is simplified, but the components must fit through the mounting opening which constrains their dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening bearing is designed with a central opening through which the pull rod passes. The elastomer springs are positioned around the pull rod within the coupling body, nested within the space defined by the coupling body walls and the fastening bearing. This nesting arrangement allows all components to be contained within a compact volume that can pass through the mounting opening while maintaining full functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pull rod is pushed through the mounting opening with all components, then preassembly away from the vehicle is enabled, but the longitudinal section must be dimensioned to fit through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into a pre-assembled unit (coupling body with pull rod and fastening bearing) that can be manufactured and pretensioned separately, and the vehicle mounting component. This segmentation allows the pull rod longitudinal section to be optimized for passing through the mounting opening while the full length and functionality of the pull rod is maintained once installed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This simplifies the assembly process by allowing preassembly at a convenient location, reduces the need for complex tool access, and enhances the coupling's stability by using polymer spring elements and a metallic intermediate disk to maintain spring characteristics while avoiding abrasion and stress on components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first spring arrangement which is arranged in the direction of repulsion behind the fastening bearing and which is axially pretensioned by an axial preloading means
Implementation Method 2
avoiding abrasion and stress on components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device has a spring assembly (18) with a polymer spring element (42) i.e. polymer ring, a spring washer (22), a cover (24) and a plug-in extension (40) surrounding a tow bar (28). The device is inserted into an assembly opening (34) as a pre-mounted assembly. The assembly, washer, cover and extension have an outer geometry in a plug-in longitudinal section (38) passing from a bearing surface until a free longitudinal end (36) of the bar. The geometry is dimensioned so that the assembly, washer, cover and the extension are plugged via the opening while attaching the device.