Sliding Drawbar Trailer Axial Guidance for Standard Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current road units with axial guidance devices require costly modifications to the towing vehicle's chassis and are not compatible with standard commercial vehicle models, limiting their distribution and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A road unit design featuring a trailer with a sliding drawbar and inertia braking system, combined with an axial guidance device that maintains the trailer's median longitudinal axis in the towing vehicle's vertical plane, allowing for compatibility with various commercial vehicle models without shortening the chassis or using directional axles, enabling mass production and easy coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the chassis of the towing vehicle is shortened behind the rear axle to maximize trailer wheel effectiveness, then the payload capacity and maneuverability are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to costly artisanal preparation and limited mass production
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer chassis is designed with a universal architecture that can be adapted to multiple standard commercial vehicle models without requiring vehicle-specific modifications. The standardized coupling kit and guide device enable compatibility with various wheelbase lengths, track widths, and chassis shapes, allowing mass production of a single trailer design that serves multiple towing vehicle platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer employs a sliding drawbar mechanism that allows longitudinal movement between fixed and mobile positions. This dynamic adjustment enables the trailer to accommodate different towing vehicle configurations while maintaining proper wheel positioning and limiting wheel skidding effects during cornering, without requiring permanent chassis modifications to the towing vehicle.
2Ease of operation
If a directional type trailer axle is used to limit wheel skidding, then the maneuverability is improved, but the footprint increases and the design becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding drawbar provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the mobile part to slide longitudinally between fixed and extended positions. This enables the trailer to achieve proper wheel positioning and cornering characteristics without requiring a directional axle, thereby maintaining a compact footprint while preserving maneuverability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the trailer is designed to adapt to various standard commercial vehicle models, then the adaptability and mass production capability are improved, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer chassis employs a universal design with standardized components including the coupling device, axial guidance device, and sliding drawbar mechanism. These standardized elements enable the same trailer design to be adapted to multiple standard commercial vehicle models with different wheelbase lengths, track widths, and chassis shapes, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is divided into modular components: the coupling device mounted on the towing vehicle, the sliding drawbar with fixed and mobile parts, and the axial guidance device with first and second guide means. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed and optimized for compatibility with standard vehicle platforms while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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 design achieves maximum payload capacity with minimal footprint and maneuverability equivalent to non-articulated vehicles, while being adaptable to different vehicle models and bodywork configurations, facilitating mass production and widespread compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a mobile part mounted in the fixed part in a sliding manner, and provided at its free front end with said complementary attachment means, said guide device authorizing the relative longitudinal movements of the braking
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
The unit has a trailer (R) provided with a sliding drawbar whose fixed part is mounted at a front of a chassis (C) in a fixed manner. A movable part is mounted in the fixed part in a sliding manner. An axial guiding device comprises a guiding unit arranged on a tractor vehicle (V) e.g. commercial vehicle. A front part of a central part (3) is arranged above a rear part of another chassis (10a) of the tractor vehicle in a hooked position of the trailer until a wheel (11) of a rear axle of the tractor vehicle.