Sliding Fifth Wheel Cover Assembly for Automatic Trailer Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fifth wheel covers do not effectively prevent lubricants from contaminating roadways and fail to automatically adjust to facilitate trailer attachment, lacking efficient mechanisms for covering and exposing the wheel as needed.
Innovation Solution
A fifth wheel cover assembly with a sliding mechanism biased by springs and a brace that automatically adjusts position based on trailer attachment, using a cover conforming to the wheel's shape and a king pin to expose the wheel when the trailer is attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fifth wheel cover is used to prevent lubricant spillage, then environmental protection is improved, but the ability to facilitate trailer attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, transitioning between a covering position (when trailer is detached) to protect against lubricant spillage, and an exposing position (when trailer is attached) to facilitate easy connection. The spring mechanism enables automatic dynamic adjustment of the cover position.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is designed to completely cover the fifth wheel, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover mechanism is divided into simple functional components: the cover body, spring biasing members, and connection points. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system simplicity and reliability.
3Device complexity
If manual adjustment of the cover is required, then device simplicity is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is designed to automatically adjust itself based on trailer attachment status. When the trailer king pin is inserted, it automatically triggers the cover to move from covering to exposing position through the spring mechanism, eliminating the need for manual intervention and speeding up the attachment process.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover is biased to remain in covering position, then protection is improved, but the ability to automatically expose for attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring biasing members create a counterbalancing force that holds the cover in the covering position for protection, but can be easily overcome by the insertion force of the trailer king pin, enabling automatic transition to the exposing position. This balanced force system achieves both protection and automatic exposure.
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
Prevents lubricant spillage onto roadways and ensures automatic coverage when the trailer is detached, while facilitating seamless trailer attachment by automatically exposing the wheel when needed.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of springs is each coupled between the cover and a connection point on the semi tractor to bias the cover into a covering position having the cover completely covering the fifth wheel
Implementation Method 2
the king pin of the trailer abuts the brace and urges the cover into the exposing positioned when the semi trailer is attached to the fifth wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth wheel cover assembly includes a fifth wheel that is mounted to a semi tractor. A cover is slidably positioned over the fifth wheel and the cover is structured to conform to the shape of the fifth wheel. A pair of springs is each of the springs is coupled between the cover and a connection point on the semi tractor to bias the cover into a covering position having the cover completely covering the fifth wheel. The cover is slidable into an exposing position having the cover being displaced from the fifth wheel. A brace is attached to the cover and the brace is strategically positioned such that the king pin of the trailer abuts the brace and urges the cover into the exposing positioned when the semi trailer is attached to the fifth wheel.