Sliding Fifth Wheel Assembly Actuator Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth wheel trailer hitches on vehicles with six-foot short-beds face clearance issues during sharp turns while maintaining fuel economy and ride quality, requiring manual operation to adjust the hitch position, which is inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A sliding fifth wheel assembly with a platform and locking bars that can be remotely operated using actuators, allowing the hitch to move between forward and rearward positions without the operator needing to exit the vehicle, utilizing a rail system with stop bars and actuators for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the fifth wheel trailer hitch is mounted directly above or slightly forward of the rear axle to maintain optimal weight distribution and fuel economy, then fuel economy and ride quality are improved, but sufficient clearance is not present between the hitch and the cab during sharp turns when using six-foot short-bed pickup trucks
Solution Approach 1:
The fifth wheel trailer hitch is mounted on a sliding platform that can dynamically adjust its position between forward and rearward locations along the rail. This dynamic positioning allows the system to optimize weight distribution during normal travel (forward position) and provide sufficient clearance during sharp turns (rearward position), resolving the contradiction between fuel economy and maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the fifth wheel trailer hitch along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. By adjusting the hitch position between forward and rearward extremes, the system adapts to different operational requirements: forward position for optimal weight distribution and fuel economy, rearward position for increased clearance during sharp turns.
2Ease of operation
If manual locking pins are used to hold the sliding mechanism in forward or rearward positions, then the hitch can be positioned for optimal performance, but the operator must exit the vehicle to manually remove and reinsert the locking pins
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the movement of the sliding platform itself. As the platform moves between forward and rearward positions, the locking bars automatically engage with corresponding locking surfaces on the platform, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the sliding motion to trigger the locking action.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual locking pin system is replaced with an automated mechanical locking system using locking bars that pivot automatically. The locking bars are pivotally mounted to the rail and engage with stop bars on the platform through automatic mechanical interaction during sliding, replacing the need for manual pin insertion and removal.
3Reliability
If the operator exits the vehicle to manually adjust the locking pins, then the hitch position can be secured, but time is lost and the operation becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism operates automatically during the sliding process without requiring the operator to exit the vehicle. The locking bars pivot and engage with the stop bars automatically as the platform reaches its desired position, maintaining reliability while eliminating the time loss associated with manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bars are pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage with the stop bars when the platform reaches the forward or rearward position. This preliminary positioning ensures that the locking action occurs automatically as part of the sliding sequence, securing the hitch position without requiring separate manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding fifth wheel assembly for slidably connecting a trailer hitch to a vehicle, comprising at least one rail connectable to the vehicle and a platform connectable to the trailer hitch. The platform is slidably mounted to the rail for movement between a forward position and a rearward position. At least one stop bar is connected to the platform, and at least one locking bar is pivotally mounted to the rail for selective engagement with the stop bar to retain the platform in either the forward position or the rearward position. The locking bar may be selectively engaged by at least one actuator.