Automated Supply Bracket for Truck Coupling Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupling systems for supply lines between vehicles, such as tractors and trailers, pose a high risk of injury to drivers during manual hook-up and uncoupling, and often result in drivers getting wet and soiled due to the exposed environment, with existing solutions only partially addressing the issue of convenience and safety.
Innovation Solution
The integration of sensors and a drive unit into the coupling system that automatically moves the supply bracket into an operating position once a successful coupling is detected, allowing for non-contact signal transmission and enabling the driver to connect supply lines more quickly and safely, with additional sensors for plausibility checks and prevention of unintended movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver manually hooks up supply lines to the supply bracket, then the coupling process can be completed, but the driver is exposed to high risk of injury and contamination from wet and grimy environment
Solution Approach 1:
The supply bracket is automatically moved to the operating position before the driver needs to connect the supply lines. The sensor detects coupling initiation and triggers the drive mechanism to position the bracket in advance, eliminating the need for the driver to climb onto the vehicle and reducing exposure to harmful environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the bracket positioning function automatically through sensor detection and automated drive mechanism, without requiring manual intervention from the driver. The supply bracket serves itself by moving to the correct position based on detected coupling conditions.
2Productivity
If the supply bracket is moved automatically using sensor detection and drive mechanism, then the coupling process becomes faster and safer, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex automated positioning function is extracted as a separate, dedicated subsystem with its own sensor and drive mechanism. This modular approach allows the automation functionality to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire coupling system, making the complexity manageable and maintainable.
3Loss of time
If the supply bracket moves automatically based on sensor signal, then the hooking up process is quicker, but there is risk of unintended movement or forgetting to connect lines
Solution Approach 1:
Position sensors on the supply bracket provide feedback to the control system to confirm the bracket has reached the operating position. This feedback mechanism ensures the bracket only moves when appropriate and allows the system to verify proper positioning before allowing driver intervention, preventing both unintended movement and connection errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling aid facilitates connecting at least one supply line between a first vehicle and a second vehicle which can be coupled to the first vehicle by means of a coupling. The coupling aid comprises a supply bracket mounted on the second vehicle and used to receive the at least one supply line. The supply bracket can be moved by means of a drive from a driving position (A) in the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle into an operating position (B) lateral to the driving position. The coupling is provided with at least a first sensor for detecting the locking state of the coupling and the movement of the supply bracket is triggered by a signal from the first sensor.