Vehicle Tarpaulin Tensioning Control Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large vehicles face the challenge of air trapped in inflated hoses of tensioning lifting devices, which takes a long time to escape, potentially increasing vehicle height and existing solutions are impractical or interfere with the brake circuit.
Innovation Solution
A control device using an ejector operated at a pressure set below the vehicle's compressed air system, combined with a 5/3-way valve and a pressure regulator, allows for rapid and complete air suction and filling of hoses, ensuring reliable operation without interfering with the brake circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is allowed to remain in the inflated hoses, then the vehicle body height remains stable, but the air takes a long time to escape and may increase vehicle height uncontrollably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air from the hoses using a suction device connected to a vacuum generator. The vacuum generator creates negative pressure to actively suck out the air from the inflated hoses, resolving the contradiction by providing controlled air removal that prevents uncontrolled height increase while enabling complete emptying when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control device with solenoid valves as an intermediary between the air supply system and the hoses. This intermediary allows precise control over air filling and removal, enabling the system to manage air presence in hoses without directly interfering with the brake circuit while maintaining vehicle height stability.
2Productivity
If a suction device is used to remove air from hoses, then air can be evacuated rapidly, but the device may interfere with the brake circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air control system into separate functional circuits: a service air line for normal operations and a separate suction/control line for air removal. The control device with solenoid valves creates distinct control paths that allow rapid air evacuation from hoses while maintaining complete separation from the brake circuit, eliminating interference risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that mediates between the air supply system and the hoses, using solenoid valves to control air flow. This intermediary ensures that the suction operation is isolated from the brake circuit through separate valve control paths, enabling rapid air removal while protecting brake system reliability.
3Reliability
If a control device with multiple valves is used, then reliable control of air filling and emptying is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions into a single integrated control device. The control device incorporates both solenoid valves for air supply control and vacuum control in one unit, and the vacuum generator serves dual purposes for both suction and control actuation. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable control of air filling and emptying operations.
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
The solution enables efficient and safe emptying and filling of air hoses, preventing excessive vehicle height and ensuring operational reliability by using a pressure-regulated ejector and valve system, simplifying control and reducing the risk of switching errors.
Implementation Method 1
By using an ejector that is operated with a pressure that is set with a regulator to just below the pressure of the compressed air system of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
rapid and complete suction of the filling air can be achieved
Implementation Method 3
The reduction of the operating pressure for the ejector with an auxiliary pressure regulator from 8 to 13.5 bar to 5.5 bar is beneficial for the function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Control device for a tensioning and lifting mechanism of an upper part of a vehicle tarpaulin, with at least one air hose which has an inlet line (1) for connecting a main pressure regulator (2) to the compressed air system of a vehicle, the system containing, in particular, 8 to 13.5 bar. The compressed air output by the main pressure regulator (2) of, in particular, 0.15 to 0.2 bar is conducted to a 3/2-way directional control valve (5) which connects said air to the outside air by means of a feedline (7) for ventilating the tensioning and lifting mechanism. Upstream of the connection of the main pressure regulator (2), a line branches off from the inlet line (1) to a secondary pressure regulator (3) which reduces the pressure to a number of bar, in particular to 5.5 bar. This reduced pressure is conducted via a 5/3-way directional control valve (4) to an ejector (6) which assists the ventilation of the feedline (7) to the tensioning and lifting mechanism.