Towing Device Radial Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices face challenges in efficiently locking and unlocking the coupling arm, which is a heavy assembly, requiring significant actuating force to move and lock, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with radially engaging form-fitting elements, such as balls or rollers, that securely attach the coupling arm to a holding receptacle, allowing for easy manual adjustment and secure locking, reducing the actuating force required and ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heavy coupling arm is used for secure towing, then the locking reliability is improved, but the actuating force required to move and lock it increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling arm is divided into a main body and a separate locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes form-fitting elements (balls or rollers) that can be independently actuated to engage with form-fitting receptacles on the coupling arm, allowing the heavy coupling arm to be locked without requiring force to move the entire arm.
Solution Approach 2:
Form-fitting elements (balls or rollers) serve as intermediaries between the locking device and the coupling arm. These small, lightweight elements transmit the locking force from the locking device to the coupling arm, enabling secure locking without requiring the actuator to directly move the heavy coupling arm.
2Force
If a locking device with form-fitting elements is used, then the actuating force is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the heavy coupling arm to achieve locking, the invention inverts the approach by moving small form-fitting elements (balls or rollers) into engagement positions. The actuator moves these lightweight elements radially to engage or disengage from form-fitting receptacles on the coupling arm, achieving locking with minimal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses movable form-fitting elements that can dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states. The actuator controls the radial movement of these elements, allowing the system to adapt between locked and unlocked positions without requiring permanent mechanical constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a holder with a holding receiver, in which a coupling arm (14) is movably supported with a holding area. A locking device (25) has a positive locking element arrangement (36) with a positive locking element (35), which is movably supported at a positive locking element bearing of the holder, and engages in a locking position from radially outwards in a positive locking receiver of a positive locking receiver arrangement (39) at an outer circumference of the coupling arm.