Tractor-Trailer Coupling Heads for Automated Line Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Docking and undocking operations between tractors and trailers require significant human intervention, making them time-consuming and expensive.
Innovation Solution
An automatic tractor trailer coupling system with movable tractor and trailer coupling heads, including sensors, actuators, and mechanical linkages, that automatically aligns and connects air and electrical lines, using adjustable fifth wheel couplings and flexures for compliance, allowing fully automated coupling and uncoupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual coupling operations are used, then human intervention is required, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system performs self-alignment and self-coupling operations through automated sensors, actuators, and control systems. The tractor coupling head automatically detects the trailer coupling head position, moves into alignment, and establishes connections without human intervention, making the system serve itself rather than requiring manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical coupling operations are replaced with an automated electromechanical system. Sensors detect positions, actuators execute movements, and control systems coordinate the coupling sequence, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated sensor-actuator-control loops.
2Extent of automation
If automated coupling systems are implemented, then human intervention is eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling head design integrates multiple functions into single components. The same coupling head structure handles both air line connections and electrical connections, while sensors and actuators serve multiple purposes in alignment and connection establishment, reducing overall system complexity despite high automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines air coupling and electrical coupling operations into a single integrated automated process. The coupling heads are designed to establish both pneumatic and electrical connections simultaneously through coordinated movement, merging what could be separate systems into one unified automated coupling operation.
3Measurement precision
If precise alignment is achieved for coupling heads, then connection accuracy improves, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors mounted on the coupling heads provide real-time position feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables the control system to monitor alignment status and command actuators to make precise adjustments, achieving high alignment accuracy through continuous measurement and correction rather than complex mechanical pre-alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling heads are designed with movable, dynamic positioning capabilities rather than fixed mechanical alignment. Actuators enable the coupling heads to move in multiple directions to achieve alignment, transforming a static mechanical alignment problem into a dynamic controlled movement solution that reduces mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for automatically coupling the air and electrical lines of a tractor to a trailer. A trailer coupling head is mounted to the trailer and carries air line and electrical connectors. A fifth wheel coupling height control system is configured to automatically control the height of the tractor’s fifth wheel coupling, to control the height of the trailer coupling head. A tractor coupling head carries air line and electrical connectors that are configured to be operably coupled to the mating connectors of the trailer coupling head. A tractor coupling head carrier removably carries the tractor coupling head. A tractor coupling head carrier control system moves the tractor coupling head carrier toward and away from the trailer coupling head along a longitudinal axis. The tractor coupling head can be clamped to and carried by the tractor coupling head carrier or the tractor coupling head can be clamped to the trailer coupling head.