Tractor Trailer Coupling Force Segregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer couplings for agricultural tractors face challenges in securely and efficiently transferring forces from implements to the vehicle, requiring robust guidance cheeks that are often space-constrained due to the need to handle both longitudinal and vertical forces, and are cumbersome to change between different coupling types.
Innovation Solution
The trailer coupling design features a bearing member extending to a rear bearing block connected via elements that transmit longitudinal forces directly to the vehicle's rear axle housing, while vertical and transverse forces are guided through the guidance cheeks, allowing for a compact and easy-to-assemble system that separates force components for reduced loading on the guidance cheeks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the guidance cheeks are robustly dimensioned to handle both longitudinal and vertical forces, then the stability and strength are improved, but the space required increases and conflicts with other vehicle components
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission path is segmented into two independent channels: longitudinal forces are transmitted through the bearing block and connecting elements directly to the rear axle housing, while vertical and transverse forces are transmitted through the guidance cheeks. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific force direction, reducing the overall space requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal force transmission function is extracted from the guidance cheeks and assigned to a separate bearing block and connecting elements. This extraction relieves the guidance cheeks of longitudinal loading, allowing them to be designed more compactly while maintaining their vertical force handling capability.
2Reliability
If separate horizontal slots are added to the guidance cheeks for secure bearing member fitting, then the reliability of fitting is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical slots in the guidance cheeks serve multiple functions: they guide the bearing member during installation and provide force transmission paths for vertical and transverse loads. By making the slots multi-functional, the need for separate horizontal guiding slots is eliminated, reducing structural complexity while maintaining fitting security.
Solution Approach 2:
Socket pins are introduced as intermediary elements to connect the bearing member to the guidance cheeks through the vertical slots. These socket pins provide the necessary lateral spacing and secure attachment without requiring additional slots in the guidance cheeks, simplifying the overall structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bearing member is securely connected to both guidance cheeks and rear axle housing, then the stability is improved, but the number of connecting elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system merges the bearing block with the rear axle housing integration, using a single connecting element that simultaneously secures the bearing member to both the guidance cheeks (via vertical slots) and the rear axle housing. This merging reduces the total number of separate connecting elements while maintaining stable multi-directional attachment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A trailer coupling for tractive vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, consisting of two vertical guidance cheeks (7), fitted with lateral spacing to the rear of the vehicle, the guidance cheeks including vertical slots (7a) and a bearing member (11) held detachably at the lower end region of the guidance cheeks, on which a coupling member (12) is arranged for attaching an implement. In the case of a prior art trailer coupling, all forces transmitted from the attached implement to the coupling member used, a ball coupling (12) for example, are conducted via the bearing member (11) into the guidance cheeks (7). Thus this involves the undesirable necessity of having to dimension the guidance cheeks in a robust manner, which in turn leads to space problems within the tailend region of the vehicle. Therefore a trailer coupling is to be created which reduces the load on the guidance cheeks (7), when the forces of the attached implement are conducted into the rear of the vehicle. This is achieved by arranging the bearing member (11) to extend as far as a bearing block (10) fitted to the rear of the vehicle and connecting the bearing member to the bearing block (10) via at least one connecting element (17), which transmits dissipating forces of the implement exclusively in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The bearing member (11) is also guided through the guidance cheeks (7) via further connecting elements (18,18a,19), which transmit exclusively vertical and transverse forces of the implement.