Trailer Breakaway Tether Control for Safe Energy Conduit Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heavy-duty vehicles face challenges in maintaining secure connections between tractor and trailer units, particularly during accidents or errors, which can lead to breakaway events, compromising safety and durability of electrical and fuel conveyance systems.
Innovation Solution
A breakaway detection and mitigation system is implemented, featuring a spool assembly, sensor, and controller that deploy and retract a tether to manage high voltage and high pressure gas conveyances, and include high voltage switches and valves to prevent energy flow in case of impending breakaway, ensuring safe disconnection and reducing stress on connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the connection between tractor and trailer is made secure, then connection strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection and mitigation systems
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway detection system performs preliminary detection of connection status and potential breakaway events before they occur. The spool assembly is pre-configured to deploy the tether when needed, and the controller continuously monitors connection integrity, allowing the system to take preventive action before a actual breakaway event occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element between the tractor and trailer, providing a mechanical backup connection. The spool assembly serves as an intermediary mechanism that can deploy or retract the tether based on detected connection status, mediating the force transmission between the two units during potential breakaway events.
2Reliability
If breakaway detection and mitigation systems are added, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway detection and mitigation functions are merged into a single integrated system. The controller combines detection of connection status with the control of the spool assembly and high voltage switches, eliminating the need for separate detection and mitigation systems while maintaining comprehensive safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-protection by automatically detecting connection anomalies and triggering mitigation actions without external intervention. When a breakaway event is detected, the controller automatically actuates the spool assembly and high voltage switches to protect the electrical system, enabling the system to service itself during critical events.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high voltage switches are used to interrupt current flow, then energy safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high voltage switches are pre-positioned in the electrical conveyance system to enable rapid interruption of current flow. Before a breakaway event occurs, the controller can preemptively open the switches to de-energize the electrical system, preventing dangerous energy discharge during separation events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical disconnection methods with electrical isolation using high voltage switches. Instead of relying solely on mechanical separation to stop energy flow, the system uses electronically controlled switches to interrupt current flow, providing safer and more controlled energy management during breakaway events.
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 system effectively mitigates breakaway events by detecting impending separation and taking countermeasures to prevent energy flow, enhancing safety and durability of connections between tractor and trailer units, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and damage.
Implementation Method 1
The spool assembly can be configured to deploy a portion of the tether and to retract the deployed portion of the tether. The retraction of the deployed portion of the tether can serve to keep cables coupled with the extendable tether off of the frame of the tractor.
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway mitigation system is provided for addressing breakaway between a tractor and a trailer unit of a truck. The breakaway mitigation system can include a spool assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The spool assembly has a spool body configured to deploy a length of a tether coupled with the spool body and configured to couple with an energy source supply conduit and to retract the length of the tether. The energy source supply conduit is configured to convey a source of energy for use by a motor or by a fuel cell. The sensor is configured to detect the length of the tether that has been deployed. The controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to the detected length and to implement a countermeasure when the detected amount exceeds a threshold value. Mitigation can be provided by a coupler that decouples under a load over a threshold.