Trailer Chassis Leveling by Wheel Lifting and Chassis Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leveling technologies for road vehicles, especially trailers, face challenges in achieving a deep and ergonomic leveling position while avoiding contact issues with the ground, particularly due to the limitations of conventional hydraulic lifting systems.

Innovation Solution

The proposed leveling technology employs individually controllable wheel lifting agents and lockable chassis supports to lower the chassis during the leveling process, allowing for a deeper and more stable leveling position. This system ensures safe support at all points and avoids ground contact issues by allowing the chassis to be lowered below its initial position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the chassis is raised during leveling using conventional hydraulic jacks, then the leveling position is achieved, but the entry area becomes difficult to access and ground contact problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleveling stabilityVSAvoidentry area accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional leveling approach by lowering the chassis instead of raising it. The lifting device is controlled to lower the chassis during leveling, achieving the desired horizontal alignment at a lower position that improves entry area accessibility while maintaining leveling stability through the support of wheel lifting means and chassis supports on the ground.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the chassis is lowered to improve entry area access, then ergonomics improve, but ground contact problems increase with conventional systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentry area accessibilityVSAvoidground support reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the support function into two independent systems: wheel lifting means for vertical adjustment and chassis supports for ground stabilization. This segmentation allows the chassis to be lowered for ergonomic access while the chassis supports maintain reliable ground contact and support, preventing the ground contact problems that would occur with a single unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional hydraulic jacks are used for leveling, then the system is simple, but contact problems with the ground occur at maximum extension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleveling system simplicityVSAvoidjack ground contact reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces chassis supports as intermediary elements between the chassis and the ground. These chassis supports act as mediators that provide additional ground contact points and distribute the support load, preventing the jack ground contact reliability problems that occur when conventional hydraulic jacks operate at maximum extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Manufacturing precision

If the chassis is raised high during leveling, then leveling position is achieved, but the entry area becomes ergonomically unfavorable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleveling position accuracyVSAvoidentry area ergonomics
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by achieving precise leveling position accuracy through chassis lowering rather than raising. The wheel lifting means and chassis supports work together to maintain horizontal alignment at a lower chassis position, simultaneously achieving both leveling precision and ergonomic entry area accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3838635B1Levelling device and method for levelling
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 ALOIS KOBER GMBH
  • EP3838635B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3838635B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3838635B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a leveling device and a leveling method for road vehicles (1), in particular trailers, with a chassis (3) and a sprung axle assembly (4) with vehicle wheels (6, 7) on both sides and a longitudinal axis (40). The leveling device (2) is designed and configured for aligning the chassis (3) in a desired angular position in space and comprises a leveling control (8), a leveling sensor (9) for detecting the angular position of the chassis (3), and a driven lifting device (10) controllable by the leveling control (8) for moving the chassis (3) vertically during leveling. The lifting device (10) comprises several wheel lifting means (11), each configured to raise and lower a vehicle wheel (6, 7) individually relative to the chassis (3), wherein the leveling device (2) has several chassis supports (12) that are controllable, lockable, and raising and lowering by the leveling control (8).