Trailer coupling with a sensor assembly and a rotating slave body
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer couplings face challenges in detecting the angle of rotation between a towing vehicle and a trailer with high wear resistance, leading to potential mechanical instability and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A trailer coupling design featuring a sensor arrangement as a module that can be retrofitted, with a rotary driving body that maintains contact with the coupling receptacle through a spring arrangement and a rotation transmission member, ensuring high friction and stability, and allowing for easy replacement when worn, forming a solid structural unit that can withstand daily use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling ball is made rotatable to support the coupling receptacle, then the coupling device can accommodate trailer rotation movements, but the bearing arrangement experiences high wear and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the rotatable coupling ball into two separate functional components: a stationary coupling ball that maintains structural integrity and a rotary drive body that enables rotation detection. This segmentation transfers the rotational movement from the entire coupling ball to a smaller dedicated component, reducing bearing wear while preserving rotation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary drive body acts as an intermediary element between the coupling receptacle and the sensor arrangement. It mediates the rotational movement by providing a dedicated rotary drive surface that contacts the coupling receptacle, allowing rotation to be detected without the entire coupling ball needing to rotate
2Measurement precision
If a sensor arrangement is integrated into the rotatable coupling ball to detect rotation angle, then angle detection capability is achieved, but the mechanical stability and wear resistance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement is extracted from the coupling ball and mounted separately on the ball carrier. This allows the coupling ball to remain a simple, robust, non-rotating structural element while the sensor arrangement is positioned where it can detect the position of the rotary drive body without being subjected to mechanical wear
Solution Approach 2:
The detection function is separated from the mechanical coupling function. The coupling ball handles only the mechanical support function, while the rotary drive body and sensor arrangement handle the rotation detection function, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific purpose
3Measurement precision
If the entire ball head is rotated relative to the rod part for angle detection, then the angle of rotation can be detected using magnetic field sensors, but the bearing demands and mechanical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Only the rotary drive body is made rotatable rather than the entire ball head assembly. This segmentation reduces the mass and complexity of the rotating component, simplifying the bearing arrangement while still enabling accurate rotation detection through the sensor arrangement
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 solution provides a stable, resilient structural unit that maintains reliable operation even if the sensor arrangement fails, ensuring safe towing by enhancing wear resistance and mechanical stability, while allowing for cost-effective production and flexible equipment options.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arrangement and a rotary drive body which are in rotary drive contact with the coupling receptacle 18
Implementation Method 2
a rotary drive body which are in rotary drive contact with the coupling receptacle 18
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a trailer coupling (10a) for a towing vehicle (12), in particular a passenger vehicle, for attaching a trailer (17) to the towing vehicle (12), with a coupling device (11a) comprising a ball carrier (13) and a coupling ball (15a) arranged at a free end of the ball carrier (13) for rotatably mounting a coupling receptacle (18) of a towing ball coupling of the trailer (17), wherein an inner surface (22) of the coupling receptacle (18) can slide on a spherical surface (23) of the coupling ball (15a), and with a sensor arrangement (40) for detecting a rotation angle (34) of the towing ball coupling (16) with respect to the ball carrier (13).The trailer coupling (10a) is provided to have a rotary drive device (31a) which has at least one rotary drive element (30a) projecting in a contact position (K) in front of the ball surface (23), which is rotatably mounted on the coupling device (11a) relative to the ball surface (23) and has a rotary drive surface (76) designed to form a friction-fit and/or positive-fit rotary drive contact with the coupling receptacle (18), and which has a sensor arrangement (40) for detecting a rotation angle (34) of the at least one rotary drive element (30a) relative to the ball carrier.