Towing Vehicle-Trailer Coupling Automatic Brake Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing vehicle-trailer connection devices fail to automatically activate the trailer's parking or automatic brake when the male couplings disconnect from the female couplings without prior engagement by the driver, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
A device with a hydraulic connection system that includes a control line for the braking system and an additional line for the parking or automatic brake, featuring a valve mechanism that unloads working fluid into a by-pass line upon disconnection, automatically activating the brake by reducing pressure on the command device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the male couplings are disconnected from the female couplings without prior driver engagement, then the connection between towing vehicle and trailer is terminated, but the parking brake of the trailer is not automatically activated creating a safety risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the disconnection of male couplings from female couplings automatically triggers the activation of the parking brake through a control device that monitors the connection state and responds by activating the brake when disconnection is detected
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the parking brake automatically activates itself upon detection of coupling disconnection, without requiring manual intervention from the driver, thus ensuring safety through automatic response to the disconnection event
2Reliability
If a complex valve mechanism is added to unload working fluid automatically, then automatic brake activation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is merged with the existing hydraulic connection system, integrating the unloading function into the working fluid supply lines that already connect the towing vehicle and trailer braking systems, thereby achieving automatic brake activation without adding completely separate complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
A control device acts as an intermediary between the coupling connection state and the parking brake activation, receiving signals from the connection status and automatically controlling the valve to unload working fluid, thus simplifying the overall control architecture while ensuring reliable automatic activation
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
Ensures safe and automatic activation of the trailer's parking or automatic brake upon disconnection of the male couplings, enhancing safety and compliance with regulatory requirements through a simple, effective, and low-cost solution.
Implementation Method 1
the by-pass line (9) connectable to an unloading tank (10)... the working fluid sent to the command device (11) of the parking brake (8) is unloaded
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for the towing vehicle-trailer connection, comprising: - a base body (2) associable with a trailer and wherein is defined at least a first female coupling (3) and at least a second female coupling (6); - at least a first and a second male couplings (12, 13) associable with a towing vehicle of the trailer and insertable, respectively, within the first and second female couplings (3, 6); where the second male coupling (13) defines a first channel (31) for the transit of a working fluid and has a first closing element (32) of the first transit channel (31) movable between an opening configuration and a closing configuration, - valve means (17) able to put in communication and isolate between them the additional line (7) with the by-pass line (9), respectively; and where the valve means (17) comprise a first tubular element (26) movable between a release configuration and a fastening configuration, a second tubular element (28) defining a second channel (29) for the transit of the working fluid, there being provided a second closing element (30) of the second channel itself, the second tubular element (28) being movable with respect to the second closing element itself between a closing configuration and an opening configuration of said second transit channel (29); and where as a result of the insertion of the second male coupling (13) within the second female coupling (6), the second closing element (30) is able to contact the first closing element (32) to displace it from the closing configuration to the opening configuration, and the end of the second male coupling itself is able to contact the first tubular element (26) to displace it to the fastening configuration, the first tubular element (26) being able to drag in its displacement the second tubular element (28) to displace it to the relative opening configuration in order to place in communication the first and second transit channels (31, 29) together.