Trailer Coupling Linkage for Foot Operation Without Ground Clearance Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailer couplings require different installation positions based on the choice of lever (hand or foot), leading to reduced ground clearance and increased risk of damage and difficulty in coupling and uncoupling, especially with trailers or implements for agricultural and forestry vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A trailer coupling design featuring a second bolt guide part connected to a first bolt guide part, allowing a pivoting movement that enables the use of either a hand or foot lever without altering the installation position, maintaining ground clearance and facilitating easier coupling and uncoupling through a mechanism that can be actuated from different points if the primary lever jams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a foot lever is used to operate the trailer coupling, then the coupling can be operated with the foot, but the installation position must be changed which reduces ground clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into two separate bolt guide parts (first and second bolt guide parts) that can independently guide the coupling bolt. This segmentation allows the lever to be positioned at different locations without affecting the overall coupling function, thereby maintaining ground clearance while enabling foot operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is designed to accommodate multiple lever types (hand lever or foot lever) at the same installation position. The first and second bolt guide parts both serve to guide the coupling bolt, providing universal functionality regardless of which lever is used, thus maintaining ground clearance while enabling versatile operation.
2Ease of operation
If the trailer coupling is rotated 180 degrees to use a foot lever, then foot operation is enabled, but additional force is required that springs are not designed for
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into two separate bolt guide parts that work together to guide the coupling bolt. This segmentation allows the system to maintain its original orientation and gravity-assisted closing mechanism while accommodating a foot lever for operation, avoiding the need for excessive opening force.
3Ease of operation
If a specific lever type is chosen, then operation is simplified, but the risk of injury increases if the mechanism jams
Solution Approach 1:
The release tongue acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the lever and the coupling bolt. If the lever mechanism jams, the release tongue can be manually actuated to release the coupling bolt, providing a backup safety feature that reduces injury risk while maintaining ease of normal operation.
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
Maintains consistent ground clearance and reduces the risk of damage by allowing use of either lever type, simplifies coupling and uncoupling, and minimizes injury risks by providing alternative actuation points for the lever mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a first bolt guide part 8, wherein a first end 9 of the first bolt guide part 8 is at least indirectly connected to the coupling bolt 2, wherein a second end 10 of the first bolt guide part 8 is pivotally mounted about a first axis of rotation 12 relative to a housing 11 of the trailer coupling 1 for moving the coupling bolt 2
Implementation Method 2
the coupling pin usually being moved by gravity or by releasing a preload, for example, due to a spring force
Implementation Method 3
since gravity acting on the coupling pin usually assists in closing the trailer coupling
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 8~9
AI summary
A trailer coupling (1) for coupling to a towing eye (34) and a method for coupling the trailer device to the towing eye (34) are proposed.The trailer coupling comprises a coupling pin (2) which can be moved between an open position (3) and a closed position (4), a receiving space (5) for the towing eye (34), a first pin guide part (8), a second pin guide part (18) which is mechanically connected to the first pin guide part (8) in such a way that a pivoting movement of the second pin guide part (18) leads to an opposite pivoting movement of the first pin guide part (8), a release tongue (13) for actuating a release mechanism of the trailer coupling (1), a lever (22) for transferring the trailer coupling (1) from the closed position (4) to the open position (3), wherein the lever (22) is at least indirectly connectable to a second end (10) of the first pin guide part (8) or to a first end (19) of the second pin guide part (18).