Selective Locking Guiding Funnel for Trailer Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer couplings face challenges in maintaining the guiding funnel's ability to guide the drawbar eye into the correct position while allowing for the necessary rotational freedom during turns, as non-rotatable funnels restrict turning radius and rotatable funnels fail to guide correctly due to misalignment pressures.
Innovation Solution
A trailer coupling design featuring a pivotally connected guiding funnel and locking arms that prevent rotation until the drawbar eye is received, allowing the guiding funnel to pivot freely once engaged, ensuring secure alignment and compliance with regulatory standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the guiding funnel is made non-rotatable to maintain guiding ability, then the guiding precision is improved, but the adaptability during sharp turns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding funnel is designed to be dynamically changeable between locked and unlocked states. When locked, it provides stable guiding for the drawbar eye; when unlocked, it allows rotational freedom during sharp turns. This dynamic transition resolves the contradiction between guiding precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational parameter of the guiding funnel is changed based on operational conditions. In the locked state, the funnel maintains a fixed orientation for precise guiding. In the unlocked state, the funnel can rotate to accommodate sharp turns, thus changing the parameter from fixed to variable to resolve the contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guiding funnel is made rotatable to allow sharp turns, then the adaptability during turns is improved, but the guiding precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between locked and unlocked states based on whether sharp turns are needed. The guiding funnel rotates only when unlocked and adaptability is required, while maintaining fixed positioning when guiding precision is needed for drawbar eye alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational parameter of the guiding funnel is controlled to change only when necessary. The funnel transitions from a fixed state during normal operation to a rotatable state during sharp turns, optimizing both guiding precision and adaptability at different times.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the guiding funnel is locked to prevent rotation, then the stability during coupling is improved, but the turning radius restriction worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding funnel's rotational constraint is dynamically adjusted. During the coupling process, the funnel is locked to provide stability and ensure proper alignment. During sharp turns after coupling, the funnel can rotate to reduce the turning radius restriction, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and turning radius.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational parameter of the guiding funnel is changed from fixed to variable based on operational phase. In the coupling phase, the parameter is fixed for stability; in the turning phase, the parameter becomes variable to accommodate sharp turns, resolving the contradiction between stability and turning radius.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a trailer coupling for connecting a traction vehicle to a trailer is provided, comprising a coupling body; a guiding funnel pivotally connected to said coupling body, said guiding funnel being configured to receive and guide a drawbar; and two locking arms connected to opposite sides of said coupling body, wherein said locking arms may move between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein in said locking position, said locking arms engages said guiding funnel so as to prevent it from pivoting relative to said coupling body, wherein in said unlocking position, at least a portion of each one of said locking arms is located further away from said guiding funnel than said portion is in said locking position, and wherein said locking arms are arranged to be pushed from a locking position to an unlocking position by a drawbar that is received in said guiding funnel.