Trailer Coupling Rotary Locking for Quiet Release Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer couplings with rotary locking devices are costly, complex, and prone to malfunctions due to the actuating body being fixed in the released position, leading to potential noise and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates blocking surfaces and angularly spaced rotary locking units and receptacles to ensure the actuating body is fixed in the release position only in specific pivot positions, utilizing existing rotary locking elements for a simple and reliable transition to the rotary locking position, with symmetrical arrangements and elastic energy storage for smooth movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking device is provided to fix the actuating body in the released position, then the actuating body can be reliably fixed, but the device becomes costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary locking elements serve dual functions: they lock the pivot bearing body in the working position and simultaneously fix the actuating body in the released position through interaction with blocking surfaces. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for a separate locking device, reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The existing rotary locking elements are made multi-functional by adding blocking surfaces that interact with them. These blocking surfaces, arranged at specific angular intervals, enable the rotary locking elements to perform both their original locking function and the new function of fixing the actuating body, thereby avoiding additional components
2Stability of the object's composition
If the actuating body is fixed in the released position, then the position is stable, but noise occurs during transition to rotary locking position
Solution Approach 1:
Blocking surfaces are introduced as intermediary elements between the rotary locking elements and the actuating body. These blocking surfaces provide a controlled interaction mechanism that reduces impact and noise during the transition from released position to rotary locking position, while still ensuring stable positioning
3Reliability
If multiple rotary locking units are arranged around the pivot axis, then the locking is more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking surfaces are arranged at asymmetric angular intervals relative to the rotary locking elements. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that in all intended pivot positions excluding the working position, at least one rotary locking element is opposite a blocking surface, providing reliable fixation without requiring symmetric complex arrangements of multiple locking units
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to achieve the simplest possible fixing of the rotary locking device in the released position in a trailer coupling comprising a ball neck movable between a working position and a rest position with a pivot bearing body arranged at a first end and a coupling ball arranged at a second end, a vehicle-fixed pivot bearing unit by means of which the pivot bearing body is pivotably mounted to execute a pivoting movement about a pivot axis between the working position and the rest position, and a rotary locking device acting between the pivot bearing unit and the pivot bearing body, it is proposed that locking surfaces run between the mountings of the rotary locking device, against which the rotary locking bodies of the rotary locking device can be applied and from which the mountings extend.that the rotary locking units of the rotary locking device and the receptacles are arranged around the pivot axis at angular intervals from one another such that in all intended pivot positions of the pivot bearing body, including the rest position and excluding the working position of the rotary locking elements, at least one of the rotary locking units is opposite one of the locking surfaces and thus this locking surface blocks movement of the actuating body in the actuating direction.