Trailer Electrical Coupling Wedge for Wear and Vibration Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The electrical connection between a male plug and a female socket in trailers towed by pickup trucks or cars tends to loosen over time due to wear and vibrations, leading to electrical shorts and loss of trailer light functionality.
Innovation Solution
A wedge with a flexible finger is used to enhance the friction fit between the male plug and the female socket, ensuring a secure connection that accommodates wear and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a male plug is inserted into a female socket for electrical coupling, then electrical connection is established, but the connection becomes loose over time due to wear and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
A wedge is introduced as an intermediary component between the male plug and female socket. The wedge fills the gap and provides continuous pressure to maintain the friction fit, preventing the plug from loosening due to vibrations and wear over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge applies preliminary counteracting force to prevent the loosening effect before it occurs. By continuously pressing the plug against the socket wall, the wedge counteracts the loosening forces generated by vibrations and thermal expansion/contraction cycles.
2Reliability
If a wedge is added to enhance friction fit, then connection security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge includes a flexible finger that can elastically deform to accommodate variations in plug and socket dimensions. This flexibility allows the wedge to adapt to different wear stages and manufacturing tolerances while maintaining consistent friction fit pressure, improving reliability without requiring precise manufacturing.
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 wedge provides a secure, vibration-resistant electrical connection that maintains trailer light functionality by increasing the friction fit between the plug and socket, even as the connection wears over time.
Implementation Method 1
A curved, flexible finger resides in at least one of the gaps. The flexible finger enhances the friction fit, thereby providing a secure connection between the plug and the socket
Implementation Method 2
The wedge is then pushed forwardly along the plug into the socket to provide a pressure or friction fit between the plug, the wedge, and the socket. The flexible finger enhances the friction fit, thereby providing a secure connection
Data Source
AI summary
A wedge for an electrical coupling between a pickup truck or car and trailer is designed to fit over the male plug and into the female socket of the coupling. The wedge includes a base and a collar with a tapered wall extending forwardly from the base. The collar is segmented so as to have at least two gaps therein, with a flexible finger located in at least one of the gaps. The plug extends through the wedge, so that the terminals of the plug are pushed onto the pins of the socket. Then the wedge is pushed forwardly into the socket to provide a secure friction fit of the electrical coupling components which maintain the coupling, even when the components are worn or the pickup truck or car and trailer are driven over rough roads.