Tandem Axle Trailer Maneuvering via Dynamic Power Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maneuvering tandem axle trailers with two wheels on either side is challenging due to mechanical tension in the tires, leading to oscillation and potential damage during sharp turns, and existing solutions can only make a single sharp turn at a time, causing undesirable shifting and chassis weakening.
Innovation Solution
A control unit manages the drive units to execute a series of turns with specific power curves that ensure continuous moment on the trailer, preventing torsion relaxation and oscillation, allowing for automatic multiple turns by alternating the power applied to each drive unit, maintaining rotation in the same direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sharp turn is made by activating and suddenly stopping drive units, then the wheel receives a push to enable turning, but the trailer shakes and oscillates causing items to shift and chassis to weaken
Solution Approach 1:
The drive units operate dynamically with continuously varying power levels rather than static on/off control. The power curves ensure that power is gradually reduced to zero and then increased in the opposite direction, preventing sudden stops that cause oscillation while maintaining the ability to execute sharp turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the power parameter continuously through defined power curves. The power P varies over time according to specific curves that ensure smooth transitions, preventing the mechanical tension release that causes oscillation while maintaining effective turning capability.
2Productivity
If multiple sharp turns are made in succession, then the trailer can be maneuvered to desired position, but the oscillation from each turn weakens the chassis and reduces lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The power curves are designed to maintain continuous useful action on the trailer by ensuring that power is never completely removed during direction changes. This continuous moment prevents torsion relaxation and eliminates oscillation, allowing multiple turns to be performed without cumulative damage to the chassis.
3Ease of operation
If the drive units suddenly change speed to release tension in tyres, then the turn is completed, but the trailer assumes rotating oscillating movement causing unpleasant consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic power control with continuously varying power levels instead of sudden speed changes. The power curves ensure smooth transitions that complete turns effectively while preventing the mechanical tension release that causes rotating oscillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power curves are designed with specific periodic characteristics that maintain continuous rotational motion in the same direction. The power P alternates between positive and negative values in a controlled periodic manner that prevents oscillation while enabling complete turns.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention describes an arrangement and a method for the rotation of an uncoupled tandem axle trailer (1). At least two wheels (5,8) of the tandem axle trailer (1) are driven by drive units (7,10), the drive units (7,10) having a specific power curve. These power curves ensure that the tandem axle trailer (1), for example, makes a forward turn to the right, then a backward turn to the left and then again a forward turn to the right. During reversal of the direction of the tandem axle trailer (1) the polarity of the drive units (7,10) is directly reversed. Preferably, the polarity of one drive unit is reversed before that of the other. This produces a continuous moment on the tandem axle trailers, thus reducing the opportunity for torsion in the tyres to relax.