Trailer Hitch Coupler Safety Control System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to ensure proper coupling of a trailer hitch assembly to a towing vehicle, leading to accidents and damage due to faulty or inadequate coupling, lacking effective feedback to operators.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch arrangement control system with sensors to monitor the coupling status, a locking mechanism, and a control valve that keeps the trailer brakes engaged until a proper coupling is confirmed, providing visual feedback to the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a trailer hitch assembly is used without a monitoring and control system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of proper coupling is compromised leading to accidents and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor the coupling status between the trailer hitch assembly and towing vehicle, and a controller processes this information to determine whether proper coupling has been achieved. This feedback loop ensures reliable coupling verification by providing real-time status information and triggering appropriate control actions based on the detected coupling state.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the mechanical coupling components and the operator. The sensors and controller serve as intermediaries that detect the coupling status and translate it into meaningful information and control signals, mediating the interaction between the physical coupling state and the system's response actions.
2Loss of information
If sensors and control systems are added to monitor coupling status, then the information feedback to operators is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides comprehensive information feedback to operators through the controller, which processes sensor data about coupling status and communicates this information back to the operator. This eliminates information loss by ensuring operators receive accurate real-time status about whether proper coupling has been achieved, enabling informed decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system serves itself by using the existing control valve and brake assembly infrastructure. The controller utilizes the available pneumatic control system components to execute coupling verification and safety actions, rather than requiring entirely new independent systems for each function.
3Reliability
If the control valve keeps brakes engaged until proper coupling is confirmed, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional coupling verification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by keeping the trailer brakes engaged (locked) before proper coupling is confirmed. This preventive measure counteracts the potential harmful action of moving an improperly coupled trailer, ensuring safety by maintaining brake engagement until the coupling status is verified as correct through sensor detection and controller evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary verification of coupling status before allowing trailer movement. The sensors detect the coupling state and the controller processes this information in advance, ensuring that the brakes are only released after proper coupling has been confirmed, thus preventing unsafe operations before they can occur.
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
Prevents accidents by ensuring proper coupling, reducing damage to vehicles and cargo, and providing critical feedback to operators, thereby reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a trailer sensor for sensing the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly
Implementation Method 2
a lock sensor for sensing the position of the locking mechanism
Implementation Method 3
a control valve in fluid communication with a brake assembly of the trailer, the control valve being operable between a closed position, wherein the brake assembly is in an engaged position, and an open position, wherein a pressurized fluid is supplied to the brake assembly
Implementation Method 4
the brake assembly is positively biased from the disengaged position toward the engaged position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A trailer hitch arrangement control system including a trailer sensor for sensing the position of a trailer relative to a trailer hitch assembly, a lock sensor for sensing the position of a locking mechanism, a control valve in fluid communication with a brake assembly of a trailer and operable between closed and open positions, wherein the brake assembly is engaged and disengaged, respectively, and wherein the brake assembly is positively biased toward the engaged position, and a controller coupled to the trailer sensor, the lock sensor and the control valve for determining whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the hitch and generating a control signal to the control valve to actuate the control valve from the open position to the closed position when the trailer hitch assembly is improperly coupled to the hitch, such that the brake assembly remains in the engaged position.