Trailer Hitch Joint Assembly with Segmented Damping Caps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling joint assemblies for tractor vehicles and trailers face challenges in simplifying coupling and uncoupling operations while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the damping system, which is often complicated by friction structures prone to humidity and pollution exposure.
Innovation Solution
A hitch joint assembly with a mechanical articulation and damping system featuring concave caps, composite cups, and a tension shaft, allowing rotational movements and prestress, integrated into a three-axis articulation design that is not directly accessible during operations, thus protecting the damping system from environmental factors and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a friction track with actuators is used to dampen yaw movements, then the damping effectiveness is improved, but the coupling and uncoupling operations become long and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system is segmented into modular components: two independent caps (first and second) that can be separately assembled and disassembled, allowing the damping mechanism to be maintained or replaced without affecting the entire coupling assembly. This modular structure enables quick coupling and uncoupling operations while preserving the damping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping system is extracted as a separate, self-contained unit within the coupling joint assembly. The caps and damping elements can be removed independently from the main coupling structure, allowing uncoupling operations to proceed without risking damage to the damping components. This extraction principle resolves the conflict between maintaining damping effectiveness and enabling simple operations.
2Reliability
If friction structures are exposed to the environment for damping operations, then the damping function is maintained, but humidity and pollution alter the friction characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The damping components (caps and friction elements) are nested within the protective housing of the coupling joint assembly. This nested structure shields the friction surfaces from environmental exposure during normal operation, maintaining consistent friction characteristics. The damping function is preserved through the nested arrangement while protection from harmful factors is achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The caps are designed as replaceable, cost-effective components that can be easily replaced when worn. Rather than protecting expensive, complex friction structures from environmental damage, the invention uses simple, replaceable caps that provide damping functionality and can be discarded or replaced without affecting the overall system. This approach maintains damping reliability while being insensitive to environmental factors.
3Ease of operation
If the mechanical articulation allows rotational movements for coupling operations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the damping system integrity risks being affected
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling joint assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: the mechanical articulation components that handle rotational movements for coupling operations, and the separately housed damping components within the caps. This segmentation ensures that articulation movements do not transmit damaging forces to the damping system, preserving integrity while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The caps serve as intermediary elements between the mechanical articulation and the damping friction surfaces. These caps absorb and isolate the mechanical stresses from articulation movements, protecting the underlying damping system integrity. The intermediaries allow rotational movements for easy coupling while preventing damage transmission to the damping components.
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 solution simplifies coupling and uncoupling, enhances mechanical strength, reduces wear, and maintains damping system efficiency by isolating the damping components from environmental exposure, while increasing trailer loading space without lengthening the trailer.
Implementation Method 1
a damping system for damping at least the yaw movements of the trailer... the damping system comprises a composite cup made of friction material placed at the interface of each cap and of the articulation end piece
Implementation Method 2
a tension shaft connecting the spherical caps to hold the caps closer together and exert a prestress on the composite cups resting on the articulation tip
Implementation Method 3
the tensioning shaft is supported on at least one of the caps via compression washers of the Belleville washer type
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling joint assembly (3) for a road vehicle comprising a tractor vehicle (2) and at least one trailer (1) coupled to said tractor vehicle (2), a mechanical joint, allowing rotations about at least one axis, between a front end (5) of the trailer (1) and the tractor vehicle (2) and a damping system to dampen at least the yaw movements of the trailer (1), said coupling joint assembly (3) comprising a trailer coupling piece (4) intended to be fixed to the front end (5), a tractor coupling piece (6) intended to be fixed to a chassis (2a) of the tractor vehicle (2), said tractor coupling piece (6) comprising the mechanical joint and the damping system, characterized in that the mechanical joint comprises a recessed receptacle in which the articulation end (14) is housed and retained so as to achieve an articulated mechanical connection.