Trailer Landing Gear Load Sensing for Reproducible Force Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing landing gear systems lack reproducible force measurement capabilities, leading to unreliable load indication and inability to quantify forces transmitted, which is crucial for ensuring safe parking and detecting overloading or uneven load distribution in trailers.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a force-measuring element, such as piezoelectric or capacitive sensors, between the spindle and outer tube, which measures deformation to provide quantitative and reproducible force data, allowing for precise determination of axle loads and potential overloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element and switching element are used to indicate landing gear load position, then the operator receives qualitative load position information, but the measurement values are not reproducible after frequent load changes and may trigger falsely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring element and switching element system with an electronic force-measuring element (such as a load cell or strain gauge) that provides reproducible and accurate quantitative force measurements. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues of mechanical wear and inconsistent triggering while maintaining the indication function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a force-measuring element as an intermediary between the landing gear structure and the indication system. This intermediary component (typically a load cell) accurately measures the force and transmits this information electronically, providing both qualitative position information and quantitative force data without the drawbacks of direct mechanical switching.
2Loss of information
If a mechanical switching element is used to indicate loaded position, then qualitative determination of landing gear status is achieved, but quantitative determination of forces and total weight is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The force-measuring element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides qualitative position indication (loaded/not loaded), quantitative force measurement, and enables calculation of total trailer weight by summing axle loads. This multi-functionality eliminates information loss while avoiding the need for separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing the simple mechanical switching element with an electronic force-measuring element, the system gains the capability to provide both qualitative and quantitative information. The electronic sensor can output analog or digital signals that contain both position and magnitude information, enabling comprehensive load monitoring.
3Reliability
If no force measurement capability is provided, then the landing gear structure remains simple, but safe parking cannot be ensured and overloading cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The force-measuring element acts as an intermediary that integrates into the existing landing gear structure with minimal disruption. It provides critical safety information (load presence, magnitude, distribution) while maintaining the mechanical simplicity of the overall landing gear system. The sensor can be mounted on existing components such as the spindle bearing plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The force-measuring element provides feedback information about the actual load on the landing gear to the operator or control system. This feedback enables verification of safe parking conditions, detection of overloading, and monitoring of load distribution, allowing for timely corrective actions if unsafe conditions are detected.
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
Enables safe and stable parking by quantitatively measuring forces, detecting overloading, and ensuring even load distribution, thereby enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
piezoelectric sensors that detect the change in electrical polarization and thus the occurrence of an electrical voltage on solid bodies when they are elastically deformed
Implementation Method 2
capacitive sensors can be used as a force-measuring element
Data Source
AI summary
A landing gear having a force-measuring element. The landing gear includes an outer tube, an inner tube movably mounted in the outer tube, and a transmission assembly having at least one spindle driven by a gear. The spindle is fed through a spindle opening in a spindle bearing plate which is in contact with the outer tube, and a spindle nut fastened to the inner tube is held on the spindle. The landing gear addresses the problem of providing a landing gear that allows a quantitative and reproducible measurement of the forces transmitted from the landing gear to the ground. The problem is solved in that the force-measuring element is mounted on a support component disposed in the force flow between the spindle and the outer tube.