Automated Trailer Leveling System for Mobile Power Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Permanent power plants often struggle to meet increasing power demands due to capacity limitations, maintenance, or natural disasters, and mobile power plants face challenges in transportation and on-site installation, particularly due to trailer axle weight restrictions and time-consuming setup processes.
Innovation Solution
A mobile power plant system equipped with a trailer leveling system that includes adjustable legs, power tools, and sensors, controlled by a controller to ensure precise leveling and efficient installation, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing trailer bowing, while allowing for simultaneous leveling and elevation of multiple trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual leveling methods are used for mobile power plant trailers, then installation time is reduced, but installation time increases and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical leveling operations with an automated electronic control system. The level sensors electronically detect trailer attitude, the controller processes this data to determine required adjustments, and the power tools automatically apply correction forces to the trailer legs. This substitution of manual mechanical systems with automated electromechanical systems dramatically reduces installation time and labor requirements while improving leveling precision.
2Device complexity
If trailer components are designed without automated leveling, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system for trailer leveling. Level sensors continuously monitor the trailer's attitude and provide real-time feedback to the controller. The controller processes this feedback information and automatically adjusts the power tool outputs to correct any deviations from the desired level position. This feedback mechanism ensures high manufacturing precision in achieving level alignment while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized control architecture.
3Productivity
If multiple trailers are leveled simultaneously, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the control system with universal multi-functionality to handle multiple trailers simultaneously. The controller is configured to manage multiple power tools and coordinate their operation across different trailers using a standardized control protocol. This universal design allows the same control architecture to efficiently manage single or multiple trailers without requiring separate control systems for each trailer, thereby increasing productivity while keeping device complexity manageable through reuse of control logic and components.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile power plant system includes a trailer having a first leg extending from the trailer and having a first gear assembly, a second leg extending from the trailer and having a second gear assembly, and one or more turbine components positioned on the trailer. The mobile power plant system also includes a leveling system having a first power tool coupled with the first gear assembly, a second power tool coupled with the second gear assembly, a first level sensor corresponding with the first power tool, a second level sensor corresponding with the second power tool, and a controller communicatively coupled with the first level sensor and the second level sensor. The controller receives data, from the first level sensor, indicative of a first attitude of the trailer proximate to the first leg. The controller receives data, from the second level sensor, indicative of a second attitude of the trailer proximate to the second leg. The controller monitors the first attitude and the second attitude, and adjusts a first force applied by the first power tool, a second force applied by the second power tool, or both based on the first attitude, the second attitude, or both.