Trailer Utility Line Raceway for Watertight Front-Wall Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tractor-trailer combinations face challenges in efficiently routing and connecting utility lines between the tractor and trailer, particularly in preventing water leaks and ensuring secure connections for electrical and air communication.
Innovation Solution
A cargo trailer design featuring a recessed cavity at the front wall with vertically spaced utility line connectors and a sealed raceway tunnel extending from the recessed cavity to the coupler, allowing for secure and watertight routing of utility lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual water-tight connectors are provided at the bottom of the recessed cavity for each utility line, then water leak prevention is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple individual connectors
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual utility line connectors are merged into a single integrated connector assembly positioned at the bottom of the recessed cavity. This consolidation maintains water-tight sealing for multiple utility lines while reducing the number of separate connector components, thereby lowering device complexity without compromising leak prevention reliability
2Ease of manufacture
If utility lines are routed from the recessed cavity along the forward side of the front wall, then ease of installation is improved, but water leak risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sealed raceway tunnel acts as an intermediary pathway between the recessed cavity and the interior of the trailer. Utility lines are routed through this enclosed tunnel rather than along the forward side of the front wall, providing a protected pathway that prevents water exposure while maintaining routing simplicity
3Reliability
If a sealed raceway tunnel is provided for utility line routing, then water leak prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed raceway tunnel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a protected pathway for utility lines, acts as a water-tight barrier, and integrates with the existing recessed cavity structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved water leak prevention
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo trailer includes a plurality of walls defining a cargo area, the walls including a front wall facing a rear of a tractor when the cargo trailer is coupled to the tractor. A recessed cavity is provided at a forward side of the front wall. A plurality of utility line connectors are positioned at least partially within the recessed cavity for establishing connections between at least one utility source of the tractor and at least one utility component of the cargo trailer. The plurality of utility line connectors are spaced vertically above a bottom wall of the recessed cavity. A raceway has an upper end situated on the bottom wall and a lower end situated at a height below the cargo area. The raceway defines an interior tunnel receiving a plurality of utility lines connected to the plurality of utility line connectors, the interior tunnel sealed from cargo area.