Trailer Coupling Line Storage With Status-Guided Uncoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient and reliable method for storing and controlling electrical and pneumatic lines connecting a tractor truck to a trailer, ensuring safe coupling and uncoupling while preventing damage to these lines during the process.
Innovation Solution
A storage and control arrangement that includes a mounting structure, receivers for electrical and pneumatic lines, and a control arrangement with a status indicator to confirm proper coupling, along with a logic circuit to manage brake application and hitch unlocking, ensuring safe uncoupling and coupling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical and pneumatic lines are stored externally to the cab, then accessibility and ease of connection are improved, but exposure to damage and environmental factors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical and pneumatic lines are nested within a protective housing structure that is mounted externally to the cab. The housing contains recesses that receive and protect the lines during storage and connection operations, providing both accessibility and protection simultaneously.
2Reliability
If coupling status is continuously monitored with sensors, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are installed in the housing to detect when electrical and pneumatic lines are properly coupled with the vehicle. The control system receives feedback from these sensors and provides visual indication through lights to confirm proper connection status, ensuring reliability without excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If automatic brake control is implemented during uncoupling, then safety is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is configured to automatically apply the vehicle brake before allowing uncoupling of the trailer. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle is secured before the coupling operation, preventing accidents during the uncoupling process without requiring complex continuous control.
4Loss of information
If multiple status indicators are provided for different lines, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different colored lights are used to indicate the coupling status of different lines (electrical vs. pneumatic). This local differentiation allows the operator to quickly identify which specific line requires attention without being overwhelmed by multiple identical indicators, maintaining information completeness while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage arrangement for lines from a towing to a towed vehicle including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line, and a second pneumatic line includes a mounting structure configured to be secured to the towing vehicle, at least one receiver connected to the mounting structure and configured to couple to the at least one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line, and a control arrangement configured to operably couple to at least one receiver such that upon coupling of the at least one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line with the first receiver the control arrangement provides the operator with an indication of a coupling status of the select one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line with the storage arrangement via a status indicator.