Trailer Carriage Locking Mechanism With Pneumatic Bolt Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking mechanisms for trailer carriages require manual operation with significant physical effort, making them inconvenient to use.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism for trailer carriages that utilizes a transmission shaft driven by an airbag to laterally move bolts for locking and unlocking, eliminating the need for manual effort through key-activated inflation or deflation of the airbag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation of the pull rod is used to drive the rotating shaft, then the locking mechanism can be operated, but significant physical effort is required which consumes a lot of physical strength and causes great inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pull rod system with an automated airbag system. The airbag, when inflated, automatically drives the transmission shaft to rotate and move the bolts without requiring any manual physical effort. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with pneumatic automation directly resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for physical strength while maintaining the locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an airbag (pneumatic device) to replace the manual pull rod mechanism. The airbag uses pneumatic pressure to drive the transmission shaft and connecting members, converting manual mechanical operation into automated pneumatic actuation. This pneumatic system provides the necessary force to move the bolts and achieve locking/unlocking without any manual physical effort from the operator.
2Extent of automation
If the airbag is used to drive the transmission shaft to rotate, then the locking mechanism becomes automated and convenient to operate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pneumatic airbag system to automate the locking mechanism. The airbag connects to the transmission shaft through a swing arm and connecting members, creating a pneumatic actuation system that automatically drives the bolts for locking and unlocking. This pneumatic automation achieves high ease of operation while the complexity is managed through straightforward mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses connecting members (connecting rods) as intermediaries between the airbag and the bolts. These connecting members translate the pneumatic motion of the airbag into the lateral movement of the bolts. The intermediary components simplify the transmission of force and motion, making the automated system more manageable and less complex while achieving the desired automation.
3Ease of operation
If the connecting member's axis of rotation is misaligned with the transmission shaft axis, then the bolts can be driven laterally to lock/unlock, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry by misaligning the axis of rotation of the connecting members with the axis of the transmission shaft. This asymmetric configuration allows the connecting members to effectively translate rotational motion into lateral movement of the bolts, enabling the locking and unlocking function. The asymmetric design is simpler than alternative symmetric mechanisms that would achieve the same result.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking mechanism of a trailer carriage includes a transmission shaft, two bolts, an airbag, and a swing arm. The transmission shaft is pivoted to the carriage and extends in a length direction of the carriage; the two bolts are movably connected to two sides of the carriage in a penetrating manner, each bolt is movable in a width direction of the carriage between a first position where the bolt is accommodated in the carriage and a second position where the bolt protrudes from a side edge of the carriage; and one end of the swing arm is connected to the transmission shaft and a connecting seat is formed at the other end of the swing arm, and one end of the airbag is connected to the carriage and the other end of the airbag is connected to the connecting seat.