Motor-Driven Trailer Distance Control via Mechanical Drawbar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer control systems based on force measuring sensors are sensitive to environmental influences and vibrations, leading to evaluation challenges and increased energy consumption, affecting driving comfort and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that defines a neutral position for the trailer-towing vehicle distance and uses distance measurement to control electric and mechanical braking, allowing for regenerative and direct braking, eliminating the need for force measuring sensors and improving system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If force measuring sensors are used to control the trailer, then the trailer can respond to towing vehicle movements, but the system becomes sensitive to environmental influences and vibrations leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the force measuring sensors from the system entirely. Instead of using strain gauges or dynamometers to detect towing vehicle movements, the system uses a purely mechanical link (drawbar) that directly transmits positional information to the trailer's control system, eliminating the sensors that consume energy and are sensitive to environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic sensor-based detection system with a mechanical measurement system. The drawbar's mechanical position and movement directly indicate the relative position between towing vehicle and trailer, substituting electronic force measurement with mechanical positional indication that requires no energy consumption for sensing.
2Ease of operation
If force measuring sensors are used to detect trailer-towing vehicle forces, then the trailer can be controlled, but the rigid connection causes strong vibrations and resonant oscillations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible mechanical link (drawbar) between the towing vehicle and trailer. This flexible connection allows relative movement and absorbs vibrations and oscillations while still transmitting the necessary mechanical force and positional information, reducing harmful vibrations compared to rigid connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If force measuring sensors are installed in the connection between trailer and towing vehicle, then the trailer can track the towing vehicle, but the system requires complex evaluation of measured data to differentiate essential control signals from background noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex data evaluation system entirely. By eliminating force measuring sensors, the system removes the need for complex algorithms to differentiate essential control signals from noise generated by vibrations and environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a direct mechanical copy of the towing vehicle's position and movement through the drawbar. The mechanical link physically replicates the towing vehicle's movement pattern, providing a simple, direct signal that requires no complex interpretation or filtering.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a trailer driven by an electric motor comprises defining a distance between the trailer and a towing vehicle as a neutral position and determining an actual distance between the trailer and the towing vehicle. A deviation between the actual distance and the neutral position is determined and output as a distance value. The braking of the trailer is electrically-actuated when the actual distance is decreased relative to the neutral position by at least a first distance value. The braking of the trailer is mechanically-actuated when the actual distance is decreased relative to the neutral position by at least a second distance value, wherein the second distance value is greater than the first distance value. The trailer is accelerated by the electric motor when the actual distance is increased relative to the neutral position by a third distance value.