Trailer Strap Underride Guard with Pre-Tensioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current underride guards for trailers, particularly those between the landing gear and wheel assembly, are inadequate in preventing vehicle underrides and reducing aerodynamic drag, and existing solutions do not effectively address the need for easy installation, maintenance, and adjustable protection.
Innovation Solution
A strap-based underride guard system that spans the length of the trailer, featuring pre-tensioned straps with adjustable supports and tensioning mechanisms, including I-connectors, hacksaw type tensioners, and spinning tensioners, to direct and decelerate impacting vehicles, while also reducing aerodynamic drag through embedded bars and fairings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rigid underride guards are installed between landing gear and wheel assembly, then vehicle underride prevention is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible straps instead of rigid guards to create an underride protection system that maintains reliability while reducing aerodynamic drag. The straps can conform to the trailer contours and allow controlled deformation during impact, preventing vehicle underride while presenting a smaller aerodynamic profile during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The underride guard system employs dynamic elements including spring mechanisms and telescopic components that allow the structure to move and deform during impact. This dynamic behavior enables the system to absorb impact energy effectively while maintaining a compact form that reduces aerodynamic drag during normal trailer operation.
2Reliability
If fixed underride guards are installed, then underride protection is provided, but adaptability to different trailer configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The underride guard is divided into modular segments including separate straps, connectors, and tensioning mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to be configured for different trailer types and sizes while maintaining effective underride protection through proper assembly of the modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates adjustable and movable components including telescopic straps, adjustable connectors, and tensioning mechanisms that allow the underride guard to be adapted to different trailer configurations. These dynamic elements enable the same basic system to accommodate various trailer sizes, shapes, and landing gear positions.
3Reliability
If complex tensioning mechanisms are added to improve strap pre-tensioning, then underride prevention effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning mechanism is designed to automatically maintain proper strap tension through self-adjusting features such as friction-based self-locking connectors and elastic recovery elements. This self-service capability ensures consistent pre-tensioning effectiveness while minimizing the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and reducing maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses simple, replaceable tensioning components that can be easily replaced rather than repaired. This approach reduces device complexity by using basic mechanical elements instead of complex adjustable mechanisms, while maintaining reliability through easy replacement of worn components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The strap-based system effectively prevents vehicle underrides by applying decelerating forces proportional to strap stretching, reduces aerodynamic drag, and allows for easy maintenance and adjustment, enhancing safety and trailer performance.
Implementation Method 1
The guard includes one or more straps that span the length of the trailer... straps that are pre-tensioned with a load to minimize stretching upon vehicle impact
Implementation Method 2
Crash attenuators are energy absorbing systems that reduce the severity of vehicular collisions
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a guard for a trailer that utilizes a strap webbing to prevent a vehicle from underriding the trailer. The guard includes one or more straps that span the length of the trailer and may include additional structures to pre-tension the straps before a crash or supplement the tension of the straps as a vehicle crashes into the guard. When two or more straps are utilized on a single guard, the straps may be aligned parallel to each other or may form a cross shape. Additional structures may be incorporated into the guard to direct an impacting vehicle towards or away from specific features of the trailer.