Trailer Train Emergency Stop Interface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tow train systems face safety challenges in coordinating electrical components and ensuring safe behavior during emergency stops, as the disconnection of electrical consumers on the towing vehicle does not always effectively de-energize trailers.
Innovation Solution
An emergency stop interface is introduced that disconnects both the towing vehicle and trailers from power supply upon activation of the emergency stop switch, with a voltage converter for compatibility across different manufacturers and data communication capabilities for signal exchange, ensuring all trailers are de-energized and providing critical information to the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the emergency stop switch on the towing vehicle disconnects only the electrical consumers of the towing vehicle, then the emergency stop function is simple to implement, but the operational safety is insufficient because trailers may remain energized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an emergency stop interface as an intermediary device between the towing vehicle and trailers. This interface includes an emergency disconnect that receives the emergency stop signal from the towing vehicle and propagates it to all connected trailers, ensuring complete de-energization. The intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple trailers while keeping the towing vehicle's emergency stop switch simple.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple trailers are connected in a tow train, then the transport capacity is increased, but the coordination of electrical components becomes more complex and safety coordination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency stop interface implements feedback by monitoring the emergency stop signal status and automatically propagating it to all connected trailers. The interface continuously checks for emergency stop conditions and ensures all trailers respond appropriately, creating a self-coordinating system that scales to any number of trailers without increasing manual coordination complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency stop interface is designed as a universal device that can handle any number of trailers connected to the towing vehicle. It provides multi-functional capabilities including power distribution, emergency stop signal propagation, and coordination of electrical components across the entire tow train, making the system scalable without requiring different solutions for different trailer configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If trailers from different manufacturers are to be integrated with tow vehicles from different manufacturers, then the system versatility is improved, but compatibility issues arise due to different voltage standards
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency stop interface includes a voltage converter that dynamically adapts voltage parameters between the towing vehicle and trailers. The converter transforms voltage from the vehicle's electrical system to the trailer's required voltage level, enabling compatibility between different manufacturers' equipment. This parameter transformation allows universal integration without requiring manufacturers to standardize their voltage systems.
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
This solution enhances operational safety by ensuring all trailers are de-energized during emergency stops, preventing unforeseen situations where trailers remain connected, and allows for seamless integration of tow vehicles and trailers from various manufacturers, while enabling data communication for improved control.
Implementation Method 1
The emergency stop interface is equipped with a voltage converter, which converts an input voltage of the towing vehicle present at the emergency stop interface to a rated voltage for the trailer or trailers.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2
AI summary
Towing vehicle with a towing vehicle and one or more trailers, wherein the towing vehicle has an emergency stop switch, wherein an emergency stop interface is provided through which the power supply to the one or more trailers is provided, wherein an emergency disconnection is provided which, responding to the emergency stop switch on the towing vehicle, disconnects the power supply to the trailer(s).