Emergency Trailer Wheel Assembly With Direct Leaf-Spring Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spare wheel assemblies for trailers are prone to corrosion and mechanical issues due to submersion in water, necessitating a complete assembly rather than a spare tire, and prior designs with pivoting connections complicate installation and interfere with trailer components.
Innovation Solution
A frame member with a mounting bracket attached to a trailer's leaf spring and a rotatably attached wheel at its end, eliminating pivoting connections and providing a stable, interference-free attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pivoting connections are used to couple brackets to the leaf spring, then relative angular deflections are eliminated, but device complexity increases and interference with trailer components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pivoting connection mechanism entirely from the design. Instead of using brackets that pivot to accommodate angular deflections, the invention directly couples the wheel assembly to the leaf spring at a single location, extracting the problematic intermediate connection elements that caused complexity and interference issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the wheel itself, the hub, and the direct mounting point on the leaf spring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without requiring complex interconnections, particularly eliminating the need for pivoting brackets.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pivoting connections are used to couple brackets to the leaf spring, then relative angular deflections are eliminated, but interference with trailer components near the leaf spring occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate bracket structures that caused interference with trailer components. By directly mounting the wheel assembly to the leaf spring, the design eliminates the physical obstructions created by extended brackets and pivoting connections, allowing clearance for other trailer components.
3Reliability
If a complete spare wheel assembly is used instead of a spare tire, then corrosion and bearing lubricant leakage are addressed, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wheel, hub, bearing assembly, and mounting structure into a single integrated spare wheel assembly. This merging of components into one pre-assembled unit simplifies installation and reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate replacement parts, while maintaining corrosion resistance through the complete assembly design.
4Reliability
If a complete spare wheel assembly is used instead of a spare tire, then bearing lubricant leakage is addressed, but weight of the spare component increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the spare wheel assembly as a temporary replacement solution intended for short-term use until permanent repairs can be made. This disposable approach allows for a simpler, lighter construction that prioritizes immediate functionality and corrosion resistance over long-term durability, reducing the weight penalty compared to a permanent wheel assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency trailer wheel assembly for temporarily replacing a trailer wheel includes a frame member with a mounting bracket attached on a first end of the frame member and configured for attaching to a leaf spring of a trailer and a wheel rotatably attached to a second end of the frame member.