Trailer Yaw Sensor Housing with Sealed Connector Dock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical components on trailers, such as sensors and connectors, are vulnerable to environmental conditions like dirt, gravel, mud, and ice, requiring effective protection to ensure functionality and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A trailer yaw sensing apparatus with a housing that mounts yaw sensors in multiple orientations and includes a docking station with a retractable cover and seal for the trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector, providing protection against environmental elements while allowing flexible installation on trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical components are exposed on the trailer, then ease of access and installation is improved, but protection from environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical components (connectors, sensors) are nested within a protective housing that can be mounted on the trailer. The housing contains internal chambers that receive and protect these components while allowing external access through sealed interfaces, thus protecting components from environmental conditions while maintaining ease of access.
Solution Approach 2:
A retractable cover acts as an intermediary element between the electrical components and the external environment. The cover can be extended to protect the connector socket and retracted to allow access, mediating between the need for protection and the need for ease of access.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed mounting orientation is used for sensors, then manufacturing and installation simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different trailer setups deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with multiple internal chambers and mounting configurations that can accommodate sensors in various orientations. The housing itself can be mounted on the trailer in different orientations, providing a universal solution that adapts to different trailer setups while maintaining simple fixed mounting within each housing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into multiple internal chambers, each capable of receiving sensors in different orientations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple fixed mounting for each sensor while providing overall adaptability through the multi-chamber design that can be configured for various trailer applications.
3Ease of operation
If the connector socket is left exposed, then ease of connection is improved, but protection from environmental damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A retractable cover serves as an intermediary that can be extended to protect the connector socket from environmental damage and retracted to allow easy connection. This mediator provides both protection when needed and access when required, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to move between extended (protective) and retracted (accessible) positions. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to provide protection from environmental damage while maintaining ease of connection when the cover is retracted.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer yaw sensing apparatus is provided. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus includes a housing, a yaw sensor, and a docking station. The housing is configured for installation on a trailer. The housing defines apertures that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations. The yaw sensor includes an external casing and is disposed within the housing. The docking station is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.