Universal Caravan Auxiliary Drive Unit With Interchangeable Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary drive assemblies for caravans and trailers require separate motor and reduction gear combinations for left-hand and right-hand wheels, leading to increased production, transportation, storage, and assembly costs, as well as potential errors due to the need for mirrored designs.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit with interchangeable attachment means that allows a single unit to be used on both sides, featuring symmetrical attachment flanges or parts on the motor and reduction gear, enabling identical drive units to be used in mirrored positions, thus eliminating the need for separate left-hand and right-hand configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate motor reduction gear combinations are used for left-hand and right-hand wheels, then the auxiliary drive can be specifically optimized for each side, but the production, transportation, storage, and assembly costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single drive unit that can function on both left-hand and right-hand sides through interchangeable attachment means. The drive unit includes a motor, reduction gear, and attachment means where at least one attachment means can be exchanged to adapt to different sides, eliminating the need for separate left-hand and right-hand drive units while maintaining side-specific functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the attachment means from the core drive mechanism. The attachment means are designed as interchangeable components that can be exchanged independently, allowing the same drive unit to be adapted for different sides without redesigning the entire system. This modular approach reduces complexity while preserving adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate motor reduction gear combinations are used for left-hand and right-hand wheels, then each side can have customized configuration, but production and assembly errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal drive unit design that works on both sides through attachment means exchange, the patent eliminates confusion between left-hand and right-hand configurations. The standardized core design with interchangeable attachments ensures correct assembly while maintaining the ability to customize for different sides, thereby improving reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate motor reduction gear combinations are used for left-hand and right-hand wheels, then side-specific performance can be optimized, but transportation and storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the quantity of drive units needed for storage and transportation by half. Instead of maintaining separate inventories of left-hand and right-hand drive units, the company only needs to store one type of universal drive unit with interchangeable attachment means, significantly reducing logistics costs while maintaining the ability to provide side-specific performance
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the attachment means as separate interchangeable components, the patent allows a single drive unit to serve multiple purposes. This reduces the total number of different drive unit types that need to be manufactured, stored, and transported, while still enabling side-specific performance optimization through attachment selection
Data Source
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AI summary
Drive unit for an auxiliary drive (5,6) comprising at least one drive motor (13) and a reduction gear (14) arranged thereon. If desired, a drive roller (16) may be present. The attachment of such a drive unit is embodied such that it can be used as a universal part on both the left-hand side and the right-hand side. This means that a trailer which is to be driven requires only one type of drive unit. Such an attachment which can be used on both sides may comprise attachment flanges (10,11) which are arranged at different positions on the drive unit. It is also possible to use only a single attachment flange which is designed symmetrically with respect to the relevant rotation for use on the left-hand or right-hand side. Instead of attachment flanges, other attachments can also be present.