Variable-Pitch Wheel Carriage for Expandable Trailer Ground Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Expandable trailers face issues with maintaining optimal ground clearance and suspension system travel when in the retracted configuration, while preserving the operational benefits of cambered trailer construction when expanded, due to cambered deck deflection causing uneven wheel loading and reduced rear clearance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a trailer wheel carriage assembly with sub-carriages having extensions that move within tongue and fulcrum slots, allowing for adjustable longitudinal pitch to counteract camber effects, ensuring consistent wheel contact and ground clearance across configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trailer deck is constructed with camber to promote uniform wheel loading when loaded, then wheel loading is improved, but ground clearance at the rear of the trailer is reduced and forward wheels may lift off the road when unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel carriage assembly is made dynamically adjustable between expanded and retracted configurations. When expanded, the cambered deck provides uniform wheel loading. When retracted, the assembly adjusts to maintain proper ground clearance and wheel contact. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its geometry to different operational states (loaded vs. unloaded), resolving the contradiction between achieving uniform wheel loading and maintaining adequate ground clearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the trailer width is expanded to 120 inches to accommodate oversize cargo, then cargo capacity is improved, but the trailer exceeds standard width regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel carriage assembly can be dynamically reconfigured between expanded and retracted states. When expanded, the trailer achieves 120 inches width to accommodate oversize cargo. When retracted, it returns to standard dimensions for regulatory compliance. This dynamic capability allows the trailer to adapt its width based on cargo requirements while maintaining legal compliance during normal transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer's wheel carriage system is segmented into movable sub-carriages that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the width to be adjusted by moving the sub-carriages laterally, enabling the trailer to expand beyond standard width when needed and retract to compliant dimensions when not carrying oversize cargo.
3Weight of moving object
If eight wheels are placed on each axle to handle very heavy loads, then load capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel carriage is segmented into multiple sub-carriages, with each sub-carriage carrying a subset of the wheels. This segmentation allows the heavy load capacity to be achieved through distributed wheel arrangements while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design. Each sub-carriage can be independently controlled and positioned, simplifying the overall system management despite the high number of wheels.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable multiple-axle trailer has a trailer wheel carriage with left and right sub-carriages having corresponding forward-extending sub-carriage extensions, the front ends of which define sub-carriage extension tongues laterally movable within slots in a first transverse trailer structure member while being constrained against longitudinal and vertical movement relative to the trailer, while intermediate regions of the sub-carriage extensions are correspondingly laterally movable within fulcrum slots in a second transverse trailer structure member aft of the first transverse member. The trailer wheel carriage incorporates actuation means for transitioning the trailer wheel carriage assembly between laterally-retracted and laterally-expanded configurations. The slots in the first and second transverse members define guide surfaces angularly oriented such that transitioning to the expanded configuration will alter the longitudinal pitch of the trailer wheel carriage to raise the rearmost axle relative to the forwardmost axle, and vice versa when transitioning to the retracted configuration.