Vehicle Cable Connector With Automatic Cab-Chassis Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicle operators face inefficiencies and difficulties in disconnecting and reconnecting mechanical cables, such as Bowden cables, between the cab and chassis during maintenance, which wastes time and is challenging due to hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical connector system that automatically connects and disconnects Bowden cables between the cab and chassis, featuring a pair of complementary-shaped elements with elastic damping and guided movement, allowing vertical and rotational alignment, and utilizing locking mechanisms to ensure secure coupling and decoupling without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual disconnection and connection of cables is used, then cable connections can be made securely, but user time and effort are wasted and the operation becomes difficult due to hard-to-reach locations
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system performs automatic coupling and decoupling of cables without requiring manual intervention. The system uses the tilting motion itself to trigger the connection/disconnection sequence, making the system serve itself rather than requiring user operation for each cable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is pre-positioned and pre-configured in the cable routing path before tilting occurs. The coupling elements are already in place and ready to engage, so that when tilting happens, the connection/disconnection action occurs automatically without requiring preliminary manual setup.
2Reliability
If manual disconnection and connection of cables is used, then cable connections can be made securely, but the operation becomes difficult due to hard-to-reach locations
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism automatically engages and secures the cable connection through the tilting motion itself, eliminating the need for manual manipulation in hard-to-reach areas. The system self-secures the connection reliably without requiring user access to difficult locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary device that mediates between the cable and the tilting mechanism. It translates the macroscopic tilting motion into the microscopic engagement actions required for secure cable connection, making the operation easy while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If automatic connector system is implemented, then user time and effort are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system merges multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: cable guidance, coupling, locking, and disconnection all occur through one tilting motion. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and operations needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector uses dynamic elements that adapt to the tilting motion, such as flexible cables and movable coupling elements. This dynamic design allows the system to achieve automatic operation with simpler structural constraints compared to rigid, pre-positioned mechanisms.
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
The connector system enables automatic coupling and decoupling of mechanical cables, reducing user time and effort, simplifying cable management, and enhancing the efficiency of mechanical transmission, while being adaptable to various cable types and vehicle configurations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic member (11) configured to dampen a coupling between the first element (8) and the second element (9)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Connector (7) for connecting mechanical cables (4) of a vehicle (1) comprising a first element (8) configured to be connected to a first portion (2) of a vehicle (1) and a second element (9) configured to be connected to a second portion (3) of the vehicle (1), each first and second elements (8, 9) being coupled to at least one respective mechanical cable (4a, 4b, 4a', 4b') and being configured to automatically couple and decouple mechanically one to the other so that, when coupled, a movement imparted by one of such mechanical cables (4a, 4b, 4a', 4b') to one between first and second elements (8, 9) is directly imparted to the other between first and second elements (8, 9) and then to the respective mechanical cable (4a, 4b, 4a', 4b').