Vehicle Load Carrier Coupling Anti-Trailer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retaining couplings for motor vehicles are expensive to produce and lack stability and simplicity in design, making them inefficient for mounting load carrier units.
Innovation Solution
The retaining coupling features positioning bodies on the holding arm with transverse positioning surfaces and a non-spherical alignment area with mirror-symmetrical radii of curvature, allowing for a stable and simple structural design that prevents trailer operation, using a cylindrical or ellipsoidal outer contour for easy production and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-spherically shaped alignment area is used to prevent trailer operation, then stability and safety are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment area is segmented into a basic spherical portion (easy to manufacture) and additional non-spherical features (positioning bodies with transverse positioning surfaces) that prevent trailer operation. This segmentation allows the complex functional requirements to be met while keeping the base geometry simple for manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment area deliberately uses asymmetric, non-spherically shaped features including positioning bodies with transverse positioning surfaces. This asymmetry prevents trailer operation by creating a geometry that does not accommodate spherical coupling balls, while still allowing proper alignment and mounting of load carrier units.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If positioning bodies with transverse positioning surfaces are added to prevent trailer operation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning bodies serve multiple functions: they provide transverse positioning surfaces for preventing trailer operation, maintain alignment of the load carrier unit, and work in conjunction with the spherical alignment area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment area maintains a spherical base geometry which simplifies the overall structure. The non-spherical features (positioning bodies) are added as modifications to this spherical foundation, allowing the complex anti-trailer function to be achieved while keeping the base structure simple and familiar.
3Ease of operation
If mirror-symmetrical radii of curvature are used in the alignment area, then ease of alignment is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror-symmetrical radii of curvature are applied locally to specific portions of the alignment area rather than requiring the entire alignment area to achieve perfect symmetry. This localized application of geometric precision maintains alignment functionality while reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
To improve a holding coupling for a motor vehicle for mounting a load carrier unit to the motor vehicle, comprising a holding arm, in such a way that it is as stable as possible on the one hand and as simple a design as possible on the other, it is proposed that the holding arm has a first holding arm section which transitions into a second arm section curved relative to the first arm section, to which a third arm section, in a carrying position with its central axis running approximately parallel to a vertical direction, is attached, which is provided with the load carrier receptacle, that the load carrier receptacle has a non-spherically shaped alignment area arranged on the third arm section near the second end of the holding arm, and that positioning elements are arranged on opposite sides of the holding arm on a side of the alignment area opposite the second end.which extend transversely from the respective arm section supporting them and which carry positioning surfaces running transversely to an outer surface of the holding arm on its circumference.