Structural and kinematic analysis of a shutter from monocoque trailer

Abstract

The bodies of trucks or trailers are provided with automatic folding shutters to ease the discharge of the transported materials. Typically, these shutters are powered by mechanisms that have active motor groups such as RRTaR or RR-RR-RTaR (i.e. motor dice or triads) and passive motor groups such as RRR, RR-RR-RR etc. If the technological forces are high and the relative speeds between the elements forming the steering coupler are small, the motor groups are formed by rigid bars and hydraulic cylinders. If relatively high gear ratios are required, then pneumatic cylinders may be used. If required relatively high speeds in the driving couplings, then you can use pneumatic cylinders. This paper presents structural and kinematic analysis of a shutter from a trailer used to transport bulk agricultural products, discharge towards the back. For the kinematic analysis of the folding shutter mechanism, computational procedures written in the Matlab syntax are used. The results of the calculations are presented in tabular and diagrams. After the cinematic analysis of the mechanism, it is possible to perform its cinetostatic analysis, i.e. the determination of the reactions from the kinematic couplers, as well as the hydraulic force in the hydraulic cylinder. Results can be used for the dimensional verification of the chosen elements.