Electrically powered trailer hitch

Abstract

This invention relates to an electric trailer hitch. A motor output shaft passes through the center of a drive base and is rotatably connected to a drive disc located outside the drive base. A recessed drive mounting recess is formed on the outer surface of the drive disc by a drive constraint retaining ring with a drive clearance opening. A central groove passing through the center of the drive disc is formed on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess. Side grooves connect to both sides of the central groove. Drive pins are installed within the central groove and side grooves. Two drive columns on the same circumference are also provided on the drive disc corresponding to the drive clearance opening. The drive shaft is eccentric to the motor output shaft, and the drive output shaft section passes through the outer... The cover connects to the trailer hook, with the rear end of the drive input shaft section supported on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess. The front end of the drive input shaft section is placed within the drive constraint recess corresponding to the drive clearance opening at the inner end of the outer cover. The two sides of the drive input shaft section's cross-section have large arc edges that correspond to and fit the inner ring of the drive constraint retaining ring, while the other two sides have small arc edges that correspond to and fit the inner ring of the drive constraint recess. A drive pin is axially inserted non-centrally on the inner small arc edge of the drive input shaft section, and a drive opening is formed on the outer small arc edge of the drive input shaft section. The drive opening contains two drive slots corresponding to the two drive columns, respectively. Its compact structure and stable driving and operating conditions help extend the lifespan of the structure and motor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a trailer hitch, specifically an electric trailer hitch. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional car tow hooks are externally mounted, requiring removal and snapping onto the car's crash beam when needed. Existing electric tow hooks are directly installed on the crash beam, retracting inside the vehicle when not in use and extending by rotation when needed. For example, the tow connector with publication number CN114312177A uses a torsion spring driven by claws and a chuck coaxial with the motor input to achieve rotational extension, retraction, and circumferential positioning after extension. However, its motor, drive shaft, transmission disc, and driven shaft are all coaxially driven. During use, the irregular load from the towed vehicle connected to the tow rope can easily cause load feedback on the coaxial transmission, damaging components and affecting the lifespan of the shafts and even the motor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides an electric trailer hook with a compact structure, stable driving and operating conditions, and which helps to extend the life of the structure and motor.

[0004] The technical solution adopted in this invention is: an electric trailer hook, including a main body and a trailer hook, the main body including an inner cover and an outer cover, the inner cover having a motor connected to its inner side, characterized in that: a drive seat, a drive disc, a drive shaft, and a drive pin are provided between the inner cover and the outer cover, the motor output shaft passes through the center of the drive seat and rotates to drive the drive disc located outside the drive seat, the outer surface of the drive disc has a concave drive mounting recess formed by a drive constraint retaining ring with a drive clearance opening on its outer side, a central groove passing through the center of the drive disc is opened on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess, the two sides of the central groove are connected to side grooves, the central groove and the side grooves are provided with drive pins, and the drive disc corresponding to the drive clearance opening position is also provided with two drive columns on the same circumference; The drive shaft includes a coaxially connected drive output shaft section and a drive input shaft section. The drive shaft is eccentric to the motor output shaft. The drive output shaft section passes through the outer cover and connects to the trailer hook. The rear end of the drive input shaft section is supported on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess. The front end of the drive input shaft section is placed in the drive constraint recess corresponding to the drive clearance opening at the inner end of the outer cover. The two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft section are large arc edges that correspond to and fit the inner ring of the drive constraint retaining ring. The other two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft section are small arc edges that correspond to and fit the inner ring of the drive constraint recess. A drive pin is axially inserted non-centrally on the inner small arc edge of the drive input shaft section. A drive opening is opened on the outer small arc edge of the drive input shaft section. The drive opening has two drive grooves that correspond to the two drive columns respectively.

[0005] Furthermore, the upper end of the main body is connected to the vehicle anti-collision beam via a connecting sleeve.

[0006] Furthermore, the outer cover is integrally connected with a connecting sleeve facing upwards, and the connecting sleeve is connected to the vehicle's anti-collision beam.

[0007] Furthermore, the drive pin is driven in the side groove, and the large arc edge fits the drive constraint retaining ring; the drive pin is driven in the center groove, and the two drive columns are respectively inserted into the two drive grooves. The small arc edge on the outer side of the drive input shaft section is placed in the drive clearance opening and the small arc edge fits the inner ring of the drive constraint sinker.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner side of the drive disk is provided with two position control bosses on the same circumference, and the drive seat is provided with a ring of position control grooves. The position control bosses are placed in the position control grooves, and two position sensors are provided in the position control grooves, which correspond to the rotation angles of the two position control bosses respectively.

[0009] Furthermore, a limiting pin is provided on the inner side of the drive disk, and a rotating control groove is provided on the drive seat, with the limiting pin being rotated and positioned within the rotating control groove.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer cover and the inner cover are locked together by bolts; or an intermediate box is provided between the outer cover and the inner cover, and the drive seat is located in the intermediate box, with the outer cover, the intermediate box, and the inner cover being locked together by bolts in sequence.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The power input adopts an eccentric separation structure for the motor output shaft, drive disc, and drive shaft to drive the trailer hook, effectively avoiding load impact caused by coaxial power input and output, and improving the service life of the structure and motor; When the trailer hook is fully rotated and extended, the small arc edge of the drive input shaft section is completely fitted into the drive constraint retaining ring of the drive disc on one side of the drive clearance opening, and the drive pin is placed at the outermost end of the side groove on the corresponding drive clearance opening side, with the drive input shaft section being constrained from both sides, and its inner end supported on the upper plane of the drive disc, effectively preventing the trailer hook from loosening through the drive shaft. At the same time, the load feedback from the trailer hook is distributed to the side groove of the trailer disc and the drive constraint retaining ring, greatly reducing the load feedback from the trailer disc to the motor output shaft, improving the service life of the motor, and the trailer hook has strong stability in the extended state, making it suitable for irregular towing by the towed vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the outer side of the drive disk of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the inner side of the drive disk of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the drive seat of the present invention; Figure 5This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the drive shaft of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the inner side of the outer cover of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the drive shaft on the drive disk according to the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drive shaft and drive disc cooperating in the retracted and stationary state of the trailer hook of the present invention; Figure 9 A schematic diagram showing the starting point position of the drive shaft rotation for the trailer hook rotation opening drive of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the trailer hook rotation opening process of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the end point position of the drive shaft rotation for the trailer hook rotation opening drive of the present invention. Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the drive disc and drive shaft mating structure in the open state of the trailer hook of the present invention.

[0013] In the diagram: 1. Trailer hook; 2. Inner cover; 3. Middle box; 4. Outer cover; 5. Connecting sleeve; 6. Drive constraint recess; 7. Drive seat; 8. Drive seat center hole; 9. Position control groove; 10. Rotation control groove; 11. Position sensor; 12. Drive disc; 13. Drive disc center hole; 14. Position control boss; 15. Drive mounting notch; 16. Drive constraint retaining ring; 17. Drive clearance opening; 18. First drive column; 19. Second drive column; 20. Center groove; 21. First side groove; 22. Second side groove; 23. Limit pin; 24. Drive output shaft section; 25. Drive input shaft section; 26. Front end face of drive input shaft section; 27. Large arc edge; 28. Small arc edge; 29. ​​Drive opening; 30. First drive groove; 31. Second drive groove; 32. Drive pin. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, provides further details.

[0015] Figure 1-11 As shown: An electric trailer hitch includes a trailer hitch 1, an inner cover 2, a middle housing 3, an outer cover 4, a drive seat 7, a position sensor 11, a drive disc 12, a drive pin 13, and a drive shaft. The inner cover 2, the middle housing 3, and the outer cover 4 are sequentially connected and bolted together to form the main structure. A motor is connected to the inside of the inner cover 2, and the motor output shaft passes through the drive seat center hole 8 of the drive seat 7 of the main structure to rotate and drive the drive disc 12, which is located outside the drive seat 7, through the drive disc center hole 13. The outer cover 4 is provided with a connecting sleeve 5 for connecting a car anti-collision beam.

[0016] like Figure 4In the drive seat 7, an arc-shaped position control groove 9 and an arc-shaped rotation control groove 10 are provided. The position control groove 9 and the rotation control groove 10 are concentric and have the same arc angle. The initial slot of the position control groove 9 has a built-in position sensor 11 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0017] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, two position control bosses 14 located on the same circumference are provided on the inner side of the drive disk 12. The two position control bosses 14 correspond to two position sensors 11 respectively. A limit pin 23 is also provided on the inner side of the drive disk 12. The limit pin 23 is guided and limited to the rotation control groove 10.

[0018] like Figure 2 , 5 As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a drive constraint retaining ring 16 with a drive clearance opening 17 is provided around the outer periphery of the outer side of the drive disk 12. The drive constraint retaining ring 16 forms a concave drive mounting recess 15. A central groove 20 passing through the center of the drive disk is opened on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess. The two sides of the central groove are connected to the first and second side grooves 21 and 22, respectively. Drive pins 32 are provided in the central groove and the two side grooves. The drive disk corresponding to the position of the drive clearance opening is also provided with the first and second drive pillars 18 and 19 on the same circumference. A drive shaft eccentric to the output shaft of the motor is supported in the drive mounting recess 15 of the drive disk 12. The drive shaft includes a coaxial drive output shaft section 24 and a drive input shaft section 25 connected front and rear. The drive output shaft section 24 passes through the outer cover. The drive input shaft segment 25 is connected to the trailer hook. The rear end of the drive input shaft segment 25 is supported on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess. The front end of the drive input shaft segment 25 is placed in the drive constraint recess 6 corresponding to the drive clearance opening at the inner end of the outer cover. The front end face 26 of the drive input shaft segment is in contact with the bottom of the drive constraint recess 6. The two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft segment 25 are large arc edges 27 that are in contact with the inner ring of the drive constraint retaining ring. The other two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft segment are small arc edges 28 that are in contact with the inner ring of the drive constraint recess. The drive pin 32 is axially inserted through the inner small arc edge of the drive input shaft segment. The drive opening 29 is opened on the outer small arc edge 28 of the drive input shaft segment 25. The drive opening is provided with two first and second drive grooves 30 and 31 that correspond to the first and second drive columns 18 and 19, respectively.

[0019] like Figure 8 In the middle position, the trailer hook 1 is in the retracted state and not rotated open. The drive pin 32 is located at the starting position of the first side groove 21, and the outer large arc edge 27 is completely in contact with the inner wall of the drive constraint retaining ring 16. At this time, the drive shaft is not under force, and the trailer hook has no power input.

[0020] like Figure 9In this process, the motor drives the drive disc 12 to rotate counterclockwise via the motor output shaft. The rotation of the drive disc 12 causes the drive pin 32 to move to the position where the first side groove 21 and the middle groove 20 intersect. At this time, the drive input shaft section 25 of the drive shaft does not rotate, and the drive constraint retaining ring 16 of the drive disc partially fits against the large arc edge 27 on one side of the drive plate input shaft section 25. The first drive column 18 rotates with the drive disc 12 and is engaged in the first drive groove 30 of the drive port 29. At this time, the drive shaft is not under force, and the trailer hook has no power input.

[0021] like Figure 10 In the middle, the drive disc 12 continues to rotate counterclockwise, and the drive pin 32 moves relative to the drive input shaft segment 25 of the drive shaft within the intermediate groove 20, causing it to rotate. At this time, the large arc edge 27 disengages from the drive constraint retaining ring 16 of the drive disc and passes through the drive clearance opening 17, fitting against the inner wall of the drive constraint recess 6 on the inner side of the outer cover 4. The second drive column 19 rotates with the drive disc 12 and is engaged in the second drive groove 31 of the drive opening 29. At this time, the drive pin 32 moves relative to the drive input shaft segment 25, which is constrained within the drive mounting recess 15 and rotates under the joint constraint of the drive pin 32, the first and second drive columns, the ground of the drive mounting recess, and the inner wall of the drive constraint recess, thereby powering the trailer hook to rotate.

[0022] like Figure 11 In the middle, the drive pin 32 is constrained by the intermediate groove 20 and driven to the position where the intermediate groove 20 intersects with the second side groove 22. The drive pin 32 drives the drive input shaft segment 25 to rotate, so that the large arc edge of the other side of the drive input shaft segment 25 is in contact with the drive constraint retaining ring 16 of the drive disc, and the first drive column 18 disengages from the first drive groove 30 of the drive port 29. At this time, the trailer hook 1 is in the fully rotated open state.

[0023] like Figure 12 During the rotation of the drive disc 12, the drive pin 32 is guided by the second side groove 22 to move to the end position of the second side groove 22. During the guiding process within the second side groove 22, the drive input shaft segment 25 does not rotate. When the drive pin 32 is at the end position, the other side of the drive input shaft segment 25 is completely covered by the drive constraint retaining ring 16 of the drive disc, and the second drive column 19 disengages from the drive port 29 and the second drive groove 31. At this time, the trailer hook 1 is fully rotated open, and the drive input shaft segment is restricted by the drive pin and the drive constraint retaining ring, and the trailer hook is in a stable open state.

[0024] In such Figure 8-12 During the rotation process, the drive disk 12 is always guided by the limit pin 23 on its inner side along the rotation control groove 10 of the drive seat 7, and the position control boss 14 on the inner side of the drive disk 12 corresponds to the position control groove 9 of the drive seat 7 to limit the rotation position control, thus meeting the motor drive start and stop control requirements.

[0025] When the trailer hitch needs to rotate and retract, its driving principle and process are as follows: Figures 12 to 8 Simply reverse the direction. When using the trailer hitch, it should be in the position during towing operations. Figure 12 In this state, the vehicle is dragged by irregular load feedback or reverse drive, leaving behind... Figures 12 to 11 The tolerance space, the load does not directly act on the feedback motor to bear the load in reverse, which helps to improve the stability and safety of the trailer hook and extend the overall life of the trailer hook and motor.

[0026] The trailer hook drive of the present invention is a non-coaxial drive. By combining the fact that the drive input shaft segment of the trailer hook is restricted by pins, planes and inner rings at the beginning and end positions, the stability in both static and working states is comprehensively improved, while avoiding damage to the drive shaft and motor caused by irregular load feedback of the trailer hook.

Claims

1. An electric trailer hitch, comprising a main body and a trailer hitch (1), the main body comprising an inner cover (2) and an outer cover (4), wherein a motor is connected to the inner side of the inner cover, characterized in that: Between the inner cover and the outer cover, there is a drive seat (7), a drive disc (12), a drive shaft, and a drive pin (32). The motor output shaft passes through the center of the drive seat (7) and rotates to drive the drive disc (12) located outside the drive seat. On the outer surface of the drive disc (12), a concave drive mounting recess (15) is formed by a drive constraint retaining ring (16) with a drive clearance opening (17) around its outer side. A central groove (20) passing through the center of the drive disc (12) is opened on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess (15). The two sides of the central groove are connected to side grooves (21, 22). The drive pin (32) is provided in the central groove and the side groove. The drive disc (12) corresponding to the position of the drive clearance opening (17) is also provided with two drive columns (18, 19) on the same circumference. The drive shaft includes a coaxial drive output shaft section (24) and a drive input shaft section (25) connected front and rear. The drive shaft and the motor output shaft are connected to the drive disc (12). The drive output shaft section (24) is eccentric and passes through the outer cover (4) to connect to the trailer hook (1). The rear end of the drive input shaft section (25) is supported on the bottom surface of the drive mounting recess (15). The front end of the drive input shaft section (25) is placed in the drive constraint recess (6) corresponding to the inner end of the outer cover (4) and the drive clearance opening (17). The two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft section (25) are large arc edges (27) that fit the inner ring of the drive constraint retaining ring (16). The other two sides of the cross section of the drive input shaft section (25) are small arc edges (28) that fit the inner ring (6) of the drive constraint recess. The drive pin (32) is axially connected to the inner small arc edge (28) of the drive input shaft section (25) in a non-central direction. The drive port (29) is opened on the outer small arc edge (28) of the drive input shaft section (25). The drive port (29) is provided with two drive grooves (30, 31) that correspond to the two drive columns (18, 19) respectively.

2. The electric trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the main body is connected to the vehicle anti-collision beam via a connecting sleeve (5).

3. An electric trailer hitch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The outer cover (4) is connected to a connecting sleeve (5) facing upwards, and the connecting sleeve (5) is connected to the vehicle anti-collision beam.

4. An electric trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive pin (32) is driven in the side groove (21,22), and the large arc edge (27) fits against the drive constraint retaining ring (16); the drive pin (32) is driven in the center groove (20), and the two drive columns (18,19) are respectively inserted into the two drive grooves (30,31). The small arc edge (28) on the outer side of the drive input shaft section (25) is placed in the drive clearance opening (17) and the small arc edge fits against the inner ring (6) of the drive constraint sinking platform.

5. An electric trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner side of the drive disk (12) is provided with two position control bosses (14) on the same circumference. The drive seat (7) is provided with a ring of position control grooves (9). The position control bosses (14) are placed in the position control grooves (9). The position control grooves (9) are provided with two position sensors (11) that correspond to the rotation angles of the two position control bosses (14).

6. An electric trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting pin (23) is provided on the inner side of the drive disk (12), and a rotating control groove (10) is provided on the drive seat (7). The limiting pin (23) is rotated and positioned in the rotating control groove (10).

7. An electric trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer cover (4) and the inner cover (2) are locked together by bolts; or an intermediate box (3) is provided between the outer cover (4) and the inner cover (2), and the drive seat (7) is provided in the intermediate box (3). The outer cover (4), the intermediate box (3) and the inner cover (2) are locked together by bolts in sequence.

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