Foldable tow hook and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of automobile accessories, in particular to a foldable tow hook and a vehicle. The foldable car coupler comprises a base, a rotating shaft, a car coupler body, a first driving piece and a locking assembly. The locking assembly comprises a second driving part, a pushing rod coaxial with the second shaft hole, a cantilever connected to the circumferential surface of the pushing rod, a wedge-shaped block formed by expanding at the free end of the cantilever and a sliding block arranged in the first via hole in a sliding mode in the radial direction of the rotating shaft, a wedge-shaped groove and a connecting groove are formed in the sliding block, and the wedge-shaped block is in sliding fit with the wedge-shaped groove; the cantilever is embedded into the connecting groove, the second driving piece is configured to drive the pushing rod to drive the wedge-shaped block to do reciprocating rectilinear motion in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and the wedge-shaped block is in sliding fit with the wedge-shaped groove to drive the sliding block to do reciprocating rectilinear motion in the radial direction of the rotating shaft. The problem of complex transmission caused by switching of a driving object by a single driving piece is avoided, the certainty and reliability of the locking action are improved, the clamping stagnation risk is reduced, and the locking precision is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive parts technology, specifically to a foldable trailer hitch and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As an important onboard accessory for passenger vehicles, trailer hitches are used for towing cargo, other vehicles, and other tasks. Self-locking electric trailer hitches consist of a hook body that can rotate between a folded and unfolded position. This rotation is driven by a power system. To ensure the hook body remains stable in either the folded or unfolded position, a locking structure is required. Currently, mainstream locking solutions rely on the mechanical interaction of locating pins or balls with locating grooves, using complex transmission structures or elastic forces to achieve the locking function. However, this approach suffers from several problems: insufficient stability in the driving and execution process of the trailer hitch locking structure, making it susceptible to the complexity of the transmission or the reliability of the elastic elements. This can lead to jamming, positioning deviations, or failures during the locking or unlocking process. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One objective of this invention is to provide a foldable trailer hitch to solve the problems of jamming, positioning deviation or failure risk in the locking mechanism of the prior art; another objective is to provide a vehicle.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A foldable trailer hitch, comprising: The base has a first shaft hole and a locking groove that communicates with the first shaft hole; A rotating shaft passes through the first shaft hole and is rotatably engaged with the base. A second shaft hole is provided inside the rotating shaft, and a first through hole is provided on the rotating shaft that radially extends to the second shaft hole. The locking assembly includes a second driving member, a push rod coaxial with the second shaft hole, a cantilever connected to the circumferential surface of the push rod, a wedge block formed by expansion at the free end of the cantilever, and a slider slidably disposed radially in the first through hole along the rotation axis. The slider has a wedge groove, and the wedge block slides in conjunction with the wedge groove. The second driving member is configured to drive the push rod to move the wedge block in a reciprocating linear motion along the axial direction of the rotation axis. The wedge block slides in conjunction with the wedge groove to move the slider in a reciprocating linear motion along the radial direction of the rotation axis. The foldable trailer hook has a locked state and an unlocked state: in the locked state, the rotating shaft rotates to a position where the first through hole is directly opposite a locking groove, and the slider is embedded in the locking groove under the drive of the wedge block; in the unlocked state, the slider is completely disengaged from the locking groove under the drive of the wedge block.

[0005] Through the above-mentioned technical means, the second driving component does not participate in the rotation drive of the rotating shaft. The locking action of the rotating shaft is completed independently by the second driving component. The conversion from axial drive to radial locking action is achieved through the wedge transmission structure. This not only avoids the complex transmission problem caused by a single driving component switching the driving object, but also improves the determinism and reliability of the locking action, which helps to reduce the risk of jamming and improve the locking accuracy.

[0006] Furthermore, the first shaft hole extends from the inner side of the base to the outer side. The foldable trailer hook also includes a hook body and a first driving member. The hook body is fixed on the rotating shaft and located on the outer side of the base. The hook body has a folded position and an unfolded position during rotation. The first driving member is configured to drive the rotating shaft and the hook body to rotate. In the folded position and the unfolded position, the first through hole is directly opposite a locking groove.

[0007] Through the above technical means, the overall structure revolves around the decoupled design of "rotation drive" and "radial locking", so that the rotation drive and locking action of the coupler body are completed independently by the first drive component and the second drive component, respectively, making the locking action independent, clear and controllable.

[0008] Furthermore, the slider has a connecting groove that communicates with the wedge-shaped groove, and the cantilever is embedded in the connecting groove.

[0009] Through the aforementioned technical means, on the one hand, bidirectional drive transmission between the wedge block and the slider is achieved, enabling both external pushing and retraction actions, avoiding the uncertainty caused by relying solely on the return of the elastic element; on the other hand, the risk of the wedge block detaching during movement is effectively prevented, improving the reliability of the structural connection, thereby further ensuring the stability and consistency of the locking and unlocking process. Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the second driving component includes a housing, an electromagnetic coil, and a main pin. A permanent magnet is disposed within the main pin, which is connected to the push rod. The electromagnetic coil is configured to drive the permanent magnet, which in turn drives the main pin to reciprocate in a linear motion when energized.

[0010] Through the aforementioned technical means, linear reciprocating drive of the push rod can be achieved without a complex mechanical transmission structure, thus simplifying the overall structure. Furthermore, switching between locking and unlocking actions can be achieved simply by changing the direction of the current, resulting in fast response and high control precision, which improves the reliability and consistency of the locking component's operation. In addition, the electromagnetic drive structure avoids the fatigue problems of traditional elastic components and also avoids the jamming risk caused by multi-path switching of a single drive component, thereby further improving the system's stability.

[0011] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hitch, a first elastic element is provided between the main pin and the housing. The first elastic element is configured to generate a pre-push force acting on the main pin in the unlocked state, so that the main pin tends to extend out of the housing.

[0012] Through the aforementioned technical means, when not energized or in the unlocked state, the first elastic element is in a naturally stretched or pre-compressed state. The elastic force it exerts on the master pin causes the master pin to tend to move outward, thus providing pre-loading conditions for the locking action in the initial state of the system. When the electromagnetic coil is energized and generates a driving force, this pre-push force can superimpose with the electromagnetic force, enabling the master pin to move outward along the axial direction more quickly and stably, thereby driving the push rod and wedge block to complete the locking action. This is beneficial for improving the response speed and reducing the energy demand of the electromagnetic drive. On the other hand, during the process of the master pin retracting into the housing under the action of the electromagnetic force, the first elastic element is compressed and stores elastic potential energy, thus playing a buffering role when the master pin moves to the end of its stroke. Through this buffering effect, the impact load generated by the fast response speed of the electromagnetic drive can be effectively reduced, the collision stress between the master pin and the housing can be reduced, and the structure can be prevented from wearing or fatigue failure due to repeated impacts, thereby improving the service life and operational stability of the overall device.

[0013] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, a second elastic element is provided at the end of the push rod away from the housing, and the second elastic element is configured to abut against the rotating shaft in the locked state.

[0014] Through the aforementioned technical means, on the one hand, a continuous axial preload can be provided in the locked state, ensuring that the wedge-shaped fit between the wedge block and the slider remains in a compressed state, thereby avoiding gaps caused by vibration or manufacturing tolerances and improving the stability and anti-loosening ability of the locking structure. On the other hand, this elastic structure can also buffer the impact generated during the locking process, absorbing part of the kinetic energy at the moment the slider is embedded in the locking groove, reducing the impact of rigid impacts on the structure, thereby reducing wear and extending service life. In addition, during the unlocking process, when the push rod moves in the opposite direction under the action of the second driving member, the second elastic element gradually releases its stored elastic potential energy, which helps to push the push rod in the initial stage of retraction, improving the responsiveness and smoothness of the unlocking action.

[0015] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the second shaft hole includes a first hole segment, a second hole segment, and a third hole segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The first through hole is opened in the first hole segment, and the edge of the first through hole is flush with the end face formed between the first hole segment and the second hole segment. The end of the push rod away from the second drive member is slidably limited within the third hole segment.

[0016] By employing the aforementioned technical methods, the second shaft hole is designed as a graded aperture structure, and the relationship between the first through hole and each hole segment is rationally arranged. This enhances both the guiding and load-bearing capacity of the slider and the axial movement stability of the push rod, thereby effectively reducing the risk of jamming and improving the accuracy and reliability of the locking and unlocking process. Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the cantilever, the wedge block, the slider, and the first through hole are evenly distributed in three groups along the circumference, and the locking groove is evenly distributed in six groups along the circumference.

[0017] Through the aforementioned technical means, this multi-point locking method can provide a more uniform distribution of constraint force in the circumferential direction, effectively improving locking strength and torsional resistance, and reducing the risk of structural wear or deformation caused by excessive local stress. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of multiple sets of sliders and locking slots improves alignment during the locking process, making the force more symmetrical when the slider is embedded in the locking slot, thereby reducing jamming problems caused by off-center loading and improving the smoothness and reliability of the locking and unlocking process. Therefore, by setting a cooperative structure of three sets of locking structures and six locking slots, not only can high-strength, multi-point locking be achieved, but structural stability and operational reliability can also be ensured.

[0018] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the first shaft hole includes a fourth hole segment, a fifth hole segment, and a sixth hole segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The fourth hole segment is close to the inner side of the base. The locking groove is formed in the fifth hole segment. The rotating shaft includes a first shaft segment, a second shaft segment, and a third shaft segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The first through hole is formed in the second shaft segment. The first shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the fourth hole segment, the second shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the fifth hole segment, and the third shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the sixth hole segment.

[0019] By employing the aforementioned technical means, both the first shaft hole and the rotating shaft are designed as multi-stage stepped structures, and each shaft segment and its corresponding hole segment are rotated together. This not only provides reliable support and precise guidance for the rotating shaft, but also provides reasonable space for the arrangement of the locking structure, thereby improving the overall structural stability, load-bearing capacity, and locking reliability of the device.

[0020] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the rotating shaft includes a first shaft segment, a second shaft segment, a third shaft segment, a fourth shaft segment, and a fifth shaft segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The fourth shaft segment is a prismatic shaft, the fifth shaft segment is a threaded shaft, the hook body has a third shaft hole, the third shaft hole includes a seventh hole segment adapted to the fourth shaft segment, a nut disc is screwed onto the fifth shaft segment, and the hook body is fastened between the nut disc and the fourth shaft segment.

[0021] By using the above-mentioned technical means, the fourth shaft section is designed as a prismatic shaft and combined with the fifth shaft section and nut disc structure with threaded connection, the coupler body can be reliably fixed in both the circumferential and axial directions: the prismatic shaft structure is responsible for transmitting torque and preventing rotational slippage, while the nut disc structure is responsible for providing axial locking and limiting, thereby forming a stable and reliable connection between the coupler body and the rotating shaft. This is suitable for working conditions with large towing loads and helps to improve the safety and durability of the whole machine.

[0022] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, the circumferential outer edge of the first shaft segment is composed of a first arc segment and a second arc segment. The diameter of the first arc segment is larger than the diameter of the second arc segment. A first limiting surface and a second limiting surface are formed at both ends of the first arc segment. A limiting block extending into the fourth hole segment is provided on the base. A third limiting surface and a fourth limiting surface are formed at both ends of the circumferential direction of the limiting block. The first arc segment rotates with the wall surface of the fourth hole segment, and the second arc segment rotates with the inner edge surface of the limiting block. In the folded position, the first limiting surface and the third limiting surface abut against each other. In the unfolded position, the second limiting surface and the fourth limiting surface abut against each other.

[0023] Through the aforementioned technical means, precise positioning of the coupler body at its two extreme positions (folded and unfolded positions) can be achieved directly using the structural fit between the rotating shaft and the base without the need for an additional limiting mechanism. Furthermore, because the limiting surfaces have a rigid contact fit, a clear stopping effect is formed when the rotating shaft rotates to its extreme position, thereby avoiding overshoot problems caused by drive errors or inertia and improving positioning accuracy. Simultaneously, this structure can also share some of the load, so the locking component does not have to bear the entire positioning function alone, thus reducing the stress on the locking mechanism and further improving the overall reliability and durability of the structure.

[0024] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hook, a first mounting groove and a second mounting groove are provided on the end face at the connection between the fourth hole segment and the fifth hole segment. The first mounting groove is located at the third limiting surface, and the second mounting groove is located at the fourth limiting surface. The foldable trailer hook also includes a limit switch assembly, which includes a first limit switch installed in the first mounting groove and a second limit switch installed in the second mounting groove. In the folded position, the first shaft segment triggers the first limit switch, and in the unfolded position, the first shaft segment triggers the second limit switch.

[0025] Through the above technical means, this structure can achieve the dual-position detection of the coupler body in the folded position and the unfolded position without adding additional complex structures. In addition, the limit switch assembly and the limit structure form a synergistic effect, which can not only provide clear position signals, but also be used for linkage control with the drive system. For example, after detecting the in-place signal of the corresponding position, the locking or stopping drive action can be triggered, thereby further enhancing the control reliability and use safety of the foldable trailer hitch.

[0026] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hitch, the first driving member drives the rotating shaft to rotate through a transmission component. The first driving member is a motor. The transmission component includes a worm, a turbine, a gear, and a tooth disc. The worm is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor. The gear is coaxially arranged with the turbine. The worm is meshed and connected with the turbine. The tooth disc is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft. An arc-shaped rack is formed at the edge of the tooth disc. The gear is meshed and connected with the arc-shaped rack. The axis of the output shaft of the motor is orthogonal to the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0027] Through the above technical means, the direction of the output shaft of the motor is parallel to the inner surface of the base, so that the motor can be arranged in a fitting manner on the surface of the base, significantly reducing the installation height in the direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the base and reducing the occupation of the rear space of the vehicle. This structural layout is beneficial to improving the departure angle performance of the whole vehicle and providing greater freedom for the body styling design. In addition, the meshing of the worm and the turbine has a large reduction ratio. Combined with the subsequent transmission of the gear and the tooth disc, the effect of "small motor output with large torque" can be achieved, so that a smaller and lighter motor can be selected on the premise of ensuring the driving ability, which is beneficial to the lightweight design of the whole machine.

[0028] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hitch, the tooth disc is attached to the end face of the rotating shaft, and a second through hole for the locking component to pass through is provided in the middle of the tooth disc.

[0029] Through the above technical means, on the one hand, it avoids the problem of increased axial dimension caused by the complete external placement of the locking component, significantly reducing the space occupation of the locking component in the axial direction of the rotating shaft axis, which is beneficial to the compact design of the overall structure; on the other hand, by arranging the locking component inside the rotating shaft, the exposed structure can be reduced, the risk of interference with surrounding components can be reduced, and at the same time, it helps to improve the protection performance of the structure.

[0030] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hitch, when the coupler body is in the folded position and the unfolded position, the two end regions of the arc-shaped rack are meshed with the gear, and the two end regions of the arc-shaped rack have a larger buffer gap when meshed with the gear compared to other regions.

[0031] Through the aforementioned technical means, on the one hand, when the coupler body reaches the folded or unfolded position and is about to be locked by the locking assembly, the reverse impact of the gear plate on the motor and transmission mechanism at the moment the coupler body is locked can be reduced. This avoids the impact load being directly transmitted to the motor output end due to the almost simultaneous occurrence of mechanical stopping and locking actions, thus helping to protect transmission components such as the motor, worm gear, turbine, and gears, and improving the durability of the entire drive mechanism. On the other hand, because the engagement in the end area is smoother, the rotating shaft will not bear excessive additional load due to rigid engagement when the coupler body approaches the locked position. This facilitates the smooth disengagement or insertion of the slider in the locking assembly into the locking groove. Especially during the process of switching from the unlocked state to the locked state, or vice versa, the buffer gap can provide more stable matching conditions for the radial movement of the slider, reducing mutual interference between the transmission system and the locking system, thereby improving the smoothness and reliability of the slider disengagement and locking actions.

[0032] Furthermore, in the foldable trailer hitch, the locking assembly also includes a mounting base fixed to the base. The mounting base includes a mounting plate and a support leg disposed on the same side of the mounting plate. One end of the support leg is connected to the edge of the mounting plate, and the other end of the support leg is supported on the base. The gear plate is located between the mounting plate and the base. The mounting plate has a third through hole for the second driving member to pass through, and the second driving member is fixed to the mounting plate.

[0033] Through the aforementioned technical means, on the one hand, the mounting plate can serve as a mounting reference surface for the second drive component, thereby improving the installation accuracy of the second drive component and ensuring the matching relationship between its output direction and the axis of the push rod; on the other hand, the outriggers support the mounting plate, giving it sufficient structural rigidity during the operation of the second drive component, reducing deformation or vibration caused by the driving force, thus improving the stability and reliability of the locking assembly's operation. Furthermore, since the gear disc is located between the mounting plate and the base, the transmission structure and the locking drive structure can be arranged in a layered manner without significantly increasing the overall dimensions, which is beneficial for improving structural compactness and space utilization. This arrangement ensures reasonable occupancy of the gear disc transmission area and provides an independent and stable installation space for the second drive component, thereby further improving the integration and engineering adaptability of the overall structure of the foldable trailer hook.

[0034] A vehicle includes a body, the body including a rear tow hook crossbeam and a foldable tow hook, the base being fixed to the rear tow hook crossbeam.

[0035] The beneficial effects of this invention are: (1) In the locked state, when the rotating shaft rotates to the position where the first through hole is directly opposite the locking groove, the slider extends outward under the driving action of the wedge block and is embedded in the locking groove, thereby achieving rigid locking of the rotating shaft and keeping the trailer hook stably in the folded or unfolded position; in the unlocked state, the slider retracts radially under the reverse drive of the wedge block and completely disengages from the locking groove, thereby releasing the rotating shaft and allowing the trailer hook to continue rotating. (2) The second drive component of the foldable trailer hook does not participate in the rotation drive of the rotating shaft. The locking action of the trailer hook is completed independently by the second drive component. The conversion from axial drive to radial locking action is achieved through the wedge transmission structure. This not only avoids the complex transmission problem caused by switching the drive object of a single drive component, but also improves the certainty and reliability of the locking action, which helps to reduce the risk of jamming and improve the locking accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a partial structure in the foldable trailer hook provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 for Figure 2 An exploded view of a portion of the foldable trailer hitch shown in the diagram; Figure 4 A front view of the locking component in the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 4 AA section view in the middle; Figure 6 A side view of the locking component in a foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the slider of the locking component in the foldable trailer hitch provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a frontal projection view of the base, rotating shaft, slider, and gear plate of the foldable trailer hook provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 for Figure 8 BB section view in the middle; Figure 10 This is a frontal projection view of the base, rotating shaft, locking assembly, and toothed disc of the foldable trailer hook provided in the embodiment of this application. Figure 11 for Figure 10 CC section view in the middle; Figure 12This is a frontal projection view of the base, rotating shaft, locking assembly, transmission assembly, and vehicle coupler body of the foldable trailer hook provided in this embodiment of the application. Figure 13 for Figure 12 DD section view in the middle; Figure 14 for Figure 13 A diagram showing the main body of the coupler; Figure 15 A three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the foldable trailer hitch in the unlocked state provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 16 A schematic diagram illustrating the internal engagement relationship of the foldable trailer hitch provided in the embodiment of this application in the unlocked state; Figure 17 A three-dimensional sectional view of the foldable trailer hitch in the locked state provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 18 A schematic diagram illustrating the internal engagement relationship of the foldable trailer hitch provided in the locked state according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 19 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the base of the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application, viewed from one perspective. Figure 20 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the base of the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application, viewed from another perspective. Figure 21 A front view of the base of the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 22 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the rotating shaft in the foldable trailer hook provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 23 A front view of the rotating shaft in the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 24 for Figure 23 EE section view; Figure 25 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the modular structure formed by the motor, worm gear, turbine and gear 830 in the foldable trailer hook provided in the embodiment of this application; Figure 26 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the hook body in the foldable trailer hook provided in this application embodiment; Figure 27 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the gear plate of the transmission component in the foldable trailer hook provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 28 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the mounting base for the locking component in the foldable trailer hitch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 29A three-dimensional structural diagram of the foldable trailer hook provided in this application embodiment when it is assembled with the rear trailer hook crossbeam and in the unfolded position; Figure 30 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the foldable trailer hook provided in this embodiment of the application when it is assembled with the rear trailer hook crossbeam and is in the folded position.

[0037] in, 100. Base; 110. First shaft hole; 111. Fourth hole segment; 112. Fifth hole segment; 113. Sixth hole segment; 120. Locking groove; 130. Sixth shaft segment; 140. Seventh shaft segment; 151. First mounting groove; 152. Second mounting groove; 153. Third mounting groove; 154. Fourth mounting groove; 160. First fixing hole; 170. C-groove; 180. Limiting block; 181. Third limiting surface; 182. Fourth limiting surface; 190. Fifth fixing hole; 200. Rotating shaft; 210. Second shaft hole; 211. First hole segment; 212. Second hole segment; 213. Third hole segment; 220. First through hole; 231. First shaft segment; 2311. First arc-shaped segment; 2312. Second arc-shaped segment; 2313. First limiting surface; 2314. Second limiting surface; 2315. Second fixing hole; 232. Second shaft segment; 233. Third shaft segment; 234. Fourth shaft segment; 235. Fifth shaft segment; 300. Coupler body; 310. Third axle hole; 311. Seventh hole section; 312. Eighth hole section; 313. Ninth hole section; 320. Tow hook sphere; 400. First driving component; 500. Locking assembly; 510. Second driving component; 511. Housing; 512. Electromagnetic coil; 513. Kingpin; 514. First elastic element; 515. Fixing flange; 516. Sixth fixing hole; 520. Push rod; 530. Cantilever; 540. Wedge block; 550. Slider; 551. Wedge groove; 552. Connecting groove; 560. Second elastic element; 570. Mounting base; 571. Mounting plate; 572. Support leg; 573. Third through hole; 574. Fourth fixing hole; 575. Seventh fixing hole; 576. Second weight reduction hole; 610. Nut disc; 620. Protective end cap; 700. Limit switch assembly; 710. First limit switch; 720. Second limit switch; 730. Limit switch signal line; 740. Bracket; 800. Transmission assembly; 810. Worm gear; 820. Turbine; 830. Gear; 840. Gear disc; 841. Arc-shaped rack; 842. Second through hole; 843. Third fixing hole; 844. First weight reduction hole; 900, rear tow hook crossbeam. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are only for illustrating the present invention and not for limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0040] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0041] In related technologies, the position locking scheme of foldable trailer hooks mainly relies on the mechanical cooperation between the positioning pin or positioning ball and the positioning groove to achieve the locking function. Its driving method can be roughly divided into two categories.

[0042] In the first type of scheme, the coupler body rotation and locking / unlocking actions share the same power drive component. In this scheme, the drive component needs to first drive the coupler body to rotate to the target position, and then switch the drive path to drive the positioning pin or positioning ball to complete the locking; the unlocking process is performed in reverse. The core problem of this scheme is that the drive link needs to switch between different driven objects, so it usually relies on a relatively complex transmission structure (such as a clutch structure, switching mechanism, or multi-stage transmission mechanism). In practical applications, such a complex transmission structure is prone to the following problems: long transmission path, reduced driving force transmission efficiency; accumulated mechanism backlash, resulting in decreased positioning accuracy; uncertainty in the switching process, which can easily lead to jamming or asynchrony; and errors between the locking action and the position being reached, resulting in insufficient locking reliability.

[0043] In the second type of solution, the locking or unlocking action relies on an elastic element (such as a spring) to provide driving force. This elastic force pushes the positioning pin or positioning ball into or out of the positioning groove to achieve locking or unlocking. This solution has a relatively simple structure, but its stability has obvious defects: the elastic element will fatigue during long-term use, resulting in a decrease in elastic force; changes in the frictional resistance of the mechanism will significantly affect the elastic driving effect; under complex working conditions (such as mud, corrosion, and low temperature), the elastic drive is more prone to failure; and problems such as incomplete locking or inability to fully unlock may occur.

[0044] In practical applications, these two solutions have the following problems: the driving and execution process of the trailer hook locking structure is not stable enough and is easily affected by the complexity of the transmission or the reliability of the elastic element, which may lead to jamming, positioning deviation or failure risk in the locking or unlocking process.

[0045] Based on this, such as Figure 1-28 As shown, this application embodiment provides a foldable trailer hitch, whose main structure includes a base 100, a rotating shaft 200, a hitch body 300, a first driving component 400, and a locking assembly 500. The specific structure of the base 100 can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 19-21 As shown; the specific structure of the rotating shaft 200 can be found in the reference. Figure 22-24 The specific structure of the coupler body 300 shown can be found in the diagram. Figure 14 and Figure 26 As shown; the specific structure of the locking component 500 can be found in the reference. Figure 4-7 As shown. For details on the specific assembly and coordination relationships between the various structures, please refer to [the provided text]. Figures 1-3 , Figures 8-13 as well as Figures 15-18 As shown.

[0046] The base 100 has a first shaft hole 110 extending from the inside to the outside, and a locking groove 120 communicating with the first shaft hole 110; a rotating shaft 200 passes through the first shaft hole 110 and is rotatably engaged with the base 100, the rotating shaft 200 has a second shaft hole 210, and the rotating shaft 200 has a first through hole 220 radially extending to the second shaft hole 210; the locking assembly 500 includes a second driving member 510, a push rod 520 coaxial with the second shaft hole 210, a cantilever 530 connected to the circumference of the push rod 520, a wedge-shaped block 540 formed by expansion at the free end of the cantilever 530, and a slider 550 slidably disposed radially in the first through hole 220 along the rotating shaft 200, the slider 550 having a wedge-shaped... The wedge block 540 slides into the wedge groove 551. The second driving member 510 is configured to drive the push rod 520 to drive the wedge block 540 to reciprocate linearly along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 200. The wedge block 540 slides into the wedge groove 551 to drive the slider 550 to reciprocate linearly along the radial direction of the rotation shaft 200. The foldable trailer hook has a locked state and an unlocked state: In the locked state, the rotation shaft 200 rotates to a position where the first through hole 220 is directly opposite a locking groove 120, and the slider 550 is embedded in the locking groove 120 under the drive of the wedge block 540; In the unlocked state, the slider 550 is completely disengaged from the locking groove 120 under the drive of the wedge block 540. A diagram showing the foldable trailer hook in the unlocked state can be found in the attached image. Figure 11 , Figure 13 , Figure 15 and Figure 16 Please refer to the diagram showing the foldable trailer hitch in the locked state. Figure 17 and Figure 18 .

[0047] Specifically, the base 100 serves as the mounting base, and the rotating shaft 200 passes through the first shaft hole 110 and forms a rotational engagement with the base 100, so that the rotating shaft 200 can rotate relative to the base 100 around the axis, thereby enabling the foldable trailer hook to switch between different position states through the rotation of the rotating shaft 200.

[0048] In the locking assembly 500, the push rod 520 is axially arranged along the rotation shaft 200 and coaxially arranged with the second shaft hole 210. The second driving member 510 is used to drive the push rod 520 to reciprocate linearly along the axial direction. The cantilever 530 moves synchronously with the push rod 520. The slider 550 is slidably arranged in the first through hole 220 along the radial direction of the rotation shaft 200 and can reciprocate between the first through hole 220 and the locking groove 120. The slider 550 is provided with a wedge groove 551, wherein the wedge block 540 is embedded in the wedge groove 551 and forms an inclined surface cooperation with it to realize structural guidance and limiting.

[0049] During operation, when the second driving member 510 drives the push rod 520 to move axially, it causes the wedge block 540 to move synchronously axially. Since the wedge block 540 and the wedge groove 551 on the slider 550 have an inclined surface fit, the axial movement of the wedge block 540 is converted into the radial movement of the slider 550, thereby driving the slider 550 to move outward or inward along the direction of the first through hole 220. When the slider 550 moves outward, its end can be inserted into the locking groove 120 on the base 100, achieving radial limit locking of the rotating shaft 200; when the slider 550 retracts inward, it completely disengages from the locking groove 120, thus releasing the locked state.

[0050] Therefore, the foldable trailer hook has a clear locked state and an unlocked state: In the locked state, when the rotating shaft 200 rotates to the position where the first through hole 220 and the locking groove 120 are directly opposite each other, the slider 550 extends outward under the driving action of the wedge block 540 and embeds itself in the locking groove 120, thereby achieving a rigid lock on the rotating shaft 200 and keeping the trailer hook stably in the folded or unfolded position; In the unlocked state, the slider 550 retracts radially under the reverse drive of the wedge block 540 and completely disengages from the locking groove 120, thereby releasing the rotating shaft 200 and allowing the trailer hook to continue rotating.

[0051] Through the above structural design, the second drive member 510 does not participate in the rotation drive of the rotating shaft 200. The locking action of the rotating shaft 200 is completed independently by the second drive member 510. The conversion from axial drive to radial locking action is achieved through the wedge transmission structure. This not only avoids the complex transmission problem caused by a single drive member switching the drive object, but also improves the certainty and reliability of the locking action, which helps to reduce the risk of jamming and improve the locking accuracy.

[0052] Preferably, the coupler body 300 is fixed to the rotating shaft 200 and located outside the base 100. The coupler body 300 has a folded position and an unfolded position during rotation; the first driving member 400 is configured to drive the rotating shaft 200 and the coupler body 300 to rotate. In the folded position and the unfolded position, the first through hole 220 is aligned with one of the locking grooves 120. The coupler body 300 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 200 and located outside the base 100. Driven by the first driving member 400, it can rotate together with the rotating shaft 200 between the folded position and the unfolded position. The first driving member 400 is used to drive the rotating shaft 200 and the coupler body 300 to perform a rotational movement. When the coupler body 300 rotates to the folded position or the unfolded position, the first through hole 220 and the corresponding locking groove 120 on the base 100 are precisely aligned in the circumferential position, thereby providing geometric conditions for the locking action.

[0053] The overall structure of this embodiment is designed around the decoupling of "rotational drive" and "radial locking". The rotational drive and locking action of the coupler body are independently completed by the first driving member and the second driving member respectively, making the locking action independent, clear, and controllable.

[0054] Preferably, a connecting groove 552 communicating with the wedge-shaped groove 551 is formed on the slider 550, and the cantilever 530 is embedded in the connecting groove 552. Specifically, the wedge-shaped groove 551 and the connecting groove 552 integrally form a "convex" - shaped groove structure in terms of structure, while the cantilever 530 and the wedge-shaped block 540 form a "convex" - shaped solid structure adapted thereto, thus forming a stable fitting relationship between the two.

[0055] Through the above structural design, during the reciprocating movement of the wedge-shaped block 540 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 200, not only can the axial displacement be converted into the radial displacement of the slider 550 through the cooperation of the wedge-shaped surface, but also due to the limiting effect of the "convex" - shaped structure, the wedge-shaped block 540 is always constrained within the slider 550 in the radial direction and will not be disengaged or misaligned during the radial movement of the slider 550.

[0056] Therefore, during the locking process, the wedge block 540 can reliably drive the slider 550 to move radially outward, allowing the slider 550 to smoothly extend out of the first through hole 220 and embed into the locking groove 120. During the unlocking process, when the wedge block 540 moves in the opposite direction, it can also stably drive the slider 550 to retract radially inward, allowing the slider 550 to fully retract into the first through hole 220. Through this "convex" shaped interlocking structure, on the one hand, bidirectional drive transmission between the wedge block 540 and the slider 550 is realized, that is, both outward pushing and retraction actions can be realized, avoiding the uncertainty caused by relying solely on the return of the elastic element; on the other hand, it effectively prevents the risk of the wedge block 540 coming off during the movement, improves the reliability of the structural connection, and thus further ensures the stability and consistency of the locking and unlocking process.

[0057] In some embodiments, the second drive member 510 may employ various linear drive mechanisms in the prior art, such as electric push rods, lead screw transmission mechanisms, rack and pinion transmission mechanisms, or electromagnetic drive mechanisms, to drive the push rod 520 to reciprocate linearly along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 200.

[0058] It should be noted that, since the slider 550 is disposed within the first through hole 220 of the rotating shaft 200, in the unlocked state, the slider 550 is in the retracted position and completely disengaged from the locking groove 120. At this time, the slider 550, wedge block 540, cantilever 530, and push rod 520 are all located within the internal structure of the rotating shaft 200 and will rotate synchronously around the axis with the rotating shaft 200. Therefore, while performing axial linear motion, the push rod 520 also needs to have the ability to rotate freely with the rotating shaft 200. Based on this, the second driving member 510 should not constrain the rotational freedom of the push rod 520 around its axis in its structural design. In other words, the second driving member 510 and the push rod 520 should adopt a connection method that allows relative rotation to avoid generating additional torque on the push rod 520 during the rotation of the rotating shaft 200, thereby affecting the driving stability or causing structural jamming.

[0059] In some embodiments, when the output end (such as a drive shaft or push rod) of the second drive member 510 is able to rotate freely about its axis, the push rod 520 can be directly connected to the output end of the second drive member 510, thereby allowing the whole to rotate while achieving axial drive.

[0060] In other embodiments, when the output end of the second drive member 510 does not have the ability to rotate freely around the axis, it is preferable to provide a rotating connection structure between the push rod 520 and the output end of the second drive member 510, such as a bearing, a universal joint structure or other rotatable connector, so that the push rod 520 can rotate freely around the axis relative to the output end of the second drive member 510, thereby avoiding torsional interference to the second drive member 510 when the rotating shaft 200 rotates.

[0061] Through the above structural design, the push rod 520 is not subject to rotational constraints during axial drive, which can ensure the smooth operation of the locking component 500 and avoid additional loads or jamming problems caused by rotational constraints, thereby further improving the reliability and stability of the locking and unlocking process.

[0062] In some embodiments, the second driving member 510 may employ an electromagnetic driving structure. As a specific optional embodiment, such as... Figure 5 , Figure 11 , Figure 13 , Figures 15-18 As shown, the second driving component 510 includes a housing 511, an electromagnetic coil 512, and a main pin 513. The electromagnetic coil 512 is disposed within the housing 511, and the main pin 513 is slidably disposed within the housing 511 along the axial direction. A permanent magnet is disposed within the main pin 513. The main pin 513 is connected to the push rod 520. The electromagnetic coil 512 is configured to drive the permanent magnet, which in turn drives the main pin 513 to reciprocate linearly, after being energized. The electromagnetic coil 512 is configured to generate a magnetic field after being energized, and through the electromagnetic force between itself and the permanent magnet inside the main pin 513, drives the main pin 513 to move linearly along the axial direction. By changing the direction of the current in the electromagnetic coil 512, the direction of the magnetic field can be changed, thereby causing the permanent magnet to experience a force in the opposite direction under the action of the magnetic field, thus realizing the reciprocating linear motion of the main pin 513.

[0063] During operation, when a current in one direction is applied to the electromagnetic coil 512, the main pin 513 moves under the action of electromagnetic force and drives the push rod 520 to move axially along the rotation shaft 200 through its connection with the push rod 520. This drives the wedge block 540 to move in the locking direction, thereby causing the slider 550 to extend radially and embed into the locking groove 120, achieving the locking state. When a current in the opposite direction is applied to the electromagnetic coil 512, the main pin 513 moves in the opposite direction under the action of reverse electromagnetic force, driving the push rod 520 to move in the opposite direction. This causes the wedge block 540 to drive the slider 550 to retract radially and disengage from the locking groove 120, achieving the unlocking state.

[0064] By adopting the aforementioned electromagnetic drive method, on the one hand, linear reciprocating drive of the push rod 520 can be achieved without a complex mechanical transmission structure, thus simplifying the overall structure; on the other hand, switching between locking and unlocking actions can be achieved simply by changing the direction of the current, resulting in fast response speed and high control precision, which is beneficial to improving the reliability and consistency of the locking component 500's operation. Furthermore, the electromagnetic drive structure eliminates the fatigue problem of traditional elastic components and avoids the jamming risk caused by multi-path switching of a single drive component, thereby further improving the system's stability.

[0065] In some embodiments, a first elastic element 514 is provided between the main pin 513 and the housing 511. The first elastic element 514 may be a compression spring, a sheet spring, or other structural element capable of providing axial elastic force. The first elastic element 514 is configured to apply a pre-push force along the extension direction to the main pin 513 in the unlocked state, so that the main pin 513 always tends to extend outward from the housing 511.

[0066] Specifically, when not energized or in the unlocked state, the first elastic element 514 is in a naturally stretched or pre-compressed state. The elastic force it applies to the main pin 513 causes the main pin 513 to tend to move outward, thus providing preload conditions for the locking action in the initial state of the system. When the electromagnetic coil 512 is energized and generates a driving force, this pre-push force can superimpose with the electromagnetic force, enabling the main pin 513 to move outward along the axial direction more quickly and stably, thereby driving the push rod 520 and the wedge block 540 to complete the locking action, which is beneficial to improving the response speed and reducing the energy demand of the electromagnetic drive. On the other hand, during the process of the main pin 513 retracting into the housing 511 under the action of electromagnetic force, the first elastic element 514 is compressed and stores elastic potential energy, thus playing a buffering role when the main pin 513 moves to the end of its stroke. This buffering effect effectively reduces the impact load caused by the rapid response of the electromagnetic drive, lowers the collision stress between the main pin 513 and the housing 511, and prevents the structure from wearing or failing due to repeated impacts, thereby improving the overall service life and operational stability of the device. Therefore, by providing a first elastic element 514 between the main pin 513 and the housing 511, not only can a pre-thrust force be provided to the main pin 513 to facilitate the locking action, but it can also play a buffering and energy absorption role during retraction, thus ensuring both driving efficiency and structural reliability and durability.

[0067] In some embodiments, a second elastic element 560 is provided at the end of the push rod 520 away from the housing 511. The second elastic element 560 can be a compression spring, an elastic pad, or other structural component with axial elastic deformation capability. The second elastic element 560 is configured to abut against the rotating shaft 200 in the locked state, thereby forming an elastic contact relationship between the locking assembly 500 and the rotating shaft 200.

[0068] Specifically, in the locked state, the slider 550 is engaged in the locking groove 120 under the drive of the wedge block 540, and the rotation shaft 200 is restricted from rotating. At this time, the push rod 520 is at the end of its locking stroke in the axial position. The second elastic member 560 is located between the end of the push rod 520 and the rotation shaft 200. In this state, it undergoes a certain degree of elastic compression, thereby applying a reverse elastic force to the push rod 520, so that the push rod 520, the wedge block 540, and the slider 550 as a whole maintain a stable force state.

[0069] By providing the second elastic element 560, on the one hand, a continuous axial preload can be provided in the locked state, so that the wedge fit between the wedge block 540 and the slider 550 is always in a compressed state, thereby avoiding gaps caused by vibration or manufacturing tolerances and improving the stability and anti-loosening ability of the locking structure; on the other hand, the elastic structure can also buffer the impact generated during the locking process, absorbing part of the kinetic energy at the moment the slider 550 is embedded in the locking groove 120, reducing the impact of rigid impact on the structure, thereby reducing wear and extending service life.

[0070] Furthermore, during the unlocking process, when the push rod 520 moves in the opposite direction under the action of the second drive member 510, the second elastic member 560 gradually releases its stored elastic potential energy, thereby helping to push the push rod 520 in the initial stage of retraction and improving the responsiveness and smoothness of the unlocking action. Therefore, by providing a second elastic member 560 at the end of the push rod 520, not only can the structural stability in the locked state be enhanced, but it can also take into account the impact buffering and unlocking assistance functions, thereby further improving the reliability and durability of the entire locking assembly 500.

[0071] In some embodiments, the second shaft hole 210 is as follows: Figure 24 The stepped hole structure shown includes a first hole section 211, a second hole section 212, and a third hole section 213 arranged sequentially along the rotation axis 200 with gradually decreasing diameters. By setting a multi-level hole structure, different functional components can be arranged in sections within a limited axial space, thereby balancing sliding fit accuracy and structural stability.

[0072] Specifically, the first through hole 220 is formed on the side wall of the first hole segment 211, allowing the slider 550 to slide radially within the area of ​​the first hole segment 211. A stepped end face is formed between the first hole segment 211 and the second hole segment 212, and this end face is flush with the edge of the first through hole 220, thereby allowing the slider 550 to form a larger contact area with this end face during radial movement. By increasing the contact area between the slider 550 and the hole wall, the unit contact stress can be effectively reduced, wear can be decreased, and the guiding stability of the slider 550 during movement can be improved, avoiding phenomena such as tilting and jamming.

[0073] Furthermore, the end of the push rod 520 furthest from the second drive member 510 extends into the third hole section 213 and forms a sliding fit with the third hole section 213. Because the diameter of the third hole section 213 is relatively smaller, it can provide more precise radial restraint to the free end of the push rod 520, giving the push rod 520 better guidance during axial reciprocating motion and preventing swaying or eccentric movement. This structural design significantly improves the motion stability of the push rod 520, thereby ensuring the fitting accuracy between the wedge block 540 and the slider 550, and further improving the overall operational reliability of the locking assembly 500.

[0074] Therefore, by designing the second shaft hole 210 as a graded hole diameter structure and rationally arranging the relationship between the first through hole 220 and each hole segment, the guiding and load-bearing capacity of the slider 550 can be improved on the one hand, and the axial movement stability of the push rod 520 can be enhanced on the other hand, thereby effectively reducing the risk of jamming and improving the accuracy and reliability of the locking and unlocking process.

[0075] In some embodiments, grease can also be stored in the second shaft hole 210 of the rotating shaft 200. Since the second shaft hole 210 is located inside the rotating shaft 200, and motion-related components such as the push rod 520, cantilever 530, wedge block 540, and slider 550 are all connected to or partially inserted into the second shaft hole 210, it can serve as a grease-receiving space. By pre-filling grease in the second shaft hole 210, lubrication can be continuously provided to the relative motion interfaces between the push rod 520 and the hole wall, between the wedge block 540 and the wedge groove 551, and between the slider 550 and the first through hole 220 during the operation of the locking assembly 500, thereby reducing frictional resistance, minimizing wear, and improving the smoothness and stability of the locking and unlocking actions.

[0076] In addition, grease can absorb and conduct heat generated during movement to a certain extent, which helps improve the heat dissipation of the moving mechanism and avoids a decrease in lubrication performance or a decrease in the precision of component mating due to localized heating. Especially under conditions of frequent operation of the locking component 500 or harsh external environment, the grease stored in the second shaft hole 210 can have the functions of lubrication, buffering and heat dissipation, thereby further improving the overall durability and reliability of the foldable trailer hook.

[0077] In some embodiments, the cantilever 530, the wedge block 540, the slider 550, and the first through hole 220 are evenly distributed in three sets along the circumference of the rotation axis 200, with an included angle of 120° between adjacent sets. Correspondingly, six locking slots 120 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the base 100, with an included angle of 60° between adjacent locking slots 120. In this structure, each assembly structure formed by the cantilever 530-wedge block 540-slider 550 corresponds to a first through hole 220, and the slider 550 can move independently radially under the drive of the wedge block 540. When the rotation axis 200 rotates to a predetermined position, the three sets of sliders 550 can simultaneously engage with the three corresponding locking slots 120, thereby forming a multi-point locking structure. Compared with single-point locking, this multi-point locking method can provide a more uniform distribution of constraint force in the circumference, effectively improving locking strength and torsional resistance, and reducing the risk of structural wear or deformation caused by excessive local force.

[0078] Furthermore, by setting six locking slots 120, the rotating shaft 200 has multiple selectable locking positions in the circumferential direction. When the first through hole 220 rotates with the rotating shaft 200 to different positions, it can be aligned with the corresponding locking slot 120, thereby achieving a multi-angle locking function. For example, it can correspond to the folded position and unfolded position of the coupler body 300, and even intermediate transition locking positions can be set as needed to improve the adaptability and functional expandability of the structure.

[0079] Furthermore, the even distribution of multiple sets of sliders 550 and multiple sets of locking slots 120 can improve the centering during the locking process, making the force more symmetrical when the slider 550 is embedded in the locking slot 120, thereby reducing jamming problems caused by off-center loading and improving the smoothness and reliability of the locking and unlocking process. Therefore, by setting a cooperative structure of three sets of locking structures and six locking slots 120, not only can high-strength, multi-point locking be achieved, but structural stability and operational reliability can also be taken into account.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first shaft hole 110 is also configured as follows: Figure 19The stepped hole structure shown includes a fourth hole segment 111, a fifth hole segment 112, and a sixth hole segment 113 arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The fourth hole segment 111 is located near the inner side of the base 100, and the locking groove 120 is formed in the sidewall of the fifth hole segment 112. Correspondingly, as... Figure 22 As shown, the rotating shaft 200 includes a first shaft segment 231, a second shaft segment 232, and a third shaft segment 233 arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. A first through hole 220 is formed in the second shaft segment 232. The first shaft segment 231 is rotatably engaged with the fourth hole segment 111, the second shaft segment 232 is rotatably engaged with the fifth hole segment 112, and the third shaft segment 233 is rotatably engaged with the sixth hole segment 113, thereby forming a multi-level support and guide structure in the axial direction.

[0081] Specifically, the first shaft segment 231 is a flange structure with a large end face formed on the rotating shaft 200. This flange structure cooperates with the fourth hole segment 111. On the one hand, it can axially limit the rotating shaft 200 and prevent the rotating shaft 200 from coming out of the base 100. On the other hand, due to its large end face size, it can also disperse contact stress during rotation, improve load-bearing capacity and enhance structural rigidity.

[0082] The second shaft segment 232 and the fifth hole segment 112 form the main functional mating area. This area not only serves as a rotation guide but also accommodates the first through hole 220 and the corresponding slider 550 structure. Since the locking groove 120 is located in the fifth hole segment 112, the slider 550 can directly engage with the locking groove 120 when extending radially, thereby locking the rotating shaft 200. By centralizing the locking function in the middle hole segment, a stable locking fulcrum can be formed structurally, while avoiding interference between the locking area and the end support area.

[0083] The third shaft segment 233 and the sixth hole segment 113 form an auxiliary guiding fit to provide support for the other end of the rotating shaft 200, thereby forming a front and rear double support structure with the first shaft segment 231. This double support arrangement can effectively improve the coaxiality and rotational stability of the rotating shaft 200, reduce eccentricity or swaying, and thus help improve the fitting accuracy of the locking assembly 500.

[0084] Therefore, by designing both the first shaft hole 110 and the rotating shaft 200 as multi-stage stepped structures, and making each shaft segment and the corresponding hole segment form a rotational fit, not only can reliable support and precise guidance of the rotating shaft 200 be achieved, but also reasonable space can be provided for the arrangement of the locking structure, thereby improving the overall structural stability, load-bearing capacity and locking reliability of the device.

[0085] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft 200 further extends axially to form a fourth shaft segment 234 and a fifth shaft segment 235 based on the aforementioned three-segment structure, thus comprising a first shaft segment 231, a second shaft segment 232, a third shaft segment 233, a fourth shaft segment 234, and a fifth shaft segment 235 arranged sequentially with gradually decreasing diameters. By providing a structural segment specifically for connecting the coupler body 300 on the outside of the rotating shaft 200, reliable installation of the coupler body 300 and effective transmission of torque can be achieved.

[0086] Specifically, the fourth shaft segment 234 is preferably configured as a prism shaft structure, such as a polygonal cross-section (e.g., square or hexagonal), to form an anti-rotation fit with the coupler body 300. Correspondingly, the coupler body 300 has a third shaft hole 310, which includes a seventh hole segment 311 that matches the shape of the fourth shaft segment 234, allowing the fourth shaft segment 234 to be inserted into the seventh hole segment 311 and form a surface contact fit with it. Through the multi-faceted contact between the prism shaft and the mating hole, the torque of the rotating shaft 200 can be effectively transmitted to the coupler body 300, avoiding reliance on friction to transmit torque, thereby improving the reliability of the connection and preventing relative slippage under high load conditions.

[0087] The fifth shaft segment 235 is a threaded shaft segment located at the distal end of the fourth shaft segment 234, on which a nut disc 610 is screwed. An axial clamping structure is formed between the nut disc 610 and the coupler body 300. When the nut disc 610 is tightened, the coupler body 300 is clamped and fixed between the nut disc 610 and the fourth shaft segment 234, thereby achieving axial limitation of the coupler body 300. This structure, on the one hand, prevents the coupler body 300 from moving axially or falling off; on the other hand, by applying axial preload, it further enhances the connection stability between the coupler body 300 and the rotating shaft 200.

[0088] Therefore, by designing the fourth shaft segment 234 as a prism shaft and cooperating with the fifth shaft segment 235 with threaded connection and the nut disc 610 structure, the coupler body 300 can be reliably fixed in both the circumferential and axial directions: the prism shaft structure is responsible for transmitting torque and preventing rotational slippage, while the nut disc 610 structure is responsible for providing axial locking and limiting, thereby forming a stable and reliable connection between the coupler body 300 and the rotating shaft 200, which is suitable for working conditions with large towing loads and helps to improve the safety and durability of the whole machine.

[0089] In some implementations, such as Figure 20 and Figure 21As shown, the base 100 further protrudes outward on its outer side to form a coaxially arranged sixth shaft segment 130 and seventh shaft segment 140, wherein the diameter of the sixth shaft segment 130 is larger than that of the seventh shaft segment 140. The first shaft hole 110 coaxially passes through the sixth shaft segment 130 and the seventh shaft segment 140 along the axial direction, thereby allowing the rotating shaft 200 to pass through the base 100 and extend to the mounting area of ​​the coupler body 300. Correspondingly, as Figure 14 , Figure 26 As shown, the third shaft hole 310 on the coupler body 300 includes not only the seventh hole segment 311 that mates with the fourth shaft segment 234, but also the eighth hole segment 312 that matches the shape of the sixth shaft segment 130 and the ninth hole segment 313 that matches the shape of the seventh shaft segment 140. Through this multi-segment mating structure, the coupler body 300 can simultaneously form a multi-level coaxial mating relationship with the base 100 during assembly. Specifically, a large-diameter transition mating area is formed between the sixth shaft segment 130 and the eighth hole segment 312, which provides additional radial support for the coupler body 300, facilitating load sharing and improving the overall structural rigidity. A further guiding mating is formed between the seventh shaft segment 140 and the ninth hole segment 313, ensuring good alignment of the coupler body 300 during assembly, thereby guaranteeing the coaxiality among the rotating shaft 200, the base 100, and the coupler body 300.

[0090] Through the above structural design, on the one hand, a multi-level guiding and supporting structure can be formed between the coupler body 300 and the base 100, thereby reducing local stress concentration and improving structural strength when bearing large towing loads; on the other hand, the multi-section coaxial cooperation can effectively improve assembly accuracy and avoid vibration, abnormal noise or wear problems caused by eccentricity or gaps, thereby further improving the overall machine's operational stability and service life.

[0091] In some implementations, such as Figure 16 , Figure 18 , Figure 19 and Figure 22As shown, the circumferential outer edge of the first shaft segment 231 is composed of a first arc segment 2311 and a second arc segment 2312. The diameter of the first arc segment 2311 is larger than the diameter of the second arc segment 2312. A first limiting surface 2313 and a second limiting surface 2314 are formed at both ends of the first arc segment 2311. A limiting block 180 extending into the fourth hole segment 111 is provided on the base 100. A third limiting surface 181 and a fourth limiting surface 182 are formed at both ends of the limiting block 180 in the circumferential direction. In terms of assembly, the first arc segment 2311 rotates with the wall surface of the fourth hole segment 111, and the second arc segment 2312 rotates with the inner edge surface of the limiting block 180. This forms a dual-region guiding structure during the rotation of the rotating shaft 200. By combining arc segments of different diameters with different mating surfaces, the rotating shaft 200 can maintain good guiding stability during rotation and also form reliable mechanical limiting at specific angular positions.

[0092] Specifically, when the coupler body 300 is in the folded position, the first limiting surface 2313 abuts against the third limiting surface 181, thereby limiting the rotation angle of the rotating shaft 200 on one side; when the coupler body 300 is in the unfolded position, the second limiting surface 2314 abuts against the fourth limiting surface 182, thereby limiting the rotation angle of the rotating shaft 200 on the other side. Through this limiting structure, precise limiting of the coupler body 300 at both extreme positions (folded and unfolded positions) can be achieved directly using the structural cooperation between the rotating shaft 200 and the base 100 without the need for additional limiting mechanisms.

[0093] Furthermore, since the limiting surfaces are in rigid contact, a clear stopping effect is formed when the rotating shaft 200 rotates to its limit position, thereby avoiding overshoot caused by drive error or inertia and improving positioning accuracy. At the same time, this structure can also share some of the load, so that the locking component 500 does not have to bear the entire positioning function alone, thereby reducing the stress on the locking mechanism and further improving the reliability and durability of the overall structure.

[0094] In some embodiments, a first mounting groove 151 and a second mounting groove 152 are provided on the end face at the connection between the fourth hole segment 111 and the fifth hole segment 112, wherein the first mounting groove 151 is located at the third limiting surface 181, and the second mounting groove 152 is located at the fourth limiting surface 182. The foldable trailer hook also includes a limit switch assembly 700, which includes a first limit switch 710 installed in the first mounting groove 151 and a second limit switch 720 installed in the second mounting groove 152.

[0095] Specifically, the first limit switch 710 is arranged corresponding to the folding position of the coupler body 300. When the rotating shaft 200 drives the coupler body 300 to rotate to the folding position, while the first limiting surface 2313 of the first shaft segment 231 forms a limiting fit with the third limiting surface 181, its corresponding structure can trigger the first limit switch 710, thereby outputting a signal indicating that the folding is in place; the second limit switch 720 is arranged corresponding to the unfolding position of the coupler body 300. When the rotating shaft 200 rotates to the unfolding position, while the second limiting surface 2314 of the first shaft segment 231 forms a limiting fit with the fourth limiting surface 182, its corresponding structure triggers the second limit switch 720, thereby outputting a signal indicating that the unfolding is in place.

[0096] By arranging the first installation groove 151 at the third limiting surface 181 and the second installation groove 152 at the fourth limiting surface 182, the triggering position of the limit switch is made to coincide with the mechanical limiting position, thereby ensuring the synchronism and accuracy of the detection signal and the actual position. At the same time, this structure can achieve double-position detection of the coupler body 300 in the folding position and the unfolding position without adding additional complex structures. In addition, the limit switch assembly 700 and the limiting structure form a synergistic effect, which can not only provide clear position signals but also be used for linkage control with the drive system. For example, after detecting the signal indicating that the corresponding position is in place, it triggers the locking or stopping of the driving action, thereby further improving the control reliability and use safety of the foldable trailer coupler.

[0097] In some preferred embodiments, as Figure 3 、 Figure 16 and Figure 18 shown, the limit switch assembly 700 further includes a limit switch signal line 730 and an arc-shaped bracket 740. The two ends of the bracket 740 are respectively connected to the first limit switch 710 and the second limit switch 720, and the limit switch signal line 730 is connected to the middle of the bracket 740. Correspondingly, a third installation groove 153 is further arranged on the end surface at the connection of the fourth hole segment 111 and the fifth hole segment 112. The third installation groove 153 is an arc-shaped groove structure connecting the first installation groove 151 and the second installation groove 152, and the bracket 740 is embedded in the third installation groove 153. Through this arc-shaped structure design, the bracket 740 can be arranged in a circumferential fitting manner, thereby achieving unified support and connection for the two limit switches within a limited space.

[0098] Furthermore, a fourth mounting slot 154 is provided on the base 100. One end of the fourth mounting slot 154 communicates with the third mounting slot 153, and the other end extends to the outside of the first shaft hole 110. The limit switch signal line 730 is embedded in the fourth mounting slot 154, thereby realizing the signal line's outward arrangement from the inside to the outside. In this structure, the bracket 740 not only serves as a mounting support for the first limit switch 710 and the second limit switch 720, but also acts as part of the signal transmission path, enabling the electrical signals of the limit switches to be transmitted uniformly through the bracket 740 and the signal line, thereby reducing the space and complexity required for separate wiring.

[0099] Meanwhile, by embedding the bracket 740 into the third mounting slot 153 and the signal line into the fourth mounting slot 154, the limit switch assembly 700 adopts an embedded fixing structure. On the one hand, this makes the internal wiring more neat and compact, avoiding the space occupation problem caused by exposed wiring. On the other hand, it can effectively reduce the scraping, pulling or interference of the signal line during the movement of the rotating shaft 200 and the locking assembly 500, thereby reducing the risk of failure and improving the reliability and durability of the whole machine.

[0100] In related technologies, to ensure reliable power transmission and locking, trailer hitches generally suffer from large actuator sizes, affecting the vehicle's departure angle and hindering lightweight and space optimization design of passenger vehicles, thus limiting styling possibilities. Therefore, in some implementations, to address the problems of large trailer hitch actuator sizes, affecting the vehicle's departure angle, and hindering lightweighting and space layout in existing technologies, such as... Figure 3 , Figure 15 and Figure 17 As shown, the first driving component 400 is a motor, which drives the rotating shaft 200 to rotate via a transmission assembly 800. The transmission assembly 800 includes a worm 810, a worm gear 820, a gear 830, and a gear disk 840. The worm 810 is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor, the gear 830 is coaxially arranged with the worm gear 820, and the worm 810 meshes with the worm gear 820. The gear disk 840 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 200, and an arc-shaped rack 841 is formed on the edge of the gear disk 840. The gear 830 meshes with the arc-shaped rack 841. This structure ensures that the output shaft of the motor and the axis of the rotating shaft 200 are orthogonal. For the specific structure of the gear disk 840, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 27 As shown.

[0101] Specifically, the rotational power output by the motor is first transmitted to the turbine 820 via the worm gear 810. The worm gear rotates coaxially with the gear 830, further transmitting the power to the gear 830. The gear 830 then meshes with the arc-shaped rack 841 on the edge of the gear disk 840, converting the rotational power into the rotation of the rotating shaft 200. Through the two-stage transmission of worm gear 810-turbine gear 820 and gear 830-gear disk 840, not only is the direction of power transmission path reversed, but the transmission ratio is also amplified by superposition.

[0102] By setting the motor output shaft and the rotating shaft 200 to be orthogonal, with the motor output shaft direction parallel to the inner surface of the base 100, the motor can be fitted snugly to the surface of the base 100, significantly reducing the installation height in the direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the base 100 and minimizing the space occupied at the rear of the vehicle. This structural layout improves the vehicle's departure angle performance and provides greater freedom in body styling design. Furthermore, the meshing of the worm gear 810 and the worm 820 has a large reduction ratio, which, combined with the subsequent transmission of the gear 830 and the gear disc 840, achieves the effect of "small motor outputting large torque." This allows for the selection of a smaller and lighter motor while ensuring driving capability, contributing to the overall lightweight design of the machine.

[0103] Therefore, by adopting a transmission structure that combines a worm gear 810, a turbine 820, a gear 830, and a gear disk 840, not only can the power transmission path be optimized and a compact layout achieved, but also high torque output and lightweight structure can be balanced, thereby effectively solving the problems of large size and limited layout in the existing technology.

[0104] In some embodiments, the gear disk 840 is attached to the end face of the rotating shaft 200 and fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 200 to achieve synchronous rotation. The gear disk 840 has a second through hole 842 in the middle, which is opposite to the second shaft hole 210, and the second through hole 842 is used for the locking assembly 500 to pass through.

[0105] Specifically, the push rod 520, cantilever 530, and wedge block 540 in the locking assembly 500 extend axially along the rotating shaft 200 and enter the second shaft hole 210 inside the rotating shaft 200 through the second through hole 842, thereby forming a through-type arrangement structure. By embedding part of the structure of the locking assembly 500 into the internal space of the gear disk 840 and the rotating shaft 200, the central area of ​​the gear disk 840 and the internal cavity of the rotating shaft 200 can be fully utilized, realizing the space reuse of the structure.

[0106] The above design avoids the problem of increased axial dimensions caused by the complete external placement of the locking component 500, significantly reducing the space occupied by the locking component 500 in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 200, which is conducive to the compact design of the overall structure. On the other hand, by arranging the locking component 500 inside the rotating shaft 200, the exposed structure can be reduced, the risk of interference with surrounding components can be reduced, and the protective performance of the structure can be improved.

[0107] Therefore, by setting a second through hole 842 in the middle of the gear plate 840 and allowing the locking component 500 to pass through it, not only can the spatial coordination of the transmission component 800 and the locking component 500 be achieved, but the axial dimension can also be effectively reduced, thereby improving the space utilization and structural integration of the whole machine.

[0108] In some preferred embodiments, the motor, worm 810, worm gear 820, and gear 830 can be integrated into a design to form a... Figure 25 The integrated transmission module structure is shown. A first fixing hole 160 is provided on the inner surface of the base 100 for mounting and fixing the module structure. By modularly integrating the motor and its transmission components, the number of parts and assembly steps can be reduced, improving assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the module as a whole can be directly mounted on the inner surface of the base 100, facilitating a compact layout and further reducing the vertical space occupied by the structure, thereby contributing to overall vehicle space optimization and improved departure angle performance.

[0109] In some optional embodiments, a plurality of second fixing holes 2315 are formed on the end face of the first shaft segment 231, and a third fixing hole 843 corresponding to the second fixing holes 2315 is formed on the gear disk 840. A fixed connection between the gear disk 840 and the rotating shaft 200 is achieved by screws sequentially passing through the third fixing holes 843 and connecting them to the second fixing holes 2315. Through the above structural design, a reliable rigid connection is formed between the gear disk 840 and the rotating shaft 200 using a threaded connection. On the one hand, this ensures synchronous rotation between the gear disk 840 and the rotating shaft 200, ensuring transmission accuracy; on the other hand, the screw connection has good disassembly capability, facilitating later maintenance and replacement. Simultaneously, multi-point screw fixing can evenly distribute the stress in the connection area, improve connection strength, and reduce the risk of loosening, thereby improving the overall reliability and durability of the structure.

[0110] In some embodiments, when the coupler body 300 is in the folded or unfolded position, the two ends of the arc-shaped rack 841 at the edge of the gear 840 are engaged with the gear 830. The two ends of the arc-shaped rack 841 have a larger buffer clearance than other areas in its middle when engaged with the gear 830. That is, as the coupler body 300 rotates closer to the folded or unfolded position, the engagement between the gear 830 and the end areas of the arc-shaped rack 841 gradually transitions from conventional engagement to a buffered engagement with a certain amount of clearance, thus creating a flexible transition effect at the end of the movement.

[0111] The buffer gap can be formed in ways including, but not limited to: reducing the tooth height at both ends of the arc-shaped rack 841, reducing the tooth thickness or width at both ends of the arc-shaped rack 841, or performing local edge trimming on the tooth profile. Through these methods, the actual contact between the tooth surfaces of the gear 830 is reduced when it enters the end region of the arc-shaped rack 841, thus preventing the end-drive from exhibiting a completely rigid meshing state, and instead forming a meshing relationship with a certain transition margin.

[0112] By setting buffer gaps at both ends of the arc-shaped rack 841, on the one hand, when the coupler body 300 reaches the folded or unfolded position and is about to be locked by the locking assembly 500, the reverse impact of the rack 840 on the motor and transmission mechanism at the moment the coupler body 300 is locked can be reduced. This avoids the impact load being directly transmitted to the motor output end due to the almost simultaneous mechanical stop and locking action, thus helping to protect the transmission components such as the motor, worm 810, worm gear 820, and gear 830, and improving the durability of the entire drive mechanism. On the other hand, because the engagement at the end area is more gentle, when the coupler body 300 approaches the locked position, the rotating shaft 200 will not bear excessive additional load due to rigid engagement. This facilitates the smooth disengagement or insertion of the slider 550 in the locking assembly 500 into the locking groove 120. Especially during the process of switching from the unlocked state to the locked state, or from the locked state to the unlocked state, the buffer gap can provide more stable matching conditions for the radial movement of the slider 550, reduce the mutual interference between the transmission system and the locking system, and thus improve the smoothness and reliability of the slider 550's exit and locking actions.

[0113] Therefore, by setting a large buffer gap at both ends of the arc-shaped rack 841, the buffering and impact reduction effect at the end of the transmission can be achieved without affecting the main transmission function, and the stable execution of the locking component 500 can be promoted, thereby further improving the overall smoothness, reliability and service life of the foldable trailer hook.

[0114] In some embodiments, the locking assembly 500 in the foldable trailer hitch further includes a mounting base 570 fixed to the base 100. For example... Figure 28 As shown, the mounting base 570 includes a mounting plate 571 and a support leg 572 disposed on the same side of the mounting plate 571. One end of the support leg 572 is connected to the edge of the mounting plate 571, and the other end of the support leg 572 is supported on the base 100, thereby forming a stable suspension support structure between the mounting plate 571 and the base 100. In this embodiment, the gear disk 840 is located between the mounting plate 571 and the base 100, that is, the gear disk 840 is arranged in the internal space enclosed by the mounting base 570 and the base 100. A third through hole 573 is provided on the mounting plate 571, which is used for the second driving member 510 to pass through, and the second driving member 510 is fixed to the mounting plate 571. Through the above structural arrangement, the second driving member 510 can be reliably installed with the help of the mounting plate 571, and forms a stable driving relationship in the axial direction with the push rod 520, the kingpin 513, and other structures.

[0115] By setting the mounting base 570, on the one hand, the mounting plate 571 can serve as the mounting reference surface for the second driving component 510, thereby improving the installation accuracy of the second driving component 510 and ensuring the matching relationship between its output direction and the axis of the push rod 520; on the other hand, the outrigger 572 provides support for the mounting plate 571, ensuring that the mounting plate 571 has sufficient structural rigidity during the operation of the second driving component 510, reducing deformation or vibration caused by the driving force, thus improving the stability and reliability of the locking assembly 500's operation. Furthermore, since the gear disc 840 is located between the mounting plate 571 and the base 100, the transmission structure and the locking drive structure can be arranged in a layered manner without significantly increasing the overall dimensions, which is beneficial for improving structural compactness and space utilization. This arrangement ensures reasonable occupancy of the gear disc 840's transmission area and provides an independent and stable installation space for the second driving component 510, thereby further improving the integration and engineering adaptability of the overall structure of the foldable trailer hook.

[0116] In some preferred embodiments, the mounting base 570 has a fourth fixing hole 574 that passes through the mounting plate 571 and the support leg 572, and the base 100 has a fifth fixing hole 190 that is directly opposite the fourth fixing hole 574. A screw passes through the fourth fixing hole 574 and connects to the fifth fixing hole 190, thereby achieving reliable fixation between the mounting base 570 and the base 100. This structure makes the positioning of the mounting base 570 on the base 100 more stable, preventing loosening or displacement during operation.

[0117] In some preferred embodiments, the second driving member 510 has multiple fixing flanges 515 on its circumferential surface. Each fixing flange 515 has a sixth fixing hole 516, and the mounting plate 571 has a seventh fixing hole 575 corresponding to the sixth fixing hole 516. After the second driving member 510 passes through the third through hole 573, the fixing flanges 515 fit against the surface of the mounting plate 571, so that the sixth fixing hole 516 and the seventh fixing hole 575 correspond one-to-one. A screw passes through the sixth fixing hole 516 and connects to the seventh fixing hole 575, thus achieving a fixed connection between the second driving member 510 and the mounting base 570. The flange structure increases the connection area, improves the connection strength, and helps to distribute stress, thereby improving the stability of the second driving member 510 during installation.

[0118] It should be noted that the second shaft hole 210 on the rotating shaft 200, the second through hole 842 on the gear plate 840, and the third through hole 573 on the mounting plate 571 are used not only to realize the through arrangement and structural fit of the locking component 500 and reduce the axial dimension, but also to effectively reduce the amount of material used, thereby reducing the overall structural weight and realizing lightweight design.

[0119] To further enhance the lightweight effect, in some preferred embodiments, the mounting plate 571 adopts, for example... Figure 28 The triangular structure shown has three branches evenly distributed at 120° intervals around the circumference. Correspondingly, the support legs 572 are three in number and respectively located at the three ends of the triangular structure. This structure reduces material usage while ensuring the overall rigidity of the mounting plate 571, and also makes the stress distribution more even. Furthermore, the gear disc 840 has a first weight-reduction hole 844 surrounding the second through hole 842, and the mounting plate 571 has a second weight-reduction hole 576 surrounding the third through hole 573. By creating weight-reduction holes in non-critical stress areas, the weight of components can be further reduced without affecting structural strength and functional performance, thus contributing to the lightweight design of the entire machine and improving the vehicle's energy efficiency and structural optimization. In some embodiments, a plurality of first weight-reducing holes 844 may be provided circumferentially on the gear disk 840. Meanwhile, since an arc-shaped rack 841 is formed on the gear disk 840, in order to ensure the balance of the gear disk 840 during movement, the position of the first weight-reducing holes 844 can be matched with the position of the arc-shaped rack 841. For example, at the position where the arc-shaped rack 841 is provided, a larger number or a longer arc length of first weight-reducing holes 844 can be provided at the corresponding position in the radial direction, while at the position where the arc-shaped rack 841 is not provided, a smaller number or a shorter arc length of first weight-reducing holes 844 can be provided at the corresponding position in the radial direction.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the first driving component 400, the second driving component 510, the transmission assembly 800, and the mounting base 570 are all arranged inside the base 100. To prevent these components from being exposed to the external environment for a long time and being invaded by dust, moisture, or impurities, a protective end cap 620 can be provided inside the base 100. The protective end cap 620 is preferably a bowl-shaped structure, with its open end fastened to the base 100, thereby enclosing the entire driving and transmission structure within its internal space. Through this structural design, a relatively closed protective cavity can be formed inside the base 100, effectively protecting the internal motor, transmission mechanism, and locking assembly 500. Specifically, the protective end cap 620 can effectively block external dust, mud, and moisture from entering the internal structure, reducing the risk of wear and corrosion of transmission components, thereby improving the environmental adaptability of the device. At the same time, through reasonable sealing design (e.g., setting a sealing ring at the connection between the end cap and the base 100), the overall sealing performance can be further improved, preventing grease leakage and maintaining the stability of the internal lubrication environment. Furthermore, the protective end cap 620 adopts a detachable fastening or connection method, which ensures the protective effect while facilitating later inspection and maintenance of the internal structure. When it is necessary to maintain, replace or lubricate the motor, transmission assembly 800 or locking assembly 500, it is only necessary to remove the protective end cap 620 to access the internal space, thus balancing protection and maintainability.

[0121] This application also provides a vehicle, which includes a vehicle body, the vehicle body including a rear tow hook crossbeam 900 and a foldable tow hook as described in any of the foregoing embodiments, such as... Figure 29 and Figure 30 As shown, the base 100 of the foldable trailer hook is fixedly installed on the rear tow hook crossbeam 900.

[0122] By directly integrating the foldable trailer hitch onto the rear tow hook crossbeam 900 of the vehicle body, the rear tow hook crossbeam 900 can be used as a load-bearing structure to effectively transfer towing loads and ensure structural strength and safety in use. On the other hand, the foldable trailer hitch can be stored in the folded position when not in use, thereby avoiding adverse effects on the overall appearance and departure angle of the vehicle and improving the vehicle's passability and styling integrity.

[0123] Furthermore, by combining the compact transmission structure, independent locking component 500, and multi-stage guiding and limiting structure in the aforementioned embodiments, the foldable trailer hitch can achieve stable and reliable locking and unlocking functions when applied to vehicles, while also taking into account the requirements of lightweighting and space optimization, thereby improving the integration and overall performance of the vehicle.

[0124] In some preferred embodiments, the base 100, as the core load-bearing component of the foldable trailer hitch, has a first shaft hole 110 at one end of its main structure for mounting the rotating shaft 200 and related locking components 500; the other end of the main body has a C-shaped groove 170, thus making the base 100 generally Y-shaped. This structural design makes the functional division of the base 100 clearer: one end undertakes rotation and locking functions, while the other end is used for reliable connection with the vehicle body structure. Specifically, the C-shaped groove 170 is used to fit against the outer surface of the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, especially suitable for surface contact with the cylindrical surface of the rear tow hook crossbeam 900. Through this fit, the base 100 and the rear tow hook crossbeam 900 can be welded and fixed after assembly, thereby achieving a rigid connection between the foldable trailer hitch and the vehicle. Since the C-shaped groove 170 can cover part of the outer circumference of the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, compared with a planar connection structure, it can significantly increase the contact area, thereby improving welding strength and connection reliability.

[0125] More preferably, the opening of the C-shaped groove 170 faces the rear of the vehicle, that is, the C-shaped groove 170 is arranged on the front side of the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, so that the base 100 can be fastened to the rear tow hook crossbeam 900 from front to rear during installation. This assembly direction design is beneficial for positioning and installation operations during assembly; on the other hand, during vehicle movement or towing, the force direction mainly tends to pull the base 100 backward and tighten it against the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, thereby forming a self-locking fit between the C-shaped groove 170 and the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, further reducing the risk of detachment and improving the safety and reliability of the connection.

[0126] Therefore, by designing the base 100 as a Y-shaped configuration with a C-groove 170 and optimizing its opening direction after installation, not only can a high-strength connection with the rear tow hook beam 900 be achieved, but also a favorable mechanical matching relationship can be formed under stress, thereby improving the stability and safety of the overall structure.

[0127] In some embodiments, one end of the coupler body 300 is provided with a third shaft hole 310 for mating with the base 100 and the rotating shaft 200, thereby enabling the coupler body 300 to be rotated relative to the base 100. The other end of the coupler body 300 is provided with a tow hook ball 320 for connecting with the towing device to achieve a towing function.

[0128] During operation, when the coupler body 300 is in the extended position, such as Figure 29As shown, the coupler body 300, driven by the first drive member 400, rotates around the rotation axis 200 to a position where it unfolds outward relative to the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, exposing the tow hook ball 320 to the outside of the vehicle body and making it usable, thereby enabling reliable connection with an external towing device; when the coupler body 300 is in the folded position, as... Figure 30 As shown, the coupler body 300 continues to rotate around the rotation axis 200 to a position that extends roughly parallel to the rear tow hook crossbeam 900, so that the tow hook ball 320 is housed in the lower rear part of the vehicle body or in the adjacent area, thereby reducing the impact on the overall appearance of the vehicle and the departure angle.

[0129] Through the above structural design, the coupler body 300 can switch between unfolded and folded states, providing a stable towing connection when needed and allowing for concealed storage when not in use, thus balancing functionality with vehicle styling and maneuverability requirements. Furthermore, combined with the aforementioned locking structure, the coupler body 300 can be reliably locked in both positions, further enhancing safety and stability.

[0130] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0131] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0132] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A foldable trailer hitch, characterized in that, include: The base has a first shaft hole and a locking groove that communicates with the first shaft hole; A rotating shaft passes through the first shaft hole and is rotatably engaged with the base. A second shaft hole is provided inside the rotating shaft, and a first through hole is provided on the rotating shaft that radially extends to the second shaft hole. The locking assembly includes a second driving member, a push rod coaxial with the second shaft hole, a cantilever connected to the circumferential surface of the push rod, a wedge block formed by expansion at the free end of the cantilever, and a slider slidably disposed radially in the first through hole along the rotation axis. The slider has a wedge groove, and the wedge block slides in conjunction with the wedge groove. The second driving member is configured to drive the push rod to move the wedge block in a reciprocating linear motion along the axial direction of the rotation axis. The wedge block slides in conjunction with the wedge groove to move the slider in a reciprocating linear motion along the radial direction of the rotation axis. The foldable trailer hook has a locked state and an unlocked state: in the locked state, the rotating shaft rotates to a position where the first through hole is directly opposite a locking groove, and the slider is embedded in the locking groove under the drive of the wedge block; in the unlocked state, the slider is completely disengaged from the locking groove under the drive of the wedge block.

2. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first shaft hole extends from the inside to the outside of the base. The foldable trailer hook also includes a hook body and a first drive member. The hook body is fixed on the rotating shaft and located on the outside of the base. The hook body has a folded position and an unfolded position during rotation. The first drive member is configured to drive the rotating shaft and the hook body to rotate. In the folded position and the unfolded position, the first through hole is directly opposite a locking groove.

3. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slider has a connecting groove that communicates with the wedge-shaped groove, and the cantilever is embedded in the connecting groove.

4. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second driving component includes a housing, an electromagnetic coil, and a main pin. A permanent magnet is disposed inside the main pin. The main pin is connected to the push rod. The electromagnetic coil is configured to drive the permanent magnet to move the main pin in a linear reciprocating motion when energized.

5. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 4, characterized in that, A first elastic element is provided between the main pin and the housing. The first elastic element is configured to generate a pre-push force acting on the main pin in the unlocked state, so that the main pin tends to extend out of the housing.

6. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 4, characterized in that, A second elastic element is provided at the end of the push rod away from the housing, and the second elastic element is configured to abut against the rotating shaft in the locked state.

7. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second shaft hole includes a first hole segment, a second hole segment, and a third hole segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The first through hole is opened in the first hole segment. The end face formed between the first hole segment and the second hole segment is flush with the edge of the first through hole. The end of the push rod away from the second drive member is slidably limited within the third hole segment.

8. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cantilever, the wedge block, the slider, and the first through hole are evenly distributed in three groups along the circumference, and the locking groove is evenly distributed in six groups along the circumference.

9. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first shaft hole includes a fourth hole segment, a fifth hole segment, and a sixth hole segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The fourth hole segment is close to the inner side of the base. The locking groove is formed in the fifth hole segment. The rotating shaft includes a first shaft segment, a second shaft segment, and a third shaft segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The first through hole is formed in the second shaft segment. The first shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the fourth hole segment, the second shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the fifth hole segment, and the third shaft segment is rotatably engaged with the sixth hole segment.

10. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 9, characterized in that, The rotating shaft includes a first shaft segment, a second shaft segment, a third shaft segment, a fourth shaft segment, and a fifth shaft segment arranged sequentially along the axial direction with gradually decreasing diameters. The fourth shaft segment is a prismatic shaft, and the fifth shaft segment is a threaded shaft. A third shaft hole is provided on the coupler body. The third shaft hole includes a seventh hole segment adapted to the fourth shaft segment. A nut disc is screwed onto the fifth shaft segment, and the coupler body is fastened between the nut disc and the fourth shaft segment.

11. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 9, characterized in that, The outer circumferential edge of the first shaft segment is composed of a first arc segment and a second arc segment. The diameter of the first arc segment is larger than the diameter of the second arc segment. A first limiting surface and a second limiting surface are formed at both ends of the first arc segment. A limiting block extending into the fourth hole segment is provided on the base. A third limiting surface and a fourth limiting surface are formed at both ends of the circumferential direction of the limiting block. The first arc segment rotates with the wall surface of the fourth hole segment, and the second arc segment rotates with the inner edge surface of the limiting block. In the folded position, the first limiting surface and the third limiting surface abut against each other. In the unfolded position, the second limiting surface and the fourth limiting surface abut against each other.

12. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 11, characterized in that, A first mounting groove and a second mounting groove are provided on the end face at the connection between the fourth hole segment and the fifth hole segment. The first mounting groove is located at the third limiting surface, and the second mounting groove is located at the fourth limiting surface. The foldable trailer hook also includes a limit switch assembly. The limit switch assembly includes a first limit switch installed in the first mounting groove and a second limit switch installed in the second mounting groove. In the folded position, the first shaft segment triggers the first limit switch, and in the unfolded position, the first shaft segment triggers the second limit switch.

13. The foldable trailer hitch according to any one of claims 9-12, characterized in that, The first driving component drives the rotating shaft to rotate through a transmission assembly. The first driving component is a motor. The transmission assembly includes a worm, a turbine, a gear, and a gear disk. The worm is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor. The gear is coaxially arranged with the turbine. The worm meshes with the turbine. The gear disk is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft. The edge of the gear disk forms an arc-shaped rack. The gear meshes with the arc-shaped rack. The output shaft of the motor is orthogonal to the axis of the rotating shaft.

14. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 13, characterized in that, The gear plate is attached to the end face of the rotating shaft, and a second through hole is provided in the middle of the gear plate for the locking component to pass through.

15. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 13, characterized in that, When the coupler body is in the folded and unfolded positions, the two ends of the arc-shaped rack mesh with the gear, and the two ends of the arc-shaped rack have a larger buffer clearance when meshing with the gear compared to other areas.

16. The foldable trailer hitch according to claim 14, characterized in that, The locking assembly further includes a mounting base fixed to the base. The mounting base includes a mounting plate and a support leg disposed on the same side of the mounting plate. One end of the support leg is connected to the edge of the mounting plate, and the other end of the support leg is supported on the base. The gear plate is located between the mounting plate and the base. The mounting plate has a third through hole for the second driving member to pass through. The second driving member is fixed to the mounting plate.

17. A vehicle, comprising a vehicle body, characterized in that, The vehicle body includes a rear tow hook crossbeam and a foldable tow hook as described in any one of claims 1-16, the base being fixed to the rear tow hook crossbeam.

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