Adjustable Towing Hitch With Sliding Post And Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing hitches for rear-wheel-drive vehicles lack a robust and adjustable connection mechanism that can effectively manage torque, straight-line forces, and twisting forces during towing, particularly when connecting a vehicle to a wheel lift of a tow truck.
Innovation Solution
A hitch design comprising a T-member with a receiver stein, sleeve, and coupling member, featuring a post that slides within the sleeve and a coupler with a socket to secure a ball, allowing for adjustable height and secure attachment to a vehicle, capable of withstanding significant forces and providing a hitch drop range for stable towing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional hitch design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot effectively manage torque, straight-line forces, and twisting forces during towing
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch is divided into distinct functional components: a receiver tube for mounting to the vehicle, a receiver stein for connecting to the vehicle frame, a coupling member with post and sleeve for height adjustment, and a coupler for attaching to the tow truck ball. Each segment handles specific forces and functions, allowing the overall structure to manage complex towing forces while maintaining reasonable complexity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-height hitch connection is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide stable connection across different vehicle heights and towing configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member incorporates a dynamic height adjustment mechanism where the post can slide vertically within the sleeve along a channel, allowing the coupler height to be adjusted according to different vehicle heights and towing requirements. This dynamic adaptability is achieved through a simple sliding mechanism with hitch pin holes at different positions, providing versatility without excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If a robust hitch design with multiple components is used, then force management is improved, but the difficulty of assembly and adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch is segmented into modular components that can be assembled in a logical sequence: first attaching the receiver stein to the vehicle frame, then mounting the coupling member to the receiver tube, and finally attaching the coupler to the tow truck ball. This segmentation allows for systematic assembly while maintaining connection security through dedicated attachment points and locking mechanisms for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver stein is pre-configured with attachment points for securing to the vehicle frame, and the coupling member includes pre-positioned hitch pin holes at various heights. These preliminary configurations enable straightforward assembly without requiring complex alignment or adjustment during the assembly process, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Hitches are disclosed relating to towing that include a sleeve, a receiver stem, a post and a coupler. The post may slide within the channel allowing the hitch to be adjustable. The coupler may be a socket configured to receive a ball. The post and the coupler may be in alignment. The described hitches may be useful for the towing of vehicles having a receiver tube.