Adjustable Trailer Hitch Lateral Longitudinal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer hitches lack the ability to be easily and simultaneously adjusted laterally and longitudinally, making it difficult to securely attach a trailer to a towing vehicle, and they are not cost-effective or user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable trailer hitch with a slide-tube system that allows for lateral and longitudinal adjustment, featuring a draw bar with three user-selectable balls that automatically align with the receiver tube due to a pie-shaped design and locking pins, enabling easy attachment and detachment of the trailer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed trailer hitch is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the trailer cannot be easily attached to the towing vehicle due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the hitch assembly movable through a slide tube that can shift position within the receiver tube. The draw bar is designed to move laterally within the body, and the entire assembly can move longitudinally along the receiver tube, transforming a static fixed hitch into a dynamic adjustable system that automatically aligns with the trailer tongue.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch assembly incorporates self-aligning features where the draw bar automatically positions itself laterally within the body, and the slide tube automatically positions itself longitudinally within the receiver tube. The stops and apertures work together to enable automatic alignment without requiring complex external adjustment mechanisms or manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lateral and longitudinal adjustment mechanisms are added to the trailer hitch, then alignment capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a body with lateral adjustment capability through apertures and stops, a draw bar that can move independently, a slide tube for longitudinal adjustment, and locking pins. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard machining processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost compared to a single integrated adjustment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nesting by placing the draw bar inside the body, and the slide tube inside the receiver tube. The draw bar moves laterally within the body's interior pocket, while the entire body-draw bar assembly moves longitudinally within the slide tube. This nested arrangement provides multi-directional adjustment capability without requiring separate external mechanisms for each adjustment function.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple locking mechanisms are used to secure the adjustable components, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the device becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses locking pins as intermediary elements that simplify the interaction between the adjustable components and the user. The locking pins insert through aligned apertures in the body and draw bar to secure lateral position, and through apertures in the slide tube and receiver tube to secure longitudinal position. This intermediary mechanism provides precise positioning while maintaining ease of operation through simple insert-and-lock action.
Solution Approach 2:
The apertures are pre-positioned at specific locations on the body and draw bar to guide the locking pins into precise positions. The stops are pre-positioned to limit the range of motion and ensure the draw bar reaches the correct lateral position. This preliminary positioning of features ensures accurate ball alignment is achieved automatically when the locking pins are inserted, without requiring complex adjustment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for an adjustable trailer hitch which allows each of three differently sized user selected balls to be adjusted laterally and longitudinally so that the tongue of the trailer can be more easily attached to the towing vehicle. The trailer hitch has a body portion mounted on a slide-tube for insertion in a receiver-tube wherein the body portion has an interior space which allows the draw bar to move laterally from side to side inside the space along with a plurality of apertures so that the draw bar can be laterally adjusted using the apertures and a locking pin. When the draw bar is moved all the way to the left or right the user selected ball is automatically aligned with the receiver tube due to the effective sizing of the draw bar which is assured by the right and left stops of the body portion contacting the right and left outer edges of the draw bar.