Self-adjusting Fifth Wheel Hitch Bushings for Tolerance Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth wheel trailer hitches obstruct the truck bed surface and are difficult to attach due to tolerances and variations in anchor bushing locations and puck-shaped receptacles, with existing solutions only allowing cross-car direction adjustments, not fore-and-aft adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A fifth wheel assembly with a bushing featuring a boss and guide pin that limits movement to align with an oblong receptacle opening, allowing self-adjustment to accommodate tolerance stack-up while minimizing angular offset, and a T-pin mechanism for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If anchor bushings have slots for adjustment, then ease of installation is improved, but adjustment is limited to cross-car direction only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-direction (cross-car) adjustment slots to two-dimensional adjustment capability by combining cross-car slots with fore-and-aft movement capability through the oblong opening geometry, enabling adjustment in both横向 and longitudinal directions
2Adaptability or versatility
If bushings are allowed to rotate freely to accommodate tolerance stack-up, then adaptability is improved, but alignment with oblong opening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the bushing and the oblong opening, controlling and guiding the rotation movement to ensure proper alignment while still accommodating tolerance stack-up through the oblong geometry
3Ease of manufacture
If fifth wheel hitch is mounted on truck bed surface, then ease of installation is improved, but it obstructs the truck bed surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mounting function from the truck bed surface by using an under-bed H-frame assembly with puck-shaped receptacles, removing the obstruction from the visible truck bed surface while maintaining the fifth wheel hitch functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth wheel assembly for a pick-up truck having a frame disposed below the truck bed that supports a plurality of receptacles that define oblong openings. The fifth wheel assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch, and a plurality of bushings including a boss portion having a cylindrical protrusion on an upper surface and an oblong protrusion on a lower surface. The locations of the bushings are sells-adjusting to facilitate orienting the oblong protrusions to be inserted into the oblong openings. Jam nuts are assembled to the cylindrical protrusion of each of the bosses that are tightened to fix the position of the bosses. T-pins have an oblong head oriented in alignment with the oblong protrusions when inserted into the oblong openings in an unlocked position. The T-pins are pivoted to a locked position after being inserted through the oblong openings.