Offset Gooseneck Ball Extender With Outrigger Puck Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing puck-mounted offset gooseneck ball adapters concentrate torsional forces on the center socket, leading to potential catastrophic failures and towing difficulties due to inadequate load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A puck-mounted offset gooseneck ball adapter with an outrigger base plate that connects to forward puck receivers, distributing towing loads more evenly by using a central connection portion with a cylindrical shaft and rotating locks, and an offset gooseneck portion with a gooseneck ball, providing additional stability and load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an offset gooseneck ball adapter is used that relies solely on the center socket, then the adapter can be installed and provide offset functionality, but the center socket experiences excessive torsional forces leading to potential catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter base plate is divided into multiple connection points: a central connection portion that interfaces with the center socket and outrigger portions that interface with forward receivers. This segmentation distributes the torsional loads from the offset gooseneck ball across multiple structural attachment points rather than concentrating all forces on the center socket, thereby improving reliability while maintaining offset functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter combines multiple connection mechanisms into a single integrated base plate structure. The central connection portion with captured ball and locking shaft is merged with outrigger portions that have rotating locks, creating a unified structure that distributes loads across both the center socket and forward receivers simultaneously
2Adaptability or versatility
If an offset gooseneck ball adapter is used, then offset towing capability is achieved, but the locking mechanism experiences excessive torsion forces leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is segmented into multiple independent locking mechanisms: a locking shaft for the central connection portion and separate rotating locks for each outrigger portion. This segmentation distributes the torsional forces across multiple locking points, preventing any single locking mechanism from bearing excessive torsion loads
3Adaptability or versatility
If the center socket is used for offset gooseneck ball, then the adapter can be installed, but the socket becomes loose under unintended loading scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter merges the central connection to the center socket with additional connections to forward receivers through the outrigger portions. This combination creates a triangulated structural arrangement that stabilizes the center socket connection by distributing loads, preventing the socket from becoming loose under torsional loading scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A gooseneck ball extender is designed to mate with a center socket and receivers mounted to a towing vehicle and provide a gooseneck ball that is offset from the center socket. The extender has a cylindrical shaft with captured balls that can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position through a spring-loaded locking shaft that moves between an unlocked and locked position. The locking shaft is biased towards the locked position where the captured balls are extended. The extender has an outrigger portion that has puck locks. The puck locks are rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. As attached to the towing vehicle, the outrigger portion provides additional support to the gooseneck ball.