Guided Ball Clamp Coupler Assembly Preventing Jamming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Trailer couplers often experience issues where the hitch ball fails to properly enter the coupler socket due to the ball clamp jamming upward when the hitch ball strikes it from below, leading to insecure engagement.
Innovation Solution
A coupler assembly with a guided ball clamp system, featuring a housing guide ramp and ball clamp lateral guide member that restricts unwanted movement of the ball clamp, ensuring a sufficient opening for the hitch ball to enter and preventing jamming, allowing for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball clamp is positioned to securely retain the hitch ball, then separation is prevented, but the hitch ball may not properly enter the socket portion due to the ball clamp jamming upward
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ramp provides preliminary guidance to the ball clamp before the hitch ball insertion is complete. This ensures the ball clamp is in the correct position to allow proper entry of the hitch ball into the socket, eliminating the need for repositioning and ensuring ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ramp serves as an intermediary that facilitates the coordinated movement of the ball clamp and hitch ball. It ensures the ball clamp moves smoothly into position without jamming, allowing the hitch ball to enter the socket properly while maintaining retention capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ball clamp is allowed to move upward freely, then it can respond to hitch ball insertion, but it may jam into the coupler and prevent proper coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ramp pre-establishes the correct movement path for the ball clamp before upward motion occurs. This preliminary guidance ensures the ball clamp moves adaptively in response to hitch ball insertion while maintaining reliable engagement by preventing jamming into the coupler.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ramp acts as an intermediary that mediates the upward movement of the ball clamp. It allows the ball clamp to respond adaptively to hitch ball insertion while ensuring it does not jam into the coupler, thus maintaining both adaptability and engagement reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler assembly for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle hitch ball is provided. The assembly includes a housing with a coupler socket adapted to receive a hitch ball. A ball clamp is disposed within the interior of the coupler housing and is movable toward and away from the coupler socket. The ball clamp has a clamping portion that retains the hitch ball within the coupler socket with the ball clamp positioned toward the coupler socket in a hitch ball retention position. A guide ramp is disposed within the coupler housing rearward of the coupler socket. The guide ramp projects toward the ball clamp and slopes upward and forward toward the coupler socket. A lateral guide member is disposed on the ball clamp rearward of the guide ramp. The lateral guide member cooperates with the guide ramp surface to limit forward movement of the ball clamp into the coupler socket.