Dimensional Force Sensing Hitch Ball for Towing Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively monitor and manage towing forces, leading to potential damage and reliability issues in vehicles when towing trailers, as they struggle to accurately measure dynamic changes in forces during motion.
Innovation Solution
A hitch force monitoring system with a dimensional force sensing hitch ball equipped with sensors to measure longitudinal, lateral, and vertical forces, coupled with a controller and user interface to display and alert users of push, pull, and sway forces, ensuring safe towing within rated limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are attached to measure longitudinal, lateral, and vertical forces, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple force measurement capabilities into a single integrated hitch ball assembly. The spherical interface inherently handles multiple force vectors (longitudinal, lateral, vertical) through its geometry, allowing a single device to perform what would otherwise require multiple separate sensors. This merging approach maintains high measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch ball serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mechanical connector for towing while also functioning as a multi-axis force sensor. The spherical geometry enables it to measure forces in all three spatial dimensions (push, pull, sway) through a single universal interface, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices for each force component.
2Reliability
If real-time force monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring force measurements from the sensors and providing immediate visual feedback through LED indicators. The LEDs display the magnitude and direction of forces (push, pull, sway) in real-time, allowing operators to adjust loading to stay within safe limits. This feedback mechanism significantly improves towing reliability by preventing overload conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch ball system is self-sufficient in that it contains all necessary components (sensors, processing unit, LED indicators) integrated into a single device. The system automatically measures forces, processes the data, and provides feedback without requiring external monitoring equipment or complex additional systems, thereby improving reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time monitoring and alerting of towing forces, preventing overloading and maintaining vehicle reliability by providing clear graphical and alphanumeric feedback, thus ensuring safe towing practices.
Implementation Method 1
Two or more sensors are attached to the stem to respectively measure longitudinal and lateral forces on the hitch ball
Data Source
AI summary
A hitch force monitoring system includes a hitch ball having a stem downward mountable to a vehicle drawbar. Two or more sensors are attached to the stem to respectively measure longitudinal and lateral forces on the hitch ball. A controller is communicatively coupled to the two or more sensors to receive the measured longitudinal and lateral forces and the user interface. The controller is communicatively coupled to a user interface device to indicate the measured longitudinal and lateral forces on the hitch ball that represent push, pull and sway forces of a trailer load attached to the hitch ball.