Trailer Hitch Shifting Fork Assembly for Secure Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer hitch ball mount locking systems lack ease and safety in locking and unlocking operations, leading to potential misalignment and instability during towing.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch ball mount locking apparatus featuring a locking rod assembly with slidable rods and a shifting fork, allowing for angular movement and secure locking through a bevel rim and rail slots, along with a locking mechanism to maintain the fork in open or closed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional locking mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but the ease of operation is poor and safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking rod is designed to slide between locked and unlocked positions rather than requiring manual manipulation of complex mechanisms. The shifting fork dynamically changes position to either block or allow removal of the hitch ball, providing ease of operation through simple user actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shifting fork acts as an intermediary component between the user's manual input and the locking rod. By manipulating the shifting fork, the user indirectly controls the locking rod's position, simplifying the operation while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid coupling is used, then stability is high, but adaptability to angular movement is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bevel rim and rail slots create a dynamic coupling system that adapts to angular movements. The hitch ball can rotate and angle within the socket while the locking mechanism maintains stability by engaging at appropriate positions, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bevel rim allows changes in angular parameters of the hitch ball relative to the trailer coupler. This design enables the connection to accommodate various angles and positions while maintaining a secure locked state, providing both adaptability and stability.
3Ease of operation
If precise alignment is required, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to misalignment risk
Solution Approach 1:
The bevel rim design allows for parameter changes in angular alignment without compromising the locking function. The system tolerates variations in alignment parameters while maintaining secure coupling, reducing the need for precise manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates built-in tolerance for misalignment through the bevel rim geometry, cushioning against potential alignment issues before they become problems. This prevents misalignment from affecting operation while maintaining ease of use.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer hitch ball mount locking apparatus that includes a locking rod assembly having a main body with a slidable rod extending from each end of the main body, a trailer hitch coupler having a hitch ball socket for receiving a hitch ball therein and a pair of rail slots for receiving and supporting a free end of the corresponding slidable rod of the locking rod assembly therein, and a shifting fork pivotably connected to the trailer hitch coupler with the shifting fork having a hand gripping end and a slotted end with a surface for engaging a portion of the main body of the locking rod assembly to guide the locking rod assembly between an open gate condition and a closed gate condition.