Monolithic Gooseneck Hitch Assembly Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gooseneck hitches are heavy, large, and difficult to attach due to their fabrication from welded metal pieces, limiting their shape and size, and they often obstruct the load bed of towing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic gooseneck hitch is designed with beams and rails integrally formed to attach to a cross member below the load bed, featuring a weld-free construction and a receptacle for securing a hitch ball, allowing for efficient attachment and operation without obstructing the load bed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If gooseneck hitches are fabricated from welded metal pieces, then they can achieve sufficient strength for heavy loads, but they become heavy, large, and difficult to attach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate metal pieces into a single monolithic structure. The hitch assembly is formed as one integrated piece that includes the mounting plate, vertical post, and horizontal rail components, eliminating the need for welding multiple parts together. This merging reduces the overall weight while maintaining the strength required for heavy load handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter from assembled components to a monolithic formed structure. By using monolithic formation processes, the hitch achieves both the required strength for heavy loads and a reduction in weight compared to traditional welded assemblies of multiple metal pieces.
2Strength
If gooseneck hitches are made from welded metal pieces, then they can provide necessary structural strength, but their shape and size are limited and they obstruct the load bed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mounting plate, vertical post, and horizontal rail into a single monolithic structure. This integration allows for optimized spatial arrangement that reduces the overall volume occupied by the hitch assembly, enabling it to fit under the load bed without obstruction while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the hitch assembly in a three-dimensional space under the load bed, utilizing vertical and horizontal dimensions efficiently. The monolithic structure is configured to extend downward and laterally in a manner that maximizes strength while minimizing the volume occupied, allowing it to fit within the available space without interfering with load bed components.
3Reliability
If traditional gooseneck hitches are used, then they can be attached to the frame, but they require welding and complex assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mounting plate, vertical post, and horizontal rail into a single monolithic component. This eliminates the welding process entirely, as the entire assembly is formed as one piece. The simplified manufacturing process improves ease of production while maintaining reliable attachment to the vehicle frame through the integrated mounting plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the welding process from the manufacturing sequence by using monolithic formation. The complex assembly of welding multiple metal pieces together is replaced with a single-forming process, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable attachment through the integrated design.
4Reliability
If hitch balls are permanently secured to the frame, then they provide stable towing, but they obstruct the load bed when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable hitch ball that can be selectively positioned. The horizontal rail allows the hitch ball to move along its length, enabling it to be repositioned to clear the load bed when towing is not required. This dynamic positioning maintains towing stability when needed while improving load bed accessibility when the hitch ball is moved to a different position.
Data Source
AI summary
A gooseneck hitch attachable to a cross member secured to a frame below a load bed of a vehicle, the cross member having a width is shown and described. The gooseneck hitch may include a beam selectively attachable to the cross member below the load bed and a rail monolithically formed with the beam and extending from the beam. The gooseneck hitch may also include a receptacle monolithically formed with the rail, where the receptacle is capable of selectively securing a hitch ball.