Movable Hitch With Elevated Bearing Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer hitches lack the ability for frequent and easy lateral movement of the hitching point, making it difficult for operators, especially older individuals, to adjust the hitching point for tighter turns and highway towing without requiring excessive force or complex operations, while also being robust enough to withstand harsh towing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A hitch design featuring a bearing guide with elevated guides and a locking key system that allows for lateral movement of the hitching point, utilizing rollers for smooth fore-and-aft repositioning and a locking mechanism that minimizes bending moments during braking and maneuvering, ensuring easy operation and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hitching point is made fixed and robust to withstand large forces, then reliability and strength are improved, but adaptability and ease of lateral movement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch system transitions from a fixed mounting to a dynamic, movable hitching point that can be repositioned laterally along the vehicle frame. The bearing guide structure with elevated guides and locking key enables the hitch to move between multiple positions while maintaining secure engagement at each position, thus achieving both adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitching point is divided into discrete lateral positions defined by multiple sets of mounting holes and corresponding keyways. The locking key segments the continuous movement space into distinct stop positions, allowing the hitch to be securely fixed at each segment while enabling easy transition between segments for lateral adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual mechanical repositioning is used with multiple mounting holes, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to excessive force requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking key acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the hitch mounting system. Instead of requiring the operator to directly manipulate heavy mounting bolts and overcome large friction forces, the locking key provides a leveraged insertion and extraction mechanism that easily engages and disengages the hitch from its mounting position, significantly reducing operator effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch system is designed to be self-positioning through the bearing guide structure. When the locking key is inserted, it automatically guides the hitch to the correct lateral position and engages with the corresponding keyway, eliminating the need for the operator to precisely align multiple mounting holes and manually adjust the hitch position.
3Ease of operation
If frequent lateral movement is enabled, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability and robustness deteriorate due to increased wear and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing load and friction are extracted from the lateral movement interface and transferred to the elevated bearing guides. The locking key and keyway system handles only the positioning and locking function, while the elevated guides support the full weight and towing forces, separating the movement function from the load-bearing function to maintain reliability during frequent repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical mounting system relying on friction and thread engagement is replaced with a bearing-guided system using rolling or sliding contact in the elevated guides. This substitution reduces wear and mechanical stress on the movement components, enhancing durability for frequent lateral adjustments while maintaining secure engagement.
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 easy and secure lateral adjustment of the hitching point, reducing the risk of breakage and operator strain, while maintaining robustness and reliability to withstand harsh conditions over the life of multiple vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing guide includes a guide which is elevated relative to the bearing surface. In the preferred embodiment, the elevated guide is provided by a bar which is centered over wheels for the fore-and-aft rolling of the hitch point
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing guide for a hitch allows lateral movement of the hitch. The bearing guide is elevated relative to the bearing surface. Two trucks roll on wheels each about their own elevated guide for fore-and-aft rolling of the hitch point. The bearing guide also provides a keyway which receives a locking key. The locking key is supported on both sides of the keyway by a plunger control rod, and can be unlocked by pulling and rotating a handle. When the towing vehicle is driven to relocate the hitch point, the locking key reengages itself into a different keyway on the bearing guide.