Offset Gooseneck Ball Extender With Puck Outriggers for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offset gooseneck ball adapters for truck bed-mounted towing systems concentrate torsional forces on a single attachment point, leading to potential safety issues and mechanical failure due to inadequate load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A puck-mounted offset gooseneck bell adapter with an outrigger base plate and rotating locks that distributes towing loads more evenly by connecting to both the center socket and forward puck receivers, providing additional stability and load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an offset gooseneck ball adapter is used to provide offset towing capability, then the offset towing function is achieved, but the torsional forces are concentrated on a single attachment point causing potential mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is divided into multiple attachment points: a center socket attachment and multiple outrigger arms that attach to separate puck receivers. This segmentation distributes the torsional forces across multiple attachment points rather than concentrating them on a single point, thereby maintaining reliability while achieving offset towing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter combines multiple attachment mechanisms into a single integrated structure. The center socket attachment and outrigger arms work together as a unified system to distribute and share the load, merging the functionality of multiple attachment points into one cohesive adapter assembly.
2Device complexity
If an offset gooseneck ball adapter relying solely on the center socket is used, then the adapter structure is simple, but the load distribution is poor causing the center socket to become loose
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter structure is segmented into a central body and multiple outrigger arms that extend to separate attachment points. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple puck receivers rather than concentrated on the center socket, improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter extends into multiple spatial dimensions by incorporating outrigger arms that reach forward and to the sides. This three-dimensional configuration allows attachment to multiple receivers distributed in space, improving load distribution while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the center socket is used to withstand significant torsional forces from an offset gooseneck ball, then the offset towing capability is achieved, but the locking mechanism experiences excessive torsion forces
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter segments the load-bearing function across multiple attachment points. The outrigger arms carry a portion of the torsional load to separate puck receivers, reducing the burden on both the center socket and the locking mechanism. This segmentation allows offset towing capability while protecting the locking mechanism from excessive forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The outrigger arms act as intermediary elements between the center socket and the puck receivers. These arms transfer and distribute the forces, mediating the load path so that the locking mechanism does not have to withstand the full torsional forces alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A gooseneck ball extender is designed to mate with a center socket and receivers mounted to a towing vehicle and provide a gooseneck bell that is offset from the center socket. The extender has a cylindrical shaft with captured balls that can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position through a spring-loaded locking shaft that moves between an unlocked and locked position. The locking shaft is biased towards the locked position where the captured balls are extended. The extender has an outrigger portion that has puck locks. The puck locks are rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. As attached to the towing vehicle, the outrigger portion provides additional support to the gooseneck ball.