Pivoting Clevis Hitch for Universal Vehicle Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hitch systems for agricultural implements face challenges in being adaptable to various vehicles and compliant with road safety regulations, particularly when transporting hazardous materials like anhydrous ammonia, due to differences in hitch mechanisms and drawpin sizes.
Innovation Solution
A hitch apparatus with a tongue member and pivotally attached clevis straps that can align vertically with a drawpin hole, allowing conversion between ring hitch and clevis hitch configurations, along with a drawpin retainer to prevent upward movement and facilitate tool-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single hitch configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different vehicles and hitch mechanisms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch apparatus employs pivotally attached clevis straps that can rotate between different positions to accommodate different hitch configurations. The upper and lower clevis straps can pivot relative to the tongue member, allowing the hitch to dynamically adapt between ring hitch and clevis hitch modes, thereby achieving versatility without requiring multiple separate hitch devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating both ring hitch and clevis hitch capabilities in a single device. The tongue member with drawpin hole can function as a ring for pintle hooks, while the same structure can also accommodate clevis members with drawpins, making the hitch universal for different vehicle types and hitch mechanisms.
2Productivity
If conversion between hitch types is manual and tool-based, then structural simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotally attached clevis straps enable dynamic conversion between hitch types by simply rotating the straps to different positions. This dynamic mechanism allows quick conversion without manual assembly or disassembly operations, significantly improving conversion speed and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch apparatus performs the conversion function automatically through the pivotal movement of clevis straps, which can be operated without external tools. The structure itself provides the mechanism for conversion, eliminating the need for separate conversion tools and reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If drawpin holes are not precisely aligned, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but connection reliability and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotally attached clevis straps can rotate to dynamically align the drawpin holes with the tongue member's drawpin hole. This dynamic alignment capability ensures reliable connection by allowing the holes to self-align during the pivoting operation, maintaining connection reliability while reducing the stringency of fixed manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A hitch apparatus has a tongue member with drawpin hole. Upper and lower clevis straps are pivotally attached to a corresponding top and bottom sides of the tongue member about vertical pivot axes, such that the clevis straps can pivot from an operating position, where the upper clevis strap is above the drawpin hole and the lower clevis strap is below the drawpin hole, to an idle position where the clevis straps extend laterally from the tongue member. When the clevis straps are in the operating position, upper and lower clevis holes in the corresponding clevis straps are vertically aligned with the drawpin hole in the tongue member, and a recess is formed between one of the upper and lower clevis straps and the tongue member. A drawpin retainer prevents upward movement of a drawpin out of engagement with the clevis and drawpin holes.