Pivoting Hitch Assembly Shock Load Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hitch assemblies for towing vehicles often fail under shock loads, posing safety risks due to breakage, which can result in injury or damage to people and property, especially when towing heavy or stuck vehicles in difficult terrain.
Innovation Solution
A strong and lightweight hitch assembly comprising a coupling tongue and U-shaped clevis made from materials like 4140 hot-rolled steel or aluminum alloy, with wear plates and support materials to enhance durability and distribute loads effectively, allowing for safe towing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hitch assemblies are used for towing, then they can provide basic towing capability, but they fail under shock loads and pose safety risks due to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch assembly combines aluminum alloy components (coupling tongue, clevis) with steel components (hitch pin, wear plates) to create a composite structure that leverages the high strength-to-weight ratio of aluminum and the superior shock resistance of steel, resolving the contradiction between reliability under shock loads and overall strength
Solution Approach 2:
Steel wear plates are strategically positioned at high-stress contact points on the aluminum components, providing localized reinforcement exactly where shock loads are most likely to cause failure, while maintaining aluminum's lightweight advantages in less critical areas
2Strength
If steel materials are used for the hitch assembly, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid aluminum-steel construction achieves the required structural integrity through material composition rather than uniform steel construction, significantly reducing the overall weight of the hitch assembly while maintaining necessary strength levels
Solution Approach 2:
Steel is applied only where structurally necessary (pin connections, wear surfaces) rather than throughout the entire assembly, allowing the majority of the structure to be made from lightweight aluminum while preserving structural integrity at critical load paths
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
The hitch assembly effectively withstands shock loads, reducing the risk of breakage and ensuring safer towing operations by distributing forces and maintaining structural integrity under heavy loads, with aluminum alloy versions demonstrating higher load-carrying capacity compared to steel.
Implementation Method 1
a U-shaped clevis with a first end and a second end, that is substantially flat in cross section and that consists of an aperture at the first end and the second, said U-shaped clevis being pivotally coupled to the second end of the coupling tongue with the hitch pin
Data Source
AI summary
A hitch assembly that comprises a coupling tongue with a first end and a second end, a substantially U-shaped clevis that is substantially flat in cross section, pivotally coupled to the second end of the coupling tongue by a hitch pin, and an opening formed by the coupling tongue and the clevis, sized to receive a towing member. The hitch assembly is particularly suited for connecting a tow strap or belt to a commercially available tubular trailer hitch receiver, for use in towing operations.