Pivoting Trailer Hitch Ball Mount for Tongue Weight Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring tongue weight of a trailer is time-consuming and dangerous, affecting safety as it can lead to trailer sway or rear tire overload during towing, as existing methods require decoupling the trailer from the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch system with a ball mount that includes a load measurement device and a hitch portion configured to pivot relative to a fulcrum, allowing for real-time measurement of downward force on the ball, displayed on a user interface, enabling accurate determination of tongue weight without decoupling the trailer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tongue weight is measured by decoupling the trailer from the vehicle, then measurement can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
A load measurement device is introduced as an intermediary component between the hitch receiver and the ball mount. This device includes a load cell that measures the downward force (tongue weight) while the trailer remains coupled to the vehicle, eliminating the need for decoupling and thereby reducing measurement time and safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
The manual decoupling and weighing process is replaced with an automated electronic measurement system. The load measurement device with load cell provides real-time digital measurement of tongue weight, substituting the mechanical process of physical decoupling and external weighing with an electronic sensing and display system
2Measurement precision
If tongue weight is measured by decoupling the trailer from the vehicle, then measurement can be performed, but safety risks increase due to potential trailer sway or tire overload
Solution Approach 1:
The load measurement device serves as a safety intermediary that continuously monitors tongue weight during towing operations. By providing real-time feedback on tongue weight through a display device, the system allows operators to ensure proper weight distribution without compromising towing safety or requiring trailer decoupling
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by displaying the measured tongue weight to the user in real-time. This allows operators to verify that tongue weight is within acceptable limits (9-15% of gross trailer weight) before and during towing, enabling corrective adjustments to prevent unsafe conditions such as trailer sway or tire overload
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 safe and efficient measurement of tongue weight in real-time, preventing trailer sway and rear tire overload by providing a safe and convenient method to ensure the tongue weight is within acceptable limits.
Implementation Method 1
The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion
Data Source
AI summary
A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can comprise a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer, a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, and a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion. The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, with the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion. The load measurement device can be configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.