Rotating Adjustable Drawbar Without Locking Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable drawbars for towed vehicles, such as trailers, require precise alignment and can be difficult to operate in harsh conditions like rough water, and are prone to corrosion, making it challenging to adjust the length effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable drawbar system comprising a hollow member and an extension member with a guide and opening arrangement that allows axial rotation, enabling easy extension and retraction without the need for locking pins, and is constructed from durable materials like steel or stainless steel to withstand corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If removable locking pins are used to secure the extension member, then the drawbar can be adjusted in length, but precise alignment is required and operation becomes difficult in harsh conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using removable locking pins that require precise alignment and manual manipulation, the patent inverts the approach by using a permanently attached extension member that rotates within the hollow member. The locking mechanism is replaced by a rotation-based system where the extension member simply needs to be rotated to a specific orientation to engage with the towing vehicle, eliminating the need for alignment and manual pin manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the locking pin mechanism entirely from the system. Rather than having removable pins that need to be inserted and secured, the design uses a continuous extension member that is permanently attached to the hollow member, allowing length adjustment through rotation alone. This removes the problematic alignment and manipulation requirements of traditional locking pins.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spring-loaded locking pins are used, then the drawbar can be adjusted, but they are difficult to grip and operate in rough conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely removes spring-loaded locking pins from the system. Instead of relying on these difficult-to-grip mechanical components, the design uses a simple rotation mechanism where the extension member is permanently attached and can be easily rotated by hand or with minimal effort to adjust the drawbar length, eliminating the gripping and operation difficulties of spring-loaded pins.
3Strength
If metal components are used in seawater conditions, then the drawbar provides structural strength, but corrosion and oxidation restrict movement over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all locking mechanisms including pins and springs that are susceptible to corrosion and oxidation in seawater environments. By using a permanently attached extension member that rotates within the hollow member without any movable locking components, the system eliminates the reliability issues caused by corrosion while maintaining the necessary structural strength through the metal construction of the extension and hollow members.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable drawbar for a towed vehicle, such as a trailer, which allows it to be connected to a towing vehicle. It includes a hollow member which is configured with an opening along a surface and slidably receives an extension member. The extension member includes a guide which is dimensioned to be received by the opening. When the extension member is axially rotated in a first direction, the guide is engaged with the hollow member and prevents slidable movement. When the extension member is axially rotated in a second direction, the guide is disengaged from the opening and slidable movement is permitted. In this manner, the length of the drawbar may be adjusted as required, for example, to reduce the overall footprint of the trailer when being stored in a confined area.