Torsion Gooseneck Coupler Absorbs Transient Tongue Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gooseneck trailers experience transient tongue forces during towing, which can lead to unsettling and potentially dangerous conditions for the driver due to the significant tongue weight carried by the towing vehicle, necessitating an improved attachment system to absorb these forces.
Innovation Solution
A torsion gooseneck coupler with upper and lower torsion assemblies, featuring torsion bars and arms that resist rotation and allow limited vertical motion between the towing vehicle and trailer, along with an optional load indicator for visual displacement measurement, providing an offset for vehicles with short beds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a rigid gooseneck coupler is used to carry significant tongue weight, then the towing vehicle can support the trailer weight, but transient forces are transmitted directly to the vehicle causing unsettling and dangerous conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the coupler system by introducing torsion bars and springs that allow controlled flexion and movement. This transforms the rigid connection into a semi-flexible system that can absorb transient forces while maintaining adequate support for tongue weight, thereby improving safety without sacrificing load-bearing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The torsion bars and springs are pre-configured to absorb and cushion transient forces before they can be transmitted to the towing vehicle. This beforehand cushioning mechanism mitigates the impact of sudden forces during towing operations, protecting the driver and vehicle from dangerous vibrations and shocks
2Reliability
If a flexible coupling system is introduced to absorb transient forces, then driver control and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple torsion assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is segmented into distinct functional components: upper and lower torsion assemblies, each with their own torsion bars and springs. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to absorb transient forces, making the complex system more manageable and maintainable
Solution Approach 2:
The torsion bars and springs act as intermediary elements between the rigid mounting points and the transient forces. These intermediaries absorb and dissipate energy through controlled deformation, reducing the complexity of force transmission paths and simplifying the overall structural design
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 torsion gooseneck coupler effectively absorbs transient tongue loading, enhancing driver control and safety by mitigating the impact of transient forces, while also accommodating vehicles with varying bed lengths.
Implementation Method 1
The torsion bars resist rotation with respect to the torsion tubes
Implementation Method 2
The torsion bars and arms resist movement along the axes of the upper and lower torsion assembly and allow for limited relative vertical motion between the towing vehicle and the trailer
Data Source
AI summary
A gooseneck hitch adapter has an upper assembly that is designed to affix to an existing trailer. The upper assembly has an upper and a lower torsion tube that each has corresponding torsion bars. The torsion bars extend outwardly where each affixes to a corresponding torsion arm. The hitch adapter has a lower assembly that is designed to affix to a towing vehicle. The lower assembly has an upper and a lower torsion tube that each has corresponding torsion bars. The upper torsion arm affixes the upper torsion bar of the upper assembly to the upper torsion bar of the lower assembly. Correspondingly, a lower torsion arm affixes the lower torsion bars of the upper assembly to the lower assembly. The torsion tubes and bars resist rotation and cooperate to allow limited movement and provide resistance to forces along the axes of the upper and lower assemblies.