Trailer Coupler Stabilizers for Reliable Electrical Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings between vehicles and trailers are difficult to connect and prone to decoupling when the vehicle moves, disrupting bi-directional electronic communication necessary for controlling trailer components.
Innovation Solution
A coupler assembly with a pin extender, pin receiver, and stabilizers, including springs and solid heads, that maintain electrical contact and mechanical stability through rotating and sliding movements, ensuring consistent communication and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art couplings are used to join vehicle wires with trailer wires, then electrical connection is established, but the coupling is difficult to connect and susceptible to decoupling when the vehicle moves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring-loaded electrical pin that can dynamically adjust its position within a slot. The spring allows the pin to move vertically to accommodate relative motion between the vehicle and trailer while maintaining continuous electrical contact. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling the coupling to adapt to movement rather than resisting it, thereby improving reliability without complicating the connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling is divided into distinct functional components: a housing, a stabilizer assembly, and an electrical pin assembly. The electrical pin is separated from the stabilizer but both are contained within the same housing structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together as a unified system, making the overall coupling easier to manufacture and connect while maintaining stability.
2Reliability
If a rigid coupling structure is used to maintain electrical contact, then electrical connection is stable, but the coupling cannot accommodate vehicle movement such as when hitting bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical pin is mounted on a spring that allows it to move vertically within a slot in the housing. This dynamic arrangement enables the pin to maintain electrical contact while accommodating vertical movements of the vehicle relative to the trailer, such as when hitting bumps. The spring acts as a compliant element that absorbs movement while preserving electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrical pin from fixed to movable by introducing spring elasticity. This parameter change allows the pin to adjust its position dynamically, maintaining electrical contact pressure while accommodating relative motion between the vehicle and trailer. The spring constant and slot dimensions are optimized to provide the right balance between electrical contact stability and movement accommodation.
3Reliability
If stabilizers are added to prevent decoupling, then connection stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stabilizer function with the electrical pin housing into a single integrated assembly. The stabilizer is positioned within the same housing that contains the electrical pin, and both components work together to prevent decoupling while maintaining electrical contact. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure, preventing decoupling without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the electrical pin, provides a slot for the pin to move, and houses the stabilizer mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, as the housing itself contributes to both electrical connection and mechanical stability. By making the housing universal, the patent prevents decoupling without adding excessive complexity.
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 coupler assembly provides reliable bi-directional electrical communication and mechanical stability, preventing decoupling during vehicle movement, such as when hitting bumps, while allowing for rotational and vertical shifts.
Implementation Method 1
Each stabilizer comprises a spring and a solid head
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler assembly for a trailer hitch includes: a pin extender comprising electrical pins and first slots; a pin receiver comprising pin slots and second and third slots; a housing comprising fourth slots; first stabilizers disposed in the first and second slots; second stabilizers disposed in the third and fourth slots. Each stabilizer includes a spring and a solid head, and the electrical pins are disposed in the pin slots.