Height-Adjustable Trailer Coupling With Spring-Locked Pin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height-adjustable trailer hitches are cumbersome to operate, requiring laborious alignment of locking pins with guide rail bores for secure positioning, and lack efficient mechanisms for easy engagement and disengagement, posing risks during handling.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch design featuring resiliently biased locking pins and bolts with independent adjustment, allowing for easy alignment and secure locking without manual pin alignment, facilitated by chamfers and handles for safe operation, with separate locking means to manage vertical loads and shear forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking pins are manually aligned with guide rail bores for secure positioning, then reliable locking is achieved, but operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is designed to automatically align with and engage the bore in the guide rail through its own movement and positioning mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual alignment by the operator. The pin self-adjusts to the correct position through the carrier's displacement action.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking pin is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage with the bore before the carrier is fully displaced. This preliminary positioning ensures that the locking action occurs automatically as part of the engagement process, without requiring separate manual alignment steps.
2Ease of operation
If resiliently biased locking pins are used for automatic engagement, then ease of operation is improved, but control over precise positioning may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring bias provides continuous force feedback that pushes the locking pin toward engagement, while the physical geometry of the pin and bore provide positional feedback. When the pin engages the bore, the mechanical stop provides definitive feedback that precise positioning has been achieved, combining ease of operation with positioning precision.
3Reliability
If separate locking means are provided for managing vertical loads and shear forces, then structural reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral locking engagement with the bore, supports vertical loads through its structural connection to the carrier, and resists shear forces through its engagement geometry. This multi-functionality achieves structural reliability without requiring separate dedicated components for each load type.
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 design simplifies handling by allowing easy sliding of the carrier into position, secure locking without manual pin alignment, and safe operation, ensuring reliable locking and unlocking mechanisms to manage trailer weight and prevent injuries.
Implementation Method 1
at least one locking pin is held in at least one of the guide rails, which is resiliently biased against the carrier
Implementation Method 2
the at least one locking pin and the carrier are provided with at least one chamfer in order to push the at least one locking pin away from the carrier against the bias
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A height-adjustable trailer coupling (1) has at least one sliding support (4) which carries at least one coupling member (8). This support (4) is slidably guided between guide rails (2) in which recesses and/or bores (3) are provided. Movable locking pins (5) can engage in these recesses and/or bores (3). These locking pins are slidably mounted on the support (4) between a release position, which allows adjustment of the support (4), and a locking position, which engages in the recesses and/or bores (3). To facilitate handling of this trailer coupling, at least one locking pin (20) is mounted on at least one of the guide rails (2). This locking pin is spring-loaded against the sliding support (4).The locking pin (20) can engage in at least one locking receptacle (23) of the carrier (4) to lock the carrier (4) in a position in which the locking bolts (5) are aligned with the recesses and/or bores (3). The locking pin (20) and/or the carrier (4) have at least one chamfer (24) to push the locking pin (20) away from the carrier (4) against the preload when the carrier (4) is moved relative to the guide rails (2). (Figure 1).