Positionable Hitch Ball Assembly for Trailer Dolly Weight Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer dollies fail to effectively shift tongue-weight from the wheels of the dolly to the rear wheels of the towing vehicle, particularly in off-road conditions where increased traction is needed, leading to potential damage to the towing vehicle's transmission and reduced traction.
Innovation Solution
A trailer dolly design with a positionable ball hitch assembly that allows the tongue-weight to be shifted from a location over the dolly's wheels to a more forward position closer to the towing vehicle's wheels, increasing traction by redistributing the weight onto the towing vehicle's rear wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball hitch assembly is positioned directly over the dolly's wheel and axle assembly, then the dolly can support the tongue-weight of the trailer, but the towing vehicle's rear wheels experience reduced traction
Solution Approach 1:
The ball hitch assembly is made dynamically positionable along the longitudinal axis of the dolly frame through a sliding mechanism with adjustment holes and pins. This allows the operator to shift the ball hitch position forward or backward to dynamically adjust weight distribution between the dolly wheels and towing vehicle wheels, optimizing traction conditions for different terrain scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The dolly frame is segmented into distinct functional zones: the wheel and axle assembly at the rear, the adjustable ball hitch assembly in the middle, and the drawbar with coupler at the front. This segmentation allows independent positioning of the ball hitch relative to the wheels, enabling precise control over weight distribution and traction characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the ball hitch is positioned over the dolly wheels, then on-road control is improved, but off-road traction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable ball hitch assembly allows the operator to switch between two primary positions: a rearward position for on-road towing where the ball hitch is over the dolly wheels providing stable control, and a forward position for off-road applications where the ball hitch is shifted forward to transfer weight to the towing vehicle's rear wheels for maximum traction in sand, mud, snow, and ice.
3Device complexity
If excessive tongue-weight is applied to the hitch receiver on the towing vehicle, then the dolly is not needed, but the transmission can be damaged over time
Solution Approach 1:
The dolly acts as an intermediary device between the trailer and the towing vehicle. It introduces an additional support point (the dolly's wheel and axle assembly) that shares the tongue-weight load, thereby protecting the towing vehicle's transmission and hitch receiver from excessive forces while maintaining proper weight distribution for traction and control.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer dolly for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle has a frame mounted on an axle for a pair of wheels. The frame supports a hitch ball assembly that is positionable on the frame for allowing the tongue-weight of a towed trailer that is coupled to the hitch ball to be shifted from a position over the wheels of the dolly to a position that increases traction of the wheels of the towing vehicle.