Trailer Dolly Shock-Absorbing Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailer towing systems face issues with frame, chassis, and body damage due to excessive tongue weight and unsafe horizontal alignment during tandem towing, particularly with larger trailers, leading to potential trailer sway and steering difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A tandem trailer dolly apparatus is designed to support the tongue weight of the last trailer in a triple towing configuration, featuring a ball hitch system with adjustable height and swivel capabilities, shock-absorbing suspension, and a steel plate for structural stability, allowing for horizontal leveling and reducing the overall length of the towing vehicle and trailers within legal limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a ball-mount hitch trailer is used to haul another trailer in tandem, then the towing capacity is increased, but the tongue weight overloads the rear end of the camper trailer causing frame, chassis, and body damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dolly as an intermediary device between the camper trailer and the towed trailer. The dolly has its own axle and wheels, acting as a mediator that transfers the tongue weight of the towed trailer to the ground through its own suspension system rather than directly to the camper trailer's rear end, thereby preventing frame, chassis, and body damage while enabling tandem towing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the towing system into three distinct components: the towing vehicle, the camper trailer, and the dolly with the towed trailer. By separating the dolly as an independent unit with its own weight-bearing capability, the system distributes the load across multiple points (towing vehicle hitch, dolly axle, and dolly wheels) rather than concentrating it on the camper trailer's rear end
2Ease of operation
If the tandem trailer is towed in a non-horizontal position, then the towing operation is simplified, but unsafe forces are applied to the trailer tongue and hitch causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable hitch mechanism that allows the dolly's ball hitch to be vertically positioned to achieve horizontal alignment of the towed trailer. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the operator to optimize the trailer's position for safe towing, ensuring the trailer tongue and hitch are properly aligned and bearing loads within safe limits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the vertical position parameter of the ball hitch attachment point on the dolly to control the alignment of the towed trailer. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves horizontal positioning of the trailer during towing, preventing unsafe forces from being applied to the trailer tongue and hitch while maintaining ease of operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the adjustable ball hitch is not centered coaxial with the axle, then the horizontal leveling capability is reduced, but the structural complexity of the dolly is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately positions the ball hitch attachment point asymmetrically relative to the dolly frame, but symmetrically (coaxially) relative to the axle. This asymmetric design on the frame provides the necessary structural support while the coaxial alignment with the axle enables effective horizontal leveling capability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
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 dolly apparatus effectively distributes the tongue weight, preventing frame damage and trailer sway, enabling safe towing without a commercial driver's license, while maintaining compliance with length regulations, and ensuring stable towing operations.
Implementation Method 1
shock-absorbing suspension
Data Source
AI summary
A load-bearing trailer dolly which connects a tongue-type boat, utility or other trailer to a towing tandem trailer and bears weight from the trailer during towing. In a preferred embodiment, the trailer dolly is characterized by an axle mounted on a pair of wheels. A dolly frame height-adjustable trailer hitch centered coaxial above the axle axis and midway point framed dolly plate mount by operation of an adjustable sleeve reducer fastened by pinning and lock. Includes dual connecting adjustable height tongues for attachment to rear end trailer hitches on the tandem towing trailer at which a pair of hitch fasteners for engaging the trailer dolly tongues are attached to the rear of the tandem trailer. The adjustable tongue hitches on trailer dolly will give ability to horizontal level tandem dolly. A shock-absorbing spring is fitted between the axle mount and the dolly frame for cushioning the dolly frame on the axle mount as the trailer is towed behind the towing tandem trailer. In the industry of dollies, the car dolly has no shock-absorbing function, just square axle with hubs for wheels, axle is attached to car dolly frame. There is an option with shock-absorbing mechanism or s non shock-absorbing option.