Trailer Hitch Adaptor with Stop Assembly for Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting a trailer to a vehicle is challenging, especially in reverse, requiring multiple attempts and often a spotter to align the hitch properly, especially with multi-point hitches that allow yaw movements, making the process difficult and requiring additional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch adaptor with a stop assembly and cradle assembly that guides the bar into position, providing audible feedback and allowing pitch and roll movements, eliminating the need for a spotter by ensuring proper alignment and securing the trailer with locks and a rotary joint for yaw immobilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multi-point hitch is used to immobilize the yaw relationship of the trailer, then the maneuverability of the trailered vehicle is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of connection increase due to requiring connection at two points
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch system is divided into two functional segments: a multi-point hitch mechanism for maneuverability control and a single-bar connection interface for simplified coupling. The adaptor assembly separates the complex yaw-control function from the connection function, allowing the bar to be connected at a single point while the multi-point mechanism handles trailer stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor assembly acts as an intermediary device between the single-bar hitch and the multi-point trailer connection system. It translates the simple single-point bar connection into a multi-point engagement that provides yaw control, thereby mediating between the simplicity of single-point connection and the stability of multi-point connection.
2Device complexity
If a single-point hitch is used for connection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the maneuverability of the trailered vehicle deteriorates due to uncontrolled yaw movements
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch system transitions from a static single-point connection to a dynamic multi-point engagement. The adaptor assembly enables the connection to adapt its degree of freedom during operation: allowing pitch movement for maneuverability while constraining yaw through the multi-point engagement mechanism, thereby dynamically adjusting the connection characteristics.
3Reliability
If traditional hitch alignment methods are used, then the alignment process requires multiple attempts and a spotter, but the time consumption and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stop assembly provides tactile and audible feedback to the operator during the connection process. When the bar approaches correct alignment, the stop assembly contacts the bar and provides a distinct signal, enabling the operator to determine proper alignment without visual assistance from a spotter, thereby reducing connection time and operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer hitch adaptor for connecting a hitch to a trailer, the trailer hitch adaptor including an adaptor assembly having a front end connected to the hitch and a rear end connected to the trailer, the adaptor assembly including a stop assembly disposed on the front end of the adaptor assembly; a bar attached to a trailer; and a cradle assembly disposed on the rear end of the adaptor assembly, the cradle assembly including an opening facing upwardly, wherein the cradle assembly is configured for receiving the bar, wherein the trailer hitch adaptor is engaged with the trailer by bringing the stop assembly towards the bar until the bar had come in contact with the stop assembly before the bar is dropped into the opening of the cradle assembly to be disposed within the cradle assembly.