Trailer Hitch Connection Parts with Arched Webs for Force Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer hitches for passenger vehicles transmit undesirable moments and forces to the vehicle body, leading to potential damage from elastic deflection and transverse forces, which need to be minimized.
Innovation Solution
The connection parts feature a crossmember holding web with arched webs that overlap the crossbar on both sides, connecting to a mounting web without direct contact, allowing for elastic absorption and transmission of forces to the vehicle body's assembly elements to the lowest extent, with the arched webs extending in a surface transverse to the crossmember for optimal behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cross member is rigidly connected to the vehicle body, then structural stability is improved, but unwanted moments and forces are transmitted to the vehicle body causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part is divided into multiple functional elements: a cross member holding web for rigid connection to the cross member, arched webs for elastic deformation, and a mounting web for connection to the vehicle body. This segmentation allows different parts to fulfill different functions - maintaining structural stability while absorbing harmful forces through elastic deformation in the arched webs.
Solution Approach 2:
The arched webs are designed with specific geometric parameters (arch shape, thickness, length) that enable elastic deformation under load. By optimizing these parameters, the connection part can absorb unwanted moments and forces elastically while maintaining sufficient structural stability for normal operation.
2Loss of energy
If the connection parts are designed to be elastic, then force absorption is improved, but connection strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the connection part have different structural properties: the cross member holding web and mounting web are designed with higher strength and stiffness for reliable connection, while the arched webs are designed with elastic properties for force absorption. This local differentiation allows the structure to simultaneously achieve both strength and energy absorption capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection part can be designed as a composite structure combining materials or structural configurations that provide both elastic deformation capability and high strength. For example, using steel with appropriate heat treatment or composite material layouts that optimize both strength and elasticity in different regions.
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
This design effectively absorbs and dampens torque and force peaks, minimizing the load on the vehicle body by allowing elastic behavior in the connection parts, thereby reducing the risk of damage from buckling moments and transverse forces.
Implementation Method 1
absorbing moments and/or forces, in particular torque peaks and/or force peaks, elastically in the area of the connection parts
Data Source
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AI summary
The trailer coupling (10) has a cross element having a holding unit (28) for holding a ball neck (30), and two spaced attachment portions which connect the cross element to mounting elements mounted on a rear portion (12) of motor car body (14). The attachment portions are provided with cross element holding strip element connected to the cross element. The cross element holding strip element is connected to mounting strip element via curved strip elements, while mounting strip element is connected to the respective mounting element.