Trailer Hitch Hood and Cap for Grease Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detachable trailer hitches face contamination and pollution issues due to grease from the mounting member when inserted into the receiver, and the receiver itself can become dirty when the ball neck is detached.
Innovation Solution
A hood with side walls and a central interior space designed to receive the pin portion of the mounting member, along with lateral extensions for protrusions, and ribs to maintain grease in place, combined with a cap member that closes the receiver channel and includes snap fit bodies for secure fixing, preventing contamination and misuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the mounting member is inserted into the hood, then the mounting member is protected from contamination, but grease remains on the outer side of the mounting member requiring wiping
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is designed with an interior space that receives the mounting member before insertion into the receiver, allowing grease to be contained within the hood's interior space rather than being smeared on the outer side during insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The hood acts as an intermediary structure between the mounting member and the external environment, providing a protected interior space that prevents direct contact between the grease on the mounting member and external objects, eliminating the need for wiping
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hood is made solid to protect the mounting member, then protection is improved, but the hood volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member is nested within the hood's interior space, allowing the hood to provide protection while maintaining a compact volume. The hood encapsulates only the necessary portion of the mounting member rather than requiring a large external protective structure
Solution Approach 2:
The hood provides protection by creating a three-dimensional enclosed space around the mounting member, utilizing vertical and lateral dimensions rather than requiring horizontal expansion, thus achieving protection with optimized volume
3Ease of operation
If the access opening is made larger for easy insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but protection against misuse is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The access opening is designed with specific local dimensions that are optimized for the mounting member's geometry, allowing easy insertion of the correct component while preventing insertion of incorrect or oversized objects that could cause misuse
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the access opening as large as possible for ease of insertion, the design inverts the approach by making the opening precisely sized to guide and protect against misuse, relying on the mounting member's shape to ensure proper insertion
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to parts of a detachable trailer hitch (30) comprising a detachable ball neck (40) as well as a receiver (32) having a receiver channel (38) in which the detachable ball neck (40) can be mounted with a mounting member (42), such as at least one of a hood (100), a cap member (150) and a detachable ball neck (40) or a detachable trailer with itself.