Trailer Hitch Load Carrier Coupling with Self-Aligning Support Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carrier couplings for motor vehicles are difficult to handle due to the need to position support arms relative to the coupling body before locking, and they often twist relative to the coupling ball, leading to instability during towing.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier coupling system that includes a bracket interacting with the coupling body, featuring multiple support projections arranged at angular distances for stable positioning, and an adjusting clamping part that simultaneously supports the load carrier underneath the coupling body, ensuring easy handling and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If support arms are positioned relative to the coupling body before locking, then the load carrier coupling can be secured to the trailer hitch, but the handling becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The support projections are pre-positioned on the coupling body carrier below the coupling ball. When the load carrier coupling is placed on the coupling body, the support projections automatically engage with the coupling body carrier without requiring preliminary positioning actions by the user. This preliminary arrangement of support elements eliminates the need for manual positioning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-aligning and self-positioning functionality where the support projections automatically find their correct position on the coupling body carrier through the geometry of the coupling components. The actuation of the adjusting clamping part simultaneously positions both the clamping elements and support projections without requiring separate user actions for each component.
2Device complexity
If the load carrier is supported only on the coupling ball, then the attachment is simple, but the load carrier may twist relative to the coupling ball causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into multiple contact points: the coupling ball provides upper support while the support projections provide lower support on the coupling body carrier. This segmentation of support functions creates multiple stabilization points that prevent twisting while maintaining relatively simple attachment procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support projections extend into a lower dimension (below the coupling ball) to provide additional support contact points. This vertical dimensionality addition creates a more stable support structure by distributing loads across multiple levels, preventing the load carrier from twisting relative to the coupling ball while keeping the attachment process simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
The carrier clutch (10) has a supporting projection portion (46) connected with a position clamping element (17) such that the supporting projection portion is displaced from a clamping position (K) to a supporting position (S) in which the supporting projection portion is supported on a coupling carrier element. The supporting projection portion is displaced from an open position (O) into a release position (L) in which the supporting projection portion of the coupling carrier element is moved away, so that the carrier clutch of a trailer coupling unit (80) is removed. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a support element; (2) a carrier clutch and trailer coupling unit integrated system; and (3) a carrier structure.