Trailer Hitch Bracket and Screw Plate for Weld-Free Retrofitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retrofitting a trailer hitch to a motor vehicle is difficult, time-consuming, and often requires welding, while ensuring ideal load distribution is challenging, especially for vehicles without standard equipment.
Innovation Solution
A trailer device comprising a bracket and a screw plate that are elongated components, allowing attachment to a vehicle's crossmember without welding, using fastening means like screws, ensuring ideal load distribution and reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a trailer hitch is retrofitted to a motor vehicle without standard equipment, then the vehicle gains towing capability, but the retrofitting process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer hitch system is divided into separate modular components: a mounting plate that attaches to the crossmember, a bracket assembly, and the trailer coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled in sequence, reducing retrofitting complexity and time
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is designed with pre-formed attachment features and is inserted into the crossmember profile before final bracket assembly. This preliminary positioning action simplifies subsequent steps and reduces overall installation time
2Strength
If welding is used to attach the trailer hitch to the vehicle frame, then strong attachment is achieved, but extensive disassembly and welding work are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces welding (thermal/mechanical process) with a mechanical fastening system using screws or bolts that clamp the bracket assembly to the crossmember. This substitution eliminates welding requirements while maintaining attachment strength and significantly reduces installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate serves as an intermediary component between the crossmember and the bracket assembly. It distributes attachment forces across the crossmember profile and provides a stable mounting surface, enabling strong attachment without direct welding to the vehicle frame
3Reliability
If the trailer hitch is retrofitted to ensure ideal load distribution, then load distribution is optimized, but the retrofitting process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate is designed with specific geometric features that match the crossmember profile, creating optimal contact surfaces at critical load-bearing locations. The bracket assembly includes strategically positioned attachment points that distribute towing forces across multiple areas of the crossmember, optimizing load distribution without requiring complex overall design
Data Source
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AI summary
A trailer coupling device for retrofitting a trailer coupling to a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a load-bearing vehicle frame (7), the vehicle frame (7) having a cross member (6) with a profile, the trailer coupling device comprising a bracket (1) and a trailer coupling, the bracket (1) being an elongated component such that the bracket (1) can extend at least sectionally along the cross member (6) when attached to the cross member (6), the trailer coupling being attachable to the bracket (1), the trailer coupling device comprising a screw plate (2), the screw plate (2) being an elongated component designed to be inserted laterally into the profile of the cross member (6) and/or to bear against the profile inside the profile of the cross member (6).so that the screw plate (2) is arranged within the profile of the cross member (6) in the assembled state and rests on the inside of the profile at least on a circumferential section of the profile, wherein the bracket (1) and the screw plate (2) are designed such that the bracket (1) is fastened to the screw plate (2) by means of first fastening means (3), in particular by means of screws, in such a way that the profile of the cross member (6) is clamped between the bracket (1) and the screw plate (2).