Trailer Jack Mounting Flange for Multi-Pattern Bolt Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer jacks are limited in their ability to align with multiple trailer attachment patterns and cannot selectively position the direction of the drive head, leading to compatibility issues and reduced versatility.
Innovation Solution
The trailer jack features a mounting flange with multiple bolt patterns, including forward and rear slots that intersect at specific axes, allowing for alignment with various trailer attachment patterns and enabling the drive head to be positioned in different directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single bolt pattern is used on the mounting flange, then the manufacturing and alignment are simplified, but the compatibility with multiple trailer attachment patterns is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange is designed with multiple bolt patterns (first, second, and third patterns with different slot configurations) that can accommodate various trailer attachment patterns. This allows a single mounting flange to serve multiple functions and be compatible with different trailer types, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
2Device complexity
If the drive head alignment is predetermined based on a single mounting flange configuration, then the structural design is simplified, but the ability to selectively position the drive head in different directions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange incorporates multiple slot patterns that allow the drive head alignment to be dynamically adjusted based on the specific trailer attachment pattern being used. The slots can be configured in different orientations (radial and non-radial) to accommodate various drive head positioning requirements, enabling the structure to adapt rather than remain fixed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bolt patterns with complex slot configurations are implemented, then the compatibility with various trailer attachment patterns is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange uses asymmetric slot configurations where each bolt pattern has unique characteristics (different numbers of slots, different orientations including radial and non-radial slots). This asymmetric design allows each pattern to be optimized for specific trailer attachment types while maintaining manufacturability, as the asymmetry is built into the pattern design rather than requiring high-precision adjustments during manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer jack comprising a vertically oriented vertically extendible jack and a mounting flange located on the jack. The mounting flange includes three bolt patterns. Each of the three bolt patterns includes a forward slot and two rear slots defined through the mounting flange. Each slot includes a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the slots of any single bolt pattern intersect at a bolt pattern axis that is closer to the forward slot than the rear slots. The longitudinal axes of the forward slots intersect at a central axis. The central axis is offset from each of the three bolt pattern axes. The rear slots of any of the bolt patterns are non-radial with regard to the central axis. The forward slot of any of the bolt patterns are radial with regard to the central axis.