Trailer Lift Jack Adaptor for Power Tool Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual trailer lift jacks require significant physical effort to raise and lower trailers, especially when dealing with heavy loads or long distances, due to the need for manual cranking.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor system that replaces the handheld crank of a conventional trailer lift jack, allowing for easy conversion to a motor-driven system. The adaptor is affixed to the lift jack and includes a bore to receive the actuator shaft, with openings for securing the adaptor and a receiver for a drive member, enabling actuation with a power tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual hand crank is used to actuate the trailer lift jack, then the device structure remains simple and cost-effective, but significant physical effort is required to raise and lower the trailer
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor serves as an intermediary component between the power tool and the lift jack actuator shaft. It includes a bore to receive the actuator shaft, openings for securing with fasteners, and a receiver for the power tool drive member, thereby mediating the connection and enabling motorized operation without directly modifying the lift jack
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical cranking system is replaced by a power tool-driven system. The adaptor enables substitution of human manual rotation with motorized rotation from a power tool, significantly reducing physical effort while maintaining the mechanical lifting function
2Reliability
If the adaptor includes multiple pairs of openings for secure attachment, then the reliability of connection improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor incorporates multiple pairs of openings (first pair and second pair) positioned at different locations and orientations. This segmentation allows selective use of different opening pairs depending on the specific actuator shaft configuration, ensuring reliable attachment while maintaining a standardized adaptor design that can be manufactured efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptor for a trailer lift jack includes an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction. The body has first and second opposite ends spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction. A sidewall extends between the first and second ends. The first end includes a bore extending into the body in the longitudinal direction. The second end is adapted to mate with a drive member. At least one pair of openings are formed in the sidewall. The openings of each pair extend from the sidewall to the bore. The openings of each pair are aligned with each other. The adaptor is disposable over an actuator shaft of a trailer lift jack such that the actuator shaft is received into the bore. The adaptor is secured to the actuator shaft by a fastener extending through one said pair of openings and a corresponding opening through the actuator shaft.