Trailer Tongue Weight Sensor in Ball Latch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring the tongue weight of a trailer are inconvenient and lack precision, often relying on awkward setups like bathroom scales and bricks, posing safety risks when towing trailers with improperly balanced loads.

Innovation Solution

A weight sensing system for trailers and vehicles that includes a load sensor protected by contact and actuator blocks, activated via an electric actuator and app on a smartphone, providing real-time weight measurements through a standard trailer connector, allowing for accurate tongue weight determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional bathroom scales and bricks are used to measure tongue weight, then measurement can be achieved, but the method is awkward and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of tongue weight measurementVSAvoidaccuracy of tongue weight measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical bathroom scale system with an electronic load sensor integrated into the ball latch mechanism. The load sensor electronically measures the force applied to the ball latch, eliminating the need for external mechanical scales and providing both convenience and precision through digital measurement and display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the tongue weight measurement function with the existing ball latch connecting mechanism. The load sensor is integrated directly into the ball latch assembly, merging the connection function and measurement function into a single unified system, thereby eliminating the need for separate measurement tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the load sensor is always in contact with the force transfer bar, then weight measurement is continuous, but the sensor is vulnerable to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of load sensor from damageVSAvoidweight measurement capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the load sensor contact arrangement dynamic rather than static. The actuator mechanism allows the load sensor to move between contact and non-contact positions with the force transfer bar, enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements - protected during storage, engaged during measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator mechanism is pre-configured to automatically position the load sensor in the correct location. When weight is applied to the ball latch, the actuator is automatically activated to raise the load sensor into contact with the force transfer bar, ensuring the sensor is in position before measurement is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a simple ball latch design is used, then the connection is straightforward, but there is no integrated weight measurement capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrated weight measurement functionVSAvoidcomplexity of ball latch mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the ball latch mechanism multi-functional by integrating the load sensor and actuator system into it. The same ball latch assembly that provides mechanical connection also performs weight measurement and display functions, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices and providing universal functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11554621B2Trailer side and vehicle side weight sensors

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 FREDRICKSON R DOUGLAS

AI summary

A weight sensor can be located either on the trailer side or the vehicle side. An electric actuator slide moves forward to raise a load sensor sandwiched between an actuator block and a contact block, through an opening in the bottom of a tube and into contact with a force transfer bar, to load the sensor for determining the weight loaded on it.