Weight Sensing Vehicle Hitch With Integrated Load Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring tongue weight of a trailer are inconvenient and lack a straightforward mechanism, often relying on awkward setups like bathroom scales and bricks, posing safety risks due to potential trailer sway and exceeding towing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A load force sensing assembly integrated into the vehicle's receiver hitch assembly, featuring a load sensor that detects the force exerted by the trailer tongue and outputs a signal for display, allowing users to measure tongue weight without decoupling the trailer, with a quick calibration feature for various hitch configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional bathroom scale and brick method is used to measure tongue weight, then measurement can be achieved, but the process is awkward and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensor is nested within the receiver hitch assembly, with the sensor positioned to detect forces through the ball mount and trailer tongue. This integration eliminates the need for external measurement devices like bathroom scales and bricks, providing a compact and convenient measurement system that is always available when the hitch is in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing structural components of the hitch (receiver tube, ball mount, trailer tongue) to transmit the load force directly to the integrated sensor. The hitch structure itself serves the dual purpose of supporting the trailer and measuring the tongue weight, eliminating the need for separate measurement equipment.
2Measurement precision
If trailer is decoupled from trailer ball to measure tongue weight, then accurate measurement can be obtained, but towing time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensor remains continuously engaged with the ball mount and trailer tongue throughout the entire towing process. The sensor detects forces as long as the trailer is coupled to the hitch, allowing tongue weight measurement at any time without interruption to the towing action. This eliminates the need to decouple the trailer for measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement capability is pre-integrated into the hitch structure before the trailer is even attached. The sensor is already in position and calibrated to detect tongue weight forces, so measurement can begin immediately upon coupling the trailer, without requiring any preliminary setup or decoupling actions.
3Reliability
If load sensor is permanently installed in hitch, then tongue weight can be measured continuously, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver hitch assembly serves multiple functions: it supports the trailer ball mount, provides structural connection to the vehicle, and simultaneously measures tongue weight through the integrated load sensor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate measurement devices and simplifies the overall system while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The load sensing function is merged with the structural components of the hitch assembly. The sensor is integrated into the receiver tube or ball mount structure, combining the mechanical support function with the measurement function in a single unified system, thereby reducing overall complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to safely load trailers by providing real-time tongue weight measurements, allowing for redistribution without decoupling, simplifying the towing process and ensuring the trailer is within safe towing limits.
Implementation Method 1
an integral load sensor in the load force sensing assembly detects a force exerted on the receiver unit from the apparent weight of the tongue of a trailer
Data Source
AI summary
A weight sensing vehicle hitch allows an operator to easily determine the load placed on the vehicle. The load sensor is permanently installed in the hitch. The weight sensing vehicle hitch has a hitch receiver tube and a load sensor connected to an actuator which has two positions, a first position in which the actuator and load sensor is not in contact with a bottom of the ball support and a second position in which the actuator and load sensor is raised into contact with the bottom of the ball support, using an actuator slide.