WO2020073084A1 - Boule de remorquage incorporant un dispositif de mesure de force - Google Patents

Boule de remorquage incorporant un dispositif de mesure de force Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020073084A1
WO2020073084A1 PCT/AU2019/051085 AU2019051085W WO2020073084A1 WO 2020073084 A1 WO2020073084 A1 WO 2020073084A1 AU 2019051085 W AU2019051085 W AU 2019051085W WO 2020073084 A1 WO2020073084 A1 WO 2020073084A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tow ball
trailer
tow
ball
force
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2019/051085
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Peter Humphris
Original Assignee
ELLIS, Angela Maria
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2018903802A external-priority patent/AU2018903802A0/en
Application filed by ELLIS, Angela Maria filed Critical ELLIS, Angela Maria
Priority to AU2019357945A priority Critical patent/AU2019357945A1/en
Publication of WO2020073084A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020073084A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/01—Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type
    • B60D1/06—Ball-and-socket hitches, e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
    • G01L5/00—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
    • G01L5/13—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for measuring the tractive or propulsive power of vehicles
    • G01L5/136—Force sensors associated with a vehicle traction coupling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/247—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for improving weight distribution
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
    • B60D1/248—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a force measuring device incorporated into a tow ball or tow pin.
  • the typical tow ball has a spherical shape at the upper end and a threaded rod with a nut, or a bolt that threads into the lower end.
  • the threaded nut or bolt is used to secure the tow ball to the towing drawbar or bumper fitting of the towing vehicle.
  • the drawbar on so-equipped vehicles is further inserted into a drawbar receiver and held in place by means of a retaining pin that may be rounded or rectangular in shape.
  • the tow ball fitting couples to a trailer ball-receiver or coupler fitting located on the forward-most portion of the trailer's frame or "tongue" of the trailer. It is this ball & socket connection that allows for the trailer unit to rotate and pivot freely with respect to the tow ball and towing vehicle.
  • Tongue weight is one important factor in keeping the coupler securely seated on the ball hitch and influencing whether the trailer will be towed in a balanced and stable manner.
  • Improper tongue weight contributes significantly to unstable and unsafe towing characteristics in both the trailered unit and towing vehicle. For example, too much tongue weight will cause the towed vehicle to pitch downward excessively during deceleration. Excessive tongue weight also contributes to excessive wear and tear on braking and transmission components. Too little tongue weight may lead to accidental separation of the ball hitch coupler connection and tends to induce pitch and yaw in the towed and towing vehicles.
  • Manufacturers of vehicles will provide recommended tongue-weight ranges for their respective vehicles when engaged in towing. Tongue and force loads are the key elements a vehicle manufacturer is considering when determining the maximum towing capacity for any particular vehicle.
  • the invention comprises an apparatus comprising:
  • a tow ball attached to a vehicle and configured to receive a tongue of a trailer and adapted to sense a force exerted on it;
  • a sensor integral within the tow ball and adapted to output a signal substantially corresponding to the force.
  • the tow ball includes a top part and a bottom part, wherein the top part is adapted to move with respect to the bottom half as part of the sensor.
  • the senor comprises a hydraulic chamber.
  • the senor comprises a load cell.
  • a display is coupled to the output signal, the display being operative to produce an indication of the force exerted on the trailer tow ball.
  • a trailer tow ball having an integrated sensor operative to detect a downward force imparted on a trailer hitch to which the trailer tow ball is attached while a trailer is coupled to the trailer tow ball and to convey the downward force to a display mechanism.
  • the apparatus is adapted to receive information about the vehicle and the trailer and alert the user if the force on the tow ball is outside of predefined parameters.
  • any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the apparatus embodying the invention and including a transmitter system for transmitting collected data to an external device;
  • Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the apparatus embodying the invention providing analogue information to an external device
  • Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the device where the device uses a hydraulic system.
  • Figure 4 is an alternate tow pin arrangement.
  • the invention is a tow ball normally attached to a vehicle for the purpose of coupling to a trailer or caravan.
  • This tow ball differs from the standard or normal type in that the actual tow ball itself has an integral measuring device to indicate the downwards force onto the tow ball exerted by the equipment being towed.
  • the measuring system is typically embedded within the body of the tow ball but in some cases could be an external attachment.
  • the method of measurement can vary between models being either by the compression of hydraulic fluid which is transferred to a mechanical gauge or to a transducer which then can be viewed as a force. This force can be viewed on an electronic readout or be transferred via Bluetooth or other similar system to be viewed on a smart device "app".
  • a secondary measuring method incorporates a load cell strain gauge system with appropriate electronic measurement and display.
  • the invention can be incorporated into to varying tow ball designs of which there are varying types and configurations.
  • the tow ball is tested and certified to meet all required safety standards.
  • the tow ball incorporates mechanical designs enabling it to be calibrated and certified using an external force calibration device.
  • a force measuring device 10 This includes a tow ball that is separated into a top and bottom parts 12a and 12b whereby there is an initial gap between the two parts enabling 12a to move towards 12b under force.
  • the top part of the tow ball 12a is of a smaller height than the bottom part 12b, such as being 1/3 to 2/3.
  • the tow ball is includes a flange 14 and a threaded bolt 16 whereby nut 18 screws onto the thread 16 and secures the tow ball to drawbar 20.
  • Extending from the tow ball is a hose or data cable 21 that provides weight information.
  • support 22 supports remote mount 24 that provides the weight information to a receiver/transmitter 26 where the system is digital or to remote mount 28 that provides analogue data to a gauge 30.
  • the weight on the tow ball can be measured, such as hydraulic pressure or load cells.
  • the simplest is to use a hydraulic system that can be calibrated before it leaves the manufacturer.
  • a typical hydraulic system is illustrated in Figure 3 where the bottom half of the tow ball 12b provides support for the top half 12a that includes cylinder engaging piston 34, whereby the pressurised fluid is fed through to a sensor 36 that can measure the exerted force.
  • the other parts of the drawings relate to common embodiments such as bleed screws that remove air from the system when the tow ball is being calibrated during manufacture.
  • the arrangement can also be used on a tow pin arrangement as illustrated in Figure 4.
  • the hydraulic system can provide analogue information to a gauge that can be viewed by a user who would then determine whether or not it is in the acceptable limits.
  • the information can be provided electronically and using remote
  • This information can not only be provided at the time of attaching the trailer to a vehicle but can be provided continuously when the vehicle is in motion
  • the device 10 is able to accept information from a device such a mobile phone in regard to parameters that need to be taken into consideration in relation to the weight on the tow ball and provide a warning to the user if the weight distribution is inappropriate. These may include the type of towing vehicle and information of what is being towed. [00B9] Yet further improvements to this application is that an app would be available that would allow the user to access information to select the type of vehicle and the towed unit, transmit that information to the device which would then respond with a warning of the weight on the tow ball is not acceptable. Yet a further embodiment may include the tow ball system being in communication with the vehicle operating system and prevent the vehicle from being able to be drive unless the weight was appropriate or alternatively limit the speed which the vehicle may be able to travel at.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil permettant de déterminer le poids d'une remorque sur la boule de remorquage d'un véhicule. L'appareil comprend un système de mesure pour mesurer le poids sur la boule de remorquage et fournir ces informations à un utilisateur soit sur une jauge mécanique soit électroniquement, et dans ce dernier cas avertir l'utilisateur que le poids est inapproprié.
PCT/AU2019/051085 2018-10-08 2019-10-08 Boule de remorquage incorporant un dispositif de mesure de force WO2020073084A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2019357945A AU2019357945A1 (en) 2018-10-08 2019-10-08 A tow ball incorporating a force measuring device

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2018903802A AU2018903802A0 (en) 2018-10-08 Intelligent tow ball, which is able to give the tow ball weight on a vehicle, whilst attached to the vehicle
AU2018903802 2018-10-08
AU2019900538A AU2019900538A0 (en) 2019-02-20 Intelligent Tow Pin - The invention is a tow pin normally attached to a vehicle for the purpose of coupling to a trailer or caravan. This tow pin differs from the standard or normal type in that it has an integral measuring device to indicate the downwards force onto the tow pin exerted by the equipment being towed. The measuring system is typically embedded within the body of the tow pin but in some cases could be an external attachment.
AU2019900538 2019-02-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020073084A1 true WO2020073084A1 (fr) 2020-04-16

Family

ID=70163606

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2019/051085 WO2020073084A1 (fr) 2018-10-08 2019-10-08 Boule de remorquage incorporant un dispositif de mesure de force

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2019357945A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2020073084A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6053521A (en) * 1998-04-16 2000-04-25 Schertler; Stephen James Load sensing trailer ball-hitch drawbar
US20060290102A1 (en) * 2005-06-22 2006-12-28 Vanbuskirk William J Jr Weight Sensing Trailer Ball
EP2589503A1 (fr) * 2011-11-03 2013-05-08 WESTFALIA - Automotive GmbH Couplage d'une remorque avec un capteur de force
US9004523B2 (en) * 2013-05-02 2015-04-14 Roger W. Scharf Tongue weight donut scale
US9796227B2 (en) * 2013-05-22 2017-10-24 Weigh Safe, Llc Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6053521A (en) * 1998-04-16 2000-04-25 Schertler; Stephen James Load sensing trailer ball-hitch drawbar
US20060290102A1 (en) * 2005-06-22 2006-12-28 Vanbuskirk William J Jr Weight Sensing Trailer Ball
EP2589503A1 (fr) * 2011-11-03 2013-05-08 WESTFALIA - Automotive GmbH Couplage d'une remorque avec un capteur de force
US9004523B2 (en) * 2013-05-02 2015-04-14 Roger W. Scharf Tongue weight donut scale
US9796227B2 (en) * 2013-05-22 2017-10-24 Weigh Safe, Llc Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2019357945A1 (en) 2021-04-08

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