Methods and apparatus for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097580-B2
Application number	US-201816230776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver. An example disclosed apparatus to be coupled to a receiver tube includes a crossbar interface to be coupled to a crossbar of a hitch, a pin adapter coupled to the crossbar interface, a first load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter, and a second load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus to be coupled to a receiver tube, apparatus comprising:
a crossbar interface to be coupled to a crossbar of a hitch;
a pin adapter coupled to the crossbar interface;
a first load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter, the pin adapter shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin; and
a second load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pin adapter is to provide a first load path between the receiver tube and the first load-sensing pin and a second load path between the receiver tube and the second load-sensing pin.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin are at substantially the same vertical position relative to the crossbar.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a load manager including:
a component interface to receive load data from at least one of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin;
a hitch pin signal analyzer to determine a load condition of the pin adapter based on the load data; and
a display interface to display the load condition.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin causes the load condition to be statically determinate.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin provide the only load path between the receiver tube and the crossbar.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin is to be disposed on an opposite side of the crossbar as the second load-sensing pin.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
a component interface to receive load data from a first load-sensing pin and a second load-sensing pin, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin operatively coupled to a receiver tube of a hitch of a vehicle, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin disposed within a pin adapter, the pin adapter shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin;
a hitch pin signal analyzer to determine a load condition of the hitch based on the load data;
a display alert generator to, when the load condition satisfies an alert threshold, generate an alert; and
a display interface to display at least one of the load condition or the alert to a user.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the pin adapter provides a load path between the first and second load-sensing pins and the vehicle.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the hitch pin signal analyzer is to:
determine a vertical load condition of the hitch based on data from the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin; and
determine a horizontal load condition of the hitch based on data from the second load-sensing pin.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the hitch pin signal analyzer determines the load condition based on a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin, the configuration causing the load condition to be statically determinate.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the configuration includes the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin at substantially the same vertical position relative to the receiver tube.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the alert threshold corresponds to an improper load condition.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the receiver tube is configured to receive a trailer hitch arm along an axis, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin disposed above the axis.

15. A method, comprising:
receiving load data from a first load-sensing pin and a second load-sensing pin, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin are operatively coupled to a receiver tube of a hitch of a vehicle, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin coupled to a pin adapter that is the only load path between the first and second load-sensing pins and the receiver tube;
determining a load condition of the hitch based on the load data;
when the load condition satisfies an alert threshold, generating an alert; and
presenting at least one of the load condition or the alert to a user.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the pin adapter is shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 , further including:
determining a vertical load condition of the hitch based on data from the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin; and
determining a horizontal load condition of the hitch based on data from the second load-sensing pin.

18. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the determination of the load condition is based on a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin, the configuration causing the load condition to be statically determinate.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 , wherein the configuration includes the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin at substantially the same vertical position relative to the receiver tube.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pin adapter is disposed on a top surface of the receiver tube.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Methode Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Niedert Andrew
• Allard Christopher Eric
• Lazarevski Peter Simeon
• Giaier Kevin Stanton
• Reed Chad
• Giessibl Johannes

Classifications

• B60D1/01

  Traction couplings or hitches characterised by their type · CPC title

• B60D1/248 Primary

  for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight · CPC title

• B60D1/62 Primary

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60D1/36 Primary

  for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title