Hitch ball angle sensor

• US 9,120,358 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cequent Performance Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Motts, Douglas R., Kulkarni, Chandrakumar, Brickley, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MAURICE L
• Application Number:
  US14/109,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20140103619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 280/422, 280/448, 280/504, 280/511, 304/431, 304/686.1, 304/686.2, 304/686.3, 304/687, 73/17.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/30 for sway control , e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like

Abstract

A hitch ball assembly includes a hitch ball supported on a housing, a bore within the hitch ball and housing, and a pin rotatable with respect to the hitch ball and housing. The pin is configured to engage a trailer coupler and rotate therewith. An angle sensor measures rotation of the pin to determine rotational movement of the trailer.

Claims

1. A hitch ball assembly comprising:

a housing;

a hitch ball positioned on said housing;

a bore extending within said hitch ball and said housing;

a pin positioned within said bore and rotatable with respect to said hitch ball and said housing;

an angle sensor configured to sense rotation of said pin;

wherein said pin is configured to engage a trailer coupler and rotate therewith;

a collar disposed about an exterior surface of said pin; and

a washer fixed to said hitch ball and configured to retain said pin within said bore.

2. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle sensor is a non-contact sensor.

3. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, further comprising a deformable material on a tip of said pin.

4. The hitch ball assembly of claim 3, wherein the deformable material is rubber.

5. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned in within said bore and configured to bias said pin towards said coupler.

6. The hitch ball assembly of claim 5, wherein said spring is a coil spring.

7. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing includes an opening in communication with said bore.

8. The hitch ball assembly of claim 7, wherein said opening is arranged approximately perpendicular to said bore.

9. The hitch ball sensor of claim 8, wherein said angle sensor is positioned in communication with said opening.

10. The hitch ball sensor of claim 1 further comprising one or more magnets positioned on said pin to interface with said angle sensor.

11. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, further comprising a threaded bolt extending from said housing and connected to a ball mount.

12. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein said pin is retained within said bore by one or more bearings.

13. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle sensor comprises a magneto-resistive sensing element.

14. The hitch ball assembly of claim 13, wherein the magneto-resistive sensing element includes an array of magneto-resistive sensing bridges.

15. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein the angle sensor is configured to provide an input signal to one or more components of a towing vehicle.

16. The hitch ball assembly of claim 15, wherein the towing vehicle is configured to modify at least one of a braking output, an engine control output or an engine transmission output based on the angle sensor signal.

17. The hitch ball assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more components of a towing vehicle includes a trailer brake controller configured to modify a trailer brake signal based on the angle sensor signal to reduce sway of a trailer.

18. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein the angle sensor has a resolution of at least 0.05 degrees.

19. The hitch ball assembly of claim 1, wherein said pin is configured to not rotate in response to vertical movements of said coupler with respect to said hitch ball.