Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?
There have been several discussions on this hitch that have become somewhat 'controversial'. I am NOT trying to stir this controversy/bashing back up. Instead, I'd like to see a good, intelligent di...
Forum Discussion
The only reason it is effectively "locked" is because you have tires on the ground. Put them on pucks on ice and you have a different story. Guaranteed.
Tim,
You are in no position to guarantee anything. The pictures clearly and absolutely demonstrate that the linkage works without tires on the ground.
It is locked up, there is no "effectively" locked up about it.
Your theory as you have developed it is in great trouble, and if you knew much about a 4 bar linkage, you would know how to lock one up, like this one is.
You would also be able to explain to the man how it works when the TT turns.
Tim said: "You could've saved yourself a strut clevis pin by asking what might happen before actually hooking a come-along up to it. Better yet, if you had bothered to "entertain" yourself by running a popsicle stick model through its paces, you could've saved yourself a bit of hassle as well by observing the motion that is allowed. A little "playing" with the stick model would help you see that this 4-bar linkage will dictate by restriction the path a translation due to imposed forces will follow. The simple fact of the matter is that the linkage of the HA does NOT translate in such a direction that would accommodate the direction of the force you applied to it. Instead of applying an off-center pulling force alone, you would have to apply a twisting force at the rear link to simulate a trailer's swaying input to the hitch. This "twist" would serve to push at one side of the linkage while simultaneously pulling at the other. The catch is that the tow vehicle must translate as well, allowing the front link to pivot and traverse while the rear link twists in the opposite direction.
As for the virtual pivot point, go back a few pages and read again. It is never further forward than the single point each side link points toward. Re-read the link Ron provided early on that talks about instantaneous centers of rotation."
The off center pulling force alone directly simulates an input from the travel trailer to the tow vehicle. The demonstration is real world, and supports my position on how the hitch works, so I believe it is safe to say that I had thought about it. The linkage is locked up, there ain't no translation, there is merely a lever from the TT direction. I have been watching engineers make fools of themselves for years.
Tim said: "Make light of it if you will - it's real whether you want to believe it or not."
I don't think that the audience clapping will revive Tinker Bell this time.
Tim,
You are in no position to guarantee anything. The pictures clearly and absolutely demonstrate that the linkage works without tires on the ground.
It is locked up, there is no "effectively" locked up about it.
Your theory as you have developed it is in great trouble, and if you knew much about a 4 bar linkage, you would know how to lock one up, like this one is.
You would also be able to explain to the man how it works when the TT turns.
Tim said: "You could've saved yourself a strut clevis pin by asking what might happen before actually hooking a come-along up to it. Better yet, if you had bothered to "entertain" yourself by running a popsicle stick model through its paces, you could've saved yourself a bit of hassle as well by observing the motion that is allowed. A little "playing" with the stick model would help you see that this 4-bar linkage will dictate by restriction the path a translation due to imposed forces will follow. The simple fact of the matter is that the linkage of the HA does NOT translate in such a direction that would accommodate the direction of the force you applied to it. Instead of applying an off-center pulling force alone, you would have to apply a twisting force at the rear link to simulate a trailer's swaying input to the hitch. This "twist" would serve to push at one side of the linkage while simultaneously pulling at the other. The catch is that the tow vehicle must translate as well, allowing the front link to pivot and traverse while the rear link twists in the opposite direction.
As for the virtual pivot point, go back a few pages and read again. It is never further forward than the single point each side link points toward. Re-read the link Ron provided early on that talks about instantaneous centers of rotation."
The off center pulling force alone directly simulates an input from the travel trailer to the tow vehicle. The demonstration is real world, and supports my position on how the hitch works, so I believe it is safe to say that I had thought about it. The linkage is locked up, there ain't no translation, there is merely a lever from the TT direction. I have been watching engineers make fools of themselves for years.
Tim said: "Make light of it if you will - it's real whether you want to believe it or not."
I don't think that the audience clapping will revive Tinker Bell this time.
