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
Ron Gratz wrote:
If the "can't swing because it can't move toward the pivot point" theory is correct, then no pendulum can swing because gravity would not allow the mass to move upward. Galileo Galilei could not have invented the pendulum and we would have had no pendulum clocks.
#$%*#$@!, somehow I knew you were going to confuse things, throwing up the pendulum arrangement. I shoulda addressed that as part of what I said.
Look closely again at the video, that shows the range of motion the Hensley goes through. Then, look at it again. Then, look at it one more time, Ron. Then one more time. :)
You're going to notice, that the pivoting/motion it goes through, is NOT the same as the pendulum type motion you're trying to compare it to. With a pendulum motion, the distance from the pivot point to the trailer remains the same through out. NOT the case with how the Hensley is pivoting here. As the trailer pivots, it moves physically closer to the virtual pivot point. IOW, the trailer is not just pivoting side to side like a pendulum, as it pivots to the side, it is forced to move physically closer to the tow vehicle. Sooo, your comparison to a pendulum motion really is not relevant.
Picture it like a pendulum motion, except that through some physical linkage, as the pendulum swings to the side, the length of the arm is shortened shorter and shorter, the further it swings out. Now picture that same pendulum arrangement in a straight line, with something 'pulling' on the pendulum. As long as there is a force 'pulling' back on the pendulum, it will take a LOT of force to move the pendulum to the side, 'cause you'd have to overcome all the force pulling back, since side-to-side movement results in the pendulum arm shortening? Make sense? This is the arrangement the Hensley is in essence forming.
That being the case, its very difficult for any force to make the 'pendulum' swing either direction, since it has to over come the force of the tension/pulling between tow vehicle and trailer. This is why it has the effect of 'locking' the trailer in a straight line, as long as there is resistance/tension between tow vehicle and trailer.
Will
