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
OK Ron, let's talk about the pendulum. In theory, both an HA-equipped TT and a pendulum pivot similarly. However, you start a pendulum by raising it in its arc, and releasing it to let gravity start the motion. With the HA, the trailer itself creates resistance to motion.
Picture a pendulum with a rubber band connected to its bottom and the other end fastened to the ground surface below the pendulum. Any attempt to start the pendulum swaying along its arc will be resisted and eventually stopped by the force the rubber band exerts. The rubber band will effectively dampen the movement until the pendulum is once again hanging in a static position.
What Will and I are saying is that the drag and wind resistance created by the trailer act just like the rubber band in my example. Traveling at hiway speed, these forces amount to the equivalent of a very thick rubber band on the bottom of that pendulum, so any attempt to swing the pendulum is quickly dampened by the rubber band.
Ron, I don't disagree with the math that you introduce to this discussion, but I think that your calcs become largely theoretical with regard to this topic (bullfrog with wings?)...
Yes, the math says that movement is allowed, but you are ignoring the fact that the HA relies on tension bewteen the TV and TT to resist any movement introduced into the 4-bar linkage by the TT.
AND, it's not a question of whether the TT is allowed to pivot...as an example, if I am driving on the interstate at 70 mph with the HA connected to my 34' TT, and a 50 mph gust of wind comes up perpendicular to the trailer, I will feel the TT move. HOWEVER, the HA effectively dampens this movement to a single push, and this tension that Will and I are trying to explain prevents that intial movement from repeating itself into a sway condition, as a pendulum would when dropped from a point along its arc.
Ron, it's clear that you understand the physics of the HA, but as Milt said, I think your lack of direct experience as an HA user is hindering your ability to see the applied result of these principles.
Don
Picture a pendulum with a rubber band connected to its bottom and the other end fastened to the ground surface below the pendulum. Any attempt to start the pendulum swaying along its arc will be resisted and eventually stopped by the force the rubber band exerts. The rubber band will effectively dampen the movement until the pendulum is once again hanging in a static position.
What Will and I are saying is that the drag and wind resistance created by the trailer act just like the rubber band in my example. Traveling at hiway speed, these forces amount to the equivalent of a very thick rubber band on the bottom of that pendulum, so any attempt to swing the pendulum is quickly dampened by the rubber band.
Ron, I don't disagree with the math that you introduce to this discussion, but I think that your calcs become largely theoretical with regard to this topic (bullfrog with wings?)...
Yes, the math says that movement is allowed, but you are ignoring the fact that the HA relies on tension bewteen the TV and TT to resist any movement introduced into the 4-bar linkage by the TT.
AND, it's not a question of whether the TT is allowed to pivot...as an example, if I am driving on the interstate at 70 mph with the HA connected to my 34' TT, and a 50 mph gust of wind comes up perpendicular to the trailer, I will feel the TT move. HOWEVER, the HA effectively dampens this movement to a single push, and this tension that Will and I are trying to explain prevents that intial movement from repeating itself into a sway condition, as a pendulum would when dropped from a point along its arc.
Ron, it's clear that you understand the physics of the HA, but as Milt said, I think your lack of direct experience as an HA user is hindering your ability to see the applied result of these principles.
Don
