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
Hmmm...Looking at Milt's picture, I'm trying to visualize another model we could build, that will prove the point about locking (when Hensley is under tension), and prove it beyond reproach by even someone like Ron. :)
What if we were to somehow mount the drawbar on something solid, like maybe a workbench? Basically, mount the drawbar pointing down, and mount it on something REALLY solid. Mount it, such that it could handle a lot of weight.
Then, attach the Hensley hitch to the drawbar (all pointing down). We'd then have to build a 'model' A frame of a trailer, perhaps with 3 pieces of 2x4 wood, and mount this to the Hensley, the same way it normally mounts to the trailer A frame (using the struts). Now, we just have to mount something really heavy to the bottom of the wood A frame we built, so that it pulls down real hard on the Hensley. For this example, lets say we mounted, an anvil (lol).
NOW, after we have this, try pushing the wooden A frame side to side. You will find, that in order to make it pivot, you'd have to overcome a LOT of resistance, because you'd literally be lifting the weight of the anvil in order to make it pivot, since the Hensley's pivot path forces the Hensley to move forward (up in this case) as it swings away from a straight line. The path through which it would pivot (making you lift the anvil) would NOT be the same as a simple pendulum with respect to the Hensley's Virtual pivot point, as Ron would suggest. It would be more like a pendulum where the arm shortens as it swings to either side.
Make sense? Who wants to volunteer to build this? :)
Will
What if we were to somehow mount the drawbar on something solid, like maybe a workbench? Basically, mount the drawbar pointing down, and mount it on something REALLY solid. Mount it, such that it could handle a lot of weight.
Then, attach the Hensley hitch to the drawbar (all pointing down). We'd then have to build a 'model' A frame of a trailer, perhaps with 3 pieces of 2x4 wood, and mount this to the Hensley, the same way it normally mounts to the trailer A frame (using the struts). Now, we just have to mount something really heavy to the bottom of the wood A frame we built, so that it pulls down real hard on the Hensley. For this example, lets say we mounted, an anvil (lol).
NOW, after we have this, try pushing the wooden A frame side to side. You will find, that in order to make it pivot, you'd have to overcome a LOT of resistance, because you'd literally be lifting the weight of the anvil in order to make it pivot, since the Hensley's pivot path forces the Hensley to move forward (up in this case) as it swings away from a straight line. The path through which it would pivot (making you lift the anvil) would NOT be the same as a simple pendulum with respect to the Hensley's Virtual pivot point, as Ron would suggest. It would be more like a pendulum where the arm shortens as it swings to either side.
Make sense? Who wants to volunteer to build this? :)
Will
