Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer
A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can comprise a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer, a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, and a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion. The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, with the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion. The load measurement device can be configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.
1. A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:
a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer;
a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle; and
a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,
wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, and
wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion;
wherein the load measurement device comprises:
a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is configured to interface with the hitch receiver and affect a pressure of the fluid as a result of the downward force on the ball; and
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir.
2. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the magnitude of the downward force.
3. The ball mount of claim 2 , wherein the display is associated with the ball portion.
4. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to communicate the magnitude of the downward force on the ball to a remote display.
5. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a strain gage disposed on an outer surface of the hitch portion.
6. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises an interface portion configured to interface with the hitch receiver.
7. The ball mount of claim 6 , wherein the interface portion is located at a top side of the hitch portion.
8. The ball mount of claim 6 , wherein the interface portion is located at a bottom side of the hitch portion.
9. The ball mount of claim 8 , wherein the interface portion is located at a proximal end of the hitch portion.
10. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum is defined by an interface between a bottom side of the hitch portion and the hitch receiver.
11. The ball mount of claim 10 , wherein the hitch portion comprises a fulcrum feature on the bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form the fulcrum.
12. A trailer hitch system for measuring tongue weight of a trailer,
comprising:
a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle;
a trailer having a tongue for coupling the trailer to the vehicle; and
a ball mount having
a ball portion supporting a ball configured to couple with the tongue of the trailer,
a hitch portion for interfacing with the hitch receiver, and
a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,
wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, and
wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion;
wherein the load measurement device comprises:
a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is configured to interface with the hitch receiver and affect a pressure of the fluid as a result of the downward force on the ball; and
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the hitch portion comprises a fulcrum feature on a bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form the fulcrum by interfacing with the hitch receiver.
14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the magnitude of the downward force.