Methods and apparatus for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver. An example disclosed apparatus to be coupled to a receiver tube includes a crossbar interface to be coupled to a crossbar of a hitch, a pin adapter coupled to the crossbar interface, a first load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter, and a second load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter.
1. An apparatus to be coupled to a receiver tube, apparatus comprising:
a crossbar interface to be coupled to a crossbar of a hitch;
a pin adapter coupled to the crossbar interface;
a first load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter, the pin adapter shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin; and
a second load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pin adapter is to provide a first load path between the receiver tube and the first load-sensing pin and a second load path between the receiver tube and the second load-sensing pin.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin are at substantially the same vertical position relative to the crossbar.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a load manager including:
a component interface to receive load data from at least one of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin;
a hitch pin signal analyzer to determine a load condition of the pin adapter based on the load data; and
a display interface to display the load condition.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin causes the load condition to be statically determinate.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin provide the only load path between the receiver tube and the crossbar.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first load-sensing pin is to be disposed on an opposite side of the crossbar as the second load-sensing pin.
8. An apparatus, comprising:
a component interface to receive load data from a first load-sensing pin and a second load-sensing pin, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin operatively coupled to a receiver tube of a hitch of a vehicle, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin disposed within a pin adapter, the pin adapter shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin;
a hitch pin signal analyzer to determine a load condition of the hitch based on the load data;
a display alert generator to, when the load condition satisfies an alert threshold, generate an alert; and
a display interface to display at least one of the load condition or the alert to a user.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the pin adapter provides a load path between the first and second load-sensing pins and the vehicle.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the hitch pin signal analyzer is to:
determine a vertical load condition of the hitch based on data from the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin; and
determine a horizontal load condition of the hitch based on data from the second load-sensing pin.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the hitch pin signal analyzer determines the load condition based on a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin, the configuration causing the load condition to be statically determinate.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the configuration includes the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin at substantially the same vertical position relative to the receiver tube.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the alert threshold corresponds to an improper load condition.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the receiver tube is configured to receive a trailer hitch arm along an axis, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin disposed above the axis.
15. A method, comprising:
receiving load data from a first load-sensing pin and a second load-sensing pin, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin are operatively coupled to a receiver tube of a hitch of a vehicle, the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin coupled to a pin adapter that is the only load path between the first and second load-sensing pins and the receiver tube;
determining a load condition of the hitch based on the load data;
when the load condition satisfies an alert threshold, generating an alert; and
presenting at least one of the load condition or the alert to a user.
16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the pin adapter is shaped such that the pin adapter does not contact a horizontal surface of the first load-sensing pin.
17. The method as defined in claim 15 , further including:
determining a vertical load condition of the hitch based on data from the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin; and
determining a horizontal load condition of the hitch based on data from the second load-sensing pin.
18. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the determination of the load condition is based on a configuration of the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin, the configuration causing the load condition to be statically determinate.
19. The method as defined in claim 18 , wherein the configuration includes the first load-sensing pin and the second load-sensing pin at substantially the same vertical position relative to the receiver tube.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pin adapter is disposed on a top surface of the receiver tube.