Power through trailer hitch systems and methods
A trailer hitch system of the present disclosure includes a power through ball hitch and a power through trailer coupler equipped with electronic connectors such that an electric connection between a tow vehicle and a trailer is automatically made when the trailer coupler is attached to the ball hitch. The trailer hitch system may further include a power through hitch receiver (e.g., for bumper pull hitch systems) whereby an electrical connection is made between the hitch receiver and the ball hitch automatically when the ball hitch is installed in the hitch receiver.
1 . A ball hitch comprising:
a ball portion comprising a hitch ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer;
a first electrical contact disposed on the hitch ball;
a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, the hitch portion comprises a longitudinal axis;
a second electrical contact disposed on the hitch portion, the second electrical contact comprises an elongated metal plate including a contact surface facing away from the longitudinal axis; and
a conductor extending from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to receive electrical power through the conductor;
wherein a control unit is configured to detect a test signal through the first electrical contact.
2 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact, the second electrical contact, and the conductor are electrically insulated from the ball portion.
3 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , further comprising a bore extending through the ball portion, wherein the conductor is disposed at least partially within the bore.
4 . The ball hitch of claim 3 , wherein the first electrical contact is positioned at a tip of the ball portion, and the first electrical contact is set inward from a contour of the ball portion by a gap.
5 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recessed channel disposed in the hitch portion, wherein the conductor is disposed at least partially within the recessed channel.
6 . The ball hitch of claim 5 , wherein the recessed channel extends along an exterior surface of the hitch portion.
7 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , wherein the second electrical contact is disposed in the recessed channel.
8 . The ball hitch of claim 7 , wherein the second electrical contact is located at the first side of the hitch portion and the ball portion is located at a second side of the hitch portion.
9 . The ball hitch of claim 8 , further comprising a third electrical contact electrically coupled with the conductor.
10 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive data via power line communication through the first electrical contact.
11 . The ball hitch of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to send a full power signal in response to the test signal.
12 . A hitch receiver, comprising:
a body comprising an opening configured to receive a hitch;
an aperture disposed in the body;
a housing coupled to the body and comprising an electrical contact; and
wherein a control unit in electrical communication with the electrical contact is configured to transmit a test signal through the electrical contact and configured to send a full power signal in response to the test signal; and
wherein the opening extends along a longitudinal axis of the body, the aperture is oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the electrical contact is configured to contact the hitch in response to the hitch being received by the hitch receiver.
13 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , wherein the electrical contact is configured to contact a groove on the hitch, wherein the electrical contact is disposed at least partially within and protruding through the aperture.
14 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , wherein the electrical contact is configured to slide within a groove of the hitch and contact an electrical contact disposed in the groove of the hitch in response to the hitch being received by the hitch receiver.
15 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , wherein the electrical contact is electrically insulated from the body.
16 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , further comprising a conductor extending from the electrical contact whereby the electrical contact is configured to receive electric power from a vehicle.
17 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , further comprising a through hole disposed in the body, wherein the through hole is configured to receive a pin for securing the hitch to the body.
18 . The hitch receiver of claim 12 , wherein the electrical contact is disposed at least partially within and protruding through the aperture.
19 . A trailer coupler, comprising:
a body having forward and rear end portions, a downwardly opening socket at the forward end portion of said body;
a flange defining an opening into the downwardly opening socket;
an electrical connector disposed at least partially in the opening; and
a control unit configured to:
receive electric power from the electrical connector;
receive a test signal through the electrical connector; and
receive a full power signal through the electrical connector in response to the test signal, the test signal comprises a reduced-power electrical signal relative to the full power signal.
20 . The trailer coupler of claim 19 , wherein the electrical connector is configured to contact a ball hitch in response to a ball portion of the ball hitch being moved into the downwardly opening socket, the electrical connector configured for receiving electrical power from a tow vehicle.
21 . The trailer coupler of claim 20 , wherein the downwardly opening socket has an open rear side, a ball clamp supported on the body to move back and forth between clamped and released positions, the ball clamp being operable when in a clamped position to close the rear side of the downwardly opening socket and lock the ball portion in the downwardly opening socket and being operable when in a released position to permit the downwardly opening socket to be pulled upwardly off of the ball portion.
22 . The trailer coupler of claim 19 , wherein the electrical connector comprises:
a moveable contactor moveable between a compressed position and an extended position; and
a spring configured to bias the moveable contactor toward the extended position.
23 . The trailer coupler of claim 22 , wherein the moveable contactor extends past an interior surface of the downwardly opening socket in the extended position.
24 . The trailer coupler of claim 19 , wherein the control unit is further configured to send a connection signal in response to the test signal.
25 . A hitch receiver, comprising:
a body comprising an opening configured to receive a hitch;
an aperture disposed in the body;
a housing coupled to the body and comprising an electrical contact, the electrical contact is configured to contact a groove on the hitch, and the electrical contact is disposed at least partially within and protruding through the aperture; and
wherein a control unit in electrical communication with the electrical contact is configured to transmit a test signal through the electrical contact and configured to send a full power signal in response to the test signal.
26 . A hitch receiver, comprising:
a body comprising an opening configured to receive a hitch;
an aperture disposed in the body;
a housing coupled to the body and comprising an electrical contact, the electrical contact is configured to slide within a groove of the hitch and contact an electrical contact disposed in the groove of the hitch in response to the hitch being received by the hitch receiver; and
wherein a control unit in electrical communication with the electrical contact is configured to transmit a test signal through the electrical contact and configured to send a full power signal in response to the test signal.