Abstract:
The problems of hitching are typically focused on the alignment of the mating components. As a result, assist products tend to offer fragmented solutions and lack universal appeal in the marketplace. The Tru-Hitchin Model using Dual Beam Technology and Triangulation develops a Spatial Triangle with the aid of hardware, as a framework for positioning and alignment of any mating components. The Model transforms two dimensional vehicle movements into a 3rd dimensional beam movement for operator viewing. The operation requires a one-time initialization after which all future hitching is performed safely by one operator with ordinary parking skills. Alignment is complete when the dual functional laser beams are on selected pivot points.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     After reviewing prior art and other readings I have found that efforts to solve hitching problems tend to focus on the alignment of mating components. This results in a set of piecemeal solutions with minimal regard for ease of use, safety, cost, and service for the types of assist products on the market. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Tru-Hitchin using Dual Beam Technology and Triangulation has the capability to structure a model and use customized hardware to create a framework for positioning vehicles and aligning mating components. Modeling is a useful tool to simulate the real world and can be used to develop a virtual hitching environment. This is done with Dual Beams, pivot points, and a virtual plane to create a Spatial Triangle in 3D that is visible to the operator. The Beam Technology being used has dual functionality being both a visible light laser and a distance measuring tool. The tool provides a secondary check for accurate alignment. A one-time setup with the vehicles already hitched is required to initialize the angle between the dual beams and placement of a pivot point determined by Triangulation. The hitching operation simply involves a driver with ordinary parking skills to maneuver the vehicle, such that, the Dual Beams are centered on their respective pivot points. The car is now positioned for alignment and the mating components can be joined. 
     Detail Description—Spatial Triangle 
     An example of a motorhome hitched to a tow car in  FIG. 1  will demonstrate the use of the Model, the one-time initialization, and the geometry of positioning for alignment under real world constraints. The back of the Motorhome will be defined as a physical plane [ 30 ] and a few inches behind it is a virtual plane [ 40 ] bisecting the ball or coupling on the mating components [ 42 ]. A Spatial Triangle is created by Dual Beams [ 28 ] projected from the tow car with side 1  [ 12 ] formed by Beam 1  [ 14 ] and side 2  [ 22 ] formed by Beam 2  [ 24 ] at angle a [ 26 ]. Side 3  is formed by the Beams intersecting the virtual plane [ 40 ] at pivot point 1  PP 1  [ 10 ] and pivot point 2  PP 2  [ 20 ] respectively in  FIG. 1A . Consider the orientation of the right triangle and angle a [ 26 ] between the Beams, specific to this example. 
     Detail Description—Pivot Points 
     Pivot points act like the hinges on a door to provide angular motion and are visible to the Operator on the physical plane [ 30 ] and also on the virtual plane [ 40 ] as Pivot Point Extenders PPE [ 46 ] shown in  FIG. 3 . The required length of the PPE [ 46 ] is the distance from the center of the ball [ 42 ] on the mating component to the back of the Motorhome [ 30 ]. Extenders can be assembled from very light material and placed with adhesive on the back of the motorhome. They can be removable as shown in  FIG. 3  or permanent as shown in  FIG. 3B   
     Detail Description—Beam 1  Filter 
     A Filter [ 18 ] is needed on Beam 1  [ 14 ] when it is blocked by a physical plane [ 30 ] before placement of PP 1  [ 10 ] on the virtual plane [ 40 ]. An example is the filter [ 18 ] mounted on the front of a 5th wheel trailer or back of motorhome selecting only Beams projected on a line to PP 1  [ 10 ] in the virtual plane [ 40 ] as shown in  FIG. 2 . A Filter [ 18 ] is made by cutting angled slots into suitable material with radius from ball [ 42 ] to back of motorhome [ 30 ]. The calculation for placement of PP 2  [ 20 ] is now based on a similar Triangle [ 12 ] on the physical plane [ 30 ]. A similar triangle has the same shape but is a different size. 
     Detail Description—One-Time Initialization 
     The one-time Initialization process starts with the car hitched in line with the motorhome on a relatively flat surface. With Beam 1  [ 14 ] turned on and leveled, PP 1  [ 10 ] or PP 1 E [ 44 ] is placed on the back of the motorhome [ 30 ]. The placement of PP 2  [ 20 ] is calculated by Triangulation [Table 1] as the distance from PP 1  [ 10 ] with fixed angle a [ 26 ]. Modeling with variable angle a provides a series of optional placements of PP 2  [ 20 ] to gauge alignment accuracy. 
     Detail Description—Triangulation 
     Using Triangulation, the distance to a point can be found knowing two angles and the length of the side between them. Side 1  [ 12 ] distance is known from Beam 1  [ 64 ] laser measuring Technology, angle b=90 degrees [ 16 ], and angle a [ 26 ] can vary approximately 10 to 80 degrees [Table 2]. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Trigonometric Ratios 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Tan- 
                   
                 Tan- 
                   
                 Tan- 
                   
                 Tan- 
               
               
                 Degrees 
                 gent 
                 Degrees 
                 gent 
                 Degrees 
                 gent 
                 Degrees 
                 gent 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 0.173 
                 30 
                 0.5774 
                 45 
                 1.0 
                 60 
                 1.7321 
               
               
                 20 
                 0.364 
                 40 
                 0.8391 
                 50 
                 1.1918 
                 70 
                 2.7475 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 80 
                 5.6713 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Trigonometric Formula 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Formula to find distance of 3 rd  point of triangle if 2 angles are known and  
               
               
                 the side between them is known. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 
     Angle b=90 degrees 
     Side  3 =Side  1  multiplied by Tan a 
     Chart above for 45 degrees is 1 
     If angle a is assumed to be 45 degrees, 
     PP 2  distance from PP 1  is same as side  1 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 of Parts 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 Pivot Point1 PP1 
               
               
                 11 
                 PP1 of Similar Triangle 
               
               
                 12 
                 Spatial Triangle - Side1 
               
               
                 13 
                 Similar Triangle - Side1 
               
               
                 14 
                 Beam1 
               
               
                 16 
                 Angle b 
               
               
                 18 
                 Beam1 Filter - Top View 
               
               
                 19 
                 Beam1 Filter - Front View 
               
               
                 20 
                 Pivot Point2 PP2 
               
               
                 21 
                 Similar Triangle - PP2 
               
               
                 22 
                 Spatial Triangle - Side 2 
               
               
                 23 
                 Similar Triangle - Side2 
               
               
                 24 
                 Beam2 
               
               
                 26 
                 Angle a 
               
               
                 28 
                 Dual Functional Beams, Beam mount on car - vehicle 1 
               
               
                 30 
                 Back of Motorhome - physical plane - vehicle 2 
               
               
                 40 
                 Virtual Plane 
               
               
                 42 
                 Coupling Ball bisecting Virtual Plane - mating component 
               
               
                 44 
                 Removable Pivot Point Extender PPE 
               
               
                 46 
                 Permanent PPE - Open 
               
               
                 48 
                 Permanent PPE - Closed 
               
               
                 50 
                 Permanent Pivot Point PP 
               
               
                 63 
                 Beam2 adjustable bracket 
               
               
                 64 
                 Distance Readout Laser 
               
               
                 66 
                 Rivets 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     
       TABLE OF FIGURES 
       Description of Drawings 
         FIG. 1  Overview of Model positioning Motorhome, Car, and Spatial Triangle. The drawing illustrates the essence of the Tru-Hitchin Model, as an example, using Spatial Triangle, Pivot Points, Virtual/Physical Planes, and Dual Functional Laser Beams to position car for hitching alignment. 
         FIG. 1A  Spatial Triangle—Virtual Triangle created with Beams in space projected on a plane with parts as defined in the parts table. Once initialized, the shape of the Spatial Triangle remains the same with fixed angle a. The motion of the car appears to change the size of the Spatial Triangle as Beam 2  moves vertically on the physical plane. 
         FIG. 1B  Similar Triangle—same shape but not same size, with proportional sides. The Similar Triangle is shown inside of the Spatial Triangle. This occurs when the Filter is used on Beam 1  and the placement of Pivot Point 2  is calculated with Side 1  of the Similar Triangle. 
         FIG. 2  Filter—Top View[ 18 ] Beam 1  [ 14 ] projected through a slot will be visible on the back of the Motorhome [ 30 ] as PP 1 [ 11 ]. Each slot has a separate PP 1 [ 11 ] on the Similar Triangle. If Beam [ 14 ] could continue, it would intersect the virtual plane [ 40 ] at PP 1 [ 10 ]. This bisecting [ 42 ] occurs because both vehicles were coupled during the one-time initialization and placement of the filter. 
         FIG. 2  Front View [ 19 ] The filter provides visible Pivot Points [ 11 ] on a similar triangle for operator viewing when the virtual plane is behind the physical plane. The five slots allow for five different positions whose beams are aligned with the Pivot Point [ 10 ] on the virtual plane [ 40 ]. For additional angular motion, more slots can be added. Placement of Similar Triangle PP 2  [ 21 ] can be derived by Triangulation. 
         FIG. 3  Removable PPE The base is affixed to the physical plane [ 30 ] with or without the Extender [ 40 ]. 
         FIG. 3A  Permanent PPE—Open The length of PPE [ 46 ] is the same length as Extender [ 44 ] which is pulled out prior to hitching operation. 
         FIG. 3B  Permanent PPE—Closed PPE [ 48 ] is shown pushed in after hitching operation. 
         FIG. 3C  Permanent Pivot Point PP Pivot Point [ 50 ] is shown affixed to the physical plane [ 30 ] when it is the same as the virtual plane. 
         FIG. 4  Dual Beams Mount and adjustable Bracket Off the shelf Lasers consist of Beam 1  [ 14 ] with distance measuring readout [ 64 ] and leveling capability. The adjustable bracket [ 63 ] on Beam 2  [ 24 ] permits angle a [ 26 ] variance for greater accuracy during initial setup. A vertical offset by Beam 1  on PP 1  indicates a surface condition different from level conditions at initialization. A vertical adjustment of the beam mount [ 28 ] will zero the offset and ensure accuracy of PP 2  [ 20 ]. 
     
    
    
     OPERATION 
     Vehicle 1  controls side to side movement of Beam 1  [ 14 ] before centering on PP 1  [ 10 ]. Uneven surface between car and motorhome is indicated by Beam 1  [ 14 ] vertical offset from initialization on PP 1  [ 10 ]. Vehicle 1  moving forward and back translates to down up movement of Beam 2  [ 24 ] before centering on PP 2  [ 20 ]. The car is now positioned for alignment and the mating components [ 42 ] can now be joined. 
     SUMMARY 
     The Model built around this conceptual framework and custom hardware was developed, tested, and now documented as an embodiment of a universal method of positioning for alignment of mating components. The process is safe and easy to use for an operator with ordinary parking skills. Off the shelf Laser Technology is economical to deploy and has a good track record of service over time.