GM Seeks Patent for System to Boost Towing Capacity
GM has filed a patent application for a new tow assist system capable of providing a vehicle with greater towing capacity, according to a posting at GMAuthority.com.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 11,607,918 B2 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on March 21. The patent was originally filed on Oct. 21, 2019, and lists several Canadian-based engineers as the inventors, including Avesta Goodarzi, Ralph D. Schlottke, Grant L. Meade and Norman J. Weigert.
The patent describes a tow assist system that is coupled between a lead vehicle and a trailer. The system incorporates a drive unit that will respond to a force between the trailer and tow assist unit, bearing a portion of the force required to tow the trailer.
As the patent points out, vehicles are typically purchased for a variety of different uses, with towing usually relegated to only occasional use. In addition, some users may own a variety of different trailers that offer a range of different weight capacities. Purchasing a vehicle with a high towing weight capacity may be undesirable due to both vehicle expense and operating expense.
As such, a flexible system whereby a vehicle with a relatively low towing capacity can be enhanced to offer a relatively how towing capacity could provide the perfect solution for some users. The patent describes a system that incorporates an inertial measurement unit and controller that is configured to actuate the drive unit in response to inputs, providing additional towing force as well as affecting overall trajectory to provide greater stability, the latter of which is particularly important for very heavy weights and towing in a series of three units (also known as triple towing).
Finally, this system also incorporates the means by which the tow assist unit can supply electrical power from the onboard battery pack to the trailer through an inverter, as well as provide braking as needed for added stability.
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/gm-seeks-patent-for-system-to-boost-towing-capacity/
