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University of Wyoming

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Technology Disclosure: 04-081 Towing Fuse for Cable/Rope/Chain Towing Devices


It is well established that the number of SUVs, pickups, and similar-sized vehicles are increasing as personal modes of transportation and as commercial vehicles. Correspondingly, these vehicles are being used to tow trailers and other loads (using hitches, chains, ropes, etc.) more than ever. This has given rise to concerns about towing safety. In fact, “the number of accidents involving vehicles as they towed trailers increased 36 percent from 1992 to 2000”, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and in 2000, there were 57,455 crashes involving towed vehicles resulting in 26,570 injuries. When a cable, rope or chain is used to tow a load with a mobile vehicle, the towing attachments can be easily overloaded, causing failure of some portion of the towing system. Life and property can be endangered if strain energy stored in the towing line causes the parts of the system to fly off in unpredictable directions.

Researchers at the University of Wyoming Mechanical Engineering Department are developing a technology (7,146,922 patent issued) that is designed to absorb strain energy during the failure of a towing system preventing the components from becoming deadly missiles. The invention is a link included in the towing system that fails at a predetermined level of tensile force that is lower than the towing ratings of the towing system components, thereby acting as a “fuse” for the system. A second important embodiment of the invention is a means to dissipate the strain energy. We have excellent results with mechanical friction and hydraulic dissipation techniques, but are most excited about an ingenious technology that reliably absorbs almost all strain energy (see graph) within a broken tow strap. This allows the broken tow strap to fall limply to the ground, thereby preventing dangerous whipsawing, or the creation of high-velocity missiles.

This technology has many potential applications to improve the safety of current towing systems. For example, it could be used in automotive towing by individuals who use their personal vehicles for various types of towing. It could also be used in industrial towing operations, especially where safety considerations are stringent and the forces involved are extremely large.

If you would like to learn more about this novel towing “fuse” and energy dissipation system and how your company may apply it in commercial situations, please contact the director of the University of Wyoming Research Products Center, Davona Douglass. We would be pleased to share further details