Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02481361 2004-10-07
AUTOMATIC HITCH S~'STEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a hitch system for hitching a trailing
vehicle to a pulling vehicle, in which a first hitch section is mounted on the
forwardly extending tongue of the pulling vehicle and a second hitch
section is mounted on the forwardly extending drawbar portion of the
trailing vehicle, and in which the first hitch section can be automatically
coupled and uncoupled from the second hitch section.
Description of the related art
Many coupling systems have been developed for providing a
connection between a trailing vehicle and a pulling vehicle. The manual
coupling and uncoupling of a trailing vehicle to a pulling vehicle is
inconvenient when the driver of the pulling vehicle is alone.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a hitch system which will
automatically couple and uncouple a tongue portion of a pulling vehicle
with respect a drawbar portion of a trailing vehicle;.
~f course, it is also desirable that the automatic hatch system be
capable of attachment to existing equipment without modifications to the
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existing equipment.
A number of attempts have been made to provide hitch assemblies.
These hitch assemblies usually have some type of system to guide the
tongue portion of the pulling vehicle to the drawbar portion of the trailing
vehicle where the vehicles are coupled.
A search of prior art records has unveiled the following patents:
1. CA 2,086,688 issued in 2001 to Bergman;
2. CA 2,413,766 registered in 2001 to Hall;
3. CA 2,158,736 registered in 1994 to Gingerich;
4. US 5,873,595 issued in 1999 to Hinte;
5. US 4,998,745 issued in 1991 to David;
6. US 5,489,112 issued in 1996 to Warrington; and
7. US 5,738,176 issued in 1998 to Gingerich.
SUMMARY OF THE INi~ENTI4N
It is an object of the present invention is to provide a hitch system
which is capable to automatically couple or uncouple a pulling vehicle with
a trailing vehicle without the need of the driver to ,get out of the pulling
vehicle.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is
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provided a first hitch section to be mounted on a pulling vehicle to be
hitched to a second hitch section mounted on a trailing vehicle, which allow
the automatic positioning, coupling and uncoupling of the pulling vehicle
with respect to the trailing vehicle.
The first hitch section of the invention comprises a bottom channel to
receive the extending tongue portion of the pulling vehicle. The bottom
channel includes at its lower end a lever with contact flanges to fold up
a foot member underneath the extending drawbar of the trailing vehicle.
A hitch pin with pull handle passes through an aperture drilled on the
top surface of an horizontal upper plate welded thE;reon the bottom channel,
an aperture drilled on the forwardly tongue portion of the pulling vehicle,
and of which the hitch pin is vertically aligned with an aperture drilled
through the bottom of the channel.
A plurality of horizontally aligned apertures are drilled through the
both sides of the bottom channel. These apertures :receive a threaded rod for
adjusting the extending tongue portion of the pulling vehicle by displacing a
plurality of washers interposed along the threaded rod being fixed thereby
means of a nut screwed on the threaded bolt. On the top surface of the upper
plate and at its rear portion, a structural body merriber is mounted and
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welded thereon. The body member includes at its :rear portion a pair of holes
for connecting a chain, and at its front portion an aperture to receive a
pivot
pin being welded on the top surface of the upper plate and on which is
pivotally mounted a locking member and washer being blocked thereby a
safety pin inserted therein hole formed through the pivot pin.
A locking pin locks a first end of the chain therein the first hole
drilled through the structural body member. Again., a safety clip locks a
second end of the chain therein the second hole al;~o drilled therethrough
and of which engaging the structural body member.
Once again on the top surface of the upper plate, a pin is also
mounted for blocking the structural body member thereon.
Again at the front portion of the structural body member, a hole is
also drilled therethrough for connecting a pulley by means of a blocking
pin, and of which a cable turning around is engaged therein hole drilled
through an elongated rectangular plate and fixed therein.
A tension spring is wound on a threaded rod passing through an
aperture drilled through the elongated rectangular plate, and of which the
tension spring is disposed between the rectangular plate and a rectangular
block.
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During the coupling operation a part member welded thereon the
front portion of the upper plate, blocks the locking member when the
tension spring applies a pressure on the rectangular block in an angular
notch formed in the edge of the locking member to be locked with a vertical
hitch pin being guided by a ~-shaped cut toward a rounded recess being
formed with the front portion of the upper plate.
The present invention also relates to a second hitch section to be
mounted on a trailing vehicle to be hitched to the i:irst hitch section.
The second hitch section according to the invention comprises the
vertical hitch pin being welded thereon the top surface of a body member of
which the vertical hitch pin passes through corresponding aligned apertures
of a U-shaped bracket engaged thereon, and of which the forwardly drawbar
portion of the trailing vehicle is welded therein the U-shaped bracket.
The upper end of the vertical hitch pin is threaded to receive a nut,
and a washer is interposed between nut and the top surface of the U-shaped
bracket.
The body member includes a pair of grooves which axe capable to
receive one first end of each tension spring which are assembled with a
plurality of components being mounted on a threaded rod passing through
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each opening drilled through each parallel mounting plate to be engaged
therein each aperture of a central pivot located underneath the front portion
of the body member and being fixed thereby a nut screwed thereon the
threaded rod.
The second end of the tension springs is blacked therein a groove
being formed with the top surface of each parallel mounting plate.
The foot member is provided with a pair of side plate portions
defining of the inside a V-shaped and welded thereon a lower plate.
The parallel mounting plates having aligned apertures drilled
therethrough and defining of the inside a V-shaped, are engaged thereon
each side plate portion by a plurality of bolts and nuts therein aligned
apertures drilled through the both side plate portions to be adjusted and
aligned in height with the lever folding up the foot: member underneath the
extending drawbar of the trailing vehicle.
During the uncoupling operation the driver pulls a cable that is
securely installed into the pulling vehicle to withdraw the rectangular block
from the angular notch of which enabling rotation of the locking member
about the pivot pin to be unlocked from the vertical hitch pin, and which
moves forward with the pulling vehicle to release t:he lever from the foot
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member which is capable of returning downwards by the tension force
produced through the springs.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive
description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example
only with reference to the accompanying drawing;>.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the appended drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic hitch system in an uncoupled
position in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic hitch system shown in fig. 1
in a coupled position;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first hitch section of the automatic hitch
system;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of fig. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second hitch section of the automatic hitch
system;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of fig. 5;
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the automatic hitch system shown in
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fig. 1 in an uncoupled position;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the automatic hitch system shown in
fig. 2 in an intermediate position during coupling; and
FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the automatic hitch system shown in
fig. 2 in a coupled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The automatic hitch system in accordance with the present invention
comprises a first hitch section and a second hitch section. In the appended
drawings, the first hitch section and the second hitch section are generally
identified by the references B and D, respectively.
As illustrated in figs. 1 to 2, an automatic hitch system is shown
generally at A for coupling a pulling vehicle, such as a tractor, to a
trailing
vehicle, such as a trailer or farm implement (not shown).
Referring to the drawings and figs. 1 to 4 in particular, the first hitch
section B comprises a bottom channel (3) to receive the extending tongue
portion of the pulling vehicle. The bottom channel (3) includes at its lower
end a lever ( 1 ) with contact flanges (2) for folding up a foot member (39)
underneath the extending drawbar portion of the trailing vehicle during the
coupling operation.
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A hitch pin with pull handle (C) passes through an aperture (37)
drilled on the top surface of an horizontal upper plate (8) welded thereon the
bottom channel (3), an aperture drilled on the forwardly tongue portion of
the pulling vehicle, and of which the hitch pin is vertically aligned with an
aperture (4) drilled through the bottom of the channel (3).
A plurality of horizontally aligned apertures (4) are drilled through
the both sides of the bottom channel (3). These apertures (4) receive a
threaded rod (6) for adjusting the extending tongue portion of the pulling
vehicle by displacing a plurality of washers (5) interposed along the
threaded rod (6) being Fixed thereby means of a nut (7) screwed on the
threaded bolt (6). On the top surface of the upper plate (8) and at its rear
portion, a body member (13) is mounted and welded thereon. The body
member ( 13) includes at its rear portion a pair of holes ( 14)( 15) for
connecting a chain ( 17), and at its front portion an aperture (20) to receive
a
pivot pin ( 11 ) being welded on the top surface of the upper plate (8) and on
which is pivotally mounted a locking member (22) and washer (25) being
blocked thereby a safety pin (26) inserted therein hole ( 12) drilled
through the pivot pin ( 11 ).
A locking pin ( 18) locks a first end of the chain ( 17) therein the first
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hole (14) drilled through the body member (13). A safety clip (19) locks a
second end of the chain ( 17) therein the second hole ( 1 S) also drilled
therethrough and of which engaging the body member (13).
Again on the top surface of the upper plate {8), a pin (16) is also
mounted for blocking the structural body member (13) thereon.
Again at the front portion of the structural body member (13),
a hole (21) is also drilled therethrough for connecting a pulley (33) by
means of a blocking pin (35), and of which a cable (32) turning around is
engaged therein hole (34) drilled through an elongated rectangular plate
(31) and fixed therein.
A tension spring (28) is wound on a threaded rod (29) passing
through an aperture (30) drilled through the elongated rectangular plate
(31 ), and of which is disposed between the rectangular plate (31 ) and a
rectangular block (27).
During the coupling operation a part member ( 10) welded thereon the
front portion of the upper plate (8), blocks the locl~:ing member (22) when
the tension spring (28) applies a pressure on the rectangular block (27) in an
angular notch formed in the edge of the locking member (22) to be locked
with a vertical hitch pin (58) being guided by a V- shaped cut toward a
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rounded recess being formed with the front portion of the upper plate (8).
The present invention also relates to a second hitch section (D) to be
mounted on a trailing vehicle to be hitched to the first hitch section (~).
Referring to the drawings and figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 in particular, the
second hitch section DT.~ according to the invention comprises the vertical
hitch pin (58) being welded thereon the top surface of a body member (55)
of which the vertical hitch pin (58) passes through corresponding aligned
apertures (69) of a U-shaped bracket (70) engaged thereon, and of which the
forwardly drawbar portion of the trailing vehicle is welded therein the
U-shaped bracket (70) .
The upper end of the vertical hitch pin (58) is threaded to receive a
nut (72), and a washer (7I ) is interposed between nut (72) and the top
surface of the U-shaped bracket (70).
The body member (55) includes a pair of grooves (57) which are
capable to receive one first end of each tension spring (61 )(66) which are
assembled with a plurality of components (60)(62)(63)(64)(65)(67) being
mounted thereon a threaded rod (59) passing through each opening (49)(51 )
drilled through each parallel mounting plate (41 )(45) to be engaged therein
each aperture (54) of a central pivot (53) located underneath the front
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portion of the body member (55) and being fixed thereby a nut (68) screwed
thereon the threaded rod (59).
The second end of each tension spring (61 )(66) is blocked therein a
groove (73)(74) being formed with the top surface (50)(52) of the parallel
mounting plates (41)(45).
The foot member (39) is provided with a pair of side plate portions
defining of the inside a V-shaped and welded thereon a lower plate.
The parallel mounting plates (41)(45) having aligned apertures
(43)(46) drilled therethrough and defining of the inside a ~-shaped, are
engaged thereon each side plate portion by a plurality of bolts (42)(47) and
nuts (44)(48) therein aligned apertures (40) drilled through the both side
plate portions to be adjusted and aligned in height with the lever ( 1 )
folding
up the foot member (39) underneath the extending drawbar of the trailing
vehicle.
During the uncoupling operation the driver pulls ~ cable (32) that is
securely installed into the pulling vehicle to withdraw the rectangular block
(27) from the angular notch of which enabling rotation of the locking
member (22) about the pivot ( 11 ) to be unlocked from the vertical hitch pin
(58), and which moves forward with the pulling vehicle to release the lever
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(1) from the foot member {39) which is capable of returning downwards by
the tension force produced through the springs (61 )(66).
Referring to the drawing and figures 7, 8 and 9 specifically, it is
shown the automatic hitch system (A) in its coupled and uncoupled
position.
Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the
drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further
modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made
within the spirit and scope of this invention.
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