GB2186174A

GB2186174A - Telescopic automatic pickup hitch

Info

Publication number: GB2186174A
Application number: GB08603255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Steele Whitaker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-11
Filing date: 1986-02-11
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Also published as: GB8603255D0

Abstract

An automatic pickup hitch with a hook 4 which telescopes lengthwise in the main body of the hitch 2, a latch 14 is provided which holds the hook in one of a number of working positions. As the hitch is raised (via tractor hydraulics), the locking bar 5 is sandwiched between hook and stop 9, thus securing trailer. Length is adjusted by simultaneously moving lever 11 and sliding hook by hand or by tractor motion, latch engages in one of the slots in hook as lever is released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telescopic automatic pickup hitch Improvements to existing telescopic pickup hitches.

Automatic pickup hitches are used extensively and are renowned for their speed and safety of hitching tractor to trailers. Automatic hitches however are limited to certain jobs due to their short length, making them unsuitable for machines which are powered by Power Take Off (PTO) shafts, thus the hook has to be interchanged with a conventional swinging drawbar or device hitch so that the tractor can be used with PTO powered machinery.

This invention comprises an automatic telescopic pickup hitch, with a number of longitudinal working positions, upto or longer than the British Standard Drawbar length of 365mm, which hitches and unhitches trailers and trailed implements, and is adjustable from tractor/cab/seat or from behined, and having an automatic locking bar to stop unhooking in the raised position regardless of it's length.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows pickup hitch in raised position with trailer attached and hook in longest position.

Figure 2 shows pickup hitch in lowered position and locking bar sprung open.

Referring to the drawing the hitch comprises:- a body 2 which is hinged by pin 3 to hitch frame 1, the body is raised and lowered via chains or rods from tractor hydraulics, it is held in raised position by a catch or hooks, (not illustrated) the hook 4 telescopes in hitch body (indicated by arrows) and held in desired position by latch 14, locking bar 5 pivots on pin 6 at inner end of hook.

To hitch up a trailer the hitch body is released and lowered, as the body hinges downwards locking bar is free to be pushed open by sring 13, tractor is reversed until hook is in line with trailer ring 15. Then by raising hydraulics hitch body 2 pivots upwards, hook 4 engages into ring 1 5 thus lifting trailer bar 12. As body reaches fully raised position (Fig. 1) spring 13 is compressed and locking bar 5 is sandwiched between stop 9 and hook, therefore eliminating accidental unhooking. The hitch automatically latches in raised position.

To release the trailer the above is carried out in reverse order.

To adjust working position or longitudinal length with trailer hitched, ie. distance from PTO shaft 10 to hook centreline, apply trailer breaks where available or choose level ground, then simultaneously move lever 11 (this pivots above stop 9 exerting a downward force on latch 14) and drive forward or reverse then release lever at the desired working length and spring loaded latch will engage in appropriate slot. One of these positions complies with the British Standard Drawbar Length of 365mm.

The hook can also be moved in or out manually whilst depressing lever 11.

Inner stop 8 and outer stop 7 control the maximum movement of the hook.

1. An automatic telescopic pickup hitch with a number of longitudinal working positions, upto or longer than the British Standard Drawber length of 365mm, which hitches and unhitches trailers or trailed machines and is adjustable for length from tractor seat/cab or from behined, and having an automatic locking bar to stop unhocking in the raised position regardless of length.

2. A telescopic pickup hitch as claimed in Claim 1., where hook part is adjustable to comply with British Standard Drawbar length.

3. A telescopic pickup hitch as claimed in Claim 1. or Claim 2. where 50mm ring drawbar trailers or trailed machines powered by Power Take Off shafts can be hooked-up automatically.

4. A telescopic pickup hitch as claimed in Claim 2. or Claim 3. which can either be lengthened or shortened from tractor seat/cab or from behined.

5. A telescopic pickup hitch as claimed in Claim 4. which has an automatic locking bar that stops unhooking in the raised position at whatever length.

6. An automatic telescopic pickup hitch substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telescopic automatic pickup hitch Improvements to existing telescopic pickup hitches. Automatic pickup hitches are used extensively and are renowned for their speed and safety of hitching tractor to trailers. Automatic hitches however are limited to certain jobs due to their short length, making them unsuitable for machines which are powered by Power Take Off (PTO) shafts, thus the hook has to be interchanged with a conventional swinging drawbar or device hitch so that the tractor can be used with PTO powered machinery. This invention comprises an automatic telescopic pickup hitch, with a number of longitudinal working positions, upto or longer than the British Standard Drawbar length of 365mm, which hitches and unhitches trailers and trailed implements, and is adjustable from tractor/cab/seat or from behined, and having an automatic locking bar to stop unhooking in the raised position regardless of it's length. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows pickup hitch in raised position with trailer attached and hook in longest position. Figure 2 shows pickup hitch in lowered position and locking bar sprung open. Referring to the drawing the hitch comprises:- a body 2 which is hinged by pin 3 to hitch frame 1, the body is raised and lowered via chains or rods from tractor hydraulics, it is held in raised position by a catch or hooks, (not illustrated) the hook 4 telescopes in hitch body (indicated by arrows) and held in desired position by latch 14, locking bar 5 pivots on pin 6 at inner end of hook. To hitch up a trailer the hitch body is released and lowered, as the body hinges downwards locking bar is free to be pushed open by sring 13, tractor is reversed until hook is in line with trailer ring 15. Then by raising hydraulics hitch body 2 pivots upwards, hook 4 engages into ring 1 5 thus lifting trailer bar 12. As body reaches fully raised position (Fig. 1) spring 13 is compressed and locking bar 5 is sandwiched between stop 9 and hook, therefore eliminating accidental unhooking. The hitch automatically latches in raised position. To release the trailer the above is carried out in reverse order. To adjust working position or longitudinal length with trailer hitched, ie. distance from PTO shaft 10 to hook centreline, apply trailer breaks where available or choose level ground, then simultaneously move lever 11 (this pivots above stop 9 exerting a downward force on latch 14) and drive forward or reverse then release lever at the desired working length and spring loaded latch will engage in appropriate slot. One of these positions complies with the British Standard Drawbar Length of 365mm. The hook can also be moved in or out manually whilst depressing lever 11. Inner stop 8 and outer stop 7 control the maximum movement of the hook. CLAIMS