GB873620A - Coupling device for connecting one towed vehicle to another - Google Patents

Abstract

873,620. Vehicle hitches. MANNERS, W. Sept. 26, 1958 [June 27, 1957], No. 20255/57. Class 103(5). A hitching device for coupling two vehicles or agricultural machines towed by a tractor, comprises a removable frame constructed from tubular members 1, 4, and 6 and secured by stub shafts 7 and 8 to the chassis C of the forward towed vehicle, a hook 12 secured by bolts 14 in a vertically adjustable position to carrier plates 11 pivoted to a shaft 5 joining the tubes 6, and a hydraulic single acting cylinder 22 pivoted at 23 to frame bars 2 and operating a piston 24 pivoted at 25 to the plates 11. Plates 13 guide the mating half of the coupling are each fixed at one end to the hook 12 and are supported at their other ends by links 18 secured to brackets 17 welded to tubes 20, the tubes 20 being each secured at one end to a carrier plate 11 and at their other ends to arms 21 pivoted on the stub shafts 8. In operation, the vehicle mounting the hitch is backed towards the vehicle to be coupled until the ring at the end of the supported draw bar T is over the hook 12. The cylinder 22 is then actuated by the tractor driver and the hook and ring raised to the chain line position shown in Fig. 3 where a spring catch may be provided on the frame to lock the assembly in the coupled position The lowering of the hook and guide plate assembly and uncoupling takes place under gravity, but this action may be assisted by spring means. In an alternative construction the guide plates 13 may be mounted on the frame.