GB875270A - Improvements in and relating to vehicle couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

875,270. Tractor-trailer hitches. KIRKHAM, J. W. Aug. 27, 1959 [June 16, 1958; Feb. 24, 1959; April 23, 1959], Nos. 19167/58, 6421/59 and 13853/59. Class 103(5). A tractor trailer hitch comprising a guideway on one vehicle, a slide movable in the guidcway, a coupling member mounted on the slide and adapted to receive the drawbar of the other vehicle in a first lower position of the slide and to carry the drawbar with it into a towing attitude upon the slide being raised into a second position, the coupling member in the second position of the slide forming a link with means fast with the guideway by which means the drawbar is locked to the coupling member, and means for locking the slide to the guideway in the second position. In one embodiment, (see the Figure accompanying the Complete Specification), the hitch comprises a channel guide member 1 downwardly extending from the tractor, a hydraulic piston and cylinder 2, a slide member; 3 pivoted to the piston rod at 7 and having a hook 4 attached thereto, a bridge portion 9 across the channel 1 and having flanges 10 adapted to close the hook 4 in the coupled position, and a second bridge portion 19 carrying a pivoted spring biased latch 13. To couple the tractor and trailer the latch 13 is raised by moving a lever 16 which engages an arm 17 beneath a latch extension 18. Springs 11 then move the slider 3 and the attached hook 4 outwardly so that the trailer eye can be attached to the hook. The piston is then operated to retract the slider 3 against springs 11, thus lifting the trailer drawbar until the latch 13 engages within a recess 14 and the hook is closed by the flanges 10. In a further embodiment, (see Fig. 1 of the second Provisional Specification) the cylinder 3 is attached to the slider 2 which is provided with a coupling member 6 and the piston is secured to the fixed guideway 1 which is provided with a coupling pin 7. Also pivoted to the guideway is a spring biased latch 8 provided with a lug 10 movable through an aperture in the guide. In operation the tractor is reversed to engage the trailer eye in the member 6, a bell crank lever 11 is then moved to pull out the latch 8, and the piston is operated to raise the member 6 so that the pin 7 passes through holes in the walls of the member 6 and through the trailer eye. The latch is then released so that the lug 10 thereon moves into and locks the slide 2. In a final embodiment the piston and cylinder is arranged alongside the guideway so that the overall height of the hitch is reduced. The hitch may be operated by a cable secured to the slide instead of to the piston and cylinder shown.