Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling operations of autonomous vehicles and systems in, for example, logistics yards at distribution, manufacturing, processing and/or other centers for the transfer of goods, materials, and/or other cargo. In some embodiments, an autonomous yard tractor or other vehicle can include one or more systems for locating an over-the-road trailer parked in a yard of a distribution center, engaging the trailer, and moving the trailer to a loading dock for loading/unloading operations in accordance with a workflow procedure provided by a central control system. In other embodiments, an autonomous yard tractor can locate the trailer at the loading dock after the loading/unloading operations, engage the trailer, and move the trailer to a parking location in the yard. In some embodiments, the autonomous yard tractor can include a sensor system configured to detect the position of the trailer relative to, for example, the tractor, and/or the dock station can include a sensor system configured to detect the position of the trailer relative to, for example, the dock station during a docking procedure.

A height adjustable hitch receiver is disclosed and described.

A vehicle having a retractable towing hitch includes a towing hitch assembly. The towing hitch assembly includes a coupler portion. The coupler portion is configured to be movable relative to a bumper of the vehicle such that the coupler portion is positioned farther from the bumper when the coupler portion is in an extended position than when the coupler portion is in a towing position and a retraction mechanism.

An exemplary self-locking actuator mechanism includes a floating plate and a linear actuator. The floating plate defines a first slot that includes a first central portion, a first jog extending laterally from a first end of the first central portion, and a second jog extending laterally from a second end of the first central portion. The linear actuator includes a shaft pivotably connected to the floating plate, and is operable to drive the shaft between a first shaft position and a second shaft position to thereby move the self-locking actuator mechanism between a first locking state and a second locking state.

A pivotable vehicle trailer hitch assembly may include a tube frame operably coupled to a chassis of a vehicle and extending transversely across a rear portion of the vehicle, a hitch receiver operably coupled to the tube frame to support a ball mount, and a pivot assembly defining a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the tube frame. The pivot assembly may be operably coupled to the hitch receiver and the tube frame to pivot the hitch receiver and ball mount about the pivot axis from an extended position in which the hitch receiver and ball mount extend substantially perpendicular to tube frame, and a retracted position in which the hitch receiver and ball mount extend substantially parallel to the tube frame. The pivot assembly comprises an electrically operated linear actuator operable to transfer the hitch receiver and the ball mount between the extended position and the retracted position.

A vehicle hauling apparatus for hauling a second vehicle with a first vehicle includes: a hitch bar for attaching the apparatus to a hitch receiver; a first rail mounted and arranged vertically to the hitch bar; a second rail mounted and arranged to slide vertically along the first rail; a jacking mechanism connecting the first rail to the second rail so as to lift and lower the second rail; a first element of a pivot attached to the second rail; a wheel cradle in which a tire of the second vehicle may be seated; and a second element of the pivot attached to the wheel cradle; whereby the tire of the second vehicle may be rolled along a ground surface into the wheel cradle while the wheel cradle rests on the ground surface and then be raised into a position for hauling by the jacking mechanism. A vehicle hitch jacking accessory, includes: a hitch bar for attaching the vehicle hitch jacking accessory to a hitch receiver of a vehicle; a first rail mounted and arranged vertically to the hitch bar; a second rail mounted and arranged to slide vertically along the first rail; a jacking mechanism connecting the first rail to the second rail so as to lift and lower the second rail; and a secondary hitch receiver attached to the second rail, whereby a second accessory having a hitch bar may be attached to the vehicle hitch jacking accessory.

A powered trailer hitch apparatus is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a casing fixedly mounted to a frame of the vehicle and a ram at least partially disposed within the casing. The ram includes an extension member and a trailer-connecting member. The trailer-connecting member is external to the casing and fixed to an end of the extension member. The trailer-connecting member is configured to be selectively coupled to the trailer.

An implement mount for height adjustable mounting of an implement to a vehicle. The mount features a hitch coupler for mating with a single-point hitch of the vehicle to reach longitudinally therefrom, and a guide frame defining at least one guide slot lying transverse to the longitudinal direction of the hitch coupler in an upright orientation. At least one link arm is pivotally supported on the hitch coupler, and an implement carrier is coupled to the link arm proximate a rear end thereof. A follower arrangement is engaged between the link arm and the guide slot to constrain movement of the implement carrier to movement along the guide slot. Pivotal movement of the link arm in a first direction lifts the implement carrier along the guide slot, while pivotal moment in a second direction lowers the implement carrier along the guide slot.

A tow configuration may include a tow vehicle and first and second trailers. The intermediate trailer hitch angle with the tow vehicle is controlled with one objective being to improve the off-tracking performance of the other trailer. The hitch angle may be controlled through steerable wheels at the intermediate trailer or through wheel differential steering at the intermediate trailer.

A connecting device 1 of a towing vehicle 2 includes a connecting pin 13, a locking arm 22, and an actuator 23. The connecting pin 13 is provided to be rotatable between a connection position where the connecting pin 13 is brought into fitting engagement with a connecting plate 3a of a wheeled platform 3 and a disconnection position where the connecting pin 13 is taken out of the fitting engagement with the connecting plate 3a. The locking arm 22 is driven by the actuator 23 between a locking position where locking arm 22 is locked with the connecting pin 13 such that the connecting pin 13 cannot rotate out of the connection position toward the disconnection position and an unlocking position where the connecting pin 13 is unlocked in the connection position.