Example apparatuses and techniques are disclosed for towing tracked vehicles at high speeds without various deficiencies and for allowing a vehicle to be configured to extend supplemental wheels from a storage configuration into a ground support configuration in which the vehicle is able to make use of the supplemental wheels for additional ground support.

A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. The grain cart also has a hitch for allowing the grain cart to be towed. The discharge portion is forward of the hitch when in the operating position. Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, increased forward and side reach, additional storage capacity of the hopper, increased discharge rate from the hopper, and a more compact transport position.

A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. The grain cart also has a hitch for allowing the grain cart to be towed. The discharge portion is forward of the hitch when in the operating position. Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, increased forward and side reach, additional storage capacity of the hopper, increased discharge rate from the hopper, and a more compact transport position.

The invention relates to a method for transforming between a long vehicle combination (10) and a platoon (12) on the move. The present invention also relates to vehicles (14a-b; 14b-c) for such a method.

A coupling device of the type envisaged between a first vehicle (A) with at least two axes and a second vehicle (B) with at least two axes with the first vehicle (A) arranged to precede the second vehicle (B), in particular for the application to convoys of automatically guided vehicles, includes a hinge coupling section associated with the first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B), connected to each other with the possibility of rotation through the relative distal sections. The drawbar section has an arc-shaped guide arranged horizontally in front of the second vehicle (B) to extend from the right side to the left side thereof, a slider sliding along the arc-shaped guide and a telescopic arm integral with one end of the slider and rotatably connected to the other end to the coupling section. The coupling device also advantageously include a steering assistance mechanism suitable for a redundancy of the steering members (S) of the second vehicle (B) by setting a steering angle which is a function of the position of the slider along the arc-shaped guide. The coupling device allows the automatic guide system to control the position and trajectories of the vehicles without any substantial exchange of forces through the device and enters into operation to allow the safe stop of the convoy when there are anomalies in the operation of the automatic guide system.

A coupling device of the type envisaged between a first vehicle (A) with at least two axes and a second vehicle (B) with at least two axes with the first vehicle (A) arranged to precede the second vehicle (B), in particular for the application to convoys of automatically guided vehicles, includes a hinge coupling section associated with the first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B), connected to each other with the possibility of rotation through the relative distal sections. The drawbar section has an arc-shaped guide arranged horizontally in front of the second vehicle (B) to extend from the right side to the left side thereof, a slider sliding along the arc-shaped guide and a telescopic arm integral with one end of the slider and rotatably connected to the other end to the coupling section. The coupling device also advantageously include a steering assistance mechanism suitable for a redundancy of the steering members (S) of the second vehicle (B) by setting a steering angle which is a function of the position of the slider along the arc-shaped guide. The coupling device allows the automatic guide system to control the position and trajectories of the vehicles without any substantial exchange of forces through the device and enters into operation to allow the safe stop of the convoy when there are anomalies in the operation of the automatic guide system.

Example apparatuses and techniques have been presented for towing tracked vehicles at high speeds without various deficiencies and for allowing a vehicle to be configured to extend supplemental wheels from a storage configuration into a ground support configuration in which the vehicle is able to make use of the supplemental wheels for additional ground support.

A towing attachment assembly, a method of using the towing attachment assembly, and a removable towing coupler are provided. The towing attachment assembly comprising: a removable towing coupler, the removable towing coupler defining a hitch receiver end and a hitch coupling end, and wherein the hitch coupling end comprises a selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism configured to be selectively dis-engaged from the removable towing coupler and to be coupled with a trailer hitch of a towing vehicle; and a towing coupler lock that secures the hitch receiver end within the hitch receiver.

A towing attachment assembly, a method of using the towing attachment assembly, and a removable towing coupler are provided. The towing attachment assembly comprising: a removable towing coupler, the removable towing coupler defining a hitch receiver end and a hitch coupling end, and wherein the hitch coupling end comprises a selectively dis-engageable coupling mechanism configured to be selectively dis-engaged from the removable towing coupler and to be coupled with a trailer hitch of a towing vehicle; and a towing coupler lock that secures the hitch receiver end within the hitch receiver.

A tow bar apparatus for a motorized utility cart is provided. The apparatus allows a utility cart user to tow a shopping cart. The tow bar is adapted to attach to any shopping cart by way of a universal attachment member. The opposing end of the apparatus includes a pair of spaced of laterally spaced attachment arms which are joined to a transverse attachment bar having clamps adapted for connection to the shopping cart. The universal attachment member is removably attached and may be modified to accommodate a specific make and model of scooter. The apparatus is reconfigurable depending upon the physical layout of the utility cart. An articulating arm is connected between the attachment member and the attachment arms to allow for an articulating attachment to the shopping cart.