Patent classifications
B60D1/46
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING TRAILER HITCH
A weight distributing trailer hitch and associated method are described. The weight distributing trailer hitch can include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. The weight distributing trailer hitch can also include a ball portion to facilitate coupling with a tongue of a trailer. In one embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar vertically pivotal relative to the hitch portion, and an adjustment mechanism actuatable to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the spring bar relative to the hitch portion to vary preload on the spring bar and adjustably distribute weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar for distributing weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and a load measurement device to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball.
Trailer configured for multiple hitches
A trailer includes a trailer bed, a draw bar assembly, and a convertible hitch assembly. The trailer bed includes a platform and one or more sets of two or more wheels. The draw bar assembly is coupled to the trailer bed. The convertible hitch assembly includes a hitch converter coupled to the draw bar assembly. The convertible hitch assembly includes an over-axle hitch coupler insertable into the hitch converter, wherein the over-axle hitch coupler is mated to an over-axle hitch component coupled to a first vehicle. The convertible hitch assembly includes a behind-axle hitch coupler insertable into the hitch converter, wherein the behind-axle hitch coupler is mated to a behind-axle hitch component coupled to at least one of the first vehicle or an additional vehicle.
Hitch bar
A hitch bar with improved strength incorporating a protruded flanges or wings is provided. The protruded portion may be attached to the frame. The protruded portion may include a profile oriented at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the frame. The profile may provide a zone of distributing a load throughout the hitch bar. The hitch bar may further include a slotted opening integrated with the horizontal portion providing additional zone of distributing a load along the frame. The hitch bar may further include a plurality of cross members at the transitional portion having a second profile.
Trailer device for an agricultural vehicle
A trailer device for an agricultural vehicle includes a frame part and a guide part longitudinally, displaceably mounted in the frame part. The guide part includes a coupling element provided on an end face. The frame part is pivoted by a lifting apparatus for raising and lowering the coupling element relative to a base frame for attaching to a load-bearing vehicle structure. The device includes at least one spring element arranged between the base frame and the frame part such that the spring element exerts a pretensioning force on the frame part for assisting the raising of the coupling element.
SPRING BAR COUPLING DEVICE FOR A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING TRAILER HITCH
A spring bar coupling device is described for coupling a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch to a trailer frame. The spring bar coupling device can include a spring bar support operable to interface with and support a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch. The spring bar support can have a vertical support arm having a first coupler opening, and a lower spring bar stop extending from the vertical support arm to provide a lower interface for the spring bar. The spring bar coupling device can also include a channel bracket having at least two opposing walls defining a vertically oriented channel operable to receive the vertical support arm, and a second coupler opening in at least one of the two walls. The first and second coupler openings can be configured to be aligned with one another at a first coupling location when the vertical support arm is located at least partially within the vertically oriented channel. In addition, the spring bar coupling device can include at least one coupler operable to extend into the first and second coupler openings to couple the spring bar support to the channel bracket.
Telescoupler
A trailer telecoupler that includes an outer housing partially enclosing a primary leg, the primary leg partially enclosing a portion of a secondary leg and a trailer hitch coupler detachably secured to one end of the secondary leg. The outer housing includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the housing. The primary leg includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the primary leg. The secondary leg includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the secondary leg. One or more nut holders are positioned within the interior portions of the primary and/or secondary legs in line with the desired bolt holes located along the adjacent sidewalls of the primary and/or secondary legs and aligned through which one or more bolts are inserted at least one nut holder and secured to fix the outer housing and primary leg.
Telescoupler
A trailer telecoupler that includes an outer housing partially enclosing a primary leg, the primary leg partially enclosing a portion of a secondary leg and a trailer hitch coupler detachably secured to one end of the secondary leg. The outer housing includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the housing. The primary leg includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the primary leg. The secondary leg includes one or more bolt holes dimensionally spaced on adjacent first and second sidewalls of the secondary leg. One or more nut holders are positioned within the interior portions of the primary and/or secondary legs in line with the desired bolt holes located along the adjacent sidewalls of the primary and/or secondary legs and aligned through which one or more bolts are inserted at least one nut holder and secured to fix the outer housing and primary leg.
Weight distribution hitch
A trailer hitch is disclosed. A weight distribution hitch includes an attachment member with a forward end which attaches to a vehicle and a rearward end which pivotally connects to a trailer. The weight distribution hitch also includes a moment bar which attaches to the attachment member on one and tension mechanism on the other. The tension mechanism is mounted on a frame of the trailer and provides an upward force on the moment bar which imposes a moment on the attachment member. Center lines of the attachment member, moment bar, and the vehicle are all in a vertical plane. The weight distribution hitch may also include an aperture disposed in the moment bar through which the tension mechanism passes.
Method for controlling operation of an agricultural system and agricultural system
The present disclosure refers to a method for controlling operation of an agricultural system, comprising a tractor; an implement (100) hitched through a draw bar (10) to the tractor, the implement (100) having working tools (31) configured to engage with a ground and/or an agricultural product in operation while the tractor is drawing the implement (100) over a field; and a control system, comprising a control unit (2) and a sensor arrangement (1) connected to the control unit (2) through a control bus (5), wherein the control unit (2) is configured to determine a draft force applied to the implement (100) through the draw bar from measurement signals detected by the sensor arrangement (1); the method comprising operating the implement in either normal mode or field transport mode of operation based on different draft force thresholds.
Rotatable trailer hitch ball mount
A ball mount apparatus, for hitching a trailer to a vehicle, which can include up to three or more hitch balls of different size connected to a ball block which can be locked, unlocked, and rotated manually, without the use of tools, for positioning a selected ball for use. The ball block can also be rotated by hand between a rearwardly extending towing position and a forwardly extending stowed position.