Draw bar hitch

Claim 2

A draw bar mechanism adapted to provide a substantially rigid connection between a vehicle such as a tractor or the like and a towed means, including a draw bar terminating in a hitch means, with means supporting said hitch means for independent movement to relatively extend and retracted positions, in the former of which it is capable of adjustment for greater flexibility in the making of a connection to the towed means and in the latter of which it is adapted to serve as a rigid part of the draw bar, said draw bar providing a recessed seat to which said hitch means is drawn in a retracted position of the parts, said hitch means having an outer end to dispose in projecting relation to said seat, a hitch plate pivotally connected to the outer end of said hitch means, and means relating said draw bar and said hitch plate to stabilize the position of said hitch plate relative to said hitch means during relative movement of said hitch means in extending and retracting strokes.

Claim 3

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by a slidable hitch pin carried by said hitch plate, and remote control means for operating said hitch pin.

Claim 4

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said remote control means includes a hydraulic actuator connected to said pin to effect powered actuation thereof.

Claim 5

A draw bar mechanism, including a rigid draw bar frame, terminating at one end in an end section having an outer end flaring relatively to an inner end, power means disposed in said frame in a substantially aligned straight-line relation to said end section, a hitch-link member received in said end section and extensible and retractable relatively thereto, an actuating rod pivotally interconnecting said power means and said hitch-link member through the said inner end of said end section, a stabilizing plate pivOtally connected to said hitch-link member through the said flaring outer end of said end section, and hitch pin accommodating means on said stabilizer plate.

Claim 6

A draw bar mechanism, including a rigid draw bar frame, terminating at one end in an end section having an outer end flaring relatively to an inner end, power means disposed in said frame in a substantially aligned straight-line relation to said end section, a hitch-link member received in said end section and extensible and retractable relatively thereto, an actuating rod pivotally interconnecting said power means and said hitch-link member through the said inner end of said end section, a stabilizing plate pivOtally connected to said hitch-link member through the said flaring outer end of said end section, and hitch pin accommodating means on said stabilizer plate.

Claim 7

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said hitch-link member is carried between said actuating rod and said stabilizing plate with freedom of pivotal motion relative to both thereof.

Claim 8

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said actuating rod is projected substantially in the axis of said draw bar frame to enter said end section through the inner end thereof and within said end section is pivotally attached to said hitch-link member.

Claim 9

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 5, characterized by means yieldingly to maintain said stabilizing plate in a predetermined position of angularity relative to said hitch-link member.

Claim 10

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said end section and said hitch-like member have complementary box-like configurations, said hitch-like member in a retracted position thereof seating in said end section and in an extending motion tending to tilt relatively to said end section, and anti-friction means carried by said hitch-link member operative in a tilted attitude of said hitch-link member to ride a wall of said end section.

Claim 11

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said draw bar frame is adapted for support in underslung relation to a towing vehicle with the other end thereof being constructed for pivotal attachment to such vehicle to provide for a lateral relative swinging motion of said frame.

Claim 12

A draw bar mechanism adapted to connect a towing vehicle and a towed means, including a draw bar frame attachable to the towed vehicle, hitch means movably mounted in the outer end of said frame to be extensible and retractable relatively thereto, said hitch means including a relatively adjustable hitch pin, linkage pivotally attached at its one end to said hitch means and adapted at its other end pivotally to attach to the towing vehicle, and remote control means comprised in said linkage for adjusting said hitch pin.

Claim 13

A draw bar mechanism adapted to connect a towing vehicle and a towed means, including a draw bar frame attachable to the towed vehicle, hitch means movably mounted in the outer end of said frame to be extensible and retractable relatively thereto, said hitch means including a relatively adjustable hitch pin, linkage pivotally attached at its one end to said hitch means and adapted at its other end pivotally to attach to the towing vehicle, and remote control means comprised in said linkage for adjusting said hitch pin.

Claim 14

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said linkage includes at least a pair of angularly related links and an interconnecting and intermediately disposed disc member, said remote control means including a handle mounted on said disc member and a cable leading to said hitch pin.

Claim 15

A draw bar mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said hitch means is extensible to facilitate completion of a hitch, said linkage being connected to said hitch means to be inherently selfadjustable responsive to extension and retraction of said hitch means and positioning said remote control means for adjustment of said hitch pin in any extended or retracted position of said hitch means.

Claim 16

A draw bar mechanism adapted to provide a substantially rigid connection between a vehicle such as a tractor or the like and a towed means, including a draw bar terminating in a hitch means, with means supporting said hitch means for independent movement to relatively extended and retracted positions, in the former of which it is capable of adjustment for greater flexibility in the making of a connection to the towed means and in the latter of which it is adapted to serve as a rigid part of the draw bar, said draw bar forming a socket body open at its outer end and having a wall portion inclining toward said outer end, said hitch means being received in said socket body through the open outer end thereof and having a complementary portion which in an extended position is projected from a seat in said socket body and which in a retracted position is returned to a seat therein, reciprocable means extending into said socket body through an inner end thereof and attached to said hitch means in a manner to permit relative tilting movement thereof, and anti-friction means on said hitch means substantially out of contact with said socket body in a retracted position of said hitch means and adapted to engage and to ride said incliNed wall portion of said socket body responsive to tilting movement of said hitch means to guide tilting movements of said hitch means.

Claim 17

A draw bar mechanism adapted to provide a substantially rigid connection between a vehicle such as a tractor or the like and a towed means, including a draw bar terminating in a hitch means, with means supporting said hitch means for independent movement to relatively extended and retracted positions, in the former of which it is capable of adjustment for greater flexibility in the making of a connection to the towed means and in the latter of which it is adapted to serve as a rigid part of the draw bar, said draw bar forming a socket body open at its outer end and having a wall portion inclining toward said outer end, said hitch means being received in said socket body through the open outer end thereof and having a complementary portion which in an extended position is projected from a seat in said socket body and which in a retracted position is returned to a seat therein, reciprocable means extending into said socket body through an inner end thereof and attached to said hitch means in a manner to permit relative tilting movement thereof, and anti-friction means on said hitch means substantially out of contact with said socket body in a retracted position of said hitch means and adapted to engage and to ride said incliNed wall portion of said socket body responsive to tilting movement of said hitch means to guide tilting movements of said hitch means.