US3881577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hitch with trailer brake actuator
Assignee: Toledo Stamping and Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1973-08-02
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A trailer hitch and brake actuator having lower production costs and improved operation is provided. The housings of the actuator are of stamped, low cost construction, employing fewer separate pieces. The actuator includes a rear component carrying a brake cylinder with a spring on the piston rod of the brake cylinder being engaged by a rigid member which is movable with a forward component and is connected directly with a shock absorber. The shock absorber is carried by the rear component and is parallel to the piston rod of the brake cylinder and to the movement of the forward component of the actuator. The brake cylinder is located directly above the shock absorber to minimize the space required and accordingly enable the actuator to be reduced in size. The forward component is of tubular cross section and is received in a passage of the rear actuator component and slidably carried thereby through plastic bearings. The actuator also has a break-away lever employing an over-center linkage with the lever acting on the brake piston rod spring and moved to an over-center position by a flexible link attached to the towing vehicle in the event the trailer becomes separated therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph L Wherry
- 👤 Eugene Deangelis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T11/00; B60T11/10; B60T11/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a trailer and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle, a rear component adapted to be connected to the trailer, means associated with said forward and rear components for providing relative movement between them in a direction toward and away from one another, a brake cylinder carried by one of said components, a brake piston rod extending outwardly from said cylinder toward the other component, a spring connected to said brake rod at a point spaced from said brake cylinder and extending in a direction away from said brake cylinder, an engaging member movable with the other of said components for engaging said spring to resiliently urge the brake rod into said brake cylinder, stop means cooperating with said engaging members for limiting relative movement of said engaging member toward said spring, to establish a predetermined maximum compressive force on said spring, with said spring providing maximum pressure through and brake rod on hydraulic fluid in said cylinder which is less than the bursting pressure on a hydraulic system with which said cylinder communicates, and a break-away lever pivotally mounted on the same component as said brake cylinder, said lever having means being positioned to actuate said brake rod through said spring when said lever is moved by a flexible member attached to the towing vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a trailer and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle, a rear component adapted to be connected to the trailer, means associated with said forward and rear components for providing relative movement between them in a direction toward and away from one another, a brake cylinder carried by one of said components, a brake piston rod extending outwardly from said cylinder toward the other component, a spring connected to said brake rod at a point spaced from said brake cylinder and extending in a direction away from said brake cylinder, an engaging member movable with the other of said components for engaging said spring to resiliently urge the brake rod into said brake cylinder, stop means cooperating with said engaging members for limiting relative movement of said engaging member toward said spring, to establish a predetermined maximum compressive force on said spring, with said spring providing maximum pressure through and brake rod on hydraulic fluid in said cylinder which is less than the bursting pressure on a hydraulic system with which said cylinder communicates, and a break-away lever pivotally mounted on the same component as said brake cylinder, said lever having means being positioned to actuate said brake rod through said spring when said lever is moved by a flexible member attached to the towing vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 characterized by said break-away lever having a member for actuating said spring and having and over-center linkage having one portion pivotally held by the same component as said brake cylinder and having another portion pivotally connected to said break-away lever to a portion spaced from said spring actuating member to maintain engagement with said spring when said lever is moved by the flexible member, whereby the lever will remain in the position to which it is moved by said flexible member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 characterized by said stop means comprising a pin connected with said engaging member and extending into at least one slot formed in said one componenT.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 3 characterized by a shock absorber having one end connected to said pin and the other end connected to said one component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 3 characterized by said engaging member being of generally inverted U-shaped configuration with the legs connected to said pin and with a web extending above said brake piston rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 5 characterized by said other component having openings through which the legs of said U-shaped engaging member extend to cause the legs to move with said other component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 1 characterized by a shock absorber having one end connected to said engaging member and the other end connected to said one component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 7 characterized by said shock absorber being parallel to said brake piston rod and located directly below said brake piston rod and said brake cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a trailer and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle, a rear component adapted to be connected to the trailer, said components being relatively movable toward and away from one another, a brake cylinder carried by one of said components, a brake piston rod extending outwardly from said cylinder, a spring connected to said brake rod at a point spaced from said cylinder so that said spring is compressed as said brake rod is moved into said cylinder, washer means adjacent an end of said spring spaced from its connection to said brake rod, a shock absorber carried by said one component, a shock absorber piston rod extending outwardly from said shock absorber and carrying a pin, rigid engaging means mounted on said pin and engageable with said washer means on the side thereof opposite said spring, said one component having slots extending parallel to said shock absorber rod, said pin extending into said slots, said slots thereby limiting the maximum extent of movement of said pin in a direction toward said brake cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a trailer and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle, a rear component adapted to be connected to the trailer, said components being relatively movable toward and away from one another, a brake cylinder carried by one of said components, a brake piston rod extending outwardly from said cylinder, a spring connected to said brake rod at a point spaced from said cylinder so that said spring is compressed as said brake rod is moved into said cylinder, washer means adjacent an end of said spring spaced from its connection to said brake rod, a shock absorber carried by said one component, a shock absorber piston rod extending outwardly from said shock absorber and carrying a pin, rigid engaging means mounted on said pin and engageable with said washer means on the side thereof opposite said spring, said one component having slots extending parallel to said shock absorber rod, said pin extending into said slots, said slots thereby limiting the maximum extent of movement of said pin in a direction toward said brake cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 9 characterized by a break-away lever carried by said one component, a transverse member carried by said break-away lever and positioned to engage said washer means on the side thereof opposite said spring, and over-center means for holding said lever in an engaging position when so moved by a flexible member connected to the towing vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 9 characterized by said shock absorber piston rod being parallel to said brake piston rod and to the direction of movement of said other component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 11 characterized by said shock absorber and said shock absorber piston rod being substantially directly below said brake cylinder and said brake piston rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 9 characterized by said other component having an opening through which said rigid engaging means extends to cause said engaging means to move with said other component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 9 characterized further by said other component having additional slots through which said rigid engaging means extends, said additional slots being between said pin and said brake piston rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle and a rear component adapted to be connected to the towed vehicle, said forward component being substantially tubular throughout a substantial portion of its length, said rear component including a pair of generally horizontally extending flanges and an inverted U-shaped portion structurally integral with the two flanges and of a size and shape to receive the tubular portion of said forward component, said flanges having rear turned up stiffening flanges with inner edges thereof affixed to the legs of said inverted U-shaped Portion, and a strip member extending between lower end portions of the legs of said inverted U-shaped portion and affixed thereto below said tubular portion of said forward component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle and a rear component adapted to be connected to the towed vehicle, said forward component being substantially tubular throughout a substantial portion of its length, said rear component including a pair of generally horizontally extending flanges and an inverted U-shaped portion structurally integral with the two flanges and of a size and shape to receive the tubular portion of said forward component, said flanges having rear turned up stiffening flanges with inner edges thereof affixed to the legs of said inverted U-shaped Portion, and a strip member extending between lower end portions of the legs of said inverted U-shaped portion and affixed thereto below said tubular portion of said forward component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle and a rear component adapted to be connected to the towed vehicle, said forward component being substantially tubular throughout a substantial portion of its length, said rear component including a pair of generally horizontally extending flanges and an inverted U-shaped portion structurally integral with the two flanges and of a size and shape to receive the tubular portion of said forward component, said flanges having rear turned up stiffening flanges with inner edges thereof affixed to the legs of said inverted U-shaped portion, a brake cylinder mounted on top of said inverted U-shaped portion and having a brake cylinder piston rod extending forwardly thereof, and a shock absorber connected to side walls of said U-shaped portion to the rear of said forward component and aligned with said forward component.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
155 words
A trailer hitch for connecting a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle, said hitch comprising a forward component adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle and a rear component adapted to be connected to the towed vehicle, said forward component being substantially tubular throughout a substantial portion of its length, said rear component including a pair of generally horizontally extending flanges and an inverted U-shaped portion structurally integral with the two flanges and of a size and shape to receive the tubular portion of said forward component, said flanges having rear turned up stiffening flanges with inner edges thereof affixed to the legs of said inverted U-shaped portion, a brake cylinder mounted on top of said inverted U-shaped portion and having a brake cylinder piston rod extending forwardly thereof, and a shock absorber connected to side walls of said U-shaped portion to the rear of said forward component and aligned with said forward component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 16 characterized by a rigid member connected to a piston rod of said shock absorber and engageable with said brake cylinder piston rod.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 16 characterized by said shock absorber being located substantially directly below said brake cylinder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A trailer hitch according to claim 16 characterized by said shock absorber extending partly into said tubular portion of said forward component and positioned parallel to said tubular portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3180454A
Cited
US3215230A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |