Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle comprises a dash panel, a pair of right-and-left hinge pillars, and a suspension tower, wherein the dash panel comprises a dash panel body which constitutes a partition wall positioned at a front side of a cabin portion and a dash cross member which is joined to a front face of a lower portion of the dash panel body and interconnects respective lower portions of the right-and-left hinge pillars in a vehicle width direction, and there are provided a pair of right-and-left heat-insulating inner lower portion, each of which connects the suspension tower and the dash cross member.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, comprising a dash panel, a pair of right-and-left hinge pillars, a suspension tower, and a heat-insulating inner upper portion connecting the suspension tower and the dash panel, wherein the dash panel comprises a dash panel body, a dash cross member interconnecting respective lower portions of the hinge pillars, and a dash-panel reinforcing member joined to a portion which is positioned above the dash cross member, the heat-insulating inner upper portion is connected to the dash panel body via the dash-panel reinforcing member, and the dash-panel reinforcing member comprises a leg portion which connects the heat-insulating inner upper portion and the dash cross member and a bridge portion which interconnects respective rear ends of the heat-insulating inner upper portions.

Abstract: A front cabin frame assembly includes a front beam front section, an upper side beam, a cowl reinforcement crossbeam, a cowl outer reinforcement and an A-pillar. A front end of the front beam front section is laterally connected with a front end of the upper side beam. A root portion of the front beam front section is connected with the cowl reinforcement crossbeam. A root portion of the upper side beam is connected with the A-pillar. The cowl outer reinforcement is connected with the root portion of the front beam front section and the A-pillar. The front cabin frame assembly could effectively absorb the head-on collision energy and has reasonable load transfer paths, which improves the flexural and torsion stiffness, the collision safety and NVH performance of the entire vehicle.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle comprises a front frame which extends in a longitudinal direction, an apron reinforcement which is positioned above and on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the front frame and extends in the longitudinal direction, and a suspension housing which is provided to be laid between the front frame and the apron reinforcement and accommodating a suspension therein, wherein the suspension housing includes a narrow-width portion which has the narrowest width in the longitudinal direction in an upper view, and a suspension tower portion where a damper member of the suspension is attached is formed at a portion of the suspension housing which includes the narrow-width portion.

Abstract: A bale loading trailer has a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the frame configured to engage a bale when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder moves the fork assembly between positions. A hydraulic motor driven conveyor chain assembly extends along the bale supporting frame, and loaded bales rest on, and move along the frame in concert with, the conveyor chain. A valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a bale length rearward.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a side member that is disposed running along a vehicle front-rear direction; an upper member that, when viewed along the vehicle width direction, is disposed running along the vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle upper side of the side member, and comprises a vehicle front-rear direction outside end portion that is positioned at a different position in a vehicle up-down direction from a position in the vehicle up-down direction of a vehicle front-rear direction outside end portion of the side member; a coupling member that couples the vehicle front-rear direction outside end portion of the upper member and the vehicle front-rear direction outside end portion of the side member; and a crash box that comprises a vehicle front-rear direction inside end portion that is joined to the coupling member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for offsetting a lifting or lowering weight of a tow bar attached to a trailer. The apparatus includes nitrogen accumulators coupled in series to a hydraulic cylinder. The accumulators include volumes of hydraulic fluid and a gas, such as nitrogen, which are preset to have differing nitrogen pressures to accommodate a full range of motion. After initial system pressurization, no separate power source is needed to provide hydraulic support at static conditions, oscillation of the tow bar below horizontal, and lift support from horizontal to a positive angle, allowing the user to lift and position a heavy tow bar several feet with minor user force.

Abstract: A platform assembly for a towed implement comprises a bracket for securing the platform assembly to a vehicle; a frame connected to the bracket for supporting the towed implement; one or more wheels connected to the frame for contacting the underlying ground surface; and a biasing means for providing an upward force that counteracts a downward force applied to the rear of the vehicle by the platform assembly and the towed implement.

Abstract: A front side frame includes a bend portion which is operative to bend outward when an impact load acts on the front side frame from ahead. The bend portion is provided in a specified location such that the bend portion in a bending state substantially contacts a damper of the suspension from a vehicle front side. Accordingly, a rear end of the front side frame can be prevented properly from moving back when the impact load acts on the front side frame from ahead.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a trailer hitch isolation assembly that attaches to the tongue of a fifth wheel trailer and that provides a moveable connection between a tow vehicle and the trailer. The hitch assembly includes a floating hitch attachment member such as a king pin, which is adapted to be attached to a tow vehicle. The hitch isolation assembly allows the hitch attachment member to move at least vertically relative to the tow vehicle to which the hitch assembly is connected. One or more air springs connect the floating hitch attachment to the frame of the trailer. These air springs permit relative movement between the attachment support member and the frame.

Abstract: A tow hitch for a vehicle with adjustments which simplify the coupling process. During coupling a draw bar, slideably positioned in a housing pocket, is afforded continuous adjustment latitude in both a left to right and front to back arc. Even if the vehicles are coupled at an angle, guide pins, confined by openings in the housing, move with the bar and respond to vehicle movement for an aligned locking and tow. An automatic locking pin secures the tow hitch, and a detector device detects the proper coupling.

Abstract: A tiltable trailer hitch for assisting in the loading and unloading of a trailer. The hitch includes a shank adapted to be received within a conventional trailer hitch and a ballmount pivotally mounted on the shank. An adjustment bracket is carried by the shank and is adapted to attach a ballmount. The adjustment bracket defines cooperating pairs of first openings and cooperating pairs of second openings. The second openings are radially spaced apart about a first of the first openings. The first openings are radially spaced apart about a first of the second openings. The ballmount defines first and second openings for cooperatively receiving the first and second ballmount locking pins. The trailer is tilted up or down by moving the first and second ballmount locking pins up and down within the cooperating pairs of first and second openings.

Abstract: A shock absorbing trailer hitch generally includes a socket adapted to lock onto a ball connected to the towing vehicle. The socket is connected to a lower support member which supports the bottom of a shock absorbing assembly. An inner tube extends up from the socket and lower tube through the shock absorbing assembly. The upper portion of the shock absorbing assembly is connected to an upper support member that is connected to the towed vehicle. A bearing is secured to the upper tube that slidably but non-rotatably receives the upper portion of the inner tube. The shock absorbing assembly includes rubber springs that absorb the forces experienced by the trailer hitch.

Abstract: A shock absorbing trailer hitch generally includes a socket adapted to lock onto a ball connected to the towing vehicle. The socket is connected to a lower support member which supports the bottom of a shock absorbing assembly. An inner tube extends up from the socket and lower tube through the shock absorbing assembly. The upper portion of the shock absorbing assembly is connected to an upper support member that is connected to the towed vehicle. A bearing is secured to the upper tube that slidably but non-rotatably receives the upper portion of the inner tube. The shock absorbing assembly includes rubber springs that absorb the forces experienced by the trailer hitch.

Abstract: A trailer having a tongue that defines a longitudinal axis and includes a coupler portion. The coupler portion of the tongue can pivot relative to the longitudinal axis, thereby forming an angle between the coupler portion and the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the tongue includes a breakaway coupler assembly. The breakaway coupler assembly includes the coupler portion having a distal end adapted to engage a towing vehicle, and a flex-joint pivotally engaged with the coupler portion. This allows the coupler portion to pivot relative to said flex-joint when a predetermined force is placed on the flex-joint, such as in a jack-knife situation.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the sway of a trailer includes a first portion that is attached to a towing vehicle at any of several locations including an end portion of a receiver hitch, a bumper, a frame or body member, or by the use of a modified type of a drawbar having an offset member. A second portion is attached to a trailer at any of several locations including to a ball coupler by the use of an adapter plate, a modified ball coupler bracket, or directly to a tongue of the trailer. Intermediate the first and second portion at least one damper is disposed, preferably a hydraulic damper of the type that is generally used to form an automobile steering damper. The damper preferably includes spherical type bearings at each end thereof to allow for limited articulation about a point. A geometric arrangement (i.e., an angle) for the damper is provided whereby a sufficient dampening force is experienced the moment the trailer begins to deviate from normal.

Abstract: The tilting trailer hitch (10) includes a compressible main support assembly (22) having a hitch coupler (24) and a hitching mechanism (26) attached thereto. The hitch coupler (24) is configured to connect a towing connector (92) to a towing vehicle (94) and the hitching mechanism (26) is configured to couple with a trailer (12). An actuator (28) is pivotally connected to the main support assembly (22) in response to trailer loading and is operable to rotate part of the main support assembly (22), thereby raising or lowering the hitching mechanism (26) along a generally arcuate path (116). When the hitching mechanism (26) is in the raised position, a loading end (20) of the trailer (12) is lowered to assist in loading the trailer (12).

Abstract: Coach coupling assembly for coupling together two coaches of a railbound multi-unit set of coaches has a first coupling arm fixed to one of the coaches and a second coupling arm fixed to a second one of the coaches. The first coupling arm has a vertical through-bore that houses the outer race ring of a rolling bearing. The bore in the inner race ring of the bearing receives a depending shaft journal that is fixed to the second coupling arm. An arrangement is provided to damp radial forces acting upon the coupling and to compensate for misalignment between the axes of the through-bore and the shaft journal. In this regard, the through-bore is provided with an elastic lining of resilient material, and the bearing used is an angularly self-aligning rolling bearing that permits a certain degree of misalignment between the through-bore and the shaft journal. The bearing is fitted inside the lining, which is thereby adapted to take up and dampen radial forces acting upon the coupling.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for towing a mower includes a tool bar, a first hitch member for mounting on the tool bar, a pivot pin extending from the mower for engagement by the hitch member, and a spring for exerting a lifting force between the pin and the hitch member to transfer a portion of the weight of the mower to the hitch assembly. The spring may be a tension spring extending between the pivot pin and an upper hitch portion to bias the pivot pin toward the upper hitch portion, or a compression spring captured between the hitch member and a spring seat to bias the pivot pin upward relative to the hitch member.

Abstract: Hitch apparatus is disclosed with particular application to open-topped bulk-haulage trailers, the hitch apparatus comprising a pair of hitch beams which are joined at a hitch pin at the front of the trailer and diverge laterally and rearwardly to join to the front corners of a hopper or the like. The ends of the hitch beams remote from the hitch pin are joined by a cross-beam which reacts the transverse component of the bending moment generated within the hitch beams by the longitudinal offset between gravity forces in the hopper and the hitch pin. The hitch beams and the cross beam are preferably formed from fabricated I-beam sections to maximise the structural efficiency.

Abstract: The invention is a hitch device for interconnecting two mobile apparatus, such as a hospital gurney and an IV stand. The hitch device comprises a body having first and second ends, each end having a coupling for attachment to a mobile apparatus, and a monoplanarly flexible intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends. The intermediate portion includes a chain, which is oriented so that only lateral flexing is permitted when the device is in use. The intermediate portion also includes a resilient tube or spring for biasing the intermediate portion to an axial position. A stop located on the first end prevents upward rotation of the intermediate portion beyond a horizontal position when the device is in use.

Abstract: A control device is mounted on the tongue of a drawn implement, normally an implement that extends to one side of the tongue. The control device includes a strut that is mounted on the tongue of the towed implement and projects laterally from the tongue, to the side away from the projection of the implement itself. A stabilizer tongue is slideably connected to the strut and is connected at its front end to a second, rigid hitch beside the hitch for the implement tongue. Springs act between the strut and the stabilizing tongue to resist movement of the stabilizing tongue with respect to the strut. The control device balances the tendency of the offset implement to move laterally when towed and improves its steering characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a trailer hitch for a vehicle. The trailer hitch is designed to be connected to a vehicle and permits two degrees of freedom for the hitchpoint. The first degree of freedom is in a lateral direction which permits the hitchpoint to have freedom to move horizontally in a lateral direction. This degree of freedom is dampened by a viscous dampener to improve the lateral stability of a trailer connected to the hitchball. Further, springs are provided to resist lateral movement and to restore the hitchpoint to its original position during the pulling of a trailer. In addition, a second degree of freedom is provided which permits rotation of the hitchball about a longitudinal axis. Permitting the rotation of the hitchball permits the accidental overturning of a towed vehicle without overturning the towing vehicle.

Abstract: This invention is a hitch device particularly adapted for connecting a single wheel trailer to a bicycle. The ball member of the hitch device is connected to the bicycle frame. The cup member for coupling to the ball is connected to the end of the draw bar. The draw bar is provided with a depending lever, the distal end of which extends below the ball member. A bracket member is connected to the bicycle frame for anchoring one end of a spring member. The other end of the spring member is connected to the distal end of the depending lever. The distal end of the depending lever is in vertical alignment with the center of the ball, and the spring which is under a tension bias maintains this vertical alignment during the towing operation. The hitch device of this invention provides stability to the trailer and allows the bicycle to maintain its maneuverability.

Abstract: An adapter for mounting an implement on a tractor has a frame to which the implement is attached and which, in turn, it is connected with the vertically swingable stabilizer link of the three-point hitch of the tractor. A crossbar, connected with the two powered, vertically swingable drag links of the three-point hitch, has a pivotal connection with the frame such that they swing relatively. The extent to which the tractor may be turned without turning the implement is limited by stops on the frame engageable with the crossbar. Spring-loaded connections between the frame and the tractor drawbar orient the impelemtn as it is raised by the drag links such as to yieldably hold the implement in its normal position directly trailing the tractor.

Abstract: A reversible multi-disc plow has its main frame, to which the plow beam is pivoted, connected in front by a vertical pivot to a mounting frame which made for connection to the three point lifting system of a tractor. The pivotal movement of the main frame relative to the mounting frame is resisted by a spring loaded pivot box. If, during plowing, a disc strikes an obstacle, the plow main frame will pivot against the spring-loading to reduce stress on the plow and its parts.

Abstract: A coupler assembly for limiting lateral forces which may be generated during the highway operation of a trailer coupled to a towing vehicle. The present invention is part of the yoke of the trailer, and comprises a completely self-contained system for momentarily actuating the brakes on the towed vehicle, in response to undesirable lateral accelerations of the towed vehicle. The invention is characterized by a coupler member which itself is relatively rotatable, in a lateral plane, with respect to the trailer yoke, together with dampening spring assemblies, so there is a surge-brake actuation in response to lateral accelerations above a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An aircraft towbar includes a forward section, which may be attached to a towing vehicle, and a pivotally connected rearward section which may be attached to an aircraft nosewheel. A C-shaped yoke connected to the forward section engages a compression spring connected to the rearward section. When the forward section is pivoted relative to the rearward section, the yoke compresses the spring urging the sections into a colinear relationship.