Abstract: A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

Abstract: An improved trailer hitch is presented. The tractor trailer has a main trailer frame, the main trailer for hauling cargo. To help couple a trailer cab to the trailer frame a swivel box having a spring-loaded locking pin and a permanent hinge pin is coupled to a tongue that is used to couple the trailer cab and the trailer frame. The swivel box swivels or swings the tongue to a position to accommodate a misaligned trailer cab easing the coupling process.

Abstract: The disclosed inventive concept provides a vertically articulating trailer hitch assembly for use with a vehicle, and particularly for use with an autonomous vehicle. The trailer hitch assembly is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame. The hitch assembly is allowed to swing away from the vehicle frame from a lowered position in which the trailer ball is uncoupled from the hitch coupler of the trailer to a raised position in which the trailer ball is coupled to the hitch coupler. The hitch assembly typically includes a receiver that has a long axis. The vehicle frame has a long axis. When the hitch assembly is in its lowered position, the long axis of the receiver is out of alignment with the long axis of the frame. When the hitch assembly is in its raised position, the long axis of the receiver is aligned with the long axis of the frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a trailer alignment device intended to facilitate the backing up of an automobile to align a hitch of the automobile with a towable trailer. The alignment device further provides for trailer stabilization by providing for a second point of attachment for the trailer to the automobile.

Abstract: A hitch module adapted to be coupled to a frame of a work machine or towed assembly. The hitch module includes a carrier assembly having a first plate and a second plate coupled to one another. The first and second plates are spaced from one another by a first distance, where both plates define a pivot axis. A guide assembly defines a longitudinal axis and is pivotally coupled to the carrier assembly about the pivot axis. The guide assembly has a first guide plate and a second guide plate coupled to and spaced by a second distance from one another. A hitch assembly is disposed at least partially between the first and second plate of the carrier assembly and the first and the second guide plate. The hitch link assembly is pivotal about the pivot axis and movable along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An arm (26, 56) attached to a trailer hitch drawbar (22) at an attachment point behind a given depth (D) of insertion of the drawbar into a trailer hitch receiver tube (24). At this depth a pin receiving hole (22A) in the drawbar aligns with a pin receiving hole (24A) in the receiver tube. The arm extends forward beside the drawbar to a position beside the pin receiving hole in the drawbar. A captive pin (21, 71) on the forward end of the arm is urged by a spring to slide into the aligned receiving holes (22A, 24A). The pin has a range of motion (T) sufficient for insertion into the pin receiving holes and retraction of the pin to clear the outer surface of the receiver tube when the drawbar is inserted into the receiver tube. A knob (42) on the pin provides for manual retraction.

Abstract: A modular trailer assembly for attachment to a frame of a vehicle includes an elongate support member, a first connector rigidly mountable to the frame of the vehicle, a rear loop, and a second connector. The proximal end of the support member is pivotally connected to the first connector and selectively detachable therefrom. At least one wheel is rotatably connected to the distal end of the rear loop. The second connector includes a first frame member and a second frame member rotatably coupled to one another. The distal end of the first frame is configured to engage the proximal end of the rear loop. The proximal end of the second frame member is configured to engage the distal end of the support member. The first frame member is rotatably moveable to allow cargo to track with the vehicle independently of a change in orientation of the at least one wheel.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus includes a housing and a tow bar movably disposed within the housing. The housing includes spaced-apart first and second sections. The first section includes an elongated slot formed through a portion thereof. A tow bar guide is attached to an interior side of the first section and includes an elongated opening formed therethrough with opposite first and second portions. The tow bar includes a first guide member that extends outwardly from the tow bar at the proximal end thereof, and a second guide member that extends outwardly from a medial portion of the tow bar. The first guide member extends through the first portion of the elongated opening in the tow bar guide and is operably engaged with the slot in the first section. The second guide member is operably engaged with the second portion of the elongated opening in the tow bar guide.

Abstract: An assembly and method allow military vehicles to be towed. In an embodiment, a towing assembly for towing a vehicle with a towing vehicle includes a lunette. The lunette attaches the towing assembly to the towing vehicle. The towing assembly also includes tow bars. The tow bars are attached to the lunette. At least one of the tow bars is laterally moveable. The towing assembly also includes tow legs. Each tow leg is slidably engaged with an interior of a tow bar. The tow leg is attachable to the vehicle.

Abstract: A trailer converter dolly includes a frame bearing a fifth wheel supported by a suspension mechanism, an axle assembly, and a wheel assembly. A drawbar housing secured to the front of the frame moveably receives a drawbar which is configured to move toward and away from a leading truck or trailer, thus adjusting the distance between the towed trailer attached to the trailer converter dolly and a leading truck or trailer. A speed sensor determines the speed of the trailer converter dolly and provides one or more signals relating to the speed of the trailer converter dolly. An automatic adjusting mechanism associated with the moveable drawbar moves the drawbar in response to the one or more speed signals provided by the speed sensor.

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 towing hitch includes a base having a first pivot member, a telescoping arm assembly having a second pivot member, and pivot locking mechanism. The telescoping arm assembly and the base are pivotally connected by their respective pivot members. The pivot locking mechanism is in operative engagement with the first and second pivot members and operates in one of a locking state and an unlocked state. In the unlocked state the pivot locking mechanism allows omnidirectional rotation of the first pivot member relative to the second pivot member, and when in the locking state allows only unidirectional rotation of the first pivot member relative to the second pivot member. The unidirectional rotation is in a direction that causes alignment of the first longitudinal axis of the base with the second longitudinal axis of the telescoping arm assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment of the vehicle mounting includes a frame assembly. The frame assembly may include a panel member, a set of elongated members, and a bracket member. The panel member may be configured to be supported on a front part of the vehicle. The set of elongated members may extend from a surface of the panel member. The bracket member may be associated at the free end portions of the set of elongated members. The vehicle mounting may further include an arm assembly carried by the bracket member of the frame assembly. The arm assembly may include a first arm member and a second arm member adapted to be telescopically received within the first arm member. The arm assembly may also include a hitch member operatively coupled with the second arm member. The hitch member may be adapted to receive a towing rod of the wheeled article.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an adjustable trailer hitch which allows the ball to be adjustable laterally and longitudinally so that the tongue of the trailer can be can be more easily attached to the ball of the towing vehicle. A body portion is mounted on a slide-tube for insertion in a receiver-tube wherein the body portion has an interior pocket or space which allows the draw bar having the ball mounting thereon to move laterally inside the pocket along with a plurality of apertures so that the draw bar can be laterally adjusted using the apertures and a first locking pin. The slide-tube also has a longitudinal adjustment slot in it which allows it to slide longitudinally inside the receiver-tube wherein a second locking pin holds the slide-tube in the receiver-tube allowing the entire trailer hitch to be longitudinally adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A low profile trailer hitch includes a frame for attachment to a vehicle and a draw bar pivotally attached to the frame that includes upper and lower substantially similar curved plates, a stationary stop plate and a plurality of apertures for extending stop pins through both the upper and lower plates. The draw bar has a first towing position wherein the draw bar abuts against the stationary stop plate of the frame with a trailer coupling end of the draw bar extending outwardly away from a bumper of a vehicle upon which the hitch is mounted. The draw bar may be pivoted to a storage position with the coupling end disposed at a location substantially adjacent or within a periphery of the bumper and captured in the storage position by stop pins extending through the upper and lower plates.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle include a housing mounted on the towing tongue of the towed vehicle having a tow bar mounted in an internal cavity having a restricted throat. Tow bar can be extended and pivoted to position a hitching eyelet on a variably proximately located towed vehicle. The tow arm coacts with the walls of the cavity to provide a torque on the tongue upon forward or rearward movement of the towing vehicle. Upon rearward movement of the towed vehicle, the tow bar attains an aligned nested position in the cavity and a lock assembly is actuated for locking the tow arm to the housing.

Abstract: One possible embodiment of the invention could comprise an interlocking device for the adjusting the length of at least one telescopic tow bar leg of a tow bar. The telescopic tow bar leg could comprise an inner bar and outer bar, the inner bar being generally movably received by the outer bar. Movement of an outer bar mounted pawl into engagement with inner bar may lock the inner bar in relationship to the outer bar. A pawl release mechanism may be used to either act directly upon the pawl or to rotate a cam that contacts the pawl. Either action generally causes the at least two surfaces of the pawl to move out of contact with the inner bar's pawl engagement area, thus substantially allowing the inner bar to move relative to the outer bar. This could allow a user to adjust the length of the telescopic leg.

Abstract: A trailer hitch facilitating proper alignment and connection to the hitch coupler of a trailer. The trailer hitch includes a tow bar assembly and a throat having spaced parallel top and floor panels generally equal in spacing to a vertical thickness of the tow bar and rearwardly diverging side panels. The front of the throat is connected or connectable to an elongated tubular extension or receiver and is sized to be slidably carried within the throat assembly. A slide bar is carried between the tow bar and the throat and includes a stop which limits the distance the tow bar may be extended rearwardly from the throat and, when in the fully or a partially extended position, is movable side-to-side to facilitate proper coupling alignment between the hitch ball and a hitch coupling of a trailer.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle include a housing mounted on the towing tongue of the towed vehicle having a tow bar mounted in an internal cavity having a restricted throat. Tow bar can be extended and pivoted to position a hitching eyelet on a variably proximately located towed vehicle. The tow arm coacts with the walls of the cavity to provide a torque on the tongue upon forward or rearward movement of the towing vehicle. Upon rearward movement of the towed vehicle, the tow bar attains an aligned nested position in the cavity and a lock assembly is actuated for locking the tow arm to the housing.

Abstract: A towing device is provided for use on a vehicle to facilitate the connection of a trailer hitch to a coupler. The towing device has a frame configured to be securely attachable to an undercarriage of the vehicle. An extension bar movably engages the frame. The movable engagement between the frame and the extension bar permits the extension bar to be extendable from the frame and retractable to a towing position with the frame facilitating the extension bar to be rotatable as the extension bar is extended. The extension bar may carry either a trailer hitch or a coupler.

Abstract: The gooseneck trailer hitch assembly includes a block tube that is fixed to a trailer frame. A top plate is fixed to the block tube. A vertical shaft is connected to the top plate. A steel spherical member is slidably mounted on the vertical shaft. Two rings are clamped to the spherical member and pivotable about the spherical member center. A tower assembly tube receives on of the two rings and is fixed to the rings. A tube positioning member is fixed to the tower assembly. The positioning member includes a wedge surface that contacts a steel ring and moves the tower assembly tube toward a vertical position as the spherical member is moved toward to the top plate. The positioning member also includes a cylindrical surface that engages the steel ring after the tower assembly tube is vertical. A vibration and force damper is provided between the steel ring and the block tube.

Abstract: A trailer tongue assembly has a base section which is engagable with a trailer and an extension section which supports a coupler. The trailer tongue assembly also has an internal hinge positioned between the extension section and the base section. The internal hinge rotationally connects the base section and the extension section and selectively provides the trailer tongue assembly with an extended operational position and a folded storage position. The internal hinge is housed in the trailer tongue assembly and is essentially shielded from view by the trailer tongue assembly when the trailer tongue assembly is in the extended operational position. The trailer tongue assembly also has a greater length in the extended operational position than in the folded storage position.

Abstract: A trailer pulling apparatus consisting of a quill having a bore and having an outer surface; a trailer mount fixedly attached to the outer surface of the quill; a tongue having forward and rearward ends, the tongue slidably extending through the bore of the quill; a hitch fixedly attached to the forward end of the tongue; and an automatically disengagable slide controlling spring latch connected operably to the quill and to the tongue, the spring latch automatically locking the tongue with respect to the quill upon successive rearward and forward motions of the tongue through the quill.

Abstract: An easy alignment trailer hitch comprising a conventional hitch insert to be attached to a towing vehicle and aligned holes through sidewalls thereof; an insert assembly having spaced apart slide plates connected at one end to an end plate to be inserted into the bore of the receiver, a slide block between the slide plates is attached to the receiver and means for releasably locking the slide plates to the slide block when the insert assembly is fully inserted into the receiver.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly for a vehicle includes a generally tubular receiver configured for attachment to the vehicle, and having a central aperture formed by walls of the receiver. The receiver has a rearward end. A hitch member is slidably received within the central aperture and has an attachment portion configured for attachment to a trailer. The hitch member is movable between an extended position in which the attachment portion protrudes from the rearward end of the receiver for attachment to a trailer, and a retracted position in which the attachment portion is positioned inside the central aperture for storage.

Abstract: A vehicle drawbar support assembly for supporting a drawbar pivotally coupled to a frame of the vehicle includes a drawbar support attached to the frame. The support engages and supports an end of the drawbar. A pair of bushing members are mounted to the support on opposite sides of the drawbar. The bushing members are engageable with the drawbar to limit sideways movement of the drawbar. Each bushing has a multiple-sided outer surface, and each bushing has a bore extending therethrough along a bore axis which is offset from a central axis of the bushing. Each bushing is rotatable about the bore axis so that different selected sides are engageable with the drawbar. A pin couples each bushing to the support and is received by the bore of the respective bushing.

Abstract: A trailer hitch is provided for releasable attachment to a trailer frame. At least one aperture is defined in the trailer frame. The trailer hitch includes an elongated cross member having a first end and a second end, a first side member extending from the first end of the elongated cross member to a coupler and a second side member extending from the second end of the elongated cross member to the coupler. At least one aperture is defined in the trailer hitch in a position of coaxial alignment with the aperture defined in the frame when the trailer hitch is in a towing position A removable lock pin is adapted to extend through the apertures in the frame and the trailer hitch to secure the cross member in a fixed position relative to the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a trailer hitch adapter system that may be used to convert a standard trailer into a trailer having a pivoting hitch tongue. The system preferably comprises a hitch tongue that is movable between two positions: an out-of-the-way storage position and a towing position. When in the towing position, the hitch tongue does not increase the overall length of the trailer. When the hitch tongue is in the towing position, the tongue can be attached to the hitch of a towing vehicle so that the trailer may be towed.

Abstract: A system for allowing a single user to accurately gauge the distance between a trailer connecting mechanism and a trailer ball of a trailer hitch and which provides a mechanism for indicating when the trailer ball is positioned beneath the trailer attachment end that includes a user adjustable center mechanism of a U-shaped mechanism that has a pair of spaced outwardly extending elements such that when the user backs over one of the outstretched spaced elements the trailer ball is positioned beneath the trailer attachment end of the trailer.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly for allowing a user to simultaneously extend and pivot the distal end of the trailer hitch to position the hitch ball in a desired position. The inventive device includes a support frame attachable to a vehicle, a telescoping structure pivotally attached within the support frame, and a spring-loaded locking pin attached to the support frame for selectively engaging the telescoping structure for preventing extension and pivoting movement. The telescoping structure comprises a receiver member pivotally attached within the support frame, an extending member slidably positioned within the receiver member for supporting a conventional hitch ball, a lock aperture within the extending member for catchably receiving the locking pin, at least one guide slot within the receiver member, and at least one guide pin for sliding within the at least one guide slot.