Abstract: Trailer hitch apparatus including dampening mechanisms to simultaneously dampen vibration and shock in a longitudinal direction and vertical direction. The apparatus consists of a hollow draw bar tube capable of being removably coupled to a vehicle mounted receiving tube. The draw bar tube is adapted to move longitudinally relative to the receiving tube while a biasing means within the draw bar tube provide dampening of shock and vibration in the longitudinal movement. The apparatus further has a ball hitch assembly carried by a transverse support bar attached to an outer portion of the draw bar tube. The ball hitch assembly is biased against vertical movement thereby dampening shock and vibration in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A stabilization apparatus for stabilizing articulated vehicles includes a damping device connected between a prime mover and its trailer and is arranged about the articulation pivot. The damping device provides resistance to movement of the trailer relative to the prime mover substantially reducing undesirable loping motion of the prime mover.

Abstract: A towing apparatus is disclosed which has a hitch receiver that is moveable underneath a tow vehicle between a rearward hitching position and a forward towing position. The apparatus has a stationary guide rail which is longitudinally mounted underneath the tow vehicle rearward of the rear axle. A carriage is slidably engaged on the guide rail and has a rearwardly extending hitch receiver. At the rearward hitch position the hitch receiver is substantially in the conventional towing position at the rear bumper of the tow vehicle. After hitching a towed vehicle to the receiver, the tow vehicle is backed up to move the carriage and receiver forwardly on the guide rail to the towing position which is ideally adjacent to the rear axle. The carriage and receiver with attached hitch are then locked in place at said position. A towed vehicle may be either directly hitched to the receiver or may be hitched by way of an intermediate coupling section.

Abstract: A trailer for lifting and transporting large loads is constructed of a pair of elongated side trusses, adjustably connected together at their ends by structural frames, and having a plurality of lifter frames rotatably and slidably mounted on the elongated side trusses. A first of the end structural frames is secured to a hitch assembly for pulling the trailer and this first structural frame as well as each of the elongated side trusses is provided with a mechanical lifting device to separately move the same. A pair of chassis having wheels for moving the trailer are connected to the mechanical lifting devices, under the elongated side trusses, and are separately connected to the hitch assembly by tow rods.

Abstract: A flexible and bowed tow hitch having a A-configuration is adapted for tring a sled behind a snow vehicle. The hitch comprises three plastic straps; two straps form the legs for the A-configuration and the third strap forms the cross-bar for the A-configuration. The ends of the cross-bar strap are physically pressed against the respective ends of the leg straps to form the base terminal of the hitch for attachment to the sled. The other ends of the legs are physically pressed against each other to form the apex for the A-configuration. An elongated bar is embedded between these other ends. The bar is welded to a ring member to form a lunette-type connection for attachment to the snow vehicle.

Abstract: An improved hitch for connecting a trailer to the rear axle of a towing vehicle includes an elongated resilient steel drawbar having opposite end sections, an intermediate section offset from at least one of the opposite end sections and an inclined bend section integrally connecting the intermediate section to the at least one opposite end section. The drawbar is solid and rectangular in cross section. A clamp rigidly and removably clamps one end of the drawbar to the tongue of a trailer with the greatest cross sectional dimension of the drawbar substantially horizontal and with the lesser cross sectional dimension substantially vertical. A pivotal support for the other end of the drawbar is mounted on the rear axle of the towing vehicle with a pivot pin extending vertically through the drawbar behind and adjacent to the center of the axle.

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: An improved tow bar assembly and attaching system for use of heavy vehicles eighing in excess of 50 tons. The invention reduces shock to the two bar assembly though a hook and loop attaching means between the tow bar and the towed vehicle. Reinforcing composite windings about the midpoint of the tow bar reduce the overall weight of the tow bar while increasing strength and rigidity in critical areas.

Abstract: A trailer coupling including an intermediate unit to be inserted between a standard-type connecting coupling and a trailing vehicle and having integrated therein a force measuring cell for determining vertical forces. Furthermore, horizontal pushing and pulling forces may be determined by integrating at least one force measuring cell acting in horizontal direction. The fifth wheel coupling of semi-trailers may have integrated force measuring cells measuring forces acting in vertical, longitudinal, horizontal and/or lateral horizontal directions.

Abstract: A wheel-supported cart or trailer is removably attached to a bicycle seat post by pullbar means attached to the front end of the cart and a hitch encircling the bicycle seat post. The hitch comprises a separable rigid metal band encircling the bicycle seat post with an interior bushing made out of a relatively stiff but resilient material, the bushing having an inner lip which makes encircling snug contact with the bicycle seat post. The trailer wheels are mounted on each side of the trailer by their own separate axles but in a manner to support the trailer across the underside of the trailer.

Abstract: An apparatus including a primary support tube mounting a trailer post pivotally thereon. A leaf spring pivotally mounted within the trailer mounting post is directed rearwardly of the primary support tube and mounted to a spring shackle adjacent an upper terminal end of the primary support tube. The trailer mounting post includes spaced parallel top and bottom walls including "U" shaped wall terminal ends to pivotally receive the forward end of the spring therewithin and permit pivotment of the trailer mounting post relative to the primary support tube to dampen vibration transmitted through the primary support tube to an associated trailer.

Abstract: The specification describes a tow bar assembly for coupling an auxiliary watercraft to the stern of a larger towing craft. The tow bar assembly comprises a socket member especially designed for attachment to the swim platform of the towing craft when one is provided or, alternatively, directly to the transom of the towing craft. The socket is designed to receive one end of a generally longitudinally incompressible but vertically flexible bar member. The other end of the bar member is provided with a suitable coupling device for facilitating connection to the bow of the craft to be towed.

Abstract: A tow line attachable between a towing vehicle and some other structure has an intermediately positioned spring assembly which substantially reduces jarring and jerking movements. A pair of frame attached cables are directed from the towing vehicle to a tubular conduit and the conduit is fixedly secured to the vehicle bumper hitch. The towing cable is retained within the conduit and is abuttable with an enclosed spring. The tow line compresses the spring within the conduit with the spring then serving to compensate for rapid changes in vehicle velocity.

Abstract: A mounting for the draw rod of the coupling body of a trailer coupling is proposed. The draw rod passes through a cross-piece bore of a cross-piece fast with the towing vehicle. The cross-section of the draw rod at the passage through the cross-piece bore corresponds to the cross-section of the cross-piece bore. A bearing tube secured to the cross-piece for the guidance of the draw rod extends from the cross-piece only in the direction pointing away from the coupling body. Between the end of the draw rod remote from the cross-piece and the end of the bearing tube remote from the cross-piece a support acting in both force directions is provided, that is to say a support for traction force transmission and a support for thrust force transmission. In the solution according to the invention the cross-section of the draw rod can be enlarged compared with conventional forms of embodiment.

Abstract: An extensible hitching device for road and rail vehicles is provided comprising a hydraulic actuator (4) having a cylinder (5), a piston (6), a piston rod (15) and a chamber (7) containing a hydraulic fluid; a coupling device (17) adapted for connection to the rear of another vehicle; resilient means urging the coupling device towards the other vehicle; a hydraulic circuit comprising a reservoir (25) connected to the chamber (7) through two ducts (26, 27), one comprising a normally closed valve (28) and the other a hydraulic pump (30); detection means for controlling opening of the valve (28) when the two vehicles, in the hitched position, form therebetween an angle greater than a given angle, and allowing the resilient means to cause the coupling device (17) to extend while driving back into the reservoir (25) the hydraulic fluid contained in the chamber (7) and control means for actuating the pump (30) so that the fluid driven thereby back into the chamber (7) causes the coupling device (17) to retract agai

Abstract: The hitch comprises a tow bar section, which is connected to the motorcycle, and a tongue section, which is connected to the trailer. The two sections are connected by a swivel which permits rotation therebetween about their common longitudinal axis. Between the tow bar and the tongue is connected a pair of torsion springs which oppose rotation between tow bar and tongue.

Abstract: A towed vehicle includes a frame, front and rear ground-engaged wheel assemblies mounted along said frame in such a manner that the center of gravity of said vehicle is situated between said front and rear wheel assemblies, and a gooseneck secured to said frame and projecting therefrom. A fluid pressure suspension cylinder is secured to the gooseneck adjacent the free outer end thereof and has a plunger reciprocally mounted therein and projecting downwardly therefrom. A plate with a king pin is secured to the plunger for coupling with the saddle of a fifth wheel on a towing vehicle. The plunger in the cylinder acts in conjunction with a compressible medium, to cushion loads between said gooseneck and towing vehicle. The fifth wheel by way of linkages from a collar rotatably mounted on the cylinder, steer steerable wheels on the towed vehicle.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the hydraulic suspension system of an articulated vehicle having a first pair of hydraulic cylinders operatively connected between a drive axle and a tractor frame to control vertical bounce movement of the axle, and a second pair of hydraulic cylinders operatively connected between a tractor and a trailer portion of the articulated vehicle for controlling relative roll movement therebetween. A first valve system directs hydraulic fluid under a first pressure to the head ends of the hydraulic cylinders for supporting the weight of the vehicle and load, and to dampen the bounce motion of the drive wheels and the relative roll motion between the tractor and trailer portions of the articulated vehicle. A gas precharged accumulator and a plurality of flow restrictors disposed in this portion of the circuit, control and spring and viscous damping rates of the cylinders.

Abstract: An articulator for interconnecting front and rear chassis portions of a vehicle including a horizontal coupling assembly permitting relative pivoting of the front and rear portions of the vehicle about a generally horizontal axis. The horizontal axis passes longitudinally through the center of a pair of cylindrical mounting sleeves. A pair of insert enclosures each extend about respective cylindrical mounting sleeves and are concentric therewith. The mounting sleeves are connected to one of the vehicle portions while the insert enclosures are connected to a frame member which, in turn, is connected to another of the vehicle portions. There is a resilient insert fitted between the cylindrical mounting sleeve and the pair of insert enclosures.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for attachment between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle has a planar support member affixed to the towing vehicle and oriented substantially transversely to the towing direction. A planar slide is disposed between a pair of transversely spaced parallel vertical guides affixed to the support member and the slide is slidably retained by the guides. A tongue is affixed to, and extends from the slide in towed direction, and carries at its end a conventional hitching ball. A leaf spring is supported in vertically adjustable relation to the support member and in turn resiliently supports the tongue, and slide, at a given distance from the support member. The spring force is adjustable, as by removing or adding spring leaves.

Abstract: A central articulation with pivot axles standing perpendicularly to one another for a self-driving articulated vehicle comprising two parts which are mutually moveable with respect to one another, whereby the steering is brought about by mutual pivoting of the two vehicle parts with respect to one another about a vertical axle of the central articulation and the adjustment of the vehicle to the unevenness of the ground is brought about by a mutual pendulum course of movement of the two vehicle parts with respect to one another about an axle which is horizontal in the longitudinal direction and a restoring device counteracts the pendulum course of movement of the front car and of the rear car by means of compression springs. Rubber hollow springs are prestressed by means of a tensioning device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a new and novel device for connecting a beam or tow bar to a touring trailer or caravan. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for connecting two metallic components. The device comprises intermediate connecting components cut from a profile of light metal alloy. These components are mounted to the chassis and the towing beam and are made from a deformable, supple and insulating material so that these components provide an insulating media between different metals and, further, absorb the violent stresses transmitted to the towing beam.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for a vehicle comprises a two-armed, V-shaped support having its apex disposed at the rear of the vehicle. The support is attached at its forward end to a chassis of the vehicle and carries at its apex a hitching ball. The chassis has a rear end terminating forwardly of a rear central part of the body of the vehicle and the chassis and body are interconnected by resilient means allowing relative longitudinal displacement of the body and chassis. The support and the body are connected together at the rearward end of the support by a flexible strip which is rigidly attached to each arm of the support and is rigidly or pivotally attached to the body, the strip permitting the said relative longitudinal displacement of the chassis and body. The flexible strip is preferably pivotally mounted on a link attached to the body by means of a mounting sleeve on a shoe attached to the strip, a damping sleeve to damp noise and vibration being received on the link within the mounting sleeve.