Abstract: A damping arrangement which is fastenable in an opening of a first component and by which a dampened connection of the first component with a second component is realizable, including, two identically constructed damping elements. Each damping element includes: a head portion with a first outer diameter, a shaft portion with a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter and extends from a bottom side of the head portion, as well as a central first thru-opening, and only one sleeve with a central second thru-opening being arranged at least partly in the central first thru-opening of each damping element by means of a frictional and/or material connection. By means of the only one sleeve, the two identically constructed damping elements with bottom sides, facing each other, of the head portion with the first component arranged in between are fastenable to one another.

Abstract: A noise dampener that includes a dampener body; a hinged lever connected to the body and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a plunger cooperatively engaged with the lever, the plunger having a dedicated hitch engagement surface; and a fastening means configured to fasten the lever and plunger to an exterior surface of the hitch. The lever is operable to move the plunger in a vertical up and down movement so that the hitch engagement surface presses against an exterior surface of attachment arm inserted into the hitch.

Abstract: One example embodiment is a tow bar retention mechanism for a vehicle tow bar of a combat vehicle. The tow bar retention mechanism includes a tow bar retention arm, an elongated locking beam, a quick-release locking mechanism, and a quick-release safety mechanism. The quick-release locking mechanism locks the tow bar retention arm in a locked position placing the vehicle tow bar in a stowed position. The quick-release locking mechanism also unlocks the tow bar retention arm allowing the tow bar retention arm to move to an unlocked position allowing the vehicle tow bar to move to a tow position. The quick-release safety mechanism may be placed in a first position preventing the quick-release locking mechanism from moving from the locked position. The quick-release safety mechanism may also be placed in a second position allowing the quick-release locking mechanism to move from the locked position.

Abstract: A motorcycle hitch assembly couples a motorcycle to a trailer allowing the motorcycle to easily turn a corner. A yoke assembly connected to the motorcycle has a kingpin and a cotter-pin. A tow hitch assembly is mounted to the trailer and has an elongated towing arm with a circular socket with an inner spherical surface and a radial ball mounted on and secured to the kingpin by the cotter pin. The radial ball is supported in the circular socket of the elongated towing arm and has an outer spherical surface engaging the inner spherical surface of the circular socket for rotational movement of the radial ball about the kingpin to allow free movement of the motorcycle in various planes while maintaining the trailer in a fixed plane. The circular socket is a one piece construction or a two piece construction.

Abstract: A shock protection apparatus that include, in combination, a machine being towed, a towing vehicle coupled to and for towing the machine being towed, and an electrically insulating insert coupled between the vehicle and machine to prevent the transfer of an electrical shock from the vehicle to the machine. The machine includes a towing tongue and the electrically insulating insert is constructed and arranged in the tongue so as to provide a gap between separate metal portions of the tongue.

Abstract: An anti-sway hitch having a ball mount housing which defines a channel and a trunnion pivotally positioned within the channel. The hitch also has a spring, a first engagement member, and a second engagement member with the spring mounted on the first member within the ball mount housing and the first member engaging the second member. The hitch further includes a post positioned within the ball mount housing and the engagement members positioned on the post wherein rotation of the trunnion causes corresponding rotation of the post and the first member. A method of towing a trailer with an anti-sway hitch is also provided.

Abstract: A pin box assembly comprising a first portion, a second portion, a connective member disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion comprising a torque portion, the torque portion comprising a bar disposed within a tube and at least one resilient member disposed between the bar and the tube, the bar fixedly connected to the first portion, the tube fixedly connected to the second portion, the resilient member compressible between the bar and the tube upon rotation of the bar with respect to the tube, a connective member fixedly connected to the tube and to the second portion, and a hitch member connected to the first portion for engaging a hitch on a towing vehicle.

Abstract: Fifth wheel hitch assemblies and fifth wheel hitch adaptors for dampening differential motion between a fifth wheel trailer and a tow vehicle. An upper assembly is formed as a box with an open bottom, and a lower assembly has front, rear, and side plates that extend into the open bottom of the upper assembly. Slide plates are disposed on the front and sides of the upper assembly facing at the front and side plates of the lower assembly. An additional slide plate is disposed on the rear plate of the lower assembly and faces the rear of the upper assembly. The lower assembly and upper assembly are attached to one another by an airspring and at least two diagonally opposed shock absorbers mounted therebetween. A locking mechanism may be included to prevent overextension between the upper assembly and lower assembly when not in use.

Abstract: An improved front hitch assembly is provided for mounting a snowplow to the front of a vehicle. The hitch assembly includes a pair of mounting brackets secured to the vehicle frame, and a pair of receivers releasably connected to the mounting brackets. The plow includes a frame with a pair of horns which are releasably received in the receivers. A pad is provided in each of the mounting brackets and is engaged by each of the receivers to absorb impact forces when the plow hits an object. The brackets include pairs of forward and rearward slots for supporting the receivers in the brackets, with the pads being mounted on the rearward pins. The pads are made of polymeric or urethane material so as to absorb the forces of impact when the plow hits an object.

Abstract: A tow bar with a torsion spring disposed between the tow bar and a steering arm to urge the tow bar towards an operating position, the torsion spring minimizing the force required by an operator to lift the tow bar.

Abstract: A trailer hitch uses a draw bar to interconnect tractor and trailer vehicles. The draw bar includes an elongated shank with a transverse throughway. A resilient cushion is disposed in the throughway. A passageway is associated with the throughway to receive a hitch pin such that longitudinal motion of the shank is resiliently resisted by the cushion. The cushion may be disposed in a rigid casing to form a cartridge that inserts into the throughway, and the passageway may be provided by a reciprocating slide member in the casing. Cushions may be employed in the casing to resist motion during both braking and acceleration. Cartridges having differing performance may be interchanged in the system. A method employing such structures is described.

Abstract: An apparatus, interposed between and attached to a drive vehicle and an object to be moved, dampens the force (drive, resistance, inertia, etc.) between them. The apparatus has a rigid structure which is capable of transferring the large forces required to pull the object, from the drive vehicle to the object, but uses damping to moderate the impact of the forces on the drive vehicle/object combination.

Abstract: An articulated self-propelled agricultural machine, in particular, a forage harvester, whose group of rear axles comprise two frame parts having regions thereof arranged one above the other and the frame parts being coupled to one another by a bearing which limits the angle of rotation. One of these two frame parts is coupled to the front axle of the forage harvester by an articulated joint, while one frame part is coupled to the optionally driveable rear axle of the forage harvester via an elastic joint.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly having a connecting arm disposed within a sleeve and pivotally coupled within the sleeve by a bolt. A tongue at the distal end of the arm rests on one or more air cushions which provide damping or shock absorption to the coupled arm and sleeve during travel. The air cushions are mounted between the tongue and a cross brace of a trailer frame assembly. A hitch coupling is included at a distal end of the arm for engaging a hitch on a towing vehicle. Inflation or deflation of the air cushions allows adjustment of the amount of shock absorption according to the trailer load or road surface conditions.

Abstract: A coupling device for attaching a towed vehicle, such as a trailer, to a towing vehicle, such as a truck, where the coupling device includes a securing assembly for removably securing the coupling device to the towing vehicle, a generally longitudinally extending inner assembly rigidly affixed to the securing assembly, and a generally longitudinally extending outer assembly. The outer assembly also includes an upper portion and a lower portion, with the upper portion being adapted to be rigidly affixed to the towed vehicle. The outer assembly has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the inner assembly so that the outer assembly can be coaxially mounted over the inner assembly. The coupling assembly further includes a connecting member for connecting the inner assembly with the outer assembly, and a cushioning member that is positioned between the outer assembly and the inner assembly.

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: The present invention features an energy-absorbent, hitching mechanism for towing trailers and other vehicles by pickup trucks or other tow vehicles. This is a mechanism of the universal type, in which energy absorption is achieved for all transverse and orthogonal forces, including force vectors in the vertical, lateral and longitudinal axes, i.e., the X, Y and Z axes of movement. The hitching mechanism has a housing for receiving a hitch ball that is attached to a tow vehicle. The ball is free to move within a chamber of the housing, subject to cushion forces described below, in any orthogonal direction, i.e., along the X, Y and/or Z axes. The housing chamber contains an energy-absorbent, dome-shaped pad that cushions the hitch ball. When the ball presses against the pad from any direction, the energy of any transverse force is absorbed by the pad, which expands into at least part of the housing chamber.

Abstract: Hinge connection between two vehicles, which are connected to each other in an articulated manner such that the two vehicles can be adjusted in relation to one another around a vertical axis, a transverse axis, and a longitudinal axis. Movements around the vertical axis are made possible within the hinge by one hinge part each being associated with one of the two vehicles and by both hinge parts being adjustable in relation to one another around the vertical axis. Movements around the transverse axis and around the longitudinal axis are made possible by one of the hinge parts being connected to one of the two vehicles adjustably around the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis. The hinge part that is connected to one of the two vehicles adjustably around the transverse axis and around the longitudinal axis is held rigidly at a rigid strap, which in turn is held at the corresponding vehicle (3) via an elastic element (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined trailer/wheelchair which can either be towed behind a powered cart or be manually pushed as a wheelchair and which includes features such as a removable or telescoping tow bar, an articulated hitch mechanism adapted to connect the tow bar to a towing cart, arms to prevent inadvertent rearward tipping of the trailer when uncoupled from a towing cart, and easy disassembly.

Abstract: A vehicle hitch for automatically connecting a vehicle to a trailer or connecting two vehicles for pushing or pulling one or the other. The hitch includes a coupling member mounted for pivotal movement in generally horizontal and vertical planes and provided with a shock absorber for cushioning certain forces and movements. An attachement pin has a cam surface to permit automatic coupling and can be locked in a disconnect position to simplify decoupling of the vehicle.

Abstract: A towing hitch is disclosed which has a housing for receiving a tow bar such that said housing can be pivotally connected to said tow bar. A tongue is coupled to the housing for receiving a towing element. The housing has a pin which project into said tow bar and said pin has a resilient block mounted thereon such that said block is arranged between said pin and said tow bar to dampen or absorb shock or vibration transmitted to said towing hitch.

Abstract: A coupling for use between first and second vehicles has a series of sections joined in line by pivotal connections. One section is a draw bar anchored to the frame of the first vehicle, another is a tow unit connected by transverse pivots to the second vehicle. A first intermediate section has a pivoted connection with the draw bar section with the connection having a transverse pivot axis and a fifth wheel connection with a second intermediate section. The second intermediate section has a connection with the tow bar section that permits limited turning on a lengthwise axis between them and, accordingly permitting limited roll between the two vehicles when the coupling is in use. The coupling is described with particular reference to uses with first and second trailers.

Abstract: A cycle trailer comprising a lightweight frame supported on a pair of road wheels and having a draw-bar for attachment to the towing cycle. The connection between the draw-bar and towing cycle comprises a flexible rubber tube clamped to the end of the draw-bar and a spigot clamped to the cycle pillar which engages in the tube and is releasably held by a pin extending through the tube and spigot. The flexible rubber tube permits the cycle to lean when cornering without upsetting the trailer and also to turn with respect to the trailer.

Abstract: A hitch for use in towing a trailer behind a bicycle can be constructed using two elongated elastomeric straps, one end of each of the straps being connected to the bicycle and one end of each of the straps being connected to the trailer.

Abstract: An elastic hinge of a central buffer coupling for rail cars, comprises a bearing housing which has at least one end with a coupling rod receiving opening into which a coupling rod extends. The interior wall of the housing has a plurality of axially spaced radially inwardly extending annular housing cam surfaces which engage between similar cam surfaces defined on a coupling rod which is inserted into the housing. A plurality of rings are arranged on the coupling rod between the coupling rod cam surfaces and they have outer peripheries which bear on the housing between adjacent housing cam surfaces. The housing interior wall and the coupling rod have an oval cross-section and the rings are held in spaced axial relationship by the coupling rod cams. The housing and the rings may be made of two semiannular parts, and the housing parts may be bolted together.

Abstract: A trailer hitch comprising a draw tongue adapted to extend from a trailer, a handle mounted for pivotal movement above the draw tongue, and a cable attached at one end to the handle and extending downwardly through the draw tongue to a hitch coupler which is carried for bodily movement upwardly and downwardly as a function of pivotal motion of the handle. A drawbar adapted to be attached to a towing vehicle is slotted to receive the hitch coupler and recessed to capture the coupler as the latter is moved upwardly by pivotal movement of the handle. A resilient bushing of elastomeric material is captured in compression between the drawbar and the draw tongue resiliently to permit relative movement in all planes and to damp road shock therebetween.

Abstract: A two-wheeled trailer for towing behind a cycle having a tongue which extends forwardly and on one side of the rear end of the rear wheel of the cycle. The forward end of the tongue is provided with a conveniently disconnectable hitch which is mounted on one side of the cycle and usually adjacent the rear wheel axle of same. The hitch comprises a resilient member having a pivotal connection disposed between the tongue and the cycle which provides the trailer with freedom of movement about one axis relative to the cycle, the resilience of the member providing the trailer with freedom of movement about the other two axes relative to the cycle.

Abstract: A shock absorbing trailer hitch for cushioning end thrust shocks between towing and towed vehicles is disclosed having a base member rigidly attached to one vehicle with a pair of upstanding slide guides thereon and a second member slidably supported within the slide guides by a pair of generally parallel extending slide members. The second member provides one connector for coupling the vehicles together and tongue weight between the vehicles is borne by the slide members. Movement of the second member relative to the first is limited between rigid stop positions and cushioning of end thrust shocks is provided by a resilient plug which mechanically engages the first and second members and urges the second member toward a position intermediate the rigid stop positions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a trailer hitch for coupling a draft vehicle to a drawn vehicle wherein the eye portion of the hitch includes a molded insert of flexible material having an axial bore extending therethrough adapted to receive the pintle portion of the hitch in coupling relation. The flexible insert completely surrounds the pintle and thus maintains the pintle in spaced relation from the eye for yieldingly restraining relative radial movement between the pintle and the eye during all phases of operation, including flexing in the vertical plane when the trailer is negotiating inclined ramps or the like.