Abstract: A hitch vibration dampener assembly and method of use thereof including a tow mount member including a base portion with a vibration dampener pad affixed to the back surface such that coupling of the tow mount member by locked engagement of at least one elongated pin successively received through paired side holes disposed in flanges of a hitch platform channel compresses vibration dampener pad upon the back panel of the hitch platform to thereby reduce the movement between the tow mount member and hitch assembly.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus for removably coupling a trailer to a tow vehicle provides fore and aft cushioning, vertical cushioning and roll accommodation. When it is mounted on the tow vehicle, a mounting assembly is situate in the truck bed of the tow vehicle and includes a pair of rails pivotally coupled at a first end with the truck bed. A carriage is mounted on the rails by means of a pair of rail guides, each of which slidably receives a corresponding one of the rails, and is thus slidable in directions fore and aft on the tow vehicle. A shock absorber is pivotally, diagonally coupled between the truck bed, at one end, and the lower surface of the carriage at the other end. A cradle is pivotally mounted for side-to-side rocking within the carriage. A hitch adapted to receive the trailer is mounted to the cradle. A first plate is mounted to the second ends of the rails. An air bag is mounted to the truck bed directly underneath the first plate to provide vertical cushioning.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing logs from a forestry site. The apparatus and method includes a primary mobile machine having means attached to a rearward portion thereof for holding a first end of a first log cluster. The apparatus and method also includes a first secondary mobile machine with a first end having means for holding a second end of the first log cluster, and a second end having means for holding a first end of a second log cluster. The primary mobile machine and the first secondary mobile machine are interconnected by the first log cluster.

Abstract: A vehicle hitch for interconnecting a pair of all terrain vehicles includes a pair of bars with socket couplers at one end of each bar for connecting the bars to the balls of conventional trailer hitches; and a damping mechanism releasably interconnecting the other ends of the bars and limiting longitudinal movement of the bars relative to each other. The bars are releasably locked together by a generally C-shaped pin, the arms of which are inserted through one end of a shaft extending out of one of the bars.

Abstract: An improved trailer hitch assembly of the draw bar type consisting of a receiver tube mounted on the tow vehicle to receive a draw bar tube in vibration damped retention while extending a hitch ball. The draw bar tube retains a resilient spring block assembly that is secured to the receiver tube by means of a hitch pin and the hitch pin moves within elongated slots on said draw bar tube so that vibration from the draw bar tube is damped by the spring block assembly and isolated from the receiver tube and tow vehicle. A shock absorber is connected between the receiver tube and some point on said draw bar tube.

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: An improved trailer hitch assembly of the draw bar type consisting of a receiver tube mounted on the tow vehicle to receive a draw bar tube in vibration damped retention while extending a hitch ball. The draw bar tube retains a resilient spring block assembly that is secured to the receiver tube by means of a hitch pin, and the hitch pin moves within elongated slots on said draw bar tube so that vibration from the draw bar tube is damped by the spring block assembly and isolated from the receiver tube and tow vehicle.

Abstract: A semi-trailer and its releasable coupler for use in rail transportation of intermodal containers and other adaptable cargo. That capability is met by structuring a centered longitudinal beam to the cargo deck and fitting it with the releasable coupler of this invention, permitting the trailer to be one of an infinite number of like trailers joined end to end as a train, the flexibility and longitudinal strength gained through the beam/coupler assembly. Ease of releasing and engaging a trailer from or to the train is made practical by this coupler and the front end supports, the latter having ability to raise and lower the front section of the trailer and separating the coupler segments.

Abstract: Improved coupling means for connecting a logging truck and a trailer to provide the relative longitudinal movement therebetween to negotiate turns wherein the reachpole of the trailer has a cylindrical sleeve at the forward end thereof and a spring loaded telescopic reach member rotatably mounted therein with its free end connected to the hitch of the truck. These coupling means reduce tight turning and danger of load binding on sharp curves, where most of the accidents happen due to trucks not being able to get around sharp corners. This compensator is easy to maintain, due to fewer moving parts. It remains attached to the trailer, reducing replacement costs of truck, with truck replacement needed twice as often as trailer's. It can also be removed from an old trailer and be re-assembled on a new unit.

Abstract: A spring assembly is carried by a mounting casting. The mounting casting includes a receptacle which is adapted to mount to a horizontal frame member by means of a vertical bolt which, when tightened, adjusts the elevation of the spring assembly by rotating the mounting casting about the frame member due to a shim effect achieved by the slight off-parallel alignment of the receptacle and the axes of the springs. This raises the spring assembly to take its weight off the draw bar and makes it easier to telescope the draw bar. A spring casting includes upper dogs for mounting an actuating lever which is rotatable between a latching and an unlatched position by vertical motion. A latch member on the draw bar is locked between the spring casting and the lever, but is released when the lever is lowered to permit the draw bar to be extended to the rear for alignment with a trailer hitch. Other improvements permit the use of coil springs without grinding the ends flat.

Abstract: An automatic hitch with safety lock may be mounted on a tractor or the like and has two laterally opposed jaws and a hook member pivotally connected therebetween and provides completely automatic latching and unlatching to an upstanding pin provided on a wagon or trailer. The latch has a combination release and spring operator for remotely retracting the hook member and unlatching the pin from the hitch. A safety lock has a lock shaft which rides a shoulder on the hook member and prevents the hook member from being retracted to an open position until the lock shaft is retracted from a position adjacent the shoulder. The safety lock may be remotely operated and has a spring biasing it into the locked position. A manual lock pin may be inserted to effectively disable the automatic operation of the hitch. A mounting plate is used to attach the hitch to a tractor or other vehicle and shock absorber springs are provided between the hitch portion and the mounting plate.

Abstract: A steerable ocean floor dredge vehicle is provided which is of the towed variety, or partially self-propelled. The vehicle is towed from a surface ship via a rigid length of pipe or tubing, connected to the dredge vehicle via a pivoting joint permitting pivotal movement about two transverse axes and preferably about a third axis, and a telescoping joint for providing movement along the direction of the axis of the towing line. Pivoting means connect from the sides of the dredge vehicle to the towing pipe at a point between the telescopic joint and the surface. The pivoting means comprise two flexible cables extending about rollers on the dredge vehicle, or hydraulic piston and cylinder combinations.

Abstract: An elongated horizontal channel member is mounted by means of a dual spring shock absorber in transverse position on one end of a towing vehicle. A pair of horizontal support arms have a first pair of corresponding ends pivotally mounted on the channel member for shifting along the channel member and swinging relative to the channel member about upstanding axes shiftable along the channel member with the first pair of arm ends between first outwardly convergent positions and second substantially aligned positions generally paralleling the channel member with the first pair of arm ends disposed remote from each other and the second other pair of arm ends disposed adjacent each other.

Abstract: A hitch for use with the rear bumper of a truck or the like. The hitch includes a hollow diamond-shaped housing having a forward end, an open rearward end, top and bottom portions. A horizontally disposed tongue member has its forward end selectively movably received by the open rearward end of the housing and is selectively movable from a towing position to a hitching position. In the towing position, the tongue member has its forward end positioned adjacent the forward end of the housing. In the hitching position, the forward end of the tongue member is positioned towards the rearward end of the housing. The horizontal width of the housing intermediate its rearward and forward ends is greater than the width of the tongue member to permit horizontal swinging movement of the tongue member, relative to the housing, when the tongue member is in its hitching position.

Abstract: A mine car coupling device is described which comprises a coupling pin assembly pivotally mounted so that a pin is automatically engaged into the aperture of an elongated ring shaped receiving member or tongue. The housing has sloped front guide surfaces and curved inner side walls that align the coupling receiving member or tongue in both horizontal and vertical orientation so that the pin will be affirmatively engaged in position. The coupling receiving member permits horizontal and vertical variation of the tongue member through the use of compressible rubber springs.

Abstract: The invention comprises a two directional cushioning device for towing trailers and the like behind a towing vehicle. The device has a first pair and second pair of parallel rods. The first pair of rods are joined at the outer forward ends for attachment to a towing vehicle. The second pair of parallel rods are joined at the outer rearward end for attachment to a vehicle being towed. The first and second pair of rods are aligned in parallel overlapping relation to one another and are slidably mounted in a pair of caps. One of the caps is adjacent the forward end of the first pair of rods and the other cap is adjacent the rearward end of the second pair of rods. A coil spring is mounted coaxially between the caps urging the caps apart under compression. Nuts are threaded onto the overlapping ends of rods limiting the caps' outward movement relative to one another.

Abstract: A force absorbing hitch for a vehicle is disclosed. The hitch is capable of at least partially absorbing external forces exerted on the hitch as would be common with the hitch attached to a vehicle for towing of a trailer or the like, particularly those encountered due to acceleration or deacceleration of the towing vehicle. The hitch includes a hitch plate upon which a hitch ball can be mounted with the hitch plate having a pair of rods extending from one edge through apertures in a pair of spaced walls of a frame attached to the rear of the vehicle. Between the walls a stop plate is fastened to the rods and springs surrounding the rods are located at each side of the stop plate on both rods. The frame can be elongated to serve as a bumper or bumper extension with the hitch centrally located on the bumper and below a recess, or step, in the bumper behind which a license plate can be mounted, if desired.

Abstract: A hitch for coupling a towing and a towed vehicle is disclosed having a swing-out and pivot feature which allows the vehicle to be approximately positioned for coupling whereupon a gravity operated latch may be raised, a slide portion of the hitch extended from the frame portion thereof and pivoted in a horizontal plane to perfect the alignment of the vehicle coupling mechanism. When the towing vehicle is subsequently moved toward the towed vehicle, the latch drops back into a position where it engages both the slide and frame portions to transmit the towing forces therebetween. The slide itself may comprise first and second members relatively movable between rigid stop positions and including means for cushioning end thrust shocks having a resilient member which mechanically engages the two slide members urging them toward a relative position intermediate the rigid stop positions.