Abstract: A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads.

Abstract: A swivel attachment and/or branch line restraint device with angular versatility and mobility for facilitating connection of installation components to support a pipe or other load relative to a support surface is provided. Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide a plurality of rotational or swivel degrees of freedom, which are substantially independently controllable, for its mating portions, which respectively engage corresponding mating portions of other installation components. The device embodiments can desirably be configured in male-female, male-male or female-female arrangements to enhance device utility and/or versatility, thereby advantageously allowing for use in a myriad of applications and installations, such as construction, utilities and the like, among others, to reliably support loads.

Abstract: An assembly for drawbar retention from a hanger bar on the rear of a tractor includes bottom and top capture plates spanning the intersection of the drawbar and hanger bar, front to back and side to side, and held together by four bolt and nut fasteners that are passed vertically through the four corners of the two plates such that there are two bolts on either lateral side of the drawbar and two on the front and back sides of the hanger bar. A pair of spacer blocks are provided across the front and back edges of the hanger bar releasably captured between the cover plates by the bolts. Cutouts in the spacer blocks can receive tongues on wear pads to permit pads to be captured between the top cover plate and hanger and/or the hanger and the drawbar by the bolts and spacers. The method is the arrangement of top and bottom cover plates with spacers and fasteners as stated, with or without wear pads.

Abstract: A load stabilizer for an automobile is provided. The load stabilizer includes a hitch assembly having an elongate cross member that extends between opposing frame rails of the automobile and that is pivotable about an axis of rotation defined along a length of the cross member in response to a load applied upon the hitch assembly. A first torsion bar is carried on a first end by the cross member and on a second end by the automobile frame for retarding load variations on the hitch assembly.

Abstract: A hose reel system for winding a liquid manure hose. The hose reel includes a spool pivoted in alignment with the wheels and axles of the system to allow for even winding of the hose on a spool. The spool is provided with curved domes on either, end and a protective bar to prevent the hose from winding beyond the ends of the spool. Pivoting the spool in alignment with the axle allows for a more even winding and unwinding of the hose, thereby reducing torsion, kinks and other damage to the hose during the rolling and unrolling processes.

Abstract: A trailer hitch which will resist fishtailing and increase stability of the towing vehicle-trailer combination is mounted at the rear of the towing vehicle. The hitch includes a pivot connector, such as a ball, which receives the mating end of a tongue extending from the trailer to be towed. However, the rotation of the trailer about the pivot connector is resisted, but not prevented, and the trailer tongue is biased to a preset position with respect to the pivot connector. The trailer hitch can provide limited lateral movement of the pivot connector to move the pivot point forwardly of the rear of the towing vehicle. The resistance to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the pivot connector results first in lateral movement of the pivot connector before resisted pivoting about the pivot connector. Lateral movement of the connector can be promoted during certain conditions and resisted during other conditions.

Abstract: The joint between two vehicles or vehicle parts, such as an articulated bus or a railcar for example, comprises at least two joint members (11, 12; 11a, 21a; 111a, 112a) that are held apart from a central longitudinal axis (50) of the vehicle (2, 3; 102, 103) and with at least one, preferably two joint arms (12a, 12, 22; 113, 114) that is/are carried so as to be capable of rotating about the two joint members.

Abstract: A pivotal hitch assembly (14) includes a housing (22) that is pivotally coupled to mounting plates (57) and (58) that are rigidly attached to a draw bar (60) of a trailer. The housing includes a pair of connector tubes (56) that receive pins (63), (64) that couple the housing (22) to the mounting plates (57), (58). The housing (22) is manufactured from a single blank of material. The connector tubes (56) are formed by bending or rolling a portion of the blank into a generally tubular shape. Bending or folding of the blank forms the housing such that the housing is generally U-shaped.

Abstract: A movable drawbar control system for use on a typical tractor and specifically on endless track type tractors. The drawbar control system is hydraulically controlled by the user of the tractor via controls in the cab. The system uses a hydraulic cylinder to operate independently movable bar lock flaps. The design of the invention is such that inward and outward motion of the hydraulic cylinder changes the orientation of the bar lock flaps between an engaged vertical position or a disengaged horizontal position. These flaps are used to lock a drawbar into a center position or allow the drawbar to swivel freely from side to side along a pivot bar. Additionally, the bar lock flaps are biased with springs that place a rotation force on them so that they tend toward an engaged or vertical orientation when the hydraulic cylinder is engaged to move them to this position.

Abstract: An improved trailer hitch is provided which provides greater control over the towing vehicle and towed vehicle by eliminating swaying of a towed vehicle and permitting the towing vehicle-towed vehicle combination to make sharper turns. The hitch comprises a beam mounted to the parallel side frame members of a towing vehicle. Pivotally attached to the beam are a pair of crossover arms which are also pivotally attached at their opposite ends to a trailer receiver. The receiver includes a traditional trailer attachment for connection to a towed vehicle. The receiver further includes an oscillator mounted on the receiver. This oscillator is operable for moving laterally along a long metal tube which is attached at each end to the frame members of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: According to the invention, the connection between the truck (1) and the trailer (2) consists of a pivoting linkage (13, 19, 37) pivoting about an axle (43) or (26) generally perpendicular to it, forming part of a pivot center (18) attached in overlapping arrangement to the front part of the tailer chassis, and of at least one oblique connecting rod (20, 39, 40) of constant length, extending obliquely in relation to the straight line direction between the truck (1) and the trailer (2). The invention is of interest to vehicle manufacturers, especially trailer manufacturers.

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.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a trailer hitch for quickly and easily connecting a trailer to a tractor including a draw bar, a primary pivot device for connecting the draw bar to the tractor, a hitching device connected to the trailer for connecting the trailer to the draw bar, the hitching device having a stabilizer and air cylinder connected thereto for decreasing the downward forces on the rear end of a tractor.

Abstract: A towing hitch for attaching a towing vehicle to a towed object includes an arcuate guide attached around the back of the towing vehicle. A traveller, which moves freely along the guide, is hinged to a coupling which is, in turn, rotatably attached to the towed object. Steering the towing vehicle in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction causes the traveller to move along the guide in the opposite direction, and the steering of the towing vehicle is facilitated. If the hitch includes a drive to power the traveller along the guide, the hitch alone can steer the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A towing hitch for coupling a towing vehicle with a vehicle which is to be towed is provided which includes a body having a pocket within which a receiver tube is pivotally mounted. The receiver tube telescopically mounts a tow bar which is configured for selected operative securement to a vehicle which is to be towed. The hitch is selectively locked in position using first and second pin assemblies, the first pin assembly including a first pin biased toward engagement with the body so as to selectively lock the receiver tube in place, and the second pin assembly including a second pin biased toward engagement with the tow bar so as to selectively lock the tow bar in place.

Abstract: Towing apparatus mounted on the rear of a towing vehicle for lifting and towing disabled vehicles includes an extendible boom assembly positionable beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle to be towed. The boom assembly is carried by a vertically and pivotably movable housing assembly mounted on the towing vehicle and is pivotable relative to the housing assembly. The boom assembly includes a number of extendible boom stages telescopically mounted within first and second stage boom members, the first stage boom member being pivotably mounted on the housing assembly. Second stage boom member is mounted within and pivotable relative to the first stage boom member about a vertical axis so as to move from side-to-side, the extendible boom stages moving with the second stage boom member. The first stage boom member has an enlarged mouth through which the second stage boom member extends, the large mouth permitting the second stage to have substantial sideways movement.

Abstract: A wide-range hitch assembly which mounts on a towing vehicle is provided wherein a hitch ball can be pivoted in an arc and extended or retracted to simplify mating the hitch ball with a cooperating ball hitch fitted on a towed vehicle. The present invention includes a rectangular housing holding a conventional rectangular receiver tube mounted for pivotal movement within the interior of the housing. The receiver tube has pin receiving bores located in the top and bottom walls which bores may be coaxially aligned with corresponding bores in the top and bottom walls of the housing. A drawbar, slidably positioned within the receiver tube, has a bore therethrough which bore may be positioned in coaxial alignment with the bores through the receiver tube. A pin is used to automatically lock the receiver tube in a central, proper towing position as the receiver tube is centered for towing and then the drawbar retracted.

Abstract: A retainer assembly retains a pair of connecting pins in place within a drawbar arrangement. The connecting pins connect various draft implements to the drawbar and hold the drawbar in a preselected angular position. The retainer assembly provides easy connection of the pins to, or removal from, the drawbar while maintaining the pins in a secured working position. The retainer assembly includes a retainer plate which is spring loaded and is easily manipulated from a first position in which the pins are covered and constrained, and a second position in which the pins are vertically unconstrained. Previous pin retainers for drawbar arrangements used various means to lock or retain a pin in a coupled position, including keys, detents, screw threads, etc. Such previous pin retainers were cumbersome and generally required considerable time and effort to unlock and remove the pin. A worker generally needed to use two hands to couple or release the locking pins.

Abstract: A base portion is provided for support from the forward end of a vehicle to be towed or the rear end of a vehicle to be used to tow a second vehicle. An elongated hitch bar assembly is provided including first and second ends and mounting structure mounts the second hitch bar end, intermediate its opposite ends, from the base portion for guided front to rear lengthwise extension and retraction relative to the base portion between forward and rearward limit positions and for angular displacement of the rear hitch bar end about an upstanding axis, shiftable forward and rearward with the second hitch bar end, relative to the base portion between opposite limit positions of angular displacement. Bias structure yieldingly biases the second hitch bar end toward a central position between the front and rear limit positions and first latch structure is operative to releasably latch the hitch bar rear end relative to the base portion in a center position of angular displacement.

Abstract: An oscillating rear axle assembly (30) and associated drawbar (40) which oscillates therewith. The rear axle (24) protrudes from an axle housing (32) which is joined to a support structure (34) extending forwardly therefrom. The support structure (34) is oscillatably joined to a rear frame (14) by two axially separated bearings (36,38) disposed therebetween. The drawbar (40) is laterally guided by the rear axle assembly (30) and a pivot support structure (84) and is axially fixed as well as oscillatably joined to the rear frame (14) by a spherical bearing (52) to permit drawbar oscillation with the rear axle assembly (30).