Tracking hitch assembly utilizing tractor lift arms as stabilizers

• US 20040161087A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenth Street Financial Opportunity Fund I LP (Resolute Capital Partners)
• Original Assignee: Durand-Wayland Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Harold
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/042 having pulling means arranged on the rear part of the tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/066 for enabling pitch, roll or yaw movements of trailed implements or machines

Abstract

A tracking hitch assembly couples to the drawbar of the tractor in a conventional manner. To prevent the hitch from pivoting with respect to the drawbar, the hitch includes an adjustable hitch stabilizer which engages the lift arms of the tractor. When a pivoting force is exerted against the hitch, one lift arm is placed in tension, and the other lift arm is placed in compression. Thus the hitch is prevented from pivoting with respect to the drawbar.

Claims

1. Apparatus for attaching a towed implement to the drawbar of a tractor having lift arms laterally displaced from the drawbar, comprising:

a hitch for selective coupling to the drawbar of the tractor;

a stabilizer extending laterally from the hitch and having elements for coupling to the lift arms of the tractor whereby the stabilizer prevents the hitch from pivoting with respect to the drawbar when a pivoting force is exerted against the hitch; and

a hitch pivot located behind the stabilizer and associated with the hitch for establishing a pivotable connection between the hitch and a front end of the towed implement, whereby pivoting movement between the tractor and the towed implement occurs at the pivotable connection.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

the stabilizer is displaceable along the length of the hitch to accommodate variations in longitudinal spacing between the drawbar and lift arms of the tractor.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

the stabilizer is rotatable in a plane transverse to the length of the hitch to accommodate rolling movement of the tractor relative to the towed implement.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

the stabilizer is displaceable along the length of the hitch to accommodate variations in longitudinal displacement between the drawbar and lift arms of the tractor, and is rotatable in a plane transverse to the length of the hitch to accommodate rolling movement of the tractor relative to the towed implement.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizer comprises:

a tubular central portion slideably mounted on a forward portion of the hitch;

stabilizer wings extending laterally from the central portion; and

attachment elements associated with the stabilizer wings in distal relation to the central portion for coupling the stabilizer wings to the lift arms of the tractor.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the hitch pivot comprises:

a main frame for attachment to the towed implement;

a pair of upright frame members mounted at mutually spaced apart intermediate locations on the main frame and extending upwardly from the main frame;

an upper frame extending between the upright frame members above the main frame;

upper pivot means mounted to the upper frame member;

lower pivot means mounted to the main frame in alignment with the upper pivot means; and

means pivotably connecting the upper and lower pivot means to the hitch to establish the pivotable connection between the hitch and the front end of the towed implement.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the hitch comprises:

an elongated lower hitch tube a front end of which is adapted for coupling to the drawbar of the tractor, and having a rearward portion;

upright frame members mounted in mutually spaced apart relation on each side of the lower hitch tube;

an upper hitch tube mounted between the upright frame members and extending rearward in parallel spaced-apart relation to the rearward portion of the lower hitch tube; and

pivot means adjacent rearward ends of the upper hitch and the lower h itch tube, the pivot means defining a pivot axis between the tractor and the towed implement.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the hitch comprises:

an elongated lower hitch tube a front end of which is adapted for coupling to the drawbar of the tractor, and having a rearward portion;

upright frame members mounted in mutually spaced apart relation on each side of the lower hitch tube;

an upper hitch tube mounted between the upright frame members and extending rearward in parallel spaced-apart relation to the rearward portion of the lower hitch tube; and

pivot elements adjacent rearward ends of the upper hitch tube and the lower hitch tube, the pivot means defining a pivot axis between the tractor and the towed implement;

and wherein the hitch pivot comprises;

a main frame for attachment to the towed implement;

a pair of upright frame members mounted at mutually spaced apart intermediate locations on the main frame and extending upwardly from the main frame;

an upper frame extending between the upright frame members above the main frame;

upper pivot means mounted to the upper frame member and adapted for pivotable connection with the pivot element on the upper hitch tube; and

lower pivot means mounted to the main frame in alignment with the upper pivot means and adapted for pivotable connection with the pivot element on the lower hitch tube.

9. Apparatus for attaching a towed implement to the drawbar of a tractor having lift arms laterally displaced from the drawbar, comprising:

a hitch having a proximal end for selective coupling to the drawbar of the tractor and having a distal end for pivoting attachment to the towed implement; and

a stabilizer extending laterally from the hitch between the proximal and distal ends and having elements for coupling to the lift arms of the tractor whereby the stabilizer prevents the hitch from pivoting with respect to the drawbar when a pivoting force is exerted against the hitch.