Hydraulically operated hitch for towing and positioning mobile homes

• US 3,891,239 A
• Filed: 04/15/1974
• Issued: 06/24/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack D. Leo, Lee Benedict
• Original Assignee: Jack D. Leo, Lee Benedict
• Inventors: Leo, Jack D., Benedict, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Application Number:
  US05/460,713
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 280/467,468,479R,49R,456
• US Class Current: 280/479.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/42 for being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0821 Lifting saddles, i.e. to lift the trailer front tilting body constructions B60P

Abstract

A tractor truck is provided with a pivoting frame extending from the rear, and having a hitching ball mounted thereon and laterally shiftable by a hydraulic actuator. The frame itself is movable up or down about a horizontal axis, by a hydraulic actuator, to move the hitching ball up or down. Locking pins are provided to unload the actuator cylinders during over-the-road operation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for towing and positioning mobile homes, comprising:

a tractor truck having a rear axle;

a hitching ball;

a towing frame pivotably mounted to said truck, said frame having said ball mounted to the rear end thereof behind said truck, and said frame having its pivotal mounting to said truck ahead of the rear axle of the truck;

a fluid driven actuator connected to said truck and to said frame and operable to raise said frame for lifting a towing tongue of a mobile home when connected to said ball;

the pivotal mounting of said frame to said truck being ahead of the rear axle and sufficiently above the rear axle to locate said ball close to the rear end of said truck and enable said fluid driven actuator to raise and lower said ball through various levels near the level of the rear axle of said truck, without interference of said frame with said axle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

lock means on said truck and said frame for locking a position of said frame on said truck during transportation of a mobile home by said truck.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

horizontal adjustment means of said frame and connected to said ball for horizontal movement of said ball on said frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said adjustment means include a second fluid driven actuator on said frame and connected to said ball and operable to move said ball laterally on said frame for lateral shifting of a mobile home when mounted to said ball.

5. Apparatus for towing and positioning mobile homes, comprising:

a tractor truck;

a hitching ball;

a towing frame pivotably mounted to said truck, said frame having said ball mounted to the rear end thereof behind said truck;

a fluid driven actuator connected to said truck and to said frame and operable to raise said frame for lifting a towing tongue of a mobile home when connected to said ball;

horizontal adjustment means on said frame and connected to said ball for horizontal movement of said ball on said frame, said adjustment means including a second fluid driven actuator on said frame and connected to said ball and operable to move said ball laterally on said frame for lateral shifting of a mobile home when mounted to said ball, said truck including a rear cross member thereon, and said frame including an intermediate cross member thereon, the rear cross member being behind a hOrizontal pivot axis of said frame, the first mentioned of said actuators being connected between said rear cross member and said intermediate cross member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

said frame includes a rear cross member, said frame rear cross member having a box shaped cross section, with said second actuator disposed therein and extending along the axis of said box shaped cross member, said ball having a bolt affixed thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, said bolt extending vertically through upper and lower parallel longitudinally extending slots in upper and lower walls, respectively, of said box shaped section.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

said actuator is a hydraulic servomotor having a cylinder member and a piston rod member, one of said members being connected to said rear frame cross member and the other of said members being connected to said bolt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

said bolt has a nut secured to the lower end thereof and snuggly engaging said rear frame cross member to prevent shifting of said bolt laterally in said rear frame cross member during transportation of a mobile home having a tongue mounted on said ball.

9. Apparatus for facilitating the towing and positioning of a mobile home and comprising:

a hitching member;

a towing frame having pivot mounting means thereon adjacent the front end thereof for pivotably mounting to a truck, said hitching member being attached to the towing frame, adjacent the rear end thereof;

a fluid driven actuator connected to said frame at a point intermediate the ends thereof and connectable to a truck to raise said frame for lifting a towing tongue of the mobile home when connected to said hitching member, horizontal shifing means connected to said frame and to said hitching member for lateral shifting of said member with respect to said frame, a mounting frame having longitudinal side members spaced for superimposed attachment to chassis frame side members of a truck, said pivot mounting means of said towing frame being mounted pivotally to said mounting frame side members, and said actuator being connected to said mounting frame above and to the rear of the point of connection of said actuator of said towing frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

said shifting means include a second fluid driven actuator, the apparatus further comprising;

a hydraulic control box mounted on said mounting frame in front of said pivot mounting means and having therein first and second hydraulic control valves for controlling the first mentioned and second mentioned actuators, respectively.

11. Apparatus for facilitating the towing and positioning of a mobile home and comprising:

a hitching member;

a towing frame having pivot mounting means thereon for pivotably mounting to a truck, said hitching member being attached to the towing frame;

a fluid driven actuator connected to said frame and connectable to a truck to raise said frame for lifting a towing tongue of the mobile home when connected to said hitching member;

horizontal shifting means connected to said frame and to said hitching member for lateral shifting of said member with respect to said frame;

a mounting frame having longitudinal side members for attachment to chassis frame side members of a truck, said pivot mounting means of said towing frame being mounted pivotally to said mounting frame side members, said shifting means including a second fluid driven actuator;

a hydraulic control box mounted on said mounting frame in front of said pivot mounting means and having therein first and second hydraulic control valves for controlling the first mentioned and second mentioned actuators, respectively;

side members on said mounting frame and affixed to the rear ends of said longitudinal side members and depending therefrom, said plates having a plurality of spaced apertures therein located in an arc about the axis of said piVot mounting means;

said towing frame including an intermediate cross member and a rear cross member, said rear cross member having a box-shaped cross section, the upper and lower walls having slots extending parallel to the length of the cross member and vertically align with each other;

said hitching member being a hitch ball having a bolt extending downwardly therefrom through said slots and receiving a tightening nut on the lower end thereof engaging the lower face of the lower wall of said box-shaped cross section;

said mounting frame having a rear cross member, said actuator being a hydraulic cylinder assembly having a cylinder member and a piston rod member, one of said members being connected to the rear cross member of said mounting frame, and the other of said members being connected to said intermediate member of said towing frame and said assembly being operable, when actuated, to raise and lower said ball about the horizontal axis of said pivot means;

said second actuator including a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly including a cylinder member and piston rod member, one of said members of said second actuator being connected to said rear cross member of said towing frame, and the other of said member of said second actuator being connected to said ball, the cylinder thereof being disposed inside the box-shaped cross section of said cross member and extend parallel to the length thereof, said second actuator being operable, when actuated, to move said ball lenghthwise of said rear towing frame cross member and thereby laterally with respect to the combination of said towing frame and mounting frame and the vehicle to which said mounting frame is to be mounted; and

pin means received through side members of said towing frame and into apertures in said side members of said mounting frame, to lock a selected position of said towing frame with respect to said mounting frame.