Tractor attachment for three point hitch

• US 6,612,380 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald D. Pyle
• Original Assignee: Donald D. Pyle
• Inventors: Pyle, Donald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US09/912,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20030019643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 172/439, 172/444, 172/445.1, 172/677, 172/679, 172/248, 280/460.1, 280/461.1, 280/508
• US Class Current: 172/439
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/043 supported at three points, e.g. by quick-release couplings A01B59/06 takes precedence

Abstract

An attachment, primarily for a tractor having a three point hitch, has a post with a seat for a gooseneck hitch ball, and mounting brackets for a fifth wheel type hitch that permit a limited amount of pitch and roll.

Claims

1. An attachment for a three point hitch carried by a tractor having a long axis, said attachment comprising a post carried uprightly by said three point hitch, said post having an upper end adapted selectively to receive a gooseneck hitch and alternatively to mount an attachment for a fifth wheel type hitch, said fifth wheel type hitch comprising a post bracket having an open bottomed sleeve slidably mounted against rotation on said post, an elongated fifth wheel mounting bracket mounted at its longitudinal center on a fifth wheel mounting bracket pivot carried by said post bracket, said fifth wheel mounting bracket pivot having an axis generally parallel with the long axis of said tractor, whereby said fifth wheel mounting bracket can rock on said post bracket, and a fifth wheel mount pivotally mounted on and between two ends of said fifth wheel mounting bracket for rotation about pivots at said two ends, to permit rocking thereof about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said fifth wheel mounting bracket and means for limiting the amount of rocking of said fifth wheel mounting bracket comprising arms extending from said post bracket sleeve perpendicular to said fifth wheel mounting bracket pivot axis, and upwardly divergent tongues carried by said arms, and said fifth wheel mounting bracket having a bar extending parallel to the said arms, and received within the ambit of said tongues.

2. An attachment for a three point hitch carried by a tractor having a long axis, said three point hitch having two, spaced arms, and between them, a central arm of adjustable length, said three point hitch attachment comprising a bottom plate, opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to said spaced arms, a post (5) fixed at a lower end to said bottom plate to extend uprightly and pivotally connected to said central arm, said post having an upper end receiving a fifth wheel type hitch attachment for mounting on and demounting from said post, said fifth wheel type hitch attachment comprising a sleeve (33) slidaby mounted against rotation on said post, said sleeve having spaced parallel walls with aligned passages to receive a first pivot pin oriented in a direction parallel to said long axis, an elongated fifth wheel mounting bracket (50) having a central reach (54) oriented transversely of said tractor long axis and upstanding flanges (56) at each end, said flanges having aligned bores receiving fifth wheel mounting bracket pivot pins, said elongated fifth wheel mounting bracket being mounted at the center of said central reach on said first pivot pin for rocking movement perpendicular to said long axis, and a fifth wheel mount (70) mounted on said fifth wheel mounting bracket pivot pins to permit rocking of said fifth wheel mount about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of said fifth wheel mounting bracket.

3. The attachment of claim 2 wherein said post upper end selectively receives a gooseneck hitch for mounting on and demounting from said post.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said post has a heavy top wall with a seat in it to receive said gooseneck hitch, said gooseneck hitch including a ball and a threaded stem extending through said seat, and a nut on said threaded stem, said post having an opening in a wall below said top wall through which access may be had to said threaded stem and nut.

5. The attachment of claim 2 wherein arms extending from said sleeve in a direction perpendicular to the long axis of the trailer limit the amount of rocking of said fifth wheel mounting bracket.