This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatically aligning hitch assemblies designed to ease the connection of a towed device to a towing vehicle and although the present specification and drawings relate primarily to the connection between a tractor draw bar and an implement hitch, nevertheless it is readily adapted for use between a truck and trailer or a towing vehicle to anything requiring to be towed.
Difficulty exists in backing up the towing vehicle such as a tractor, to a towed device such as an implement, in a position so that the draw bar of the tractor, which is provided with an aperture, lines up exactly with the aperture in the corresponding clevis or hitch or the implement thus allowing a pin to be dropped through the tow bar and the hitch of the implement thereby connecting the two together. This problem is increased with the advent of tractor cabs being installed on modern tractors which cuts down the visibility.
It will be appreciated that the larger the equipment, the harder it is to judge due to the decreased visibility and distance from the connecting points. The same problem exists when attempting to hitch a truck or car to a trailer or implement as it is very difficult for the operator because the hitch is located at the centre of the rear bumper of the car or truck and is therefor not visible from the driver's seat.
Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantage and one such solution is the provision of a mirror on the towing vehicle adjacent the hitch through which the operator may view the hitch, but this is also unsatisfactory.
Various other solutions have been attempted and U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,443 discloses one such solution which utilizes toggle arms and collapsible guide means.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,386,195 discloses a vehicle coupler which includes link means that collapse when the vehicle is coupled and U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,528 shows a similar structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,575,773 discloses a tractor hitch which includes pivoted arms and spring means for connecting the hitch, but they all suffer from several disadvantages and do not provide the flexibility of the present assembly nor do they provide the automatic locking of the hitch assembly in the retracted position once the initial manual connection has been made.