Trailer hitch

Improvements in trailer hitch apparatus of the type used in heavy hauling, particularly for the transport of mobile home structures. The apparatus includes hydraulically elongatable tongue structure with height adjustable connector ball assembly as supported from the main rear truck frame structure; the apparatus is utilized in combination with a leaf-coil rear wheel spring structure that provides primary truck suspension. The trailer hitch is operable to support its towed structure in any of the open or closed elongated positions in order to better enable certain vehicle maneuvers, achieve optimum handling in emergency situations, and provide a more rugged, yet smoother riding connection to the towing vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates generally to heavy trailer hitch devices and, more 
particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to improvements in 
trailer hitch structure for use in towing mobile home structures and the 
like. 
2. Description of The Prior Art 
The prior art includes numerous forms of towing structure for use in 
connecting a towing vehicle to a wheeled structure. In many instances such 
as tractor-trailer connections this takes the form of a generally 
horizontal fifth wheel structure, a type of towing hitch that has been 
widely used for a long number of years. The custom towing of mobile home 
structures, as is done in transport from manufacturer to point of sale, 
has utilized a different form of connector hitch in most cases, such 
structure being dictated by the frame and support structure available on 
the forward end of the towed structure and other considerations of safety 
and turn clearance that is exigent with wide trailing vehicles. Many such 
hitches utilize the simple ball and socket connector with the ball 
structure simply welded or fixed to a rear support position on the tractor 
or other towing vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention contemplates an improved trailer hitch structure of a 
type which provides elongation control as well as height adjustment, 
thereby to enable a multiple of desirable tow functions. The hitch 
assembly is secured to the rear frame structure of a towing vehicle that 
includes a hydraulically elongatable tow bar supported through rearward 
spring guide structure to expose the ball assembly, a heighth adjustable 
structure. Rear wheel support of the towing vehicle is further carried out 
by means of a leaf-coil spring assembly, and the truck frame carries an 
adjustable boot leg assembly for use in certain emergency situations. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer 
hitch assembly which enables greater control and turning capability in 
operation of a tractor/trailer rig. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch 
assembly for use in towing mobile homes and the like that offers greater 
support strength while still enabling a smoother riding trailer 
connection. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide a trailer hitch assembly 
which enables optimum steering and turning capability in transport of 
mobile home structures and the like, i.e. structures having wider than 
normal road dimensions. 
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer 
hitch assembly for moving trailer structures that has improved suspension, 
tension and towing length characteristics thereby to enable a more 
versatile form of towing connection. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the 
following detailed description when read in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 illustrates a towing hitch assembly 10 as it is installed on a 
tractor rear frame assembly. Thus, and see also FIG. 2, the main 
longitudinal truck frame beams 12 and 14 provide the support of the towing 
hitch assembly 10 which, in turn, projects an adjustable ball assembly 16 
rearwrd therefrom. The truck itself is shown only in partial view as it 
depicts rear wheel 18 and rear axle 20 as supported on laterally disposed 
leaf springs 22 and 24. The truck or tractor may be any of a number of 
conventional towing trucks of the type suitable for heavy duty operations, 
particularly as adapted for towing of mobile home and like structures. 
An I-beam 26 is disposed transversely between truck frames 12 and 14 for 
the purpose of supporting a hydraulic cylinder 28 by means of the clevis 
connector 30 as weld-fastened to I-beam 26 centrally of truck frames 12 
and 14. The hydraulic cylinder 28 then extends a piston rod end 32 
rearward with a U-shape connector 34 secured as by welding thereon, the 
connector 34 being pivotally connected to a tow bar 36 by means of a pivot 
pin 38. A square tubing of selected strength is then welded to the 
rearward end of tow bar 36 to provide a draw tube 40 that is led through a 
rear guide assembly 42 to support the ball assembly 16 by means of a 
bolted flange 44 as secured by an equally-spaced circumferal array of 
bolts 46. 
The rear axle 20 of the truck is supported by means of leaf springs 22 and 
24 as are pivotally affixed to respective spring brackets 48 and 50 as 
secured in outward extension on opposite sides of truck frames 12 and 14. 
The rearward end of springs 22 and 24 are then supported by means of 
captive coil springs. Each of springs 22 and 24 has a pair of cylindrical 
coil seats 52, 54 welded thereon in longitudinal alignment, and these in 
turn receive coil springs 56 and 58 for retention within respective 
captive boxes 60 and 62 as welded in juxtaposition on the outer side of 
truck frames 12 and 14. Thus, the rear axle 20 is then affixed on top of 
leaf springs 22 and 24 by means of a plurality of U-bolt clamps 64 and the 
rear truck frame is then supported on the combination leaf-coil springs 
during earth contact of rear wheels 18. Conventional spring retainer 
assemblies would also be utilized to prevent total disassembly of the 
leaf-coil spring assemblies during raising of the rear wheels out of 
ground contact as might be necessitated for maintenance and the like. 
The hydraulic cylinder 28 as activated by hydraulic lines 66 and 68 from 
the hydraulic supply system of the truck vehicle. It is desirable that the 
hydraulic cylinder 28 have a stroke of about 21/2 feet whereupon the tow 
bar 36 and square tube extension 40 are reciprocally movable through a 
longitudinal guide way 70 as supported in rear guide assembly 42. The 
forward end of the hydraulic cylinder 28 may be supported by a suitable 
transverse U-frame 72 as may be welded between truck frames 12 and 14. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the rear guide assembly 42 consists of a heavy gauge 
plate 74 as welded across the rear end of the truck frames 12 and 14 to 
extend downward therefrom. Back plate 74 includes a central slot 76 
through which square tube 40 passes, such slot 76 allowing up and down 
motion but preventing any sideways motion. Flanges 78, 80, 82 and 84 are 
then formed on the rearward phase of back plate 74 in order to support a 
bearing plate 86 and guide way 70 under spring tension. Thus, left springs 
88 and 90 are utilized above and below bearing plate 86 and maintain an 
alignment by means of a guide rod 92 secured vertically therethrough and 
in captive retention with flanges 78 and 80. In like manner, the right 
side of back plate assembly 42 includes upper and lower coil springs 94 
and 96 with the vertical retaining rod 98 disposed therethrough so that 
the bearing plate 86 is resiliently retained in a horizontal attitude to 
support the guide tube 70 and tube 40 passing therethrough to ball 
assembly 16. A transverse plate 100 is also provided with vertical guide 
rods 92 and 98 affixed therethrough in order to provide transverse support 
to the guide structure. 
A pair of adjustable boot leg support shoes 102 and 104 are pivotally 
supported on each side of truck frames 12 and 14. Thus, as shown in FIG. 
1, support shoe 104 is pivotally supported by means of support eye 106 and 
a pivot post 108 formed as by welding to the outer rear side of truck 
frame 14. Support shoe 14 carries a pivotally connected shoe 110 thereon 
for purposes of ground contact in a manner as will be described further 
below. The opposite support shoe is identically constructed and pivotally 
supported to the outside surface of truck frame 12 by means of a rear 
pivot post 108. 
The adjustable ball assembly 16, as supported through bolted flange 44 for 
longitudinally extensible positioning upon actuation of hydraulic cylinder 
28, is a screw jack assembly or the like having requisite height 
adjustability features, as is shown more clearly with reference to FIGS. 4 
and 5. Thus, the connector ball 112 is supported by a plate 114 having a 
vertical plate 116 which is connectable by means of a bolt 118 to a 
selected transverse hole 120 of jack plates 122 and 124. As shown in FIG. 
4, jack plates 122 and 124 are welded in parallel to a vertical tube 126 
that is slidable in relation to an inner, concentric tube 128 supported in 
weldment to a tube section 130 and flange 44. 
Thus, screw power as applied along the axial bolt enables reciprocation of 
tube 126 relative to tube 128 to adjust the heighth of plate 114 and 
connector ball 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer cylinder 126 includes a 
vertical slot 132 that is wide enough to prevent entry of tube 130 
therethrough in a slidable relationship. A jack screw 134 as rotatably 
retained by a journal 135 welded in the bottom of tube 126 is led through 
upper and lower threaded bearings 136 and 138 as secured within the ends 
of inner tube 128. Manipulation of jack handle 140 turning jack screw 134 
then results in movement of inner tube 138 relative to outer tube 126, and 
since inner tube 128 is positioned through rear guide assembly 42, the 
ball 112 will be selectively adjusted to ground level. 
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative form of screw jack assembly that 
may be used if so desired. Thus, hydraulic actuation may be employed to 
actuate an assembly 150 by means of hydraulic lines 152 and 154 from the 
vehicle supply system. The cylinder assembly 150 may be weld affixed by 
means of a tubing joint 156 to the support flange 44. A hydraulic cylinder 
158 may be suitably seated within cylinder assembly 150 to extend an 
operative arm 160 from piston rod end 162 into engagement with a 
vertically movable ball hanger 164. Ball hanger 164 may also include a 
plurality of vertically aligned equally-spaced holes 166. 
The connector ball 112 is rigidly affixed to an angle bracket 170 which 
includes a vertical flange 172 and further extending pawl 174. The pawl 
174 may then be inserted through a selected one of holes 166, depending 
upon desired connector ball height, whereupon a spring clip 176 or the 
like will serve to retain the connector ball assembly in operative 
position. The cylinder assembly 150 includes a rearward oriented vertical 
slot 178 of selected height and width sufficient to accommodate movable 
passage through of operative arm 160. In practice, other conventional 
forms of support may be utilized to take the strain off of the piston rod 
162 under load. Conventionally, this may take the form of enlarged bearing 
portion formed on the inner end of operative arm 160 for purposes of 
bearing against the inner walls of cylinder assembly 150 along the slot 
178. 
In operation, it is first necessary to position ball 112 at a level 
suitable for picking up and towing the prospective load, and this is done 
by selection of the proper one of holes 120 along plates 122 and 124 with 
securing bolt 118. Operation of the crank arm 140 will then enable a 
vertical stroke of approximately one foot movement of the connector ball 
112 so that the load can then be raised up to proper towing level. 
Actuation of hydraulic cylinder 128 will then retract the piston rod arm 
32 thereby to draw rod 36 and tube 40 inward and bring the ball assembly 
16 to its closeup position adjacent rear guide assembly 42. 
During towing, the truck frame is well supported by the leaf springs 22 and 
24 and their respective associated coil springs 56 and 58, and the tow bar 
is further supported by the resilient spring seating of bearing plate 86 
in the rear guide assembly 42 in such manner that a much smoother tow 
interconnection is achieved. The total spring support of the 
interconnection eliminates much interactive force as between tractor and 
towed vehicle. 
Oftentimes it is desirable to achieve a particular turning radius in order 
to maneuver within a receiving lot or to proceed through a tight turn 
along the route of transport. This condition is an especial problem with 
respect to towing wider-than-normal mobile homes and the like, because the 
forward wall of the mobile home structure will oftentimes interfere with 
the rear truck wheels and frame upon attempting a very sharp turn. This 
problem may be overcome by actuating hydraulic cylinders 29 to extend the 
tow arm or rod end 32 and trailing structure so that the ball assembly 16 
is carried at a more rearward position, e.g., from 11/2 to 21/2 feet 
rearward. Then, the truck can minipulate a tight turn and regain his 
proper route or position so that hydraulic cylinder 28 can once again be 
actuated to close up the towing arm distance and towing can proceed in 
normal manner. 
The boot leg support arms 102 and 104 provide yet another emergency aid in 
that in certain situations where truck, trailer and/or both are mired in 
mud, the boot leg supports 102 and 104 can be swung rearwardly and down 
until the respective support feet 110 engage the ground, whereupon 
actuation of the hydraulic cylinder through its full stroke movement will 
enable crab-like movement of one vehicle relative to the other until clear 
of the situation. Thus, for example, where truck wheels 18 lose traction 
on an uphill grade, supports 102 and 104 may be dropped to brace rearward 
at a position of full open stroke of hydraulic cylinder 28 whereupon the 
cylinder can be retracted to hydraulically move the towed vehicle forward 
for the length of the stroke. Repetition of this procedure for the 
necessary distance will then free the tractor and towed vehicle to once 
again proceed along its route. 
The foregoing discloses a novel trailer hitch assembly which has desirable 
attributes of adjustability and which provides a smoother, yet more 
positive towing interconnection for movement of large wheeled assemblies. 
The invention is particularly desirable in the modern day practice of 
transport of mobile home assemblies and it provides a greater degree of 
control and reliability in the towing operation. 
Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements as 
heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings; it 
being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the following claims.