Abstract:
A quick release assembly for remotely actuating operative disconnection between vehicles by decoupling a hitch assembly having a telescopic and swiveling probe assembly carried in a housing assembly and mounted on the towed vehicle. In one embodiment, the release assembly includes an actuator remotely controlled from the towing vehicle that releases the components retaining the probe assembly in the housing. In another embodiment, an actuator remotely controlled from the towing vehicle decouples the entire hitch assembly from the associated vehicle. In both instances, the towing vehicle may resume movement clear of the towing vehicle. Thereafter, the probe assembly and/or the hitch assembly may be recoupled for subsequent use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/597,559 filed on Dec. 9, 2005. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to apparatus for releasably interconnecting a towing vehicle with a towed vehicle and, in particular, a remotely controlled system for releasing a telescoping and swiveling hitch assembly from hitched vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In my co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 10/908,514 filed May 16, 2005 there is disclosed telescoping and swiveling hitch assembly for interconnecting towing and towed vehicles. This application is hereby incorporated by reference. The hitch assembly may be mounted on either the towed or towing vehicle and allows remote releasable coupling between proximately located vehicle using a telescoping and pivoting probe assembly. 
   The hitch assembly is particularly suitable for heavy vehicle applications that may be readily deployed for final coupling by rough relative positioning of the vehicles. The hitch assembly comprises only two unitized subassemblies, a housing assembly and a tow bar or probe assembly. Under certain circumstances, the towed vehicle may become abruptly disabled, requiring immediate decoupling to enable the towing vehicle to resume operation or go to other situations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a quick release hitch for decoupling the hitch assembly from the vehicles. In one aspect, a system is provided for decoupling the probe assembly from the housing to allow separation of the vehicles. In another aspect, the hitch assembly is decoupled from its vehicle. For probe assembly separation, an actuator remotely controlled from the towing vehicle releases the components retaining the probe assembly in the housing. For hitch assembly separation, an actuator remotely controlled from the towing vehicle decouples the entire hitch assembly from the associated vehicle. In both instances, the towing vehicle may resume movement clear of the towing vehicle. Thereafter, the probe assembly and/or the hitch assembly may be recoupled for subsequent use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of quick release telescoping and swiveling hitch assembly coupled between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the hitch assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view showing the housing assembly and the probe assembly in the locked coupled condition; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the housing assembly and the probe assembly in the unlocked decoupled condition. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a quick release telescoping and swiveling hitch assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the hitch assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 6  showing the lock wheel in the locked position; 
       FIG. 10  is a view of the lock wheel of  FIG. 9  in the unlocked position; and 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the control system for the quick release assembly. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention provides a telescoping and swiveling hitch assembly  10  for interconnecting a towing vehicle or truck with a towed vehicle or trailer that is provided with a quick release assembly  16  for decoupling the vehicles from a remote location. 
   The hitch assembly  10  as shown is carried on the towing vehicle and connected to the towed vehicle. The hitch assembly may also be carried on the towed vehicle and connected to the towing vehicle as described in greater detail in the above referenced patent application and reference thereto should be made for further details. The hitch assemblies of the present type are particularly adapted for heavy-duty vehicles, such as military transport systems. The hitch assembly may be combined with conventional coupling configurations, such a ball and socket or ball and lunette couplings, for accommodating relative articulating movement between the vehicles. The hitch assembly  10  may be integrated in various ways with the desired vehicle, for example by mechanical or welded attachment at the rear. 
   The hitch assembly  10  comprises two subassemblies: a housing assembly  20  and a telescoping and swiveling tow bar or probe assembly  22 . 
   The housing assembly  20  includes a lock assembly  24  having a rearwardly extending coupling arm  26  formed of rectangular tube. The coupling arm  26  is telescopically removably coupled with a hitch box, not shown on the towing vehicle by pin  29  inserted through transverse hole in the coupling arm. The hitch box is preferably a rectangular socket-type coupled commonly referred to a “Reese” hitch. The probe assembly  22  is provided with a ball member  30  for coupling with a conventional hitch on the towed vehicle. As such, no further modification to the vehicle is necessary. It will, however, be apparent that the hitch may be mounted by other conventional methods to the selected vehicle. 
   The lock assembly  24  in the unlatched condition provides the probe assembly  22  with free horizontal and pivotal movement, which in combination with the pivoting of the trailer tongue on the towed vehicle permits the ready and safe coupling therebetween. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the housing assembly  20  comprises a rectangular center guide block  34 , a rectangular top cover plate  36  and a rectangular bottom cover plate  38 . Preferably, the plates are peripherally welded to the guide block to provide a unitized assembly. A top reinforcing plate is welded to the top cover plate at the forward end thereof. A bottom reinforcing plate is welded to the bottom cover plate at the forward end thereof. 
   The guide block  34  comprises unitary body having a base and forwardly extending laterally spaced arms. The inner surfaces of the base and the arms provide a generally U-shaped forwardly opening slot forming a cavity  40  in assembly. The cavity is defined by a continuous inner wall comprising a U-shaped, forwardly opening parabolic base wall and laterally spaced center walls. The arms frontally terminate with a pair of laterally spaced, apex opposed triangular collars  46 , and  48 . Collar  48  is removable in the disconnect condition described below. The inner tips of the triangular collars establish a constricted frontal throat. The collars have outwardly diverging planar front guide surfaces and rear guide surfaces. The front guide surfaces form, in assembly, a forwardly opening wedge shaped, tapered socket. Vertical through holes  49  are drilled through the housing assembly  20  and the stop collar  48 . 
   The probe assembly  22  comprises an elongated tow bar  50  welded at an outer end to a face plate that is connected to a hitch eyelet. The hitch eyelet terminates with a horizontally projecting arm  52  having an aperture  54  for receiving the shank for the ball member  30 . The tow bar  50  includes straight rectangular center section narrower in width than the throat in the guide block having an enlarged circular tail section  56  at the rear end and an enlarged generally triangular head section  58  at the front end. When the tow bar  50  is in the fully retracted position, the tail section  56  engages the base wall of the guide block and nests thereat. When the tow bar is in the fully extended position, the tail section  56  engages the rear guide surfaces of the collars  46 ,  48  to establish a load bearing pivotal connection with the housing assembly as described in the referenced patent application. 
   The head section  58  includes rearwardly inwardly inclined sidewalls forming a tapered wedge adapted to nest with the front guide walls in the guide block socket to center the probe assembly at the retracted position. A through hole  59  is formed in the base for permitting movement of the lock assembly between locked and unlocked positions, between positions, as described below. 
   The lock assembly  24  includes a vertical lock block  60  attached to the top plate  36  and connected to the coupling arm  26  at an upper end. The lock block  60  has a vertical bore aligned with aperture  59  in the tow bar and corresponding apertures in the plates  36 ,  38 . A cylindrical lock pin or bolt  62  is slidably supported in the bore. The lock bolt includes a reduced diameter shaft  63  at an upper end. A transverse actuating handle  64  is attached the upper end of the shaft  63 . A compression spring is carried on the shaft and compressively retained between the lock bolt and a retaining cap at the upper end of the lock block. Accordingly, the lock bolt  62  is compressively biased to the locked position shown in  FIG. 3  wherein the lock bolt passes through the hole  59  in the tow arm  50 . The handle is raised against the biasing of the spring to an unlocked position whereat the probe assembly may be extended. Thereafter, the lock bolt  62  rides against the top surface of the tow bar  50  until aligned with the tow bar aperture for automatic self biasing to the locked position. 
   In operation, the towing vehicle is backed proximate the hitch of the towed vehicle. The actuating handle is raised to the unlocked position and the tow bar  50  manually extended, and aligned with and coupled in a conventional manner with the towed vehicle. Thereafter if a considerable misalignment between the vehicles exists, the towing vehicle may be moved forwardly to longitudinally align the tow bar at the pivotal connection between the collars  46 ,  48  and the tail section  56 . Then the vehicle is reversed causing the tow bar tail  56  to engage the rearwardly converging surfaces of the base wall for further alignment and the head to nest in the front housing socket thereby achieving an aligned position whereat the lock assembly  24  shift to the locked condition. 
   In situations wherein it is necessary to establish a quick disconnect between the vehicles, the quick release assembly  16  remotely enables operative separation of the vehicles at the hitch assembly. The release assembly  16  comprises a latching plate  70  that is moved between a latched condition and an unlatched condition by a linear actuator  72  mounted on the housing assembly. The latching plate  70  includes a pair of lock pins  74  that extend through the apertures in the removable collar  48  in the latched condition and are removed therefrom in the unlatched condition. The lock block includes a vertical slot  76 . An actuating tab  80  extends through the slot  76  and is attached at an inner end to the shaft on the lock bolt. The outer end of the tab  80  overlies the inner end of the latching plate  70 . Accordingly the lock assembly may operate independent of the release assembly for coupling and decoupling the vehicles as described above. 
   The linear actuator  72  includes a motor  82  having an output shaft with an actuating screw  84  coupled to a drive nut  86  attached to the latching plate. The motor  82  is actuated by a two position switch  88  preferably located in the towing vehicle. 
   In operation wherein it is desired to uncouple remotely the towing vehicle from the towed vehicle, the operator closes the switch  88  thereby moving the latching plate  70  and accordingly the lock pins  74  upwardly from the removable collar  48 , and engaging the tab  80  to move the lock pin  62  from the probe assembly. Thereafter forward movement of the towing vehicle withdraws the probe assembly  22  and the removable collar  48  from the housing separating the operative connection between the vehicles. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6 through 10 . Therein, rather than separating the components of the hitch assembly, the hitch assembly itself is decoupled from the associated vehicle and is particularly suited for larger commercial and military applications. Referring to in  FIGS. 6-8 , the hitch assembly  100  is releasably carried on a quick release assembly  102 , which in turn, is mounted on the tongue  106  of the trailing vehicle. 
   The probe assembly  108  of the hitch assembly  100  is provided with a ball member  110  for coupling with a corresponding hitch component  112  on the towing vehicle. As in the first embodiment, the hitch assembly and release assembly may be carried on the towing vehicle. 
   The hitch assembly  100  comprises a housing assembly  114  and the probe assembly  108  as described above and provided with a latching handle  116  for raising a lock pin  118  to unlatch the probe assembly for telescopic and swiveling movement for hitching with the towing vehicle. 
   The coupling assembly  102  comprises a base assembly  120  horizontally slidably supporting the hitch assembly  100  and a rotating coupling assembly  122  for latching the hitch assembly on the base assembly in a locked position and unlatching the hitch assembly in an unlocked position. 
   The base assembly  120  includes a base plate  130  having a pair of laterally spaced side plates  132 . The inner surfaces of the side plates  132  are spaced to have a sliding fit with the side of the housing  114 . A pair of slide rails  134  are attached to the upper surface of the base plate  130  and have an upper surface slidably engaging the bottom surface of the housing assembly. A pair of inwardly extending brackets  136  are longitudinally spaced on the top of the side plates  132  and have lower surfaces slidably engaging the upper surface of the housing. Accordingly the base assembly provides a horizontal slot supporting the hitch assembly for telescopic forward and outward movement when the release assembly is actuated as described below. 
   The quick release assembly includes a rotatable assembly  140  for selectively locking and releasing the housing. The assembly  140  includes a rear bracket  142  attached at the rear of the housing carrying a transverse lock pin  144 , which is captured and released by rotatable lock wheel  146  bidirectionally rotated by actuator assemblies carried on the side plate. Each actuator assembly comprises a sprocket  152  having a shaft to which the lock wheel  146  is attached, and a pair of linear actuators  154 ,  156  mounted on the side plates and having output pistons connected to the ends of a drive belt or chain  162  operatively connected with the sprocket  152 . The actuators  154 ,  156  are operated in phase opposition for bidirectionally rotating the lock wheels between a coupled locked position shown in  FIG. 9  and a decoupled unlocked position shown in  FIG. 10 . The lock wheels  146  comprise circular discs, each having a radially outwardly opening slot  164  with a semicircular base for receiving the lock pin  142 . In the coupled position of  FIG. 9 , the slot  164  is positioned upwardly whereby the sides of the slot restrain the housing from horizontal movement. As the actuator assembly is actuated, the pistons extend and retract to rotate the lock wheel to a position whereat the slot  146  is horizontally frontally opening and the housing assembly is free to move forwardly in the support slot for decoupling from the trailing vehicle. Preferably, the rotation is about 900 as illustrated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , the control system  180  for the coupling assembly is disposed in the towing vehicle for use by the operator to achieve remotely hitch decoupling. The control system  180  includes a valve  182  in the vehicle cab  183  having an inlet connected to the vehicle air supply  184 , if pneumatic actuators are used, or the electrical system if electromechanical actuators are used. The valve  182  has one outlet connected in parallel with the lower actuators by branch line  186  and another outlet connected in parallel with the upper actuators by branch line  188 . For locking the release assembly with the hitch assembled in the coupling position, the lower actuators are actuated by the valve and the upper actuators vented whereby the lock wheels are rotated from the unlocked position of  FIG. 9  to the locked position of  FIG. 10 . When it is desired to decouple the hitch, the valve  182  is moved to the opposite position whereby the lock wheels  146  are rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position allowing the lock pin to move forwardly in the lock wheel slot  164  and the hitch assembly  100  to separate upon forward movement of the towing vehicle. Thereafter, the hitch assembly may be recoupled for subsequent use. 
   Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.