Abstract:
A hitch and adapter assembly for connecting an implement to the front end of vehicles such as all terrain vehicle providing a rigid connection with limited motion for reduced vibration operation. The hitch has two spaced apart sockets on a rigid frame that pivotally connects to the vehicle providing a rigid extension thereof. The sockets receive and cooperatively engage respective pins on the implement providing a quick connection. An electrically powered hydraulic cylinder is connected at one end to the frame and the other end connects to the vehicle by a coupler that slip fits into a socket therefore on the vehicle. The frame pivotally connects to the vehicle at two spaced apart positions. There is a coarse and fine adjustment for varying the height and tilt positions of the implement.

Description:
[0001]     This is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/661,518 filed on Sep. 13, 2000 which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to vehicle hitches and more particularly to a three point quick coupling hitch with an electrically controlled hydraulic lift and fine tuning adjustments for use on the front end of all terrain vehicles or the rigid frame of other vehicles.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     All terrain vehicles are popular recreational vehicles but with appropriate implements attached thereto they can serve as work machines. For example with a blade or bucket attached they can clear snow from walks or driveways or level earth. With grass cutting attachments they can be used to keep large areas neatly trimmed. Implements useable for the instant quick coupling hitch include snow blowers, rotary tilling devices, rotary brushes, seeders, front end mounted trenchers, yard excavators, push blade, box scrapers, reel lawn mower, rotary lawn motor, saw bush cutting systems and boom mowers, post drivers, posthole augers, drawbars with specialty hitch attachments, vacuum systems, fork lifts, platforms, and the like. Changing from one implement to the other of a work vehicle and a recreational vehicle can be time consuming or of sufficient annoyance that one often will not bother changing for recreational purposes of short duration.  
         [0006]     A number of patents are directed to frames for attaching implements to all terrain vehicles (ATV&#39;s), or garden tractors for manipulating the attached implement thus indicating a need and various solutions in an attempt to meet that need. U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,847 granted Sep. 5, 1972 to P. Deeter and U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,708 granted Jul. 19, 1994 to M. Segorski disclose implement mounting frames that extend under the frame of the vehicle. This reduces the clearance of the vehicle thus reducing its ability to pass over obstacles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,241 granted Oct. 19, 1999 to G. Gross and U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,745 granted Apr. 1, 1997 to G Cross disclose lift mechanisms for the attached implement. The lifts are manually operated and thereby have obvious limitations including requiring dexterity of the operator as well as difficulties in positioning and repositioning the implement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,336 granted Sep. 14, 1999 to K. Liebl addresses some of the concerns by providing a mounting frame with an electric lift. The frame is attached to the vehicle by two lever arms and a pin connection for each and is essentially permanently attached to the implement thus making difficult to substitute one implement for another.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,275 granted May 5, 1998 to G. Cross discloses a three point hitch that includes a plurality of pin connected links and an electric lift. The hitch attaches to the axle of the vehicle and therefore extends some distance from where the hitch attaches to the implement. The three point attachment is the connection of the hitch to the implement.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     The hitch and lift assembly comprises a rigid, U-shape frame, a hydraulic jack unit, a coupler connecting one end of the hydraulic jack unit to a receiver on the ATV and an adjusting mechanism that connects the other end of the hydraulic jack unit to the U-shaped frame.  
         [0009]     A preferred embodiment provides for a hitch and lift assembly for attaching an implement to a motorized vehicle having a rigid frame with horizontal and/or vertical cross members typically utilized in the support of ATV, garden tractors and the like. The hitch and lift assembly includes a crossbar member as a rigid link selectively adjustably connected to the ATV frame members by “U-clamps” or other means of attachment. The hitch and lift assembly also includes a generally U-shaped frame comprising a pair of elongated tubular members or legs spaced apart, aligned and connected in the front by a cross member near the ends of the legs which are formed having the distal ends define a pair of spaced apart cylindrical sockets opposite the distal ends of the legs being pivotally attached to the ATV or other vehicle frame. A rigid link defining a floating lockable cam provides limited arcuate movement relative to the frame and includes means limiting the arcuate movement. The hitch and lift assembly also includes an electric powered extendible and retractable power driven jack unit connected at one end thereof to said rigid link defining the floating cam. Means for connecting the distal ends of the legs to the motorized vehicle consists of a pair of removable pins cooperatively engaging the implement or apparatus to be lifted.  
         [0010]     Moreover, the hitch and adapter assembly for connecting an implement to the frame of the front end of vehicles such as all terrain vehicle provides a rigid connection with limited motion for reduced vibration operation. The hitch has two spaced apart sockets on a rigid frame that pivotally connects to the vehicle providing a rigid extension thereof. The sockets receive and cooperatively engage respective pins on the implement providing a quick connection. The electrically powered hydraulic cylinder is connected at one end to the frame and the other end connects to the vehicle by a coupler that slip fits into a socket therefore on the vehicle. The frame pivotally connects to the vehicle at two spaced apart positions. There is a coarse and fine adjustment for varying the height and tilt positions of the implement.  
         [0011]     A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, robust adjustable front-end quick connect hitch and lift assembly for a vehicle such as a tractor or more particularly an all terrain vehicle, (“ATV”).  
         [0012]     A principal object of the present invention is to provide a hitch as above described that is usable to connect a variety of implements to the vehicle.  
         [0013]     A further principal object of the present invention is to provide a three point hitch for an ATV with a quick connect/disconnect connection to the implement.  
         [0014]     It is another object to provide a floating cam link which includes coarse adjustments, fine adjustments, and means for locking the floating cam into position in order to provide downward pressure via the electric hydraulic jack. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side oblique view of an all terrain vehicle with a blade attached thereto by a hitch and lifting assembly provided in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, oblique view of the hitch and lifting assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded top plan of the hitch and lifting assembly;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the hitch and lifting assembly taken essentially along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing an exploded, oblique view of the hitch and lifting assembly and the receiver mounted to the crossbar;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing an exploded, oblique view of the hitch and lifting assembly and the relocation of the cam lock secured to the top of the cam link and extending over the top edge of the lugs on each side thereof providing means for locking the floating cam and exerting downward pressure via the hydraulic jack; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the hitch and lifting assembly taken essentially along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , wherein the cam lock is secured to the top of the cam link by a knob and threaded stud including a bracket extending over the top edges of the lugs for locking the floating cam. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a conventional all terrain vehicle (ATV)  10  with a blade  20  attached to the front thereof by a hitch  30  provided in accordance with the present invention. The blade  20  maybe used to clear snow or move earth and is by way of example of an implement attachable to the vehicle. Of course, it is contemplated that any implement set forth heretofore could be substituted for the blade  20 . The ATV has an open protective rigid grill  12  on the front comprising a weldment of a pair of generally vertical tubular members  13  as shown in  FIG. 2  which is a typical arrangement for tubing members forming a part of the ATV frame. The grill  12  is part of the vehicle  10  and is rigidly attached to and forms a part of the vehicle frame. Means for holding such as a pair of “U” clamps  15  attach a horizontally disposed longitudinal crossbar  16  to the two vertically disposed tubular frame members  13  that are part of the rigid grill  12 . The crossbar  16  has a means for pivotally detachable engagement defining a threaded hole  17  in opposing distal ends thereof, each one for receiving one of a pair of hitch mounting bolts  19  thereby pivotally connecting a frame portion of the hitch supported by the tubular frame members  13  to the vehicle  10 .  
         [0024]     The hitch and lift assembly  30  comprises a rigid, U-shape frame  31 , a hydraulic jack unit  32 , a coupler  33  connecting one end of the hydraulic jack unit  32  to a receiver  18  on the ATV and an adjusting mechanism  34  that connects the other end of the hydraulic jack unit  32  to the U-shaped frame  31 .  
         [0025]     The receiver  18  is a rectangular or square shaped socket attached to a horizontal or vertical lower frame member of the ATV and conventionally is used for trailer couplings. Alternately, a receiver plate  40  as shown in  FIG. 5  connecting to and extending upward perpendicular to the receiver  18  having means for attachment such as holes therein can be attached to the crossbar  16  by aligning the holes therein and inserting bolts therethrough. It is contemplated that the receiver  18  and corresponding sized and shaped coupling  33  can be any selected size and shape, and that the receiver  18  could be connected to the hitch and lift assembly  30  and the coupler could be connected to the frame of the ATV. In the preferred embodiment, the receiver  18  is located on the vehicle at an elevation thereon lower than where the crossbar  16  is located on the grill. The receiver  18  and the bolts  19  cooperatively engaging the two threaded holes  17  in the distal end crossbar provide a three point connection of the hitch  30  to the vehicle  10 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cross member  16  includes as an option one or more vertical holes  83  therethrough. The receiver  18  includes one or more holes through the top surface. A knob  80  having a stud  82  extending therefrom can be disposed through a hole  83  in the cross member  16  so that the stud extends downward through a threaded hole  84  in the receiver  18  for cooperative engagement with the coupler  33  to secure the coupler in fixed position to reduce play and increase structural support and rigidity of the hitch and lift assembly.  
         [0027]     The rigid U-shaped frame  31  comprises a pair of spaced apart parallel elongate tubular members  31 A interconnected adjacent one end thereof by a cross member  31 B, and having the distal ends  42  crimped substantially flat forming a lug  31 C at the distal ends having a through hole  31 D alignable with the horizontally disposed longitudinal crossbar  16 . The distal ends  44  of tubular members  31 A remain open providing cylindrical sockets  31 E for receiving respective pair of pins  21  or short support members secured to and projecting from the implement such as a blade  20 . The blade  20  or other implement of the preferred embodiment uses pins  21  having horizontal holes therethrough for mounting in alignment with holes disposed within a pair of mounting brackets  46  formed by aligning spaced apart flanges  48  connected to the back of the blade  20 . The pins  21  may be rigidly connected to the mounting brackets  46 , or pivotally connected thereto by bolts cooperatively engaging the flanges  48  and pins  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the tubular member  31 A is reinforced by an annular collar  31 F. Each pin  21  has an annular groove  22  that cooperates with a knob and screw  31 G threaded into a threaded fitting insert  50  formed in one or more selected positions along the top of the tubular member  31 A to lock the implement to the hitch and lift assembly  30 . The groove  22  and threaded knob are in alignment when the pin  21  is fully inserted into the cylindrical socket  31 E.  
         [0028]     It is readily apparent the blade  20  implement can be quickly connected and disconnected respectively simply by hand tightening or loosening, as the case maybe, the two knobs with screws  31 G. This makes it easy to switch from one vehicle function to another or from one implement to another and all that is necessary is that the various implements have two parallel pins  21  secured thereto corresponding in size and spacing to the two sockets  31 E provided by the tubular members  31 A. Obviously locking pins or other means of holding in aligned notches or holes can be substituted for the knob and screw implement lock  31 G.  
         [0029]     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the longitudinal tubular members  31 A are pivotally attached to the crossbar  16  by respective ones of a pair of threaded mounting bolts  19  on which there is an outer thrust bushing  19 A and an inboard support bushing  19 B. The support bushing  19 B has a sleeve portion  19 C that slip fits into the hole  31 D in the lug  31 C and it is lubricated via grease fitting  31 H.  
         [0030]     The coupler  33  is Z-shaped having a first generally horizontal short distal end member  33 A corresponding in cross-sectional outline shape to the socket of the receiver  18  for slip fit therein. A generally vertical center section member  33 H is rigidly attached to the distal end member  33 A and extends downwardly a selected distance and is pivotally connected to a second distal end member  33 B. The opposing end of the second distal end member  33 B is a U-shaped portion for pivotally receiving a lower end connecting mount of a hydraulic cylinder  32 A of the hydraulic jack unit  32 . The hydraulic jack  32  of the preferred embodiment is electric; however, it is contemplated that pressured fluid or air from a hydrostatic system or pump, respectively, could be used to actuate the hydraulic jack. Moreover, it is contemplated that a rack and pinion assembly can be substituted for or used with the hydraulic jack, although it is less efficient and more bulky. A pin  32 E connects the cylinder  32 A to the opposing end of the second distal end member  33 B of the coupler  33  by alignment and cooperative engagement of holes formed within the distal end member  33 B and cylinder  32 A. The distal end of the piston rod of the hydraulic jack unit  32  includes a connecting yoke having a hole therethrough for pivotally connecting to the corresponding aligned yoke holes of the adjusting mechanism unit  34  by a pin  32 D.  
         [0031]     The unit  32  includes the above mentioned hydraulic cylinder and to power the same there is an electric motor  32 B drivingly connected to a hydraulic pump  32 C. A control and power cable  32 J extends from the motor  32 B and connects to a control switch  52  conveniently located on the handle bar in close proximity to the hand grip, and is also connected to the power supply on the vehicle  10 .  
         [0032]     The adjusting mechanism  34  includes a first coarse adjusting means  54  and a second fine adjusting means  56 . The coarse adjusting mechanism  54  includes a floating cam or link  34 A pivotally connected at one end by the pin  32 D to the distal end or yoke of the piston rod of hydraulic jack unit  32  and the other end of the link  34 A projects between a pair of lugs  34 B defining projections or mounting plates rigidly anchored to and projecting from the frame cross member  31 B. The lugs  34 B have a series of holes  34 C for selectively adjusting the angle and distance of the piston rod pivotally connecting thereto. A bolt or pin  34 D passes through one of the holes and a hole in the link  34 A providing a loose connection. With this loose connection there is relative movement between the lugs  34 B and the link  34 A and such motion is pivotal movement of the respective members about the pin  34 D. The pin  34 D is lubricated via a grease fitting.  
         [0033]     A cam lock arm  34 E is notched at one end as indicated at  34 F and the other end overlaps one of the lugs  34 B. A shaft  34 G passes through a hole in the lock arm  34 E intermediate the ends thereof and is threaded into a threaded bore in the link  34 A. A hand grip knob  34 H on the shaft  34 G provides means to manually lock and unlock the cam of link  34 A by turning the knob to increase or decrease, as the case maybe, the frictional grip of the lock arm  34 E on the lug  34 B.  
         [0034]     Alternately, the knob and stud  34 H can be disengaged from the vertical threaded bore of the floating cam link  34 A. The cam lock  34 E can be removed therefrom. A threaded bore  60  can be formed in the top of the floating cam link  34 A whereby the cam lock  34 E can be disposed horizontally across the top edge of the lug  34 B and secured thereto with the knob and stud  34 H to create a positive lock for creating down pressure for selected applications.  
         [0035]     The fine adjusting mechanism  56  comprises a stud  34 H threaded into a vertically threaded hole  34 J adjacent an end of the link  34 A and foot plate  34 K on the end of the stud  34 H bears against the longitudinal cross member  31 B. A hand grip knob  34 L provides means to manually turn the stud  34 H providing the fine adjustment. A lever  34 M threaded on the stud  34 H is used to lock the stud  34 H in position, by binding against the link  34 A, at the desired position.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the relocation of the cam lock  34 E secured to the top of the cam link  34  secured thereto by a knob and threaded stud  70  cooperatively engaging a threaded bore  72  drilled into the top of the cam link  34  and having a bracket  73  extending over the top edges of the lugs  34 B on each side thereof providing means for locking the floating cam  34  and for exerting downward pressure via the hydraulic jack unit  32 .  
         [0037]     The hitch and lift assembly of the present invention can be utilized with any type of vehicle as a coupling hitch include snow blowers, rotary tilling devices, rotary brushes, seeders, front end mounted trenchers, yard excavators, push blade, box scrapers, reel lawn mower, rotary lawn motor, saw bush cutting systems and boom mowers, post drivers, posthole augers, drawbars with specialty hitch attachments, vacuum systems, fork lifts, platforms, and the like. Although it is possible to utilize such the present device in place of a hydraulic unit of a tractor or the like, the advantages exhibited by the instant invention are better realized when utilized on the front end of a vehicle utilizing the electric hydraulic jack providing a compact, quick disconnect lifting device independently of high pressure hydraulic fluid systems.  
         [0038]     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art based upon more recent disclosures and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.