Vertically articulating trailer hitch receiver for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11104191-B2
Application number	US-201916286858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2019
Priority date	Feb 8, 2017
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

A vertically articulating trailer hitch assembly for use with a vehicle, and particularly for use with an autonomous vehicle. The trailer hitch assembly is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame. The hitch assembly is allowed to swing away from the vehicle frame from a lowered position in which the trailer ball is uncoupled from the hitch coupler of the trailer to a raised position in which the trailer ball is coupled to the hitch coupler. The hitch assembly typically includes a receiver that has a long axis. The vehicle frame has a long axis. When the hitch assembly is in its lowered position, the long axis of the receiver is out of alignment with the long axis of the frame. When the hitch assembly is in its raised position, the long axis of the receiver is aligned with the long axis of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A height adjustable trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer hitch coupler to a towing vehicle having a frame, the assembly comprising:
a hitch receiver including a trailer ball;
a hitch and receiver assembly for pivotally attaching said hitch receiver to the frame, said hitch and receiver assembly including a pivot pin or stud whereby said hitch and receiver assembly may be selectively swung between a lowered, non-coupling position and a raised, coupling position wherein said trailer ball engages the coupler, and
a latch and solenoid assembly for locking said hitch and receiver assembly in said raised position, said latch and solenoid assembly including a pin arm having a locking pin extending therefrom,
wherein the hitch receiver is aligned with the frame of the vehicle in the raised, coupling position and out of alignment with the frame of the vehicle in the lowered, non-coupling position.

2. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hitch and receiver assembly includes a hitch assembly cross-member.

3. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 2 , wherein said hitch and receiver assembly include a pair of pivot studs whereby said hitch and receiver assembly may be selectively swung between a lowered, non-coupling position and a raised, coupling position wherein said trailer ball engages the coupler.

4. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 3 , wherein said hitch assembly cross-member includes attachment arms that extend vehicle-forward, each of said attachment arms being pivotally attached to the vehicle frame by one of said pivot studs.

5. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mounting bracket fixed to the frame, said latch and solenoid assembly being fixed to said mounting bracket.

6. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said mounting bracket comprises a pair of mounting brackets and said latch and solenoid assembly comprises a pair of latch and solenoid assemblies, each latch and solenoid assembly fixed to an associated mounting bracket.

7. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor for raising and lowering said hitch and receiver assembly.

8. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 7 , wherein said electric motor assembly includes an electric motor fixedly attached to the frame, a driveshaft extending from said electric motor, and a pinion fixed to the driveshaft.

9. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 8 further comprising a curved rack fixedly attached to one of the attachment arms, said pinion being operatively associated with said curved rack.

10. A height adjustable trailer hitch assembly for connecting a trailer hitch coupler to a towing vehicle having a frame, the assembly comprising:
a hitch receiver including a trailer ball;
a hitch and receiver assembly for pivotally attaching said hitch receiver to the frame, said hitch and receiver assembly including a pair of attachment arms extending vehicle-forward, each attachment arm pivotally coupled to the frame at a pair of pivot studs whereby said hitch and receiver assembly may be selectively swung between a lowered, non-coupling position and a raised, coupling position wherein said trailer ball engages the coupler, and
a latch and solenoid assembly for locking said hitch and receiver assembly in said raised position, said latch and solenoid assembly including a pin arm having a locking pin extending therefrom,
wherein the hitch receiver is aligned with the frame of the vehicle in the raised, coupling position and out of alignment with the frame of the vehicle in the lowered, non-coupling position.

11. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 10 wherein said hitch and receiver assembly includes a hitch assembly cross-member.

12. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 11 , wherein said pair of attachment arms extend from said hitch assembly cross-member.

13. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 10 further comprising a mounting bracket fixed to the frame, said latch and solenoid assembly being fixed to said mounting bracket.

14. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 13 , wherein said mounting bracket comprises a pair of mounting brackets and said latch and solenoid assembly comprises a pair of latch and solenoid assemblies, each latch and solenoid assembly being fixed to an associated mounting bracket.

15. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 10 further comprising an electric motor assembly for raising and lowering said hitch and receiver assembly.

16. The height adjustable trailer hitch assembly of claim 15 , wherein said electric motor assembly includes an electric motor fixedly attached to the frame, a driveshaft extending from said electric motor, a pinion fixed to the driveshaft, and a curved rack fixedly attached to one of the attachment arms, said pinion being operatively associated with said curved rack.

17. A method for attaching a vehicle having a frame to a trailer hitch coupler having a ball socket, the method comprising:
forming a hitch receiver including a trailer ball;
forming a hitch and receiver assembly pivotally attaching said hitch receiver to the frame, said hitch and receiver assembly including a pivot stud or pin whereby said hitch and receiver assembly may be selectively swung between a lowered, non-coupling position and a raised, coupling position wherein said trailer ball engages the coupler;
pivotally lowering said receiver attachment assembly to a lowered position; moving the vehicle
so that said trailer ball is positioned below the socket; and

raising said receiver attachment assembly to a raised position whereby said ball nests within the socket,
wherein said hitch and receiver assembly further comprises an electric motor for raising and lowering said hitch and receiver assembly, said electric motor fixedly coupled to the frame, a driveshaft extending from said electric motor, a pinion fixed to the driveshaft, and a curved rack fixedly attached to one of the attachment arms, said pinion being operatively associated with said curved rack, and
wherein the hitch receiver is aligned with the frame of the vehicle in the raised, coupling position and out of alignment with the frame of the vehicle in the lowered, non-coupling position.

18. The method for attaching a vehicle to a trailer of claim 17 , wherein said hitch and receiver assembly further comprises a hitch assembly cross-member including an attachment arm that extends vehicle-forward, said attachment arm being pivotally attached to the vehicle frame by said pivot stud or pin.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jackson Eric Emil
• Buchwitz Joseph L
• Drozdowski James Adam

Classifications

• B60D1/485

  mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle · CPC title

• B60D1/246

  for actuating the hitch by powered means · CPC title

• B60D1/62

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60D1/40 Primary

  involving a temporarily extensible or alignable member (B60D1/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/465 Primary

  comprising a lifting mechanism, e.g. for coupling while lifting · CPC title