A pintle hitch for a vehicle comprising a base (33, figure 4) and a pintle body (30, figure 4). The pintle body comprises a shaft portion rotatable (42A, fig 5) about a longitudinal axis, a hook (figure 5) for receiving a trailer towing eye, and a retaining pin (31, fig 4) that is movable between an open/closed position and retains the towing eye when positioned in the hook. The base comprises a cavity that houses a movable locking pin 44 therein. The pintle body has a recess 44A which aligns with the cavity in the base (33) in one rotational position of the body (30) relative to the base. The locking pin 44 is engageable with the recess 44A when the body is in one rotational position and prevents rotation of the pintle hook in a different position (33). The base includes a drive means 43 operable to move the locking pin 44 between an unlocked/locked position. Additionally disclosed is a controller 22, 23 that identifies whether a trailer being connected to the hook has a fixed or rotatable eye, and the controller operates the drive means to engage the locking means depending on the type of trailer eye.
Military towed vehicle automatic hitching system
2021-08-04
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B60D Fahrzeugverbindungen , VEHICLE CONNECTIONS |
Europäisches Patentamt | 2023
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