Resilient hitch linkage for connection between a towing vehicle and a

Abstract

A resilient hitch linkage between a towing vehicle such as a tractor and an implement or attachment such as, for example, a rotary tiller, towed by the towing vehicle. The resilient hitch linkage serves to reduce the transmission of impact or shock loads and/or vibrations between the implement and the tractor and includes a front link pivotally connected to a hitch point on the tractor and a rear link pivotally connected to the attachment being towed. One of the pivoted links, such as the rear link, has a member with multiple flat exterior surfaces such as a member of rectangular cross section (a 'square tube') secured thereto and extending laterally therefrom. The other pivoted link, such as the front link, has a first U-shaped clamp member secured thereto and lying on one side of the 'square tube' carried by the one link. A pair of rubber cylinders are retained by the first clamp member. A second U-shaped clamp member is positioned on the opposite side of the 'square tube' from the first clamp member, the second clamp member retaining a second pair of rubber cylinders therein. The two clamp members are fastened together to confine the plurality of rubber cylinders under pressure between the 'square tube' and the clamp members, thereby defining a resilient connection between the front and rear link members. The rubber cylinders are deformed under the pressure exerted upon them. In the preferred embodiment, the resilient connection between the front and rear links is offset from the straight line connecting the respective pivotal connections of the front and rear links to the tractor and to the implement towed by the tractor, at least under normal operating conditions (i.e., in the absence of shock or impact loads). An upper and a lower resilient hitch linkage, each embodying a construction of the foregoing type is connected between the towing vehicle such as a tractor and the implement or attachment being towed by the tractor.