Crane operated railway trailer hitch

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a trailer hitch is provided including a vertical strut and a diagonal strut which support a hitch head or fifth wheel adapted to engage the kingpin of a highway trailer. Removable pins are provided at the base of the vertical strut to enable the hitch to be pivoted to the retracted position. The vertical strut includes a pair of lifting lugs located on either side of the hitch head and which are each adapted to receive a strong, flexible connection from an overhead crane. The lugs are located inboard of the combined center of mass of the hitch head and the vertical strut toward the diagonal strut a distance sufficient to cause the vertical strut to pivot inboard toward the diagonal strut when the hitch is lifted by the crane. The lugs are located below the hitch head a distance sufficient that the weight of the head and vertical strut forward of the center of mass will at least partially counterbalance the weight of the hitch head and the diagonal strut located inboard of the center of mass. In addition, the base of the diagonal strut is curved to facilitate the hitch sliding on the deck between retracted and extended positions. With this arrangement and an overhead crane, a single operator can move the hitch between extended and retracted positions, and can load a trailer on a flat car or unload a trailer from a flat car.