Safety Device for Hydraulic Hitch Assembly

Abstract

A safety device for use with a hydraulic hitch assembly operable between an engaged and a disengaged position, the safety device including: a main body portion moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, whereby when the main body portion is in the engaged position the safety device prevents the hydraulic hitch assembly from moving to a disengaged position; a biasing means to bias the main body portion towards an engaged position; and a hydraulic piston which when operated acts against the biasing means and moves the main body portion to a disengaged position.

1 . A safety device for use with a hydraulic hitch assembly operable between an engaged and a disengaged position, the safety device including:
 a main body portion moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, whereby when the main body portion is in the engaged position the safety device prevents the hydraulic hitch assembly from moving to a disengaged position;   a biasing means to bias the main body portion towards an engaged position; and,   a hydraulic piston which when operated acts against the biasing means and moves the main body portion to a disengaged position.   
   
   
       2 . A safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the main body portion moves between an engaged position and a disengaged position about a pivot point. 
   
   
       3 . A safety device according to  claim 2  wherein the pivot point is fixed relative to the hydraulic hitch assembly. 
   
   
       4 . A safety device according to  claim 2  wherein the pivot point is at one end of the main body portion. 
   
   
       5 . A safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the biasing means is a spring. 
   
   
       6 . A safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic hitch assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position by means of a hydraulic ram operable by means of a hydraulic fluid contained within a hydraulic circuit. 
   
   
       7 . A safety device according to  claim 6  wherein the hydraulic piston of the safety device is operated by means of the hydraulic fluid contained within the hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic hitch assembly. 
   
   
       8 . A safety device according to  claim 7  wherein the hydraulic piston of the safety device is provided with a positive pressure of hydraulic fluid sufficient to move the safety device to the disengaged position immediately prior to operating the hydraulic ram to move the hydraulic hitch assembly into the disengaged position. 
   
   
       9 . A safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the safety device includes display means for providing an indication to an operator of whether the main body portion of the safety device is in the engaged or disengaged position. 
   
   
       10 . A method of disengaging a hydraulic hitch assembly from an engaged position, the hydraulic hitch assembly including a safety device according to  claim 1 , the method including the following steps:
 (iii) providing the hydraulic piston of the safety device with a positive pressure sufficient to overcome the biasing means and move the safety device from the engaged to the disengaged position; and,   (iv) moving the hydraulic hitch assembly into a disengaged position.