Hitch assembly with electric linear actuator

Abstract

A hitch assembly may comprise a fixed actuator support bracket that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The hitch assembly may further comprise a modular actuator connection bracket including a first bracket end that is connected to the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket. A lower link of the hitch assembly may include a link end that is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket. Additionally, the hitch assembly may also comprise an electric linear actuator that includes a first actuator end that is connected to a second bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket and a second actuator end that is connected to a body of the lower link, in which the lower link is moved by extension or retraction of the electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hitch assembly, comprising:
 a fixed actuator support bracket that includes an upper portion and a lower portion;   a modular actuator connection bracket including a first bracket end that is connected to the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket;   a lower link including a link end that is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket; and   an electric linear actuator including a first actuator end that is connected to a second bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket and a second actuator end that is connected to a body of the lower link,   wherein the lower link is moved by extension or retraction of the electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket are connected by at least one removable pin. 
     
     
         3 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket includes a first pin hole, and the first bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket includes a second pin hole, and wherein the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket are at least held together by insertion of a removable pin or bolt into the first pin hole and the second pin hole. 
     
     
         4 . The hitch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket further includes a third pin hole, and the first bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket further includes a fourth pin hole, and wherein the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket are further at least held together by insertion of an additional removable pin or bolt into the third pin hole and the fourth pin hole. 
     
     
         5 . The hitch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket is formed by a pair of bracket plates separated and joined by a space plate, the pair of bracket plates including radially shaped plate ends that form a material relief feature, in which the material relief feature is disposed between the second pin hole and the fourth pin hole. 
     
     
         6 . The hitch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the material relief feature accommodate a tubular frame member of a vehicle frame when the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket are at least held together by insertion of the removable pin or bolt into the first pin hole and the second pin hole. 
     
     
         7 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pin or bolt that is inserted into a first corresponding pin hole in the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket and a second corresponding pin hole in the modular actuator connection bracket to hold together the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The hitch assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising an additional pin or bolt that is inserted into a third corresponding pin hole in the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket and a fourth corresponding pin hole in the modular actuator connection bracket to further hold together the fixed actuator support bracket and the modular actuator connection bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower link further includes an additional link end that comprises a pin hole for accepting a pin that connects a tool or a battery box to the lower link. 
     
     
         10 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extension of the electric linear actuator applies a downward force on the lower link. 
     
     
         11 . The hitch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the lower link transmits the downward force to ground or a tool that is connected to the lower link. 
     
     
         12 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second bracket end of the modular actuator connection bracket is connected by a pin to the first actuator end of the electric linear actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket is mounted to a vehicle frame, further comprising a top link that is pivotally connected to a top link bracket on the vehicle frame or the fixed actuator support bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The hitch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the top link includes an additional electric linear actuator of an identical or smaller power rating as the electric linear actuator or a turnbuckle that provides for length adjustment of the top link. 
     
     
         15 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional fixed actuator support bracket, the additional fixed actuator support bracket including an additional upper portion and an additional lower portion;   an additional modular actuator connection bracket including an additional first bracket end that is connected to the additional upper portion of the additional fixed actuator support bracket;   an additional lower link including a first additional link end that is connected to the additional lower portion of the additional fixed actuator support bracket; and   an additional electric linear actuator including a first additional actuator end that is connected to a second additional bracket end of the additional modular actuator connection bracket and a second additional actuator end that is connected to an additional body of the additional lower link,   wherein the additional lower link is moved by extension or retraction of the additional electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the additional lower portion of the additional fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The hitch assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a cross bar that connects the lower link to the additional lower link. 
     
     
         17 . The hitch assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the electric linear actuator and the additional electric linear actuator are manipulated in tandem to pivot the lower link and the additional lower link. 
     
     
         18 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional lower link and a cross bar that connects the lower link to the additional lower link. 
     
     
         19 . The hitch assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cross bar includes a ball socket end for attaching a tool to the cross bar. 
     
     
         20 . The hitch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the link end of the lower link includes a first pin hole and the lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket includes a second pin hole, further comprising a pin that is inserted into the first pin hole and the second pin hole to pivotally connect the lower link to the fixed actuator support bracket.