Hitch assembly system with one or more integrated hitch assemblies

Abstract

A hitch assembly system may comprise a pair of fixed actuator support brackets mounted to a vehicle frame and a pair of modular actuator connection brackets. Each modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets may be connected to a corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. The system may further comprise a pair of lower links, in which each lower link of the pair of lower links is pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket. A pair of electric linear actuators may be included in the system, in which each electric liner actuator of the pair of electric linear actuators is pivotally connected to a corresponding bracket end of a corresponding modular actuator connection bracket and a corresponding lower link. Each lower link may be moved by extension or retraction of a corresponding connected electric linear actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hitch assembly system, comprising:
 a pair of fixed actuator support brackets that are mounted to a vehicle frame;   a pair of modular actuator connection brackets, each modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets being connected to a corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets by one or more pins or bolts;   a pair of lower links, each lower link of the pair of lower links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets; and   a pair of electric linear actuators, each electric liner actuator of the pair of electric linear actuators being pivotally connected to a corresponding bracket end of a corresponding modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets and a corresponding lower link of the pair of lower links,   wherein the each lower link is moved by extension or retraction of a corresponding connected electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to a corresponding connected fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top link that is pivotally connected to a top link bracket mounted on the vehicle frame or to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. 
     
     
         3 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an additional pair of lower links that are positioned back-to-back to the pair of lower links, each additional lower link of the additional pair of lower links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets; and   an additional pair of electric linear actuators, each additional electric linear actuator of the additional pair of electric linear actuators being pivotally connected to an additional corresponding bracket end of the corresponding modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets and a corresponding additional lower link of the additional pair of lower links,   wherein the each additional lower link is moved by extension or retraction of a corresponding connected additional electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the corresponding connected fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         4 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 3 , further comprising an additional top link, the additional top link being pivotally connected to a top link bracket mounted on the vehicle frame or to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. 
     
     
         5 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of lower links, the pair of electric linear actuators, and the top link are part of a first hitch assembly, and wherein the additional pair of lower links, the additional pair of electric linear actuators, and the additional top link are part of a second hitch assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 5 , wherein the first hitch assembly is positioned at a front end of the vehicle frame and the second hitch assembly is positioned at a mid-section of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         7 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an additional pair of lower links that are positioned back-to-back to the pair of lower links, each additional lower link of the additional pair of lower links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets a cross bar that connects a first lower link of the additional pair of lower links to a second lower link of the additional pair of lower links;   an additional modular actuator connection bracket connected to a fixed actuator support bracket that is attached to the vehicle frame; and   an additional electric linear actuator including a first actuator end that is connected to the additional modular actuator connection bracket and a second actuator end that is connected to the cross bar,   wherein the pair of additional lower links are moved by extension or retraction of the additional electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the pair of fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 7 , wherein the cross bar includes a ball socket end for attaching a tool to the cross bar. 
     
     
         9 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 7 , wherein the additional modular actuator connection bracket is disposed between the pair of fixed actuator support brackets and attached to one or more frame members of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         10 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 7 , further comprising an additional pair of top links, each additional top link of the additional pair of top links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of lower links, the pair of electric linear actuators, and the top link are part of a first hitch assembly, and wherein the additional pair of lower links, the additional electric linear actuator, and the additional pair of top links are part of a second hitch assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 11 , wherein the first hitch assembly is positioned at a front end of the vehicle frame and the second hitch assembly is positioned at a mid-section of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a drive train mounted to the vehicle frame; and   a hitch assembly system mounted to the vehicle frame, the hitch assembly system comprising:
 a pair of fixed actuator support brackets that are mounted to the vehicle frame; 
 a pair of modular actuator connection brackets, each modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets being connected to a corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets by one or more pins or bolts; 
 a pair of lower links, each lower link of the pair of lower links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets; and 
 a pair of electric linear actuators, each electric liner actuator of the pair of electric linear actuators being pivotally connected to a corresponding bracket end of a corresponding modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets and a corresponding lower link of the pair of lower links, 
 wherein the each lower link is moved by extension or retraction of a corresponding connected electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to a corresponding connected fixed actuator support bracket. 
   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the hitch assembly system further comprises a top link, the top link being pivotally connected to a top link bracket mounted on the vehicle frame or to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the hitch assembly system further comprises:
 an additional pair of lower links that are positioned back-to-back to the pair of lower links, each additional lower link of the additional pair of lower links being pivotally connected to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets; and   an additional pair of electric linear actuators, each additional electric linear actuator of the additional pair of electric linear actuators being pivotally connected to an additional corresponding bracket end of the corresponding modular actuator connection bracket of the pair of modular actuator connection brackets and a corresponding additional lower link of the additional pair of lower links,   wherein the each additional lower link is moved by extension or retraction of a corresponding connected additional electric linear actuator to pivot with respect to the corresponding connected fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , where the hitch assembly system further comprises an additional top link, the additional top link being pivotally connected to a top link bracket mounted on the vehicle frame or to the corresponding fixed actuator support bracket of the pair of fixed actuator support brackets. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of lower links, the pair of electric linear actuators, and the top link are part of a first hitch assembly of the hitch assembly system, and wherein the additional pair of lower links, the additional pair of electric linear actuators, and the additional top link are part of a second hitch assembly of the hitch assembly system. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the first hitch assembly is positioned at a front end of the vehicle frame and the second hitch assembly is positioned at a mid-section of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the drive train includes at least one electric motor, further comprising at least one of a first battery that is attached to the pair of lower links and the top link of the first hitch assembly or a second battery that is attached to the additional pair of lower links and the additional top link of the second hitch assembly, the first battery and the second battery providing electric power to the at least one electric motor of the drive train. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the first battery attached to the first hitch assembly counterbalances the second battery attached to the second hitch assembly.