Hitch assembly system with support bracket radius cut outs

Abstract

A hitch assembly system may comprise a fixed actuator support bracket that includes an upper portion that comprises a radius cut out and a first pair of pin holes. The hitch assembly system may further comprise a modular actuator connection bracket including a first bracket end that comprises a second pair of pin holes, the modular actuator connection bracket being connected to the fixed actuator support bracket via the first and second pair of pin holes. A lower link of the hitch assembly system may be pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket or an additional fixed actuator support bracket. Additionally, the hitch assembly system may also comprise an electric linear actuator that is connected to the modular actuator connection bracket and 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 support bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hitch assembly system, comprising:
 a fixed actuator support bracket that includes an upper portion that comprises a radius cut out for receiving a tubular frame member of a vehicle frame and a first pair of pin holes, the radius cut out being disposed between the first pair of pin holes;   a modular actuator connection bracket including a first bracket end that comprises a second pair of pin holes, the modular actuator connection bracket being connected to the fixed actuator support bracket by insertion of one or more removable pins or bolts into at least one pin hole in each of the first pair of pin holes and the second pair of pin holes;   a lower link that is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket or an additional 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 a lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket or the additional fixed actuator support bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket is mounted to the tubular frame member of the 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. 
     
     
         3 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket further includes an additional radius cut out at a lower end of the fixed actuator support bracket that receives an additional tubular frame member of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         4 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 3 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket is at least one of welded to the tubular frame member at the radius cut out or welded to the additional tubular frame member at the additional radius cut out. 
     
     
         5 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket includes a middle portion that comprises an additional pair of pin holes and the lower link includes a link end that comprises a pin hole, and wherein the lower link is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket via a pin or bolt that is inserted in a first pin hole of the additional pair of pin holes and the pin hole of the link end. 
     
     
         6 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 5 , further comprising an additional lower link including an additional link end that comprises an additional pin hole, and wherein the additional lower link is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket via an additional pin or bolt that is inserted in a second pin hole of the additional pair of pin holes and the additional pin hole of the additional link end. 
     
     
         7 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 6 , wherein the lower link is a part of a first hitch assembly and the additional lower link a part of a second hitch assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 5 , wherein the additional pair of pin holes are disposed at a bend in the middle portion of the fixed actuator support bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein fixed actuator support bracket includes two parallel bracket plates that are separated and joined by a space bar. 
     
     
         10 . The hitch assembly system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket further includes an additional pin hole for storing a spare pin. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle frame; and   a hitch assembly system mounted to the vehicle frame, the hitch assembly system comprising:
 a fixed actuator support bracket that includes an upper portion that comprises a radius cut out for receiving a tubular frame member of the vehicle frame and a first pair of pin holes, the radius cut out being disposed between the first pair of pin holes; 
 a modular actuator connection bracket including a first bracket end that comprises a second pair of pin holes, the modular actuator connection bracket being connected to the fixed actuator support bracket by insertion of one or more removable pins or bolts into at least one pin hole in each of the first pair of pin holes and the second pair of pin holes; 
 a lower link that is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket or an additional 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 a lower portion of the fixed actuator support bracket or the additional fixed actuator support bracket. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket is mounted to the tubular frame member of the 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. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket further includes an additional radius cut out at a lower end of the fixed actuator support bracket that receives an additional tubular frame member of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket is at least one of welded to the tubular frame member at the radius cut out or welded to the additional tubular frame member at the additional radius cut out. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed actuator support bracket includes a middle portion that comprises an additional pair of pin holes and the lower link includes a link end that comprises a pin hole, and wherein the lower link is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket via a pin or bolt that is inserted in a first pin hole of the additional pair of pin holes and the pin hole of the link end. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional lower link including an additional link end that comprises an additional pin hole, and wherein the additional lower link is pivotally connected to the fixed actuator support bracket via an additional pin or bolt that is inserted in a second pin hole of the additional pair of pin holes and the additional pin hole of the additional link end. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the lower link is a part of a first hitch assembly of the vehicle and the additional lower link a part of a second hitch assembly of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the additional pair of pin holes are disposed at a bend in the middle portion of the fixed actuator support bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein fixed actuator support bracket includes two parallel bracket plates that are separated and joined by a space bar. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the upper portion of the fixed actuator support bracket further includes an additional pin hole for storing a spare pin.