Hitch apparatus and system

A hitch system for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the hitch system comprising:

• a hitch apparatus comprising:
• a frame movably secured to the towing vehicle;
• and
• a hitch member secured to the frame, the hitch member configured to receive a coupling apparatus of the towed vehicle;
• a latch bar connected to the frame by sacrificial arms that are configured to break upon failure of the hitch member;
• a pair of safety chains, each safety chain comprising a first end attached to the latch bar and an opposite second end attached to the towing vehicle;
• wherein the latch bar is configured to be engaged by safety chains associated with the towed vehicle;
• wherein the frame is movable relative to the towing vehicle such that the hitch member can be positioned rearward of the towing vehicle at any location within a defined three-dimensional space, and wherein the frame is configured to maintain the hitch member in a substantially level orientation at all locations within the three-dimensional space;
• and
• a control system operably associated with the hitch apparatus and configured to move the hitch member to a desired location within the three-dimensional space.

A hitch system for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, wherein the towing vehicle comprises a steering system, a powertrain system, and a brake system, the hitch system comprising:

• a hitch apparatus comprising:
• a frame movably secured to the towing vehicle;
• and
• a hitch member secured to the frame, the hitch member configured to receive a coupling apparatus of the towed vehicle;
• wherein the frame is movable relative to the towing vehicle such that the hitch member can be positioned rearward of the towing vehicle at any location within a defined three-dimensional space, and wherein the frame is configured to maintain the hitch member in a substantially level orientation at all locations within the three-dimensional space;
• and
• a control system operably associated with the hitch apparatus, the control system configured to:
• move the hitch member to a desired location within the three-dimensional space;
• control the steering system, the powertrain system, and the brake system to position the towing vehicle adjacent to the towed vehicle;
• control the hitch apparatus to engage the hitch member with the coupling apparatus of the towed vehicle;
• and
• control the hitch apparatus to disengage the hitch member from the coupling apparatus of the towed vehicle.

A hitch system for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the hitch system comprising:

• a hitch apparatus comprising:
• a frame movably secured to the towing vehicle;
• a hitch member secured to the frame, the hitch member configured to receive a coupling apparatus of the towed vehicle;
• and
• a manifold configured to operably connect an electrical system and a pneumatic system of the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle, wherein the manifold comprises a first electrical connector connected to the electrical system of the towing vehicle and a first pneumatic connector connected to the pneumatic system of the towing vehicle, wherein the manifold is configured to matingly engage a corresponding towed vehicle manifold, wherein the towed vehicle manifold comprises a second electrical connector connected to an electrical system of the towed vehicle and a second pneumatic connector connected to a pneumatic system of the towed vehicle, and wherein engagement of the towing vehicle manifold and the towed vehicle manifold causes the first electrical connector to couple with the second electrical connector and the first pneumatic connector to couple with the second pneumatic connector;
• wherein the frame is movable relative to the towing vehicle such that the hitch member can be positioned rearward of the towing vehicle at any location within a defined three-dimensional space, and wherein the frame is configured to maintain the hitch member in a substantially level orientation at all locations within the three-dimensional space;
• and
• a control system operably associated with the hitch apparatus and configured to move the hitch member to a desired location within the three-dimensional space.