Automatic steering system for a towed vehicle

An automatic steering system for steering a two-wheeled towed vehicle when backed, comprising:

• a frame and a pair of wheel assemblies positioned on opposite sides of said frame, and said frame being pivotally connectible at a central region of one end, a front end, of said frame to a central point of the rear of a towing vehicle;
• and
• a steering axle assembly extending laterally across said frame and supporting said wheel assemblies, and comprising:
• a fixed axle member fixedly attached across said frame,
• a hinged member pivotally supported about a vertical axis at each end of said fixed axle, and each hinged member supporting, about a generally horizontal axis, a said wheel assembly,
• a steering axle member spaced from and lying generally parallel to said fixed axle member and pivotally attached at each end, about a generally vertical axis, to a said hinged member,
• spring bias means for generally biasing said steering axle in a fixed longitudinal position with respect to said fixed axle member, whereby said wheel assemblies are biased to effect straight direction steering of said towed vehicle,
• operating lever means pivotally connecting said fixed and steering axle members about generally vertical axes, and whereby rotation of said lever arm effects steering of said wheel assemblies,
• steering control means comprising an extensible steering arm extending in a front-to-back direction with respect to said frame and positioned to the side of a general front-to-back axis of said frame and pivotally connected in one end region of said lever means and pivotally interconnectible at an opposite end region of a said towing vehicle, and
• control means for selectably locking said steering arm in a selected length position,
• whereby, with said steering arm freely extensible, said lever arm is not operated as said towed vehicle is towed in a forward direction;
• and, upon the locking of said steering arm in a selected length position, said steering arm operates said lever arm and effects steering coordinate with the direction of movement of a towing vehicle, enabling precise backing of the towed vehicle along a track determined by the steering of the towing vehicle.