Automatically coupling fluid connector for a hitch

A hitch assembly for attaching an implement to a vehicle and simultaneously coupling a fluid connector for communicating fluid pressure between said vehicle and implement, said assembly comprising:

• a first member attached to said vehicle having a series of attachment hooks;
• a second hitch member attached to said implement having a series of pins engageable by said attachment hooks;
• an actuator assembly for moving said first hitch member in a direction transverse to said second member and engaging said pins in said hooks;
• a fluid connector having:
• a male and a female fitting, said male and female fittings being movable between coupled and uncoupled positions by relative axial movement between said fittings;
• means for locking said fittings in said coupled position and unlocking said fittings from said coupled position, said means being biased to unlock said fittings;
• a first plate having one of the male and female fittings attached thereto and resiliently mounted thereon to allow movement of said one fitting in said transverse direction;
• a set of guide rods fixed to one of said first and second plates, said rods extending in said transverse direction;
• and
• a set of guide holes defined by the other of said plates, said rod holes receiving said rods to align said male and female fittings.
• a set of guide rods fixed to one of said first and second plates, said rods extending in said transverse direction and a set of guide holes defined by the other of said plates, said rod holes receiving said rods to align said male and female fittings.

A fluid connector assembly comprising:

• at least one fluid connector having first and second fittings for communicating fluid therebetween when in a coupled position and interrupting fluid flow when in an uncoupled position, said fittings being separable along an axis, and a latch on said first fitting, said latch being slidable parallel to said axis in a first relative direction to allow coupling and uncoupling of said fittings and slidable in a second relative direction to prevent uncoupling of said fittings;
• a first subassembly having said first fitting resiliently mounted thereon, the resilient mounting biasing said latch in said first direction;
• a second subassembly having said second fitting resiliently mounted thereon;
• at least two guide pins fixed with respect to one of said first and second subassemblies and extending in the direction of said axis;
• a hole defined in the other of said first and second subassemblies for each of said pins, said holes having a location that will align said fittings when said pins extend through said holes;
• and
• means for mounting at least one of said subassemblies that allows relative transverse movement of the fittings located thereon in a direction perpendicular to said axis.