Actuating mechanism for a hitch guidance system

A hitch guidance mechanism for an agricultural vehicle having a hitch assembly mounted on a frame of the vehicle, the hitch assembly having a pair of movable draft links for coupling to an implement, the hitch guidance mechanism characterized by:

• first and second laterally spaced-apart brackets attached to the frame;
• and
• a pair of pivot arms, each pivot arm having a first end pivotally connected to one of the brackets, the first ends of both arms being pivotal about axes which extend in a fore-and-aft direction with respect to the vehicle frame;
• a pair of sway blocks, each sway block slidably engaging one of the draft links and each sway block being pivotally coupled to a second end of one of the pivot arms;
• and
• an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the sway blocks for controlling lateral movement of the sway blocks.

A hitch guidance mechanism for an agricultural vehicle having a hitch assembly mounted on a frame of the vehicle, the hitch assembly having a pair of movable draft links for coupling to an implement, the hitch guidance mechanism characterized by:

• a pair of sway blocks, each sway block slidably engaging one of the pair of draft links;
• a left sway block support;
• a right sway block support;
• support means for movably supporting the sway block supports adjacent to a rear end of the frame;
• a movable plate having ends connected to the sway block supports to maintain a fixed lateral spacing therebetween, the plate and the sway block supports being movable together as a unit with respect to the frame;
• adjustably connecting means for coupling each sway block support to a corresponding one of the sway blocks;
• and
• an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the sway block supports for controlling lateral movement of the sway block supports.