TUBULAR HITCH MEMBER BALL CONNECTION FOR AN IMPLEMENT

摘要

Hitch ball assemblies for implement hitches are welded directly into holes formed in sidewalls of tubing ends which have been flattened to provide direct load transfer from the tubing to the implement frame. Several different flattened end cross-sectional configurations provide strong ball joint areas with a pleasing appearance. In one embodiment, an additional plate is supported between the sidewalls prior to flattening, and the hole is formed in the two sidewalls and the plate in the same hole-forming operation. The reduced number of hitch parts and welding steps decreases cost and dimensional variations.