Ball hitch for an implement drawbar of an agricultural vehicle

1. A ball hitch for connecting the drawbar of an agricultural vehicle to a coupling pin of a trailer, the ball hitch comprising a ball element having a part-spherical outer surface and a cylindrical bore for receiving the coupling pin of the trailer, and a socket element constructed as a sleeve removably mountable in the drawbar of the vehicle and a having a part-spherical inner surface within which the ball element is received to allow the coupling pin to swivel about mutually orthogonal axes relative to the drawbar, an entry groove provided on the inner surface of the sleeve to allow the ball element to be removed and replaced while the sleeve remains mounted on the drawbar, and one end of the sleeve is provided worth an annular flange to protect the underside of the drawbar from wear.

2. A ball hitch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the annular flange projects radially outwards from the sleeve and is formed with a flat to prevent the sleeve from rotating relative to the drawbar.

3. A ball hitch as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a groove is formed in the outer surface of the sleeve to receive a retainer pin to prevent the sleeve from being withdrawn from the drawbar.

4. A ball hitch as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the groove extends over 360° around the outer surface of the sleeve.

5. A ball hitch as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said retainer pin is rolled steel and is provided for insertion into a bore in the drawbar which extends tangentially with respect to the groove in the sleeve.