Low profile trolley for a tow saddle
A trolley that couples to a tow saddle is provided. The trolley includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper and lower plate are secured against a rear portion of a tow saddle. One or more support bars are coupled to the upper plate. The bars provide structural support for the upper plate and deflect a chain that transits apertures in the upper plate.
1. A tow saddle comprising:
a front portion configured to mount to a towing vehicle;
a rear portion configured to mount to a towed vehicle, the rear portion coupled to the front portion, the rear portion comprising two rails that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rear portion; and
a trolley comprising:
an upper plate extending between the two rails;
a lower plate extending between the two rails;
a fastener securing upper walls of each of the two rails between the lower plate and the upper plate;
a rib protruding from the lower plate towards the upper plate, the rib positioned between the upper walls of the two rails; and
a first supplemental plate secured to a top surface of the upper plate.
2. The tow saddle of claim 1 , wherein the fastener extends a first distance above the upper plate and the fastener extends a second distance above the first supplemental plate that is less than the first distance.
3. The tow saddle of claim 1 , comprising:
a first support bar coupled to the upper plate directly below the first supplemental plate such that a vertical axis intersects the first support bar and the first supplemental plate; and
a chain interfacing against the first support bar, the chain configured to couple the trolley to the towed vehicle.
4. The tow saddle of claim 1 , wherein the rib defines a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion.
5. A tow saddle comprising:
a front portion configured to mount to a towing vehicle;
a rear portion configured to mount to a towed vehicle, the rear portion coupled to the front portion, the rear portion comprising two rails that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rear portion; and
a trolley comprising:
an upper plate extending between the two rails;
a lower plate extending between the two rails;
a fastener securing upper walls of each of the two rails between the lower plate and the upper plate;
a rib protruding from the lower plate towards the upper plate, the rib positioned between the upper walls of the two rails;
a first support bar coupled to the upper plate; and
a chain interfacing against the first support bar, the chain configured to couple the trolley to the towed vehicle.
6. The tow saddle of claim 5 , wherein the first support bar defines a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion.
7. The tow saddle of claim 5 , wherein the first support bar is outside an outer periphery of the rear portion.
8. The tow saddle of claim 5 , comprising a second support bar coupled to the upper plate, the chain interfacing against the second support bar.
9. A tow saddle comprising:
a front portion configured to mount to a towing vehicle;
a rear portion configured to mount to a towed vehicle, the rear portion coupled to the front portion; and
a trolley coupled to the rear portion, the trolley comprising:
an upper plate secured to the rear portion;
a first support bar coupled to a bottom surface of the upper plate, the first support bar coupled to the upper plate outside an outer periphery of the rear portion on a first side of the rear portion;
a second support bar coupled to the bottom surface of the upper plate, the first support bar coupled to the upper plate outside the outer periphery of the rear portion on a second side of the rear portion opposite the first side; and
a lower plate coupled to the upper plate and the rear portion, the bottom surface of the upper plate facing towards the lower plate.
10. The tow saddle of claim 9 , comprising a first supplemental plate secured to a top surface of the upper plate above the first support bar such that a first vertical axis intersects the first support bar and the first supplemental plate.
11. The tow saddle of claim 10 , comprising a second supplemental plate secured to the top surface of the upper plate above the second support bar such that a second vertical axis intersects the second support bar and the second supplemental plate.
12. The tow saddle of claim 10 , comprising a chain interfacing against the first support bar, the chain configured to couple the trolley to the towed vehicle.
13. The tow saddle of claim 9 , wherein the first support bar defines a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rear portion.
14. A tow saddle comprising:
a front portion configured to mount to a towing vehicle;
a rear portion configured to mount to a towed vehicle, the rear portion coupled to the front portion;
a trolley coupled to the rear portion, the trolley comprising:
an upper plate defining a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
a supplemental plate secured to the top surface of the upper plate;
a first support bar coupled to the bottom surface of the upper plate;
a lower plate, the bottom surface of the upper plate facing towards the lower plate;
a fastener securing the lower plate and the upper plate to the rear portion; and
a flexible elongate component configured to couple the trolley to the towed vehicle, the flexible elongate component interfacing against the first support bar.
15. The tow saddle of claim 14 , wherein the supplemental plate is coupled to the upper plate above the first support bar such that a first vertical axis intersects the first support bar and the supplemental plate.
16. The tow saddle of claim 14 , wherein the first support bar defines a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion.
17. The tow saddle of claim 14 , wherein the first support bar is outside an outer periphery of the rear portion.
18. The tow saddle of claim 17 , wherein the fastener extends a first distance above the upper plate and the fastener extends a second distance above the supplemental plate that is less than the first distance.
19. The tow saddle of claim 14 , wherein the supplemental plate covers less than 50% of a surface area of the top surface of the upper plate.