HITCH ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH

A hitch assembly (100) is disclosed. The hitch assembly (100) comprising: a main frame (110) comprising a projection (118); a first link (120) pivotably coupled to the main frame (110); a second link (130) pivotably coupled to the first link (120) by a pivot pin (102); and a self-locking actuator mechanism (200), comprising: a floating plate (210) defining a first slot (230), the first slot (230) comprising a first central portion (232), a first jog (235) extending laterally from a first end of the first central portion (232), and a second jog (238) extending laterally from a second end of the first central portion (232), wherein the projection (118) extends into the first slot (230), and wherein the floating plate (210) is pivotably coupled to the first link (120) and the second link (130); and a linear actuator (220) mounted to the main frame (110), the linear actuator (220) comprising a shaft (224) pivotably connected to the floating plate (210); wherein the hitch assembly (100) has a first state in which the shaft (224) is in a first shaft position, the floating plate (210) is in a first plate position, and the projection (118) is received in the first jog (235) to thereby lock the first link (120) and the second link (130) at a first relative orientation; wherein the hitch assembly (100) has a second state in which the shaft (224) is in a second shaft position, the floating plate (210) is in a second plate position, and the projection (118) is received in the second jog (238) to thereby lock the first link (120) and the second link (130) at a second relative orientation different from the first relative orientation; and wherein the linear actuator (220) is operable to drive the shaft (224) between the first shaft position and the second shaft position to thereby move the hitch assembly (100) between the first state and the second state. Furthermore, a method of operating such hitch assembly (100) is disclosed.