Fifth wheel hitch engagement system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020094635-A1
Application number	US-201816615859-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2018
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Mar 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fifth wheel hitch assembly is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch system may comprise a jaw fixed about a pivot pin and a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may also include a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, where the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:
a jaw fixed about a pivot pin; a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position; a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, wherein the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw.

2 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 1 , wherein the kingpin guide comprises:
a first flange portion; and a second flange portion.

3 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 2 further comprising a head, wherein the first flange portion is attached to the head and the second flange portion is adapted to engage a minor diameter of the kingpin.

4 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 2 , wherein the kingpin guide further comprises a longitudinal portion positioned between the first and second flange portions.

5 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 1 , wherein the kingpin guide provides visual notice of the kingpin being operatively engaged with the jaw.

6 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 2 , wherein the first flange portion provides visual notice of the kingpin being operatively engaged with the jaw.

7 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 1 , wherein the kingpin guide prevents the jaw from closing when the kingpin is not in a lockable position relative to the jaw.

8 . A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:
a head having a throat portion; an arm fixed about a pivot point, a portion of the arm extending into the throat portion; an indicator arm operatively secured with the arm, wherein engagement of the arm by a kingpin pivots the arm about the pivot point rotating the indicator arm from a first position to a second position.

9 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 8 further comprising an indicator face attached with the indicator arm.

10 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 9 further comprising a window positioned in the head, only a portion of the indicator face viewable through the window.

11 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 10 , wherein the indicator face comprises two sensor states.

12 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 8 further comprising a jaw fixed about a pivot pin and a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, wherein the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw.

13 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 8 further comprising a handle pivotally attached to the head.

14 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 13 further comprising a guide slot positioned in the handle wherein the guide slot permits movement of the handle along a predefined path.

15 . The fifth wheel hitch system of claim 14 , wherein the jaw and handle are biased towards coupled position relative to a kingpin.

16 . A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:
a head having a throat portion; a jaw fixed about a pivot pin; a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position, wherein a portion of the jaw is positioned in the throat portion; a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, wherein the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw; an arm fixed about a pivot point, a portion of the arm extending into the throat portion; and an indicator arm operatively secured with the arm, wherein engagement of the arm by a kingpin pivots the arm about the pivot point rotating the indicator arm from a first position to a second position.

17 . The fifth wheel hitch of claim 16 , wherein the indicator arm comprises an indicator face having two sensor states.

18 . A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:
a head having a throat portion; a jaw fixed about a pivot pin configured to receive a kingpin; a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position, wherein a portion of the jaw is positioned in the throat portion; an arm fixed about a pivot point, a portion of the arm extending into the throat portion; and a handle pivotally attached with the head and a handle lockout selectively engageable with the handle.

19 . The fifth wheel hitch of claim 18 , wherein upon fully insertion of a kingpin the handle lockout holds the handle in a rotated position, keeping the jaw clear from the throat portion.

20 . The fifth wheel hitch of claim 18 , wherein handle lockout disengagable from the handle allowing biasing of the jaw and handle to rotate the handle and jaw towards a coupled position.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Scruggs Mark
• Nowack Curt
• Stalder Tom
• Mercier Gregoire

Classifications

• B62D53/10 Primary

  with means for preventing accidental uncoupling · CPC title

• B62D53/12

  engaging automatically · CPC title

• B62D53/08 Primary

  Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} · CPC title

• B60D1/015 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic