Tractor and semitrailer pivot coupling with interchangeable trailer plate

Abstract

Abstract A RELEASABLE PIVOT CONNECTION FOR USE BETWEEN A TRACTOR AND A SEMITRAILER AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONVENTIONAL DEPENDING FIFTH WHEEL PIN FOR SUPPORT FROM THE FORWARD END OF THE SEMITRAILER AND A SLOTTED OSCILLATABLY SUPPORTED FIFTH WHEEL PLATE FOR SUPPORT FROM A TRACTOR WITH THE PLATE INCLUDING LATCH MEANS WHEREBY THE FIFTH WHEEL PIN MAY BE RELEASABLY SECURED IN THE INNER END OF THE SLOT FORMED IN THE PLATE FOR RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN THE PIN AND THE PLATE. THE PLATE FURTHER INCLUDES A SUPPLEMENTAL PIN DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE FORWARD EXTREMITY OF THE FIFTH WHEEL PIN SLOT AND WHICH IS SUPPORTED FROM THE PLATE FOR VERTICAL SHIFTING BETWEEN AN UPSTANDING POSITION WITH ITS UPPER END PROJECTING ABOVE THE PLATE AND A LOWERED RETRACTED POSITION WITH ITS UPPER END FLUSH WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE PLATE WHILE THE BEARING PLATE SUPPORTED FROM THE TRAILER AND FROM WHICH THE CONVENTIONAL FIFTH WHEEL PIN DEPENDS INCLUDES AN ARCUATE SLOT THROUGH WHICH THE SUPPLEMENTAL PIN IS RECEIVABLE AND WHICH IS OF APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES EXTENT AND IS OPERABLE TO COACT WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL PIN TO LIMIT OSCILLATION OF AN ASSOCIATED TRAILER TO ITS TRACTOR BETWEEN POSITIONS WITH THE TRAILER PIVOTED APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO EITHER SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TRACTOR AND TO ALSO ESTABLISH A SECONDARY DRAFT COUPLING BETWEEN THE TRACTOR AND THE TRAILER IN THE EVENT THE CONVENTIONAL PIVOT COUPLING OF THE FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS RENDERED INOPERATIVE.

Inventors

• 👤 Angelo Interisano

Bibliographic Details