Antijackknife device

Claim 2

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said means mounting said ratchet means on said housing for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said first unit comprising a retractable control lug mounted on said ratchet means, means for resiliently urging said control lug to project outwardly from said ratchet means to engage said other of said units.

Claim 3

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said tractor unit and said trailer unit combination having a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal and further comprising means for actuating said means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means including a hand control member, said hand control member having three positions including a first position wherein said means for actuating is connected to said switch to activate tHe antijackknife device upon actuation of the brake pedal, and a second position wherein said means for actuating is completely deactivated, and a third position wherein said means for actuating is continuously activated.

Claim 4

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said tractor unit and said trailer unit combination having a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal and further comprising means for actuating said means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means including a hand control member, said hand control member having three positions including a first position wherein said means for actuating is connected to said switch to activate tHe antijackknife device upon actuation of the brake pedal, and a second position wherein said means for actuating is completely deactivated, and a third position wherein said means for actuating is continuously activated.

Claim 5

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said tractor unit and said trailer unit combination having a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal, and further comprising means for actuating said means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said means for actuating being connected to said switch to activate the antijackknife device upon actuation of the brake pedal.

Claim 6

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said tractor unit and said trailer unit combination having a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal, and further comprising means for actuating said means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said means for actuating being connected to said switch to activate the antijackknife device upon actuation of the brake pedal.

Claim 7

An antijackknife device according to claim 3 wherein said tractor unit and said trailer unit combination has a turning signal and emergency light system, and wherein said means for actuating comprises a cutoff switch activated by said turning signal and emergency light system, whereby said antijackknife device is deactivated when the turning signal and emergency light system is activated regardless of whether the brake pedal is activated.

Claim 8

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said ratchet means being a ratchet wheel having teeth on the periphery thereof.

Claim 9

An antijackknife device for a tractor unit and a trailer unit combination comprising: a housing mounted on one of said units adjacent the other of said units, ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means for movement responsive to the articulation of the other of said units with respect to said one unit, means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said one unit with respect to said other unit, said ratchet means being a ratchet wheel having teeth on the periphery thereof.

Claim 10

An antijackknife device according to claim 5 wherein said tractor unit has a fifth wheel having a guide slot, and wherein said means mounting said ratchet means comprises a depending lug portion positionable in said guide slot.

Claim 11

An antijackknife device according to claim 6 wherein said means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet means comprises pawl means engageable with said teeth on said ratchet wheel.

Claim 12

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination, said tractor having a fifth wheel with a guide slot therein, said device comprising: a housing fixedly mounted on the lower front portion of said trailer, a ratchet wheel, means mounting said ratchet wheel for arcuate movement inside said housing, a kingpin fixedly mounted on said ratchet wheel and depending downwardly therefrom and being positionable in said guide slot, a lug depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel and being positionable within said guide slot, said lug being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, and pawl means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet wheel, said pawl means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said tractor with respect to said trailer.

Claim 13

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination, said tractor having a fifth wheel with a guide slot therein, said device comprising: a housing fixedly mounted on the lower front portion of said trailer, a ratchet wheel, means mounting said ratchet wheel for arcuate movement inside said housing, a kingpin fixedly mounted on said ratchet wheel and depending downwardly therefrom and being positionable in said guide slot, a lug depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel and being positionable within said guide slot, said lug being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, and pawl means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet wheel, said pawl means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said tractor with respect to said trailer.

Claim 14

An antijackknife device according to claim 8 wherein said ratchet wheel has a first set and a second set of spaced teeth on the periphery thereof, and wherein said pawl means comprises a first pawl and a second pawl and means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively, said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have one pawl engage one set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in one direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while the other pawl engages the space between said first and second set of teeth; and said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have the other pawl engage the other set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in the opposite direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while said one pawl engages the space between said first and second set of teeth.

Claim 15

An antijackknife device according to claim 9 wherein said means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively comprises a first solenoid and a second solenoid for urging said pawls into engagement with said teeth respectively, and first spring means and second spring means for urging said pawls out of engagement with said teeth, respectively.

Claim 16

An antijackknife device according to claim 9 further comprising a solenoid for urging said pawl into engagement with said teeth, and spring means for urging said pawl out of engagement with said teeth.

Claim 17

An antijackknife device according to claim 8 wherein said ratchet wheel has a first set and a second set of teeth on the periphery thereof, and wherein said pawl means comprises a single pawl, one set of said teeth being inclined in one direction and the second set of teeth being inclined in the opposite direction, said teeth and pawl being shaped and mounted to have said pawl engage one set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in one direction to prevent additional articulation and allow return to alignment movement, and to have said pawl engage the second set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in the other direction to prevent additional articulation and allow return to alignment movement.

Claim 18

An antijackknife device according to claim 8 wherein said lug depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel and being positionable within said guide slot comprises a retractable control lug, and spring means for urging said control lug to project outwardly from said ratchet wheel for positioning within the guide slot of the fifth wheel of the tractor.

Claim 19

An antijackknife device according to claim 13 wherein said retractable control lug has a shoulder engageable with said housing to prevent complete removal thereof from said ratchet wheel responsive to the urging of said spring means.

Claim 20

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination, said tractor having a fifth wheel, with a guide slot therein, said device comprising: a lower housing mountable on the fifth wheel of said tractor and having a bottom opening therein, a lower bearing pad mounted on the bottom of the housing, a ratchet wheel mounted for pivotal movement on said lower bearing pad, a kingpin fixedly mounted on said ratchet wheel and depending downwardly therefrom through said opening, a lug depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel through said opening and being positionable in the guide slot of said fifth wheel, said lug being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, an upper bearing pad mounted on the top of said ratchet wheel for relative movement with respect to said ratchet wheel, an upper housing fixedly connected to said lower housing and fixedly attachable to the bottom front portion of said trailer, and pawl means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet wheel, said pawl means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said tractor with respect to said trailer.

Claim 21

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination, said tractor having a fifth wheel, with a guide slot therein, said device comprising: a lower housing mountable on the fifth wheel of said tractor and having a bottom opening therein, a lower bearing pad mounted on the bottom of the housing, a ratchet wheel mounted for pivotal movement on said lower bearing pad, a kingpin fixedly mounted on said ratchet wheel and depending downwardly therefrom through said opening, a lug depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel through said opening and being positionable in the guide slot of said fifth wheel, said lug being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, an upper bearing pad mounted on the top of said ratchet wheel for relative movement with respect to said ratchet wheel, an upper housing fixedly connected to said lower housing and fixedly attachable to the bottom front portion of said trailer, and pawl means mounted on said housing for selected engagement with said ratchet wheel, said pawl means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said tractor with respect to said trailer.

Claim 22

An antijackknife device according to claim 15 further comprising a downwardly projecting ratchet shoulder shaped and mOunted to seal said bottom opening in the lower housing.

Claim 23

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination wherein said tractor has a fifth wheel having a guide slot and wherein said tractor-trailer combination has a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal, said device comprising: a housing fixedly mounted on the lower front portion of said trailer, a ratchet wheel, means mounting said ratchet wheel for arcuate movement inside said housing, lug means depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel and being positionable in the guide slot of the fifth wheel of said tractor, said lug means being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, said ratchet wheel having a first set and a second set of teeth on the periphery thereof, a first pawl and a second pawl and means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively, said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have one pawl engage one set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in one direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while the other pawl engages the surface of the space between said first and second set of teeth; and said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have the other pawl engage the other set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in the opposite direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while said one pawl engages the surface of the space between said first and second set of teeth, said means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively including a first solenoid and a second solenoid for urging said pawls into engagement with said teeth respectively, and a first spring means and a second spring means for urging said pawls out of engagement with said teeth respectively, means for connecting said solenoids to said switch for activation upon actuation of said brake pedal.

Claim 24

An antijackknife device for a tractor-trailer combination wherein said tractor has a fifth wheel having a guide slot and wherein said tractor-trailer combination has a brake pedal and a switch operable by said brake pedal, said device comprising: a housing fixedly mounted on the lower front portion of said trailer, a ratchet wheel, means mounting said ratchet wheel for arcuate movement inside said housing, lug means depending from the bottom of said ratchet wheel and being positionable in the guide slot of the fifth wheel of said tractor, said lug means being shaped and mounted to follow the articulation of said tractor with respect to said trailer, said ratchet wheel having a first set and a second set of teeth on the periphery thereof, a first pawl and a second pawl and means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively, said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have one pawl engage one set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in one direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while the other pawl engages the surface of the space between said first and second set of teeth; and said teeth and pawls being shaped and mounted to have the other pawl engage the other set of teeth when said tractor-trailer is articulated in the opposite direction to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement while said one pawl engages the surface of the space between said first and second set of teeth, said means for selectively moving said first and second pawls into and out of engagement with said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth respectively including a first solenoid and a second solenoid for urging said pawls into engagement with said teeth respectively, and a first spring means and a second spring means for urging said pawls out of engagement with said teeth respectively, means for connecting said solenoids to said switch for activation upon actuation of said brake pedal.

Claim 25

An antijackknife device according to claim 17 wherein said tractor-trailer combination has a turning signal and emergency light system, and further comprising a cutoff switch connected between said solenoids and said switch, said cutoff switch being connected to the turning signal and emergency light system to deactivate the antijackknife device upon actuation of the turning signal and emergency light system.

Claim 26

An antijackknife device according to claim 17 wherein said tractor-trailer combination has a trailer brake hand control, and further comprising means for actuating said solenoids including a hand control member, said hand control member having three positions including a first position wherein said solenoids are connected to said switch whereby actuation of the brake pedal or the trailer brake hand control activates the antijackknife device; and a second position wherein said solenoids are completely deactivated; and a third position wherein said solenoids are continuously activated.

Claim 27

Antijackknife means for a tractor unit and tandem trailer units having a dollylike wheel carriage therebetween, the combination comprising: a first housing mounted on the lower front portion of the first trailer unit, first ratchet means, means mounting said first ratchet means on said first housing for movement responsive to the articulation of the tractor unit with respect to the first trailer unit, means mounted on said first housing for selected engagement with said first ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said first trailer unit with respect to said tractor unit; a second housing mounted on the lower front portion of the second trailer unit, second ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means on said second housing for movement responsive to the articulation of the dollylike wheel carriage with respect to the second trailer unit, means mounted on said second housing for selected engagement with said second ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said second trailer unit with respect to said first trailer unit.

Claim 28

Antijackknife means for a tractor unit and tandem trailer units having a dollylike wheel carriage therebetween, the combination comprising: a first housing mounted on the lower front portion of the first trailer unit, first ratchet means, means mounting said first ratchet means on said first housing for movement responsive to the articulation of the tractor unit with respect to the first trailer unit, means mounted on said first housing for selected engagement with said first ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said first trailer unit with respect to said tractor unit; a second housing mounted on the lower front portion of the second trailer unit, second ratchet means, means mounting said ratchet means on said second housing for movement responsive to the articulation of the dollylike wheel carriage with respect to the second trailer unit, means mounted on said second housing for selected engagement with said second ratchet means, said last named means when in engaged position being shaped and mounted to prevent additional articulation and to allow return to alignment movement of said second trailer unit with respect to said first trailer unit.