US3815937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fifth wheel having a universal king pin locking mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-09
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-11-09
Abstract
Abstract The bottom half of a fifth wheel includes a horizontally movable locking structure for capturing the neck of the king pin to the bottom half. The king pin locking mechanism is universal in that it is capable of providing at least two vertically offset locking collar positions to accommodate at least two different fifth wheel combinations in which the neck portion of the king pin can take at least two vertically offset positions depending upon whether or not the top half includes concentric lands and grooves for mating with similar lands and grooves on the bottom half. A secondary locking means is provided for locking the first locking means in position. Indicator means are provided for indicating to the operator, in the cab of the tractor, a locked condition of the king pin of the fifth wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 D Hodgson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:37
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a fifth wheel for releasably coupling a pulling vehicle to a trailer vehicle: first half means adapted to be secured to one of the vehicles for releasably receiving a king pin structure affixed to the other vehicle, the king pin structure having a recessed neck portion; means for securing said first half means to one of the vehicles; universal locking means carried from said first half means for engaging the neck portion of the king pin structure and for vertically capturing the king pin in journaled relation to said first half means to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the king pin from said first half means while allowing relative rotation therebetween; said universal locking means including, a locking structure horizontally movable relative to said first half means for movement into engaging relation with the neck portion of the king pin structure, said horizontally movably locking structure having at least two vertically offset portions of finite thickness for selective movement into the recess in the neck of the king pin structure for engagement with the neck of the king pin for locking at least two different fifth wheel combinations in which the recessed neck portion of the king pin can take at least two different vertical positions relative to said horizontally movable locking structure when the king pin of the different fifth wheel combinations is located in the proper position to be locked.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a fifth wheel for releasably coupling a pulling vehicle to a trailer vehicle: first half means adapted to be secured to one of the vehicles for releasably receiving a king pin structure affixed to the other vehicle, the king pin structure having a recessed neck portion; means for securing said first half means to one of the vehicles; universal locking means carried from said first half means for engaging the neck portion of the king pin structure and for vertically capturing the king pin in journaled relation to said first half means to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the king pin from said first half means while allowing relative rotation therebetween; said universal locking means including, a locking structure horizontally movable relative to said first half means for movement into engaging relation with the neck portion of the king pin structure, said horizontally movably locking structure having at least two vertically offset portions of finite thickness for selective movement into the recess in the neck of the king pin structure for engagement with the neck of the king pin for locking at least two different fifth wheel combinations in which the recessed neck portion of the king pin can take at least two different vertical positions relative to said horizontally movable locking structure when the king pin of the different fifth wheel combinations is located in the proper position to be locked.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
158 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking structure includes three vertically stacked horizontally movable primary locking members defining first and second adjacent pairs of primary locking members, said three stacked primary locking members having a total vertical thickness greater than the vertical extent of the recessed neck portion of the king pin to be captured, said adjacent first and second pairs of said primary locking members each having a vertical extent less than the vertical extent of said neck portion of said king pin such that either said first or second pair of primary locking members are horizontally movable into a locked position of locking engagement with the neck portion of said king pin for locking said king pin to said first half means, and means for urging the proper pair of said primary locking members into engagement with the neck portion of the king pin upon entry into the locking region of said first half means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, trigger means projecting when cocked into the locking region to be occupied by said king pin such that said trigger means is tripped by entry of said king pin into the locking position, and wherein said means for urging said primary locking members into engagement with the king pin includes, spring means operatively connected to said primary locking members for spring biasing said primary locking members toward the locking position, said trigger means when cocked restraining movement of said locking members against the spring bias force of said spring means, said trigger means when tripped releasing said trigger restraint of said spring biased locking members to allow the appropriate first or second pair of said primary locking members to move into locking engagement with the neck portion of the king pin structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including, means for cocking said trigger means and said three locking members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cocking means includes, a cocking lever pivotably connected to said bottom half and operatively interconnected to said trigger means and to said primary locking members for retracting the released locking means and for cocking said three primary locking members against said spring bias force of said spring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, secondary locking means for locking saId respective locking members in their respective lock positions of engagement with the king pin structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including, indicator means operatively interconnected to said secondary locking means for indicating to the operator locking of said secondary locking means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said secondary locking means includes, a set of three secondary locking members, secondary spring means for spring biasing said secondary locking members into engagement with respective ones of said primary locking members such that when a respective primary locking member moves into locking engagement with the king pin said secondary locking member will be released by said respective primary locking member to allow said secondary locking member to move into secondary locking engagement with said respective primary locking member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including, secondary cocking means carried from said first half means for retracting said secondary locking member against said secondary spring bias force and out of locking engagement with said respective primary locking member to permit cocking of said primary locking members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |