Shiftable fifth wheel construction

Claim 2

A shiftable fifth wheel construction comprising, a tractor frame unit including a body member and a pair of side rails forming opposed longitudinal channels, a saddle unit mounted on the frame unit with its opposed longitudinal edges within said opposed longitudinal channels for longitudinal sliding movement on said frame unit, the side rails each including a plurality of separate spacer elements having confronting surfaces defining a series of longitudinally spaced sockets directed laterally inwardly toward those of the opposite side rail, and the sockets in the two side rails being equally spaced longitudinally and respectively aligned transversely, the saddle unit including locking elements slidable transversely within said channels into and out of aligned ones of the sockets, means yieldingly biasing the locking elements outwardly into the sockets and common means for moving the locking elements transversely inwardly and thereby withdrawing them from the sockets.

Claim 3

A shiftable fifth wheel construction comprising, a tractor frame unit including a body member and a pair of side rails forming longitudinal channels, a saddle unit mounted on the frame unit for longitudinal sliding movement thereon, the side rails each including a series of longitudinally spaced sockets directed laterally inwardly toward those of the opposite side rail, and the sockets in the two side rails being equally spaced longitudinally and respectively aligned transversely, the saddle unit including locking elements slidable transversely into and out of aligned ones of the sockets, means yieldingly biasing the locking elements outwardly into the sockets, common cam means for moving the locking elements transversely inwardly and thereby withdrawing them from the sockets and including individual cam elements operatively engaging the locking elements, and manually actuatable means for moving the cam means.

Claim 4

A shiftable fifth wheel construction comprising, a tractor frame unit including a body member and a pair of side rails forming longitudinal channels, a saddle unit mounted on the frame unit for longitudinal sliding movement thereon, the side rails each including a series of longitudinally spaced sockets directed laterally inwardly toward those of the opposite side rail, and the sockets in the two side rails being equally spaced longitudinally and respectively aligned transversely, the saddle unit including locking elements slidable transversely into and out of aligned ones of the sockets, means yieldingly biasing the locking elements outwardly into the sockets, common cam means for moving the locking elements transversely inwardly and thereby withdrawing them from the sockets and including individual cam elements operatively engaging the locking elements, and manually actuatable means for moving the cam means.

Claim 5

A shiftable fifth wheel construction according to claim 1 wherein the sockets and locking elements of the locking means are complementally shaped for accomplishing guiding movements of the locking elements into the sockets, and maintaining them in fully fitted position therein.

Claim 6

A shiftable fifth wheel construction according to claim 3 wherein said locking elements include a pair of transversely opposed plungers slidably mounted in housings mounted on the saddle unit having laterally outwardly extending end elements engagable in said sockets.

Claim 7

A shiftable fifth wheel construction comprising a base plate having a pair of longitudinally extending side rails above said base plate, support spacer elements interposed between said base plate and said side rails thereby forming a channel therebetween, a plurality of said spacer elements having oppositely facing tapered surfaces, the tapered surfaces of adjacent pairs of spacer elements defining tapered sockets, each of said tapered sockets opening toward an opposing side rail with each tapered socket in one side rail being aligned with another tapered socket in the opposing side rail, a saddle unit mounted on a bottom plate having side edges extending into said channel and being slidable therein, said saddle unit also including locking means including a pair of transversely slidable plungers mounted in housings which in turn are mounted on said saddle unit, said plungers having laterally outwardly extending end elements engagable in said tapered sockets; and means for releasably biasing said locking elements laterally outwardly into engagement with said tapered sockets.

Claim 8

A shiftable fifth wheel construction comprising a base plate having a pair of longitudinally extending side rails above said base plate, support spacer elements interposed between said base plate and said side rails thereby forming a channel therebetween, a plurality of said spacer elements having oppositely facing tapered surfaces, the tapered surfaces of adjacent pairs of spacer elements defining tapered sockets, each of said tapered sockets opening toward an opposing side rail with each tapered socket in one side rail being aligned with another tapered socket in the opposing side rail, a saddle unit mounted on a bottom plate having side edges extending into said channel and being slidable therein, said saddle unit also including locking means including a pair of transversely slidable plungers mounted in housings which in turn are mounted on said saddle unit, said plungers having laterally outwardly extending end elements engagable in said tapered sockets; and means for releasably biasing said locking elements laterally outwardly into engagement with said tapered sockets.