Fifth wheel device

Claim 2

A portable, self-contained fifth wheel device for detachable mounting on a vehicle, such as a fork lift truck or the like, for towing a wheeled container, such as a trailer, comprising, a frame for detachable connection on a wheeled vehicle of the type having at least one support arm, said frame including a pivotally mounted fifth wheel for detachable connection to a wheeled container, said frame having at least one interlocking means including a hollow housing for receiving said support arm, said housing including a fluid actuated lock means for selective locking engagement with said support arm, said fluid actuated lock means includes a brake member supported by said frame for movement within said housing, and fluid power means operatively connected to said lock means for selectively moving said brake member into engagement with said support arm within said housing for clamping said support arm to said frame to enable said wheeled container to be connected to said fifth wheel and supportably mounted on said vehicle.

Claim 3

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, including fluid pressure means for selectively actuating the brake system of said wheeled cOntainer.

Claim 4

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 2, including regulator means for selectively controlling the fluid pressure transmitted to said fluid pressure means.

Claim 5

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, including a regulator means for regulating the pressure to said fluid power means.

Claim 6

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hollow housing is of a polygonal configuration, in cross-section, defining track for slidably receiving said support arm, said housing being open at both ends and having an opening in the bottom for receiving said lock means therethrough.

Claim 7

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said frame has at least one pair of spaced-apart, oppositely disposed housings for receiving a corresponding pair of support arms therein, said fluid actuated lock means includes a fluid actuated piston member disposed for reciprocal movement in each of said housings, each of said piston members has a brake member mounted on its free end for locking engagement with the corresponding support arm disposed in its associated housing, and said fluid power means is operably connected to each of said piston members for selectively actuating said piston members to move said brake members into clamping engagement with said support arms.

Claim 8

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 6, including stop means for limiting reciprocable movement of said piston member.

Claim 9

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of said housings includes an elongated, hollow channel, and each of said channels includes a friction member secured thereto in confronting relation to a respective one of said brake members for clamping said support arms therebetween.

Claim 10

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said brake member is pivotally mounted on said piston member so that its brake surface may be oriented for generally flush contact with the confronting surface of said support arm.

Claim 11

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said brake member comprises a bracket plate having a brake shoe mounted thereon for contact with said support arm, said bracket plate is mounted at one end of an elongated collar member disposed in telescopic relation over one end of said piston member, and said collar member is of an oblate configuration in transverse cross section to enable pivotal movement of said brake member in the direction of the major axis of said collar member and facilitates clamping contact of said brake member with said support arm.

Claim 12

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lock means includes a fluid-actuated piston member operably connected to said brake member, said brake member being mounted at the free end of said piston member for coacting frictional engagement with said support arm, and said fluid power means is operably connected to the opposite end of said piston member for selectively moving said brake member into engagement with said support arm for clamping said support arm to said frame.

Claim 13

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said fluid power means comprises a fluid cylinder, and said piston member is operably connected to said fluid cylinder for reciprocating movement within said housing for moving said brake member into clamping engagement with said support arm.

Claim 14

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an elongated, hollow channel, and said channel includes a friction member secured thereto in confronting relation with respect to said brake member for clamping said support arm therebetween.

Claim 15

A fifth wheel device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means comprises a self-contained air compressor unit mounted on said frame.

Claim 16

A portable, self-contained fifth wheel device for detachably mounting a vehicle, sUch as a fork lift truck or the like, for towing a wheeled container, such as a trailer, comprising, a frame for detachable connection on a wheeled vehicle of the type having a pair of support arms, a fifth wheel pivotally mounted on said frame for detachable connection to a wheeled container, said frame including a pair of spaced, elongated hollow channels for receiving said support arms therein, a fluid actuated lock means supported by said frame for selective locking engagement with said support arms when disposed in said channels, a fluid pressure means on said frame for selectively actuating said lock means and the braking system of said wheeled container to release the brakes of said wheeled container that it can be towed by said vehicle when said device is locked to said support arms, said lock means includes a fluid actuated piston member disposed for reciprocal movement in each of said channels, each of said piston members includes a brake member pivotally mounted at its free end for clamping engagement with the respective one of said support arms disposed in said channel, and fluid power means operably connected to each of said piston members for moving said brake members into frictional engagement with said support arms when in said channels to clamp said support arms to said frame for locking said device on said vehicle.

Claim 17

A portable, self-contained fifth wheel device for detachably mounting a vehicle, sUch as a fork lift truck or the like, for towing a wheeled container, such as a trailer, comprising, a frame for detachable connection on a wheeled vehicle of the type having a pair of support arms, a fifth wheel pivotally mounted on said frame for detachable connection to a wheeled container, said frame including a pair of spaced, elongated hollow channels for receiving said support arms therein, a fluid actuated lock means supported by said frame for selective locking engagement with said support arms when disposed in said channels, a fluid pressure means on said frame for selectively actuating said lock means and the braking system of said wheeled container to release the brakes of said wheeled container that it can be towed by said vehicle when said device is locked to said support arms, said lock means includes a fluid actuated piston member disposed for reciprocal movement in each of said channels, each of said piston members includes a brake member pivotally mounted at its free end for clamping engagement with the respective one of said support arms disposed in said channel, and fluid power means operably connected to each of said piston members for moving said brake members into frictional engagement with said support arms when in said channels to clamp said support arms to said frame for locking said device on said vehicle.