US3995877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fifth wheel
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1975-07-22
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Granted: 1976-12-07
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Expires: 1995-07-22
Abstract
Abstract An improved fifth wheel for a tractor-trailer rig, characterized by a first subassembly including a wear plate adapted to be mounted on a downwardly facing surface of a trailer and having a king pin projected normally therefrom, and a second subassembly adapted to be pivotally mounted on an upwardly facing surface of a tractor and brought into contiguous relation with the first subassembly, including a receiver for capturing the king pin and safety means responsive to a failure of the king pin or its latching mechanism for joining the first subassembly with the second subassembly.
Inventors
- 👤 William P. Albrecht
- 👤 Ralph H. Sparks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:32
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
365 words
In combination with a tractor-trailer rig an improved fifth wheel assembly for coupling the trailer with the tractor of said rig, comprising: A. a first subassembly including a first wear plate rigidly affixed to the trailer; B. a king pin projected substantially orthogonally from said first wear plate; C. a second subassembly including a second wear plate pivotally mounted on said tractor including means defining in the second wear plate a receiver including a throat of a substantially V-shaped configuration having an apex disposed near the center of said second wear plate for receiving said king pin; D. means mounted on said second wear plate in juxtaposition with the apex of said throat for capturing said king pin; E. safety means responsive to motion imparted to said first wear plate, relative to said second wear plate, in opposed directions substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said tractor for coupling the first wear plate to the second wear plate including, an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first wear plate in concentric relation with said king pin and including a first arcuate lip extended toward said king pin, and means defining on said second wear plate a crown including a second arcuate lip characterized by a pair of segments concentrically related to the apex of said throat and extended radially therefrom at opposite sides of the throat and adapted to engage said first arcuate lip; F. a pair of pivotal dogs mounted on said second subassembly and supported at opposite sides of said throat for pivotal motion in vertical planes between elevated and depressed positions, including a pair of substantially upstanding faces for defining between the faces and the second arcuate lip an arcuate receiver for said arcuate body; G. means including a pair of springs for supporting said pair of dogs in said first position; H. means including a pair of pivotal arms connected with said pair of dogs adapted to be manipulated for imparting pivotal motion to said dogs for displacing the dogs against said torsion springs from said elevated position to said depressed position; and I. means for releasibly securing said pair of dogs against pivotal displacement from said depressed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
In combination with a tractor-trailer rig an improved fifth wheel assembly for coupling the trailer with the tractor of said rig, comprising: A. a first subassembly including a first wear plate rigidly affixed to the trailer; B. a king pin projected substantially orthogonally from said first wear plate; C. a second subassembly including a second wear plate pivotally mounted on said tractor including means defining in the second wear plate a receiver including a throat of a substantially V-shaped configuration having an apex disposed near the center of said second wear plate for receiving said king pin; D. means mounted on said second wear plate in juxtaposition with the apex of said throat for capturing said king pin; E. safety means responsive to motion imparted to said first wear plate, relative to said second wear plate, in opposed directions substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said tractor for coupling the first wear plate to the second wear plate including, an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first wear plate in concentric relation with said king pin and including a first arcuate lip extended toward said king pin, and means defining on said second wear plate a crown including a second arcuate lip characterized by a pair of segments concentrically related to the apex of said throat and extended radially therefrom at opposite sides of the throat and adapted to engage said first arcuate lip; F. a pair of pivotal dogs mounted on said second subassembly and supported at opposite sides of said throat for pivotal motion in vertical planes between elevated and depressed positions, including a pair of substantially upstanding faces for defining between the faces and the second arcuate lip an arcuate receiver for said arcuate body; G. means including a pair of springs for supporting said pair of dogs in said first position; H. means including a pair of pivotal arms connected with said pair of dogs adapted to be manipulated for imparting pivotal motion to said dogs for displacing the dogs against said torsion springs from said elevated position to said depressed position; and I. means for releasibly securing said pair of dogs against pivotal displacement from said depressed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a fifth wheel assembly including a first subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and characterized by a king pin projected therefrom, and a second subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly characterized by a partial crown having a first arcuate lip and receiver means for receiving said king pin in a captured relationship as said second subassembly is brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly, the improvement comprising: safety means including, A. an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first subassembly in concentric relation with said first king pin and having a second arcuate lip adapted to mate with said first arcuate lip in an interlocked relationship as the second subassembly is brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly; B. means defining at least one spring-biased, depressible dog mounted on said second subassembly in spaced relation with said receiver means for engaging said arcuate body; and C. manually operable means including a pivotal lever arm mounted on said second subassembly for selectively depressing said dog.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a fifth wheel assembly including a first subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and characterized by a king pin projected therefrom, and a second subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly characterized by a partial crown having a first arcuate lip and receiver means for receiving said king pin in a captured relationship as said second subassembly is brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly, the improvement comprising: safety means including, A. an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first subassembly in concentric relation with said first king pin and having a second arcuate lip adapted to mate with said first arcuate lip in an interlocked relationship as the second subassembly is brought into contiguous relation with said first subassembly; B. means defining at least one spring-biased, depressible dog mounted on said second subassembly in spaced relation with said receiver means for engaging said arcuate body; and C. manually operable means including a pivotal lever arm mounted on said second subassembly for selectively depressing said dog.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a fifth wheel assembly including a first subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and characterized by a first wear plate having a king pin projected downwardly therefrom, and a second subassembly including a second wear plate of a circular configuration adapted to be mounted on a trailer and brought into contiguous relation with said first wear plate, characterized by a peripheral surface having a first lip of an arcuate configuration radially extended therefrom and means concentrically related to said peripheral surface for receiving said king pin in a captured relationship, the improvement comprising: safety means including, A. an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first wear plate in concentric relation with said king pin having a second lip of an arcuate configuration so arranged as to assume an interlocked relationship with said first lip as the second wear plate is brought into contiguous relation with said first wear plate; B. means defining at least one spring-biased, depressible dog mounted on said second subassembly in spaced relation with said first lip for capturing said arcuate body as the first and second lips are caused to assume an interlocked relationship; and C. means including a manually operable lever arm mounted on said second subassembly for selectively depressing the dog.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a fifth wheel assembly including a first subassembly adapted to be mounted on a trailer and characterized by a first wear plate having a king pin projected downwardly therefrom, and a second subassembly including a second wear plate of a circular configuration adapted to be mounted on a trailer and brought into contiguous relation with said first wear plate, characterized by a peripheral surface having a first lip of an arcuate configuration radially extended therefrom and means concentrically related to said peripheral surface for receiving said king pin in a captured relationship, the improvement comprising: safety means including, A. an arcuate body rigidly affixed to said first wear plate in concentric relation with said king pin having a second lip of an arcuate configuration so arranged as to assume an interlocked relationship with said first lip as the second wear plate is brought into contiguous relation with said first wear plate; B. means defining at least one spring-biased, depressible dog mounted on said second subassembly in spaced relation with said first lip for capturing said arcuate body as the first and second lips are caused to assume an interlocked relationship; and C. means including a manually operable lever arm mounted on said second subassembly for selectively depressing the dog.
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) | 1979-12-07 | 1980-06-07 | 1980-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-07 | 1984-06-07 | 1984-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-07 | 1988-06-07 | 1988-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |