Tractor fifth wheel with bearing plate lubricating liner

Claim 2

A fifth wheel assembly for a tractor, which assembly is matable with a trailer bearing plate assembly, said fifth wheel assembly comprising: a bearing plate having a periphery with a rearward edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, a generally centrally located draft connection, and a passageway communicating from said periphery to said draft connection; a longitudinal axis generally aligned with said passageway and gap; a first sloped flange and a second sloped flange generally extending from said bearing plate periphery at said rearward edge, said first and second flanges cooperating to define a gap communicating to said passage and draft connection; a nonmetallic wear liner positionable on said bearing plate upper surface to provide a lubricating contact for a trailer bearing plate; a sidewall at said bearing plate periphery, said sidewall having at least a first notch and a second notch, which first and second notches are generally diametrically opposed and on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said sidewall about normal to said bearing plate upper surface, which sidewall and upper surface cooperate to define a recess for said wear liner, said sidewall operable to retain said liner in said recess against lateral and radial displacement forces; said wear liner having an outer edge in proximity to said sidewall, at least a first radially outward protruding ear and a second radially outward protruding ear, each of said ears nestable in a notch to retain said wear liner against rotation on said bearing surface and to provide side support against trailer side tilt.

Claim 3

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said fifth wheel first and second sloped flanges has a ramp surface; said side wall having an upper edge; said wear liner having a top surface extending above said peripheral side wall upper edge, which wear liner is radially outwardly and downwardly tapered from said top surface at said rearward edge to provide an approximately continuous ramp-like junction with each of said ramp surfaces for ease of fifth wheel and trailer-bearing plate mating and, to inhibit wear liner tearing and displacement at said mating.

Claim 4

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for securing said wear liner in said bearing plate recess on said bearing plate surface.

Claim 5

A fifth wheel assembly claimed in claim 3 wherein said securing means is an adhesive.

Claim 6

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fifth wheel bearing plate defines a plurality of securing ports, said wear liner defining a plurality of passages alignable with said securing ports; and, said securing means extending through said passages and ports to secure said wear liner to said fifth wheel bearing plate.

Claim 7

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said securing ports are through bores in said bearing plate and said securing means is a plurality of bolts and nuts, which one of said bolts for and extending through each of passages and bores to mate with a nut and secure said wear liner in said recess.

Claim 8

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said securing ports has a threaded sidewall, said securing means is a plurality of threaded screws, one of said screws extending through each of said liner passages to mate with a threaded port sidewall to secure said liner in said recess.

Claim 9

A fifth wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a mounting plate, said wear liner bonded on said mounting plate, said means for securing extending through and securing said wear liner and mounting plate to said fifth wheel bearing plate.

Claim 10

A fifth wheel assembly for a tractor, which assembly is matable with a trailer bearing plate assembly, said fifth wheel assembly comprising: a bearing plate having a periphery with a rearward edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, a generally centrally located draft connection, and a passageway communicating from said periphery to said draft connection; a longitudinal axis generally aligned with said passageway and gap; a first sloped flange and a second sloped flange generally extending from said bearing plate periphery at said rearward edge, said first and second flanges cooperating to define a gap communicating to said passage and draft connection; a nonmetallic wear liner positionable on said bearing plate upper surface to provide a lubricating contact for a trailer bearing plate; a sidewall at said bearing plate periphery, said sidewall having a first notch and a second notch, which first and second notches are generally diametrically opposed and about transverse to said longitudinal axis, said sidewall about normal to said bearing plate upper surface, which sidewall and upper surface cooperate to define a recess for said wear liner, said sidewall operable to retain said liner in said recess against lateral and radial displacement forces; said wear liner having an outer edge in proximity to said sidewall, a first protruding ear and a second protruding ear, each said first and second ear extending radially outward from said outer edge, said first and second ears matable with said first and second notches, respectively, to retain said wear liner against rotation on said bearing surface and to provide side support against trailer side tilt.

Claim 11

A fifth wheel assembly for a tractor, which assembly is matable with a trailer bearing plate assembly, said fifth wheel assembly comprising: a bearing plate having a periphery with a rearward edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, a generally centrally located draft connection, and a passageway communicating from said periphery to said draft connection; a longitudinal axis generally aligned with said passageway and gap; a first sloped flange and a second sloped flange generally extending from said bearing plate periphery at said rearward edge, said first and second flanges cooperating to define a gap communicating to said passage and draft connection; a nonmetallic wear liner positionable on said bearing plate upper surface to provide a lubricating contact for a trailer bearing plate; a sidewall at said bearing plate periphery, said sidewall having a first notch and a second notch, which first and second notches are generally diametrically opposed and about transverse to said longitudinal axis, said sidewall about normal to said bearing plate upper surface, which sidewall and upper surface cooperate to define a recess for said wear liner, said sidewall operable to retain said liner in said recess against lateral and radial displacement forces; said wear liner having an outer edge in proximity to said sidewall, a first protruding ear and a second protruding ear, each said first and second ear extending radially outward from said outer edge, said first and second ears matable with said first and second notches, respectively, to retain said wear liner against rotation on said bearing surface and to provide side support against trailer side tilt.