Tractor Adapted to Be Connected to a Semi-Trailer

• US 20080217883A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Vikstrom, Tobias, Gustafsson, Jens, Lennartsson, Mikael
• Application Number:
  US12/089,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217883A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/425.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/08 Fifth wheel traction couplings tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0857 Auxiliary semi-trailer handling or loading equipment, e.g. ramps, rigs, coupling supports
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/12 engaging automatically

Abstract

A tractor adapted to be connected to a semi-trailer is provided and includes a chassis having at the rear end portion a fifth wheel and behind that a pick up ramp arranged to guide the trailer in position so that a king pin on the trailer can enter an opening in the fifth wheel when the tractor is driven in reverse towards the trailer. The pick up ramp is moveable by power means between an upper tilted pick up position and a lower storage and driving position in which the ramp rests on beams of the chassis.

Claims

1. A tractor a adapted to be connected to a semi-trailer and comprising

a chassis,

at least one front wheel axle at a front portion of the chassis and at least one rear wheel axle at the rear portion of the chassis,

a cab at the front portion of the chassis and

a fifth wheel at the rear portion of the chassis, the fifth wheel having means to connect the truck to a king pin of a semi-trailer,

pick up means mounted on the chassis proximate the rear end of the chassis, the pick up means being moveable between an upper and a lower position and arranged, when the tractor is moving in reverse and the rear end of the chassis is moving in under the semi-trailer, to catch means on the semi-trailer and, caused by continued movement of the tractor in reverse, to lift a front end of the semi-trailer and to guide the king pin of the of the semi-trailer to a predetermined position in relation to the fifth wheel, the pick up means comprising a pick up ramp which is controlled by an operating equipment equipped with sensor means sensing a height of an upper surface of the fifth wheel, the tractor further comprising means to adjust the upper position of the pick up means so that an upper edge thereof levels with the upper surface of the fifth wheel.

2. A tractor according to claim 1, wherein the pick up means is a ramp pivotally journalled on the chassis and power operated means connect the ramp with the chassis, the power operated means being arranged, when operated, to tilt the ramp between an upper pick up position, in which a front end of the ramp levels with the fifth wheel and a rear end of the ramp is situated at a lower level adapted to a level of the semi-trailer to be connected, and a storage and driving position, in which the complete ramp is lying at a level below the fifth wheel.

3. A tractor according to claim 2, wherein the pick up ramp comprises two longitudinal beams, each beam being pivotally connected proximate one end to a beam of the chassis and proximate another end to power operated means.

4. A tractor according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal beams are interconnected by at least one transverse cross-beam.

5. A tractor according to claim 1, wherein the pick up ramp comprises two pick up frame modules being mirror images of one another, each module comprising a support beam adapted to be rigidly attached to a tractor chassis beam, a slide beam pivotally journalled on the support beam and power operated means for varying the inclination of the slide beam relative to the support beam.