Slider With Hydraulic Cylinder

• US 20090072515A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Jost-Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Richter, Martin, Alguera, Jose Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/441.100
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0814 with adjustment of the clearance between the tractor or the trailer devices modifying the load in tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/068

Abstract

A slider for a fifth wheel is arranged on a towing vehicle, comprising a substructure with at least two guide rails aligned in the direction of travel, a displaceable slide carrying the fifth wheel and acting upon the guide rails, and a motor-driven drive unit. A slider is provided which allows the gap width between the towing vehicle and the trailer being adapted to the respective driving situation during travel. For this purpose, the slider is characterized in that the motor-driven drive unit is configured from a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic circuit.

Claims

1. A slider for a fifth wheel arranged on a tractor vehicle, comprising:

a substructure with at least two guide rails oriented in a direction of travel,

a displaceable slide which carries the fifth wheel and engages with the guide rails, and

clamping shoes arranged oppositely on the slide, making possible a positive locking of the slide in the guide rails, as well as an actuating element, which moves the clamping shoes into a released position and a locking position,

a motor-driven drive unit, with a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic circuit and a control valve, connected to a control device, which controls the travel of the hydraulic cylinder, and wherein the control device beside controlling the hydraulic circuit also takes on the control of the actuating element.

2. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes a pump.

3. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder engages by a first end with the slide and can be placed by an other end of the hydraulic cylinder on a stationary component of the tractor vehicle.

4. The device per claim 3, wherein the stationary component is formed by the substructure.

5. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is of a dual-acting type.

6. The device per claim 5, wherein the dual-acting hydraulic cylinder is a constant running cylinder or a differential cylinder or a combination thereof.

7. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes a control valve, which controls the travel of the hydraulic cylinder.

8. The device per claim 7, wherein the control valve is connected to an electronic control device.

9. The device per claim 8, wherein the control device can be connected to a vehicle control device.

10. The device per claim 1, wherein the slide is positively fixed to the guide rails in a near steady operating condition by means of clamping shoes arranged on the slide.

11. The device per claim 10, wherein an actuating element is arranged on the slide, which moves the clamping shoes into a release position and a locking position.

12. The device per claim 11, wherein the actuating element is a pneumatic cylinder.

13. The device per claim 12, wherein the pneumatic cylinder can be connected to a pressurized air supply of the tractor vehicle.

14. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit is constructed as an open circuit.

15. The device per claim 14, wherein a pressure storage device is arranged between the pump and the control valve in the open hydraulic circuit.

16. The device per claim 14, wherein the control valve is a 4/3-way valve.

17. The device per claim 14, wherein a pressure switch is arranged between the pump and the control valve.

18. The device per claim 17, wherein the pressure switch controls the operation of the pump.

19. The device per claim 14, wherein a 2/2-way valve with check valve is arranged downstream from the control valve between a feed and drain line of the hydraulic cylinder.

20. The device per claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit is constructed as a closed circuit.

21. The device per claim 20, wherein the pump can be switched to two delivery devices.

22. The device per claim 20, wherein the pump is a fixed displacement pump and the control of the hydraulic cylinder occurs by reversing the direction of turning.

23. The device per claim 20, wherein the pump is a variable displacement pump, and control of the hydraulic cylinder is done by adjusting a delivery device.

24. The device per claim 20, wherein a stroke of the hydraulic cylinder against the direction of travel is triggered by a prestressed spring element, for rapid adjustment.

25. The device per claim 20, wherein a pressure limiting valve is arranged between the pump and the control valve.

26. The device per claim 15, wherein the pressure storage device is a bladder accumulator.