SLIDABLY ADJUSTABLE FIFTH WHEEL HITCH ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE SAME

• US 20110068557A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Dowden, Paul, Fehring, John D., Eifert, Michael John, Gruber, Rudolf, Brown, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/438.1
• 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

An automatically adjustable fifth wheel assembly for a vehicle and trailer combination that adjusts the position of the trailer relative to the vehicle is disclosed.

Claims

1. A latch mechanism assembly for a slidably adjustable system comprising:

a latch body having a latching tooth portion disposed at a first end of the latch body and a crank opening formed in a second end of the latch body;

an over-center pivot disposed in the crank opening, the over-center pivot having a crank portion and ground portion, wherein the latch body pivots about the crank portion between a first latch position and second latch position, and wherein the crank portion rotates about the ground portion between a first crank position and a second crank position, the rotation of the crank portion about the ground portion to the second crank portion position allows the latch body to pivot about the crank portion to the second latch position;

a rack having a plurality of rack teeth spaced a distance apart, the distance between each of the plurality of rack teeth being sized to receive the latching tooth; and

a roller actuator assembly disposed at the first end of the latch body;

the roller actuator assembly having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the roller actuator is in the extended position the crank portion rotates from the first crank position to the second crank position.

2. The latch mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a wheel disposed at a distal end of the roller actuator assembly and in contact with the rack.

3. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the wheel is sized to be at least partially disposed within the distance formed between the plurality of rack teeth.

4. The latch mechanism claim 1, wherein the latching tooth portion has a complimentary shape to an opening formed in between the plurality of rack teeth.

5. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the roller actuator assembly is hydraulically operated.

6. The latch mechanism of claim 5, further comprising a latch valve assembly comprising:

a hydraulic valve disposed on the second end of the latch body, the hydraulic valve having an open position and a closed position, the hydraulic valve being coupled to a cam follower, and the hydraulic valve being disposed in fluid communication with the roller actuator assembly, wherein the hydraulic valve controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the roller actuator assembly to position the roller actuator assembly between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a cam surface in contact with the cam follower of the hydraulic valve.

7. The latch mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the latch body to rotate the latch body towards the first latch position.

8. The latch mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rack teeth form a generally concave surface.

9. A latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system comprising:

a first latch mechanism comprising;

a first latch body having a first latching tooth portion disposed at a first end of the first latch body and a first crank opening formed in a second end of the first latch body;

a first roller actuator assembly disposed at the first end of the first latch body, the first roller actuator assembly having an extended position and a retracted position; and

a first over-center pivot disposed in the first crank opening, the first over-center pivot having a first crank portion and a first ground portion, wherein the first latch body pivots about the first crank portion between a first latch position and second latch position, and wherein the first crank portion rotates about the first ground portion between a first crank position and a second crank position, the rotation of the first crank portion about the first ground portion to the second crank portion position allowing the first latch body to pivot about the first crank portion to the second latch position;

a second latch mechanism comprising;

a second latch body having a second latching tooth portion disposed at a first end of the second latch body and a second crank opening formed in a second end of the second latch body;

a second roller actuator assembly disposed at the first end of the second latch body, the second roller actuator assembly having an extended position and a retracted position; and

a second over-center pivot disposed in the second crank opening, the second over-center pivot having a second crank portion and a second ground portion, wherein the second latch body pivots about the second crank portion between a first latch position and a second latch position, and wherein the second crank portion rotates about the second ground portion between a first crank position and a second crank position, the rotation of the second crank portion about the second ground portion to the second crank portion position allowing the second latch body to pivot about the second crank portion to the second latch position; and

a rack having a plurality of rack teeth spaced a distance apart, the distance between each of the plurality of rack teeth forming an opening sized to receive the first latching tooth portion of the first latch mechanism and the second latching tooth portion of the second latch mechanism;

wherein the first roller actuator assembly in the extended position allows slidable movement in a first longitudinal direction; and

wherein the second roller actuator assembly in the extended position allows slidable movement in a second longitudinal direction.

10. The latch pair assembly of claim 9, further comprising a first wheel disposed at a distal end of the first roller actuator assembly and in contact with the rack.

11. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 10, further comprising a second wheel disposed at a distal end of the second roller actuator assembly and in contact with the rack.

12. The latch pair assembly of claim 9, further comprising a first latch valve assembly comprising:

a first hydraulic valve disposed on the second end of the first latch body, the first hydraulic valve having an open position and a closed position, the first hydraulic valve being coupled to a first cam follower, and the first hydraulic valve being disposed in fluid communication with the first roller actuator assembly, wherein the first hydraulic valve controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the first roller actuator assembly to position the first roller actuator assembly between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a first cam surface in contact with the first cam follower of the first hydraulic valve.

13. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 12, further comprising a second latch valve assembly comprising:

a second hydraulic valve disposed on the second end of the second latch body, the second hydraulic valve having an open position and a closed position, the second hydraulic valve being coupled to a second cam follower, and the second hydraulic valve being disposed in fluid communication with the second roller actuator assembly, wherein the second hydraulic valve controls a flow of hydraulic fluid to the second roller actuator assembly to position the second roller actuator assembly between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a second cam surface in contact with the second cam follower of the second hydraulic valve.

14. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 9, wherein the first latching tooth portion has a complimentary shape to the opening formed between the plurality of rack teeth.

15. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 14, wherein the second latching tooth portion has a complimentary shape to the opening formed between the plurality of rack teeth.

16. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 9, wherein the rack teeth form a generally concave surface.

17. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 9, wherein positioning the second roller actuator assembly in the retracted position allows slidable movement in the first longitudinal direction.

18. The latch pair assembly for a slidably adjustable system of claim 9, wherein positioning the first roller actuator assembly in the retracted position allows slidable movement in the second longitudinal direction.

19. A slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprising:

a fifth wheel hitch having a first position and a second position along a longitudinal axis;

a first rack having a first plurality of rack teeth disposed on a first lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch;

a second rack having a second plurality of rack teeth disposed on a second lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch;

a first latch mechanism being disposed on the first lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch, the first latch mechanism having a latched position and an unlatched position;

a second latch mechanism being disposed on the first lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch, the second latch mechanism being disposed rearward of the first latch mechanism, the second latch mechanism having a latched position and an unlatched position;

a third latch mechanism being disposed on the second lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch, the third latch mechanism having a latched position and an unlatched position; and

a fourth latch mechanism being disposed on the second lateral side of the fifth wheel hitch, the fourth latch mechanism being disposed rearward of the third latch mechanism, the fourth latch mechanism having a latched position and an unlatched position;

wherein the first latch mechanism and the third latch mechanism being positioned in the unlatched position as the fifth wheel hitch moves from the first position to the second position.

20. The slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 19, wherein the second latch mechanism and the fourth latch mechanism being positioned in the unlatched position as the fifth wheel hitch moves from the second position to the first position.