NONSQUIRT FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

• US 3,640,549 A
• Filed: 03/02/1970
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles G. Neff, Louis V. Carrier
• Original Assignee: Charles G. Neff, Louis V. Carrier
• Inventors: Neff, Charles G., Carrier, Louis V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Application Number:
  US05/015,485
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 280/435,434,438,432
• US Class Current: 280/435
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/12 engaging automatically

Abstract

A fifth wheel assembly for a tractor-trailer connection, having a special yoke release mechanism.

Claims

1. A fifth wheel assembly including main plate means, a pair of pivotal kingpin-engaging jaws movable between an open jaw position and a closed jaw position, and a jaw-securing yoke movable between a securing position straddling said jaws when in their closed jaw position, and a jaw release position;

camming means between said yoke and said main plate means arranged to shift said yoke from said securing position to said release position, and manual actuator means for operating said camming means, the improvement comprising;

locking means pivotally engaging said camming means and said actuator means such that said locking means abuts a portion of said main plate in a manner to lock and arrest movement of said yoke from its securing position in response to forces applied to said yoke other than by said actuator means, said locking means releasing with the operation of said actuator means, enabling shifting of said yoke by said camming means.

2. The fifth wheel assembly in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes interbinding elements, part being fixed to said main plate and part being connected between said actuator means and said camming means.

3. The fifth wheel assembly in claim 1 wherein said camming means includes an element pivotally mounted on said main plate means and having a curvilinear cam track, a cam follower in said cam track and attached to said yoke, and said locking means includes a first fixed member, and a second member shiftable into bInding engagement with said first fixed member, pivotally connected to said camming means element, and pivotally connected to said actuator means, such that shifting of said actuator means causes shifting of said camming means without binding engagement between said locking means members.

4. A fifth wheel assembly including a main plate means, a pair of pivotal kingpin-engaging jaws movable between a spread open jaw position and an adjacent closed jaw position, and a jaw-securing yoke movable between a securing position straddling said jaws when in their adjacent closed jaw position, and a jaw release position;

a cam plate pivotally mounted adjacent said yoke and containing a cam track;

a cam follower attached to said yoke and received by said cam track for shifting the yoke from its securing position to its release position;

the improvement comprising a release trigger pivotally mounted to said cam plate, a fixed trigger abutment on said main plate means, a pull actuator connected to said trigger, and biasing means normally biasing said trigger toward engagement with said abutment to prevent rotation of said cam plate in response to force from said yoke, said pull actuator being arranged to shift said trigger out of engagement relation to said abutment and then to shift said cam plate for shifting of said yoke.

5. The assembly in claim 4 wherein said pull actuator has a pivot connection to said trigger, said trigger has a pivotal connection to said cam plate, and said cam plate has a pivotal connection to said main plate means, with the angle therebetween being normally held by said biasing means to a large obtuse angle approaching but not reaching 180*.