Slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly for a vehicle and control system for the same

• US 8,333,399 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Brown, Andrea, Fehring, John D., Gruber, Rudolf, Dowden, Paul, Eifert, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Maurice
• Application Number:
  US12/883,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 280/433, 280/438.1, 280/441, 280/407, 280/407.1, 280/405.1
• 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

A cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprises a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly, a cylinder mount, a hydraulic cylinder, a first longitudinal support, and a second longitudinal support. The slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly has a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. The cylinder mount is disposed adjacent at least two sides of a first frame cross member. The hydraulic cylinder is disposed between the cylinder mount and the slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly, and is attached to the cylinder mount. The first longitudinal support is disposed between the cylinder mount and a second frame cross member. The second longitudinal support is disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member. The cylinder mount is adapted to move laterally along the first frame cross member.

Claims

1. A cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprising:

a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly having a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position;

a cylinder mount being disposed adjacent at least two sides of a first frame cross member, the cylinder mount being laterally moveable along the first frame cross member;

a hydraulic cylinder disposed between the cylinder mount and the slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly, the hydraulic cylinder being attached to the cylinder mount and operable to move the fifth wheel hitch assembly between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position;

a first longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and a second frame cross member; and

a second longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member.

2. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylinder mount being disposed generally at a lateral center of the first frame cross member.

3. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 2, wherein the first longitudinal support connects to the second frame cross member at a first end of the second frame cross member.

4. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 3, wherein the second longitudinal support connects to the second frame cross member at a second end of the second frame cross member.

5. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder imparts a longitudinal force on the cylinder mount.

6. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 5, wherein the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support transfer the longitudinal force on the cylinder mount to the second frame cross member.

7. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 6, further comprising a first frame rail and a second frame rail, the second frame cross member being connected to the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the first frame rail being disposed on the first end of the second frame cross member, the second frame rail being disposed on the second end of the second frame cross member, wherein the second frame cross member transfers the longitudinal force on the cylinder mount to the first frame rail and the second frame rail.

8. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic cylinder has a third position and a fourth position corresponding to the fifth wheel hitch assembly first longitudinal position and second longitudinal position.

9. A cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprising:

a first frame cross member being disposed between a first frame rail and a second frame rail;

a cylinder mount being disposed about a portion of the first frame cross member, the cylinder mount being laterally moveable along the first frame cross member;

a second frame cross member fixedly coupled to and extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the second frame rail cross member being disposed at a longitudinally rearward position relative to the first frame cross member;

a first longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member; and

a second longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member;

wherein the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support fixedly position the cylinder mount in a longitudinal direction relative to the first frame cross member.

10. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the cylinder mount being disposed generally at a lateral center of the first frame cross member.

11. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the first longitudinal support connects to the second frame cross member at a first end of the second frame cross member.

12. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 11, wherein the second longitudinal support connects to the second frame cross member at a second end of the second frame cross member.

13. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 12, wherein the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support transfer longitudinal forces on the cylinder mount to the second frame cross member.

14. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 13, wherein the first frame rail being disposed on the first end of the second frame cross member, the second frame rail being disposed on the second end of the second frame cross member, and wherein the second frame cross member transfers the longitudinal forces on the cylinder mount to the first frame rail and the second frame rail.

15. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the cylinder mount being disposed about a top side, a longitudinally rear side, and a bottom side of the first frame cross member.

16. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 9, wherein the cylinder mount being disposed about a top side and a longitudinally rear of the first frame cross member.

17. A cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprising:

a cylinder mount being disposed about a portion of a first frame cross member, the cylinder mount being disposed generally at a lateral center position of the first frame cross member, the cylinder mount being laterally moveable along the first frame cross member;

a first longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and a second frame cross member, the first longitudinal support being connected to the second frame cross member near a first lateral end of the second frame cross member; and

a second longitudinal support being disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member, the second longitudinal support being connected to the second frame cross member near a second lateral end of the second frame cross member;

wherein the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support fixedly position the cylinder mount in a longitudinal direction relative to the first frame cross member.

18. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 17, wherein the first longitudinal support and the second longitudinal support transfer longitudinal forces on the cylinder mount to the second frame cross member.

19. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 18, further comprising a first frame rail and a second frame rail, the second frame cross member being connected to the first frame rail and the second frame rail, the first frame rail being disposed on the first end of the second frame cross member, the second frame rail being disposed on the second end of the second frame cross member.

20. The cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly of claim 19, wherein the second frame cross member transfers the longitudinal forces on the cylinder mount to the first frame rail and the second frame rail.