Fifth wheel with anti-theft protection device

• US 8,371,600 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-Holland SA
• Original Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND Verkehrstechnik Gmbh (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Inventors: Bttner, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Maurice
• Application Number:
  US10/558,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,133 Days
• Field of Search: 280/507, 280/433, 280/422, 280/434
• US Class Current: 280/433
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/08 Fifth wheel traction couplings tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/085 fitted with anti-coupling devices, pivotal or retractable king pins, e.g. to prevent theft vehicle fittings for preventing theft in general B60R25/00

Abstract

A fifth wheel comprising a coupling plate and an anti-theft protection device, the anti-theft protection device being configured such that it is integrally connected to the coupling plate and can be electrically actuated and the anti-theft protection device being arranged such that it is not discernible from the outside.

Claims

1. A truck tractor-trailer combination comprising a fifth wheel to connect a truck tractor to a trailer, the fifth wheel comprises a coupling plate on the tractor and a kingpin on the trailer, the coupling plate includes an opening for receiving the kingpin, a locking mechanism for detachably securing the kingpin in the opening of the coupling plate, a driver'"'"'s cab on the truck tractor, and an anti-theft protection device which comprises elements different from those of the locking mechanism is disposed in a housing which is integrally connected to and beneath the coupling plate, the anti-theft protection device is arranged in the housing such that it is not discernible from the outside, wherein the anti-theft protection device is configured to be electrically actuated, the anti-theft protection device comprises a locking part which projects from the housing and which is configured such that it fits a receiving fixture in a lock part of the fifth wheel, which is adapted to be actuated by a bolt part from a first position, wherein the kingpin may be removed from the opening of the coupling plate, and a second position, wherein the lock part provides a mechanical locking of the kingpin within the opening of the coupling plate, and further includes a control unit in the driver'"'"'s cab for unlocking the anti-theft protection device, wherein the housing and the coupling plate comprises a cast structure, and wherein the housing is rigidly fixed to the coupling plate.

2. The fifth wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking part of the anti-theft protection device is activated and deactivated with an electromagnet.

3. The fifth wheel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electromagnet controlled by the control unit in the driver'"'"'s cab of a truck.

4. The fifth wheel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electromagnet includes a numerical code input for activating and deactivating the control unit at the control unit.

5. The fifth wheel as claimed in claim 3, further including sensors and displays for monitoring the fifth wheel, said sensors and displays are electrically connected to the control unit.

6. A truck tractor-trailer combination comprising a fifth wheel to connect a truck tractor to a trailer, the fifth wheel comprises a coupling plate on the tractor and a kingpin on the trailer, the coupling plate includes an opening for receiving the kingpin, a locking mechanism for detachably securing the kingpin in the opening of the coupling plate, a driver'"'"'s cab on the truck tractor, and an anti-theft protection device which comprises elements different from those of the locking mechanism is disposed in a housing which is integrally connected to and beneath the coupling plate, the anti-theft protection device is arranged in the housing such that it is not discernible from the outside, wherein the anti-theft protection device is configured to be electrically actuated, the anti-theft protection device comprises a locking part which projects from the housing and which is configured such that it fits a receiving fixture in a lock part of the fifth wheel, which is adapted to be actuated by a bolt part from a first position, wherein the kingpin may be removed from the opening of the coupling plate, and a second position, wherein the lock part provides a mechanical locking of the kingpin within the opening of the coupling plate, and further includes a control unit in the driver'"'"'s cab for unlocking the anti-theft protection device, wherein the housing and the coupling plate comprises a welded structure, and wherein the housing is rigidly fixed to the coupling plate.

7. A truck tractor-trailer combination comprising a fifth wheel to connect a truck tractor to a trailer, the fifth wheel comprises a coupling plate on the tractor and a kingpin on the trailer, the coupling plate includes an opening for receiving the kingpin, a locking mechanism for detachably securing the kingpin in the opening of the coupling plate, a driver'"'"'s cab on the truck tractor, and an anti-theft protection device which comprises elements different from those of the locking mechanism is disposed in a housing which is integrally connected to and beneath the coupling plate, the anti-theft protection device is arranged in the housing such that it is not discernible from the outside, wherein the anti-theft protection device is configured to be electrically actuated, the anti-theft protection device comprises a locking part which projects from the housing and which is configured such that it fits a receiving fixture in a lock part of the fifth wheel, which is adapted to be actuated by a bolt part from a first position, wherein the kingpin may be removed from the opening of the coupling plate, and a second position, wherein the lock part provides a mechanical locking of the kingpin within the opening of the coupling plate, and further includes a control unit in the driver'"'"'s cab for unlocking the anti-theft protection device, and wherein the housing is rigidly fixed to the coupling plate.