ES2322117B1 - FIFTH WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

Fifth wheel lock system.

Locking system for an articulated vehicle consisting of a tractor cabin and a semi-trailer joined by a king-pin and the fifth wheel, and consisting of al minus an emergent piston of the fifth wheel and that locks in complementary accommodations of the platform, where the activation of the piston (s) is carried out by means of a control unit that governs a valve center and that receives signals from a series of sensors, consisting of in addition to a control panel to select the mode of performance.

Description

Fifth wheel lock system.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is a system which allows the fifth wheel lock, wheel by which the hitch of the tractor cabin of a truck with Your semitrailer.

The present system characterizes the fact allow the fifth wheel lock in its relative motion regarding the platform where the so-called is located King-pin used for cab connection tractor unit with the semi-trailer, using pistons in the lock that when activated they emerge from the fifth wheel, locking in the platform.

Thanks to the system described, it prevents the articulated vehicles, and in particular the semi-trailer can perform an unwanted turn with respect to the tractor cabin, or what also It is called scissors or bending.

Therefore, the present invention is circumscribes within the field of vehicle safety articulated that are conformed by a tractor unit and a semi-trailer linked through the so-called fifth wheel.

Background of the invention

So far, the applicant is unaware of the existence of integrated security means arranged on the articular union of the tractor unit with the semi-trailer, which avoid that before a sharp deceleration, a sudden braking or a very slippery or uneven ground the rotation of the semi-trailer with respect to the tractor cabin, what is called the scissors. These situations are the origin of numerous and serious accidents, there is no means of safety to avoid such accidents.

Therefore, it is the subject of the present invention  develop a security system that avoids turning situations unwanted of the semitrailer with respect to the tractor cabin in Certain situations

Description of the invention

The object of the invention of the locking system  of the fifth wheel, basically consists of blocking the turn relative of said fifth wheel with respect to the platform or semi-trailer using pistons for that if driven emerge from the fifth wheel staying in a accommodations made for this purpose on the platform or semitrailer

The piston drive can be perform by various means, either by mechanical means, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic etc, as they suit the most type of vehicle

The actuation of the pistons is governed by means of control, based on the use of a switchboard that collects the data captured by a series of sensors and that said switchboard also governs a control unit.
valves

The number of available pistons can be variable, at least one being necessary to achieve the end wanted.

The system has a control panel that allows you to select the type of operation you want for the blocking system, being able to select different states:

Manual lock , which is activated in certain maneuvers such as to be towed from a slippery place.

Disabled that he would never act only in the face of sudden braking.

Activated when the driver considers that the conditions or circumstances of the road require it.

The entire system is governed by a switchboard that collects data from different sensors The sensors used can be several, as per for example a deceleration sensor, a sudden braking sensor; a tilt or inertia sensor, or several sensors Photoelectric Being able to have as many types of sensors as be considered as long as they serve as a means of detecting the acceleration, deceleration or movement of the semi-trailer.

The performance of the locking system, may well be determined by the signal of only one of the sensors or be the result of the combined signals of several sensors.

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The switchboard is also responsible for operate according to the control panel where the desired operating status On the other hand the switchboard Received the signals coming from the sensors is the one in charge of opening or closing the piston valves of the block.

Explanation of the figures

To complement the description that then it will be done and in order to help a better understanding of its characteristics, is accompanied by this descriptive memory, of a set of planes in whose figures, of illustrative and non-limiting, the details are represented significant of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show paths representations in plan and elevation of two different situations, one of them in which the pistons have not been activated and in the Figure 2 in which the piston represented if found activated.

Figures 3 and 4 show a representation of the means used to detect the situation of acting as well as the means required for the piston drive.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the figures described then a preferred embodiment of the invention proposal.

In figure 1, we can observe a fifth wheel (1) of an articulated vehicle, which is fixed at two points (3) in an articular manner with respect to supports (2). About bliss fifth wheel there are perforations (4) through the which emerge the pistons (8) once activated.

It is also possible to observe a platform (5) is attached to the fifth wheel through a King-pin (6) that goes through the central hole of the platform is housed in the inlet (7) of the fifth wheel (one).

In figure 2, we observe how the piston (8) has  been activated emerging from the fifth wheel (1) through a drilling (4) staying in complementary means of accommodation that in the representation are some dome holes (9) arranged on the platform (5).

The activation of the piston (8) is carried out by means of a sleeve (10) connected to a valve center (11) where the valves are arranged for opening and closing them achieving the activation or not of the pistons (8).

The valve center (11) is governed by its once through a switchboard (12) that collects the data, from the control panel (14) as from the different sensors (15), (16), (17) and (18).

The control panel (14), is the order of select the type of action desired for the system fifth wheel lock, being able to choose between manual mode, on or off. In turn, the control panel receives the feeding from feeding means (13).

In general the system operation of fifth wheel lock object of the invention begins by releasing the accelerator, where a deceleration sensor (15) is associated. Yes then it acts on the brake or retarder creates a sufficient force to activate the tilt or inertia sensor (16), then if it is detected as a result of the deceleration and the inertia an unwanted turn, the photoelectric sensors (18) will give blocking order of the platform so the valves necessary for the pistons (8) to proceed to blocking of the platform. Now if the braking force were greater, the sudden braking sensor would act {17) proceeding directly to act on the valve control unit to proceed to the blockade of the set.

It does not alter the essentiality of this invention variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, sufficient This one for reproduction by an expert.

Claims (9)

1. Fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle that also has said fifth wheel, with a platform associated by a king-pin characterized , because the locking system has: - At least one piston arranged on the fifth wheel and emergent through a perforation performed on the fifth wheel. - A complementary means of accommodation, of  the pistons once activated and arranged on the platform. - Control means. 2. Locking system the fifth wheel of an articulated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprise a control unit that collects the data captured by a plurality of sensors and further wherein said control unit governs a central valve. 3. The fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensors used and connected to the control unit are: Deceleration sensor. Tilt or inertia sensor. Abrupt brake sensor. Photoelectric sensors 4. The fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that associated with the control unit is a control panel that allows the selection of the operating mode of the system between manual mode, locked and deactivated. 5. The fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit is powered by means of supply means through the control panel, the sensor being connected of deceleration to said feeding means. 6. The fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the complementary means for accommodating the pistons in the platform are dome holes. 7. System for locking the fifth wheel of an articulated vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation of the pistons can be carried out by various means, either by mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic means etc., as most convenient to the type of vehicle 8. The fifth wheel locking system of an articulated vehicle according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the system pistons act if the tilt and inertia sensor is activated after activation of the deceleration sensor and after this the photoelectric sensor (s). 9. The fifth wheel locking system of an articular vehicle according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the actuation of the piston (s) occurs after the activation of the sudden braking sensor.