GB1407084A - Fifth wheel coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

1407084 Fifth wheel couplings GEORG FISCHER AG 18 Sept 1972 [17 Sept 1971] 43185/72 Heading B7T A fifth wheel coupling comprises a slotted plate 6, a hook 1 pivoted at 17 to the plate and adapted to lookingly engage a king pin 22 located at the closed end of slot 23, a latch 2 pivoted to the plate at 16 and adapted to retain the hook in engagement with the king pin, a rod 3 pivoted to the latch at 20 and slidable in a slot in a peripheral flange 25 of the plate, a spring 4 biasing the rod and hence the latch to its hook retaining position, and complimentary apertures in the rod and a strap 7 through which a spring link 9 may be passed to retain the rod in the pin looking position. To release the pin 22 link 9 is removed and rod 3 moved to the Fig. 2 position where it is held by a hook 11 engaging a pin 12. This movement of the rod causes latch 2 to move out of contact with hook 1 and as the pin is withdrawn it pivots the hook anti-clockwise until cam face 31 engages with the latch. Continued pivoting of the hook causes the latch also to pivot anti-clockwise and disengage hook 11 from pin 12. The spring 3 will then pivot the rod until it engages an end of the slot in flange 25. The pin 22 is by now withdrawn from slot 23 and the hook and latch preset to receive the pin again and automatically lock it to the plate. The slot 23 may have a wear pad at its closed end which is engaged by the pin 23, and in a modification the hook is formed with two portions, one of which engages the waist of a king pin and the other the latch and the larger diameter part of the pin.