GB1559125A

GB1559125A - Mountings for semi-trailer couplings

Info

Publication number: GB1559125A
Application number: GB31002/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DELTA METALL FAHRZEUGTECH
Current assignee: DELTA METALL FAHRZEUGTECH
Priority date: 1976-01-16
Filing date: 1976-07-26
Publication date: 1980-01-16
Also published as: DE2601509A1; IT1075799B; FR2338174B1; DE2601509B2; DE2601509C3; SE404513B; ZA764586B; SE7611894L; FR2338174A1

Description

(54) MOUNTINGS FOR SEMMRMLER COUPLINGS (71) We, DELTA METALS UND FAHRZEUGTECHNIK GMBH Hauffstra/e 2, 800Q München 70, Federal Republic of Germany, a German body corporate, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a mounting bracket for use in the mounting of a fifthwheel plate of a fifth-wheel coupling on a towing vehicle, and a process for making such a mounting bracket.

The invention provides a mounting bracket of the above kind comprising a mounting flange and a support structure provided thereon which tapers in trapeziumshaped manner in an upward direction and includes two inclined side walls carrying means for pivotal mounting of the fifthwheel plate and formed by upwardly bent arms cut out from and integral with the mounting flange, the incisions for producing the arms being so located in the mounting flange that a web remains, spanning opposite sides of the mounting flange between the positions occupied by end faces facing one another of the arms prior to their being bent upward to form said inclined walls.

The invention also provides a process for making a mounting bracket of the initially mentioned kind which comprises cutting two U-shaped incisions into a sheet metal plate which is to form a mounting flange, so that the open ends of the incisions face away from one another towards opposite end regions of the plate, whereby a transverse web across the plate is formed between the cross portions of the incisions, bending arms formed by the incisions out of the plane of the plate to form two opposite inclined side walls, fitting means for pivotal mounting of the fifth-wheel plate, such as a tubular bush, parallel to the web between end faces of the arms, closing the trapezium-shaped spaces defined on each side of the arms by the sides of the arms by correspondingly shaped end plates, each provided with a recess shaped for the accommodaton of the said means, and welding the end plates to the arms and the mounting flange and the said means to the end faces of the arms and the recesses.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the mounting bracket viewed from below; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mounting bracket in section along the line A-B in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mounting bracket; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mounting bracket; Fig. 5 is a sectional front view of the bottom part of the bracket prior to the welding together of the mounting bracket; and Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of all components from which the mounting bracket is to be welded together.

As will appear from Fig. 1, the mounting flange 1 of the mounting bracket is formed from a rectangular steel plate 5 and is provided in a known manner with mounting apertures 2 for the purpose of bolting the bracket to the vehicle chassis. The mounting flange 1 is provided with two U-shaped incisions 3 defining two arms 4 bent upwardly from the plane of the mounting flange 1. Near the short sides of the flange 1 near the opposite ends thereof, the arms 4 are connected to the mounting flange 1. The incisions 3 are so located at the short sides facing one another of the arms 4, that a web 6 remains which interconnects the long sides 7 of the mounting flange 1.

Fig. 2 shows that the end faces 9 of the arms 4 are in abutment with a bearing bush 8. Laterally the construction is closed off on each side by an end plate 10 (Fig.

3) welded on the one hand to the mounting flange 1 and on the other hand to the lateral edges of the arms 4. The bearing bush 8 is accommodated in part-circular recesses 11 in the end plates 10 and in addition, as previously mentioned, finds support against the end faces 9 of the arms 4. It can thus be firmly secured by means of a peripheral welding seam. Depending on the type of bearing connection to be achieved, it is possible to employ alternative configurations of bearing members in place of the bush 8. The contouring, the angle and the distance of the contacting surfaces can be influenced by an appropriate positioning of the incision 3 and the angle of upward deflection (Fig. 5).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A mounting bracket for use in the mounting of the fifth-wheel plate of a fifthwheel coupling on a towing vehicle, comprising a mounting flange and a support structure provided thereon which tapers in trapezium-shaped manner in an upward direction and includes two inclined side walls carrying means for pivotal mounting of the fifth-wheel plate and formed by upwardly bent arms cut out from and integral with the mounting flange, the incisions for producing the arms being so located in the mounting flange that a web remains, spanning opposite sides of the mounting flange between the positions occupied by end faces facing one another of the arms prior to their being bent upward to form said inclined walls.

2. A bracket according to Claim 1, wherein the means for pivotal mounting is a tubular bush.

3. A bracket according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a plate is attached at each side of the side walls, extending between the side walls and the mounting flange enclosing the substantially trapezium-shaped space between the side walls and the plane containing the mounting flange.

4. A bracket according to Claim 1 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

5. A fifth-wheel coupling including a bracket according to any one of the pre

Claims

ceding claims.

6. A process for making a mounting bracket for use in the mounting of the fifthwheel plate of a fifth wheel coupling, which comprises cutting two U-shaped incisions into a sheet metal plate which is to form a mounting flange, so that the open ends of the incisions face away from one another towards opposite end regions of the plate, whereby a transverse web across the plate is formed between the cross portions of the incisions, bending arms formed by the incisions out of the plane of the plate to form two opposite inclined side walls, fitting means for pivotal mounting of the fifth-wheel plate, such as a tubular bush, parallel to the web between end faces of the arms, closing the trapezium-shaped spaces defined on each side of the arms by the sides of the arms by correspondingly shaped end plates, each provided with a recess shaped for the accommodation of the said means, and welding the end plates to the arms and the mounting flange and the said means to the end faces of the arms and the recesses.

7. A process according to Claim 6 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

8. A mounting bracket made by the process according to Claim 6 or 7.

9. A fifth-wheel coupling including a bracket according to Claim 8.