GB1559126A - Semitrailer coupling - Google Patents
Semitrailer coupling Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB1559126A GB1559126A GB31003/76A GB3100376A GB1559126A GB 1559126 A GB1559126 A GB 1559126A GB 31003/76 A GB31003/76 A GB 31003/76A GB 3100376 A GB3100376 A GB 3100376A GB 1559126 A GB1559126 A GB 1559126A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- lubricant
- plate
- grooves
- coupling
- recesses
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D53/00—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains
- B62D53/04—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains comprising a vehicle carrying an essential part of the other vehicle's load by having supporting means for the front or rear part of the other vehicle
- B62D53/08—Fifth wheel traction couplings
- B62D53/0885—Comprising devices to limit or to compensate for wear or excessive play; Lubricating, shock absorbing, bearing devices, or the like
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
- General Details Of Gearings (AREA)
- Braking Arrangements (AREA)
- Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)
Description
(54) SEMI-TRAILER COUPLING
(71) We, DELTA METALL- UND
FAHRZEUGTECHNIK GMBH Hauffstrasse 2, 8000 Mtinchen 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 fifth-wheel coupling comprising a fifth-wheel plate for mounting on a towing vehicle and intended to support a bearing plate mounted on a semi-trailer.
In fifth-wheel couplings of conventional design the vertical supported load of the semi-trailer is transferred by the bearing plate connected to the towing vehicle. The high vertical forces generated thereby result in a correspondingly high pressure on the contact surfaces of the two plates. Accordingly, in order to avoid excessive abrasion, the surface of the fifth-wheel plate is as a rule equipped with lubricant grooves or pockets which are filled with grease in order to thereby bring about lubrication of the surfaces of the two plates which, when the curves are negotiated, are in sliding interengagement. However, the lubricating action hitherto attained in practice has been inadequate because of the inadequate adhesion of the grease to the surface in sliding interengagement so that the grease has been pushed to the outside in a short time as a result of the relative sliding movement between the two contact surfaces, both of which were smooth. In order to make possible the replenishment of the lubricant the lubricant grooves or pockets have been provided with apertures fitted on the underside of the fifth-wheel plate with lubricant nipples; however, these lubricant nipples are poorly accessible, and for this reason in practice the replenishment of lubricant is frequently neglected.
The aim of the invention is to provide an improved fifth-wheel coupling.
The invention provides a fifth-wheel coupling comprising a fifth-wheel plate for mounting in a towing vehicle and intended to support a bearing plate for mounting on a semi-trailer the coupling being so arranged that in its coupled state the bearing plate rests on the fifth-wheel plate, wherein the upper surface of the fifth-wheel plate is in the region of contact between the two plates provided with a plurality of upwardly open recesses for holding lubricant and with upwardly open lubrication grooves for supplying lubricant to the recesses.
The advantage of this is that the upper surface of the fifth-wheel plate contains a number of recesses each of which stores a small amount of lubricant which is by the relative movement of the two plates gradually transferred between the two plates, whereby the lubrication is improved.
In a preferred embodiment the lubrication grooves include inlet grooves. Each of the inlet grooves either extends to the vicinity of the lateral edge of the fifth-wheel plate where it is provided with an aperture fitted with a lubricant nipple which is accessible through an appropriate passage in the edge of the plate, or is provided with an aperture connected by way of a lubricant pipe to a lubricant nipple fitted in the edge of the plate. Advantageously the lubricant grooves passing over the surface are intersected by transverse grooves, the groove portions entering the transverse grooves from opposite sides being in axially staggered relationship.
In the following the invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:- Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a fifth wheel coupling in side elevation; and
Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the surface of fifth wheel plate.
The fifth wheel plate 1 of the fifth wheel coupling is provided with open lubricant grooves 2 and 3 in that surface which faces the bearing plate on the semi-trailer. The lubricant grooves 2 are provided on that part of the plate 1 which faces away from the direction of travel, where as the lubricant grooves 3 are provided on that part of the plate 1 which is situated in the direction of travel. The vertical force generated by the semi-trailer is transmitted to mounting brackets 4 which, in a known manner, are pivoted to both sides of the plate 1 and which in turn are bolted onto the chassis of the towing vehicle. It is known that the zone of highest loads is situated above the mounting brackets 4, for which reason the load-bearing surface of the plate 1 in this region is not weakened in the illustrated embodiment by lubricant grooves.
The outwardly directed ends of the aforesaid lubricant grooves 2 and 3 are on both sides of this zone of high load, and communicate with apertures 5 and 6 in the plate 1. These apertures 5, 6 are each at their bottom end provided with a lubricant nipple with a 90 bend (not shown). The plate 1 is laterally provided with apertures 7 and 8, through which the lubricant nipples are readily accessible even when the semitrainer is hitched on.
The lubricant nipples instead of being connected directly to the apertures 5, 6 may also be fitted to the edge of the plate 1 and communicate with the apertures 5 and 6 of the lubricant grooves via appropriate pipe connections.
In this manner it is always possible to replenish the lubricant. In order to improve the distribution of the lubricant grease. the lubricant grooves 3 are traversed in a manner known per se by transverse open grooves 9. A novel feature is provided, however, by the fact that at the transverse grooves 9 the incoming lubricant groove 10 in each case is laterally offset relative to the outgoing lubricant groove 11. The result of this is, that the grease, when entering the transverse groove 9 through the incoming lubricant groove 10 is first laterally deflected, thereby being caused to spread through the entire transverse groove before entering the outgoing and outwardly leading lubricant groove 11. This results in a substantial improvement of the distribution of
the lubricant. The surface of the semitrailer coupling is provided with a plurality of upwardly open recesses in honeycomblike arrangement, which in the illustrated
embodiment are distributed over those areas
of the plate 1 which carry the main load.
However, this surface configuration may also be extended over the entire upper surface of the plate 1. The honeycomb-like arrangement of the recesses in the surface results in a substantially improved adhesion of the lubricant grease on the surface as compared with the adhesion on a smooth surface, whereby the distribution of the lubricant between the trailer plate and the coupling is improved.
The illustrated recesses are substantiallysquare-shaped in plan but they may also be e.g. rectangular or circular in plan and be distributed evenly over the surface at intervals of a few millimetres. These recesses are preferably formed by the impression of an
appropriately shaped tool because the cold hardening resulting therefrom in the steel
surface provides a further improvement of
the wear characteristics.
WHAT WE, CLAIM IS:
1. A fifth-wheel coupling comprising a
fifth-wheel plate for mounting on a towing
vehicle and intended to support a bearing -plate which is mounted on a semi-trailer,
the coupling being so arranged that in its coupled state the bearing plate rests on the fifth-wheel plate, wherein the upper surface of the fifth-wheel plate is in the region of
contact between the two plates provided
with a plurality of upwardly open recesses for holding lubricant and with upwardly open lubrication grooves for supplying
lubricant to the recesses.
2. A coupling according to Claim 1 wherein the lubrication grooves include inlet grooves, the latter extending each to the vicinity of the lateral edge of the fifth-wheel plate where it is provided with an aperture fitted with a lubricant nipple which is accessible through an appropriate passage in the edge of the plate.
3. A coupling according to Claim 1 wherein the lubrication grooves include inlet grooves, the latter being each provided with an aperture connected by way of a lubricant pipe to a lubricant nipple fitted in the edge
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (7)
1. A fifth-wheel coupling comprising a
fifth-wheel plate for mounting on a towing
vehicle and intended to support a bearing -plate which is mounted on a semi-trailer,
the coupling being so arranged that in its coupled state the bearing plate rests on the fifth-wheel plate, wherein the upper surface of the fifth-wheel plate is in the region of
contact between the two plates provided
with a plurality of upwardly open recesses for holding lubricant and with upwardly open lubrication grooves for supplying
lubricant to the recesses.
2. A coupling according to Claim 1 wherein the lubrication grooves include inlet grooves, the latter extending each to the vicinity of the lateral edge of the fifth-wheel plate where it is provided with an aperture fitted with a lubricant nipple which is accessible through an appropriate passage in the edge of the plate.
3. A coupling according to Claim 1 wherein the lubrication grooves include inlet grooves, the latter being each provided with an aperture connected by way of a lubricant pipe to a lubricant nipple fitted in the edge
of the plate.
4. A coupling according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the lubrication grooves passing over the surface are intersected by transverse grooves, the groove portions entering the transverse grooves from opposite sides being in axially staggered relationship.
5. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recesses are distributed spaced apart in a honeycomb-like arrangement.
6. A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recesses are formed by cold deformation.
7. A fifth-wheel coupling constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE2535151A DE2535151C3 (en) | 1975-08-06 | 1975-08-06 | Fifth wheel for road vehicles |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB1559126A true GB1559126A (en) | 1980-01-16 |
Family
ID=5953379
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB31003/76A Expired GB1559126A (en) | 1975-08-06 | 1976-07-26 | Semitrailer coupling |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
DE (1) | DE2535151C3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2320219A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1559126A (en) |
IT (1) | IT1073402B (en) |
SE (1) | SE407924B (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA764584B (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2200334A (en) * | 1985-08-16 | 1988-08-03 | Fischer Ag Georg | Saddle coupling with a coupling plate |
WO2018065361A1 (en) * | 2016-10-05 | 2018-04-12 | Fifth Wheel As | A fifth wheel turntable lubrication device |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3118633C2 (en) * | 1981-05-11 | 1984-09-13 | Rockinger Spezialfabrik für Anhängerkupplungen GmbH & Co, 8000 München | Fifth wheel |
FR2555110B1 (en) * | 1983-11-23 | 1988-02-12 | Mamery Gaby | DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING SADDLES AND PLATES FOR HITCHING TRACTORS AND SEMI-TRAILERS |
US4913263A (en) * | 1988-10-31 | 1990-04-03 | Spiers Dennis D | Grease packet for fifth wheels |
DE19814275B4 (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2008-11-13 | Jost-Werke Gmbh | fifth wheel |
DE19814274A1 (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 1999-10-07 | Jost Werke Ag | Fifth wheel |
DE19814276A1 (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 1999-10-07 | Jost Werke Ag | Fifth wheel for an articulated lorry |
US6098754A (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2000-08-08 | Toner; Mark E. | Pneumatic greasing system for a fifth wheel |
DE102013105235A1 (en) * | 2013-05-22 | 2014-11-27 | Jan Hunger | Fifth wheel plate and fifth wheel |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2468013A (en) * | 1946-08-31 | 1949-04-19 | American Steel Foundries | Fifth-wheel mounting |
US3091501A (en) * | 1961-04-03 | 1963-05-28 | Ho Boy Corp | Fifth wheel device |
DE1920295U (en) * | 1965-03-23 | 1965-07-22 | Bergische Stahlindustrie | TRAILER PLATE FOR SEMI-TRACTOR COUPLINGS. |
CH548897A (en) * | 1973-02-08 | 1974-05-15 | Fischer Ag Georg | Fifth wheel coupling plate. |
-
1975
- 1975-08-06 DE DE2535151A patent/DE2535151C3/en not_active Expired
-
1976
- 1976-07-26 GB GB31003/76A patent/GB1559126A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-07-30 ZA ZA764584A patent/ZA764584B/en unknown
- 1976-07-30 IT IT50709/76A patent/IT1073402B/en active
- 1976-08-04 FR FR7623828A patent/FR2320219A1/en active Granted
- 1976-08-05 SE SE7608807A patent/SE407924B/en unknown
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2200334A (en) * | 1985-08-16 | 1988-08-03 | Fischer Ag Georg | Saddle coupling with a coupling plate |
GB2200334B (en) * | 1985-08-16 | 1991-01-09 | Fischer Ag Georg | Saddle coupling with a coupling plate |
WO2018065361A1 (en) * | 2016-10-05 | 2018-04-12 | Fifth Wheel As | A fifth wheel turntable lubrication device |
AU2017338265B2 (en) * | 2016-10-05 | 2020-08-20 | Fifth Wheel As | A fifth wheel turntable lubrication device |
EA037126B1 (en) * | 2016-10-05 | 2021-02-09 | Фифс Вил Ас | Fifth wheel turntable lubrication device |
US11186328B2 (en) | 2016-10-05 | 2021-11-30 | Fifth Wheel As | Fifth wheel turntable lubrication device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE2535151A1 (en) | 1977-02-10 |
ZA764584B (en) | 1977-08-31 |
SE407924B (en) | 1979-04-30 |
DE2535151C3 (en) | 1979-05-10 |
SE7608807L (en) | 1977-02-07 |
FR2320219B1 (en) | 1981-05-29 |
DE2535151B2 (en) | 1978-09-14 |
IT1073402B (en) | 1985-04-17 |
FR2320219A1 (en) | 1977-03-04 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PS | Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949] | ||
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |