GB835653A - Improvements in articulating couplings for articulated vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

835,653. Vehicle couplings. TATRA NARODNI PODNIK. March 10, 1958 [May 3, 1957], No. 7632/58. Class 103(5) A fifth wheel coupling comprises a hub 4 containing separate coupling elements for pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric services, a cylindrical sleeve 2 for supporting with its end surface the hub when engaged therewith and containing a hollow pivot pin 1 which may be moved vertically by a toothed sector operated by a piston and cylinder, and a locking pin 13, the pivot pin 1 containing service connections to engage the connections in the hub. When the coupling is disconnected, Fig. 2, a spring-pressed sleeve 20 covers a passage 22 in a hollow spigot 17 integral with a body 51 mounted upon an insulating block 41 and supported by a rubber pad 46. The block 41 is provided with an air passage 36 leading to a connector 37 and with electric wiring 44 connecting contacts 40 and a plug 45, and an hydraulic fluid passage 28 in the spigot 17 leads to a connector passage 29. The pivot pin 1 contains a spring-pressed hollow spigot 18 having a transverse passage 23 and mounting an air valve 30, and co-operates with an enlarged bore portion 24. Air passages 32-35 and electric wiring 43 connecting a plug 42 and contacts 38 are also provided. When coupling up, the hub in its horizontal movement towards the sleeve 2 pushes aside a spring-biased plate 15 covering the open end of the pivot pin 1. Actuation of the piston and cylinder 7, 8 and 9 then rotates the toothed sector and lifts the pin 1 into the socket of the aligned hub until its end face 53 abuts a stop 19. As the pin rises the sleeve 20 is pushed upwardly by the body 21 in the pin and the spigot 18 is pushed downwardly against its spring 48 until the holes 22, 23 are in communication with one another through the enlarged bore 24 so that hydraulic fluid may flow through the passages 26, 27, 23, 24, 22 and 28 to the trailer, and air may flow through the passages 32, 33 and the now open air valve 30 to the passages 35 and 36. In its engaged position the pin 1 completes the electrical services by making contacts 38 and 40.