US176770A - Improvement in fifth-wheels - Google Patents

Description

J'. BURT. FIFTH-WHEEL.

N 0.176,770. Paten'td. May ZV1-876.

WITNESSES lN. PETERS, PHOTOLITHOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON. D C.

INVEJVTQR UNTTED STATES PATENT Enron, 1

i VJOHN BURT, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS.-

Specilication forming part ofLetters Patent No. 176,770, dated May 2, 1876; application tiled March131, 1876.

`To all whom it may concern:

had to the accompanyingdrawings,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved fifthwheel, designed, .more especially, for use onv what are termed platform-trucks, wherein the bolster admits of being turned about the kingloolt to any extent whatever.

My invention consists in certaindetails of construction, as hereinafter specied and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Figs 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional View, by a Vertical plane passed longitudinally through the bolster and the arched cross-bar, and showing parts in elevation. y

A is any ordinary frame, truck', or gear, composed of the four parts A B C, A being the side pieces, B the back, and O the front, cross-pieces. p

Heretofore the construction of the fifthwheel has been such, when made upon the principle here involved, that one was obliged to support it upon cross-pieces, and longitudinal pieces resting upony the gear A B G. In my device D' is the lower plate, resting directly upon the pieces A and B, and secured thereto by bolts and clips, -or otherwise. D' is an elevated inclined way, upon which the rollers traverse. E is a cross-piece, extending from one side of the lower plate diametrically across to the other side, and made, preferably, in a single piece or casting with the said lower plate.. This cross-bar E is arched, as shown,so that,without making the structure too heavy and unwieldy, it possesses sufficient strength to sustain the entire load that is superposed upon it. So, also, it will be observed that the elevated inclined way D' serves the double purpose of a roller-way to stiffen the lower ring against the outward thrust of the arched cross-piece E, and also stiffens the lower ring against any unusual vertical strain.

F is the upper circular plate, and depending from it at differentpoints about its circumference are trunnion-seats F', into which the trunnions G of the rollers Gr are situated and retained. These trunnion seats F' extend well down, so that the lower ends preferably embrace the inclined way between them, the .object being as follows: The trunnions Gr' are not fastened in any way in the seats 5 therefore they always rest on the way D', no matter whet-her the upper plate may be tilted or not; but, if the upper plate is tilted over to one side slightly, then theseats F', extending down so far, will retain the trunnions within the slot or throat f'. are made, preferably, of conical form, the said apices of the cones being at the center of motion, so thatthe rollers will have no tendency to slide. H is a block resting upon the cross-bar E, and having a firm bearing thereon, and adjusted to turn about the king-bolt I. The plate H is, preferably, provided with an annular recess, h, into which the annular tongue e projects from the cross-bars that jointly serve to hold the parts always in the same relation with each other. J is the bolster, to which the front of the vehicle-body is attached. This bolster is likewise attached to the plate H, and to the upper circular plate F.

It will be noticed that the cross-bar E in myV fifth-wheel is so arched and adjusted, With respect to the plate H and the bolster J, that the weight of the front of the vehicle will rest entirely upon the arched bar E, and not upon the rollers G. Y The rollers G serve only to receive and sustain the weight when the vehicle is turned over to either side. The trunnionseats F', since they depend from the upper plate F, will prevent all grit from collecting therein and grinding upon the trunnions G'. So, also, the inclined way D', because of its inclination', will serve, in agreat measure, to keep itself clean of grit. It will be observed,

also, that this structure enables me to entire-` ly dispense with cross-pieces extending from one piece, A, to the otherpiece, A, or of longitudinal pieces extending between the braces G are the rollers, andas set forth, any side thrust brought'ito bear on the rollers will be restricted by the shape of the rollers and their way, nud the wheel willf` turn on its bearing notwithstanding any lateral pressure bro.;ght to bear on the same. trunnions, slotted as described, allow of the ready attachment of the rollers, and also pre- Y vent the accumulation of grit about the journals of the trunnions.

I do not limit myself to the precise number of rollers that are here shown, there being six shown in the drawings; whereas. there might be more or less than that number, as desired. 1

What I claim is- 1. The circular plate D, constructedwith an inclined track or roller-way, D', and provided with the arched cross-piece E, the crown of. the arch formed with a raised at bearing for supporting the upper plate F, substantially as l and for the purpose set forth.

The'

the rollers G, and the dependent trunnionseats F', of the slots f', substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the lower plate D, upper'plate F, and inclined rollers G, with the open-slotted trunnion-seats F', substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the bolsters J, the up per plate F, the lower plate D, provided with an inclined roller-way, inclined rollers G, and the arched cross-bar E, the said parts so constructed, substantially as described, that the direct weight shall be borne by the said crossbar E, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The fifth-wheel, composed of the lower plate D, with the inclined elevated way D', the upper plate F, with the dependent trunnionseats F', the inclined rollers G, the arched vbar E, the plate H, the bolster J, and the kingbolt I, substantially'as and for the purpose described.

In ltestimony whereof I have signed my i name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.`

JOHN BURT. Witnesses:

FRANCIS TOUMEY, JAMES P. WALSH.

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