US235325A - Fifth-wheel for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

' M. WOODHULL.

Fifth-Wheel for Vehicles.

No. 235,325. Patented D ec. 7,1880.

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N PETERS, FHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS WOODHULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,325, dated December 7, 1880.

Application filed September 27, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MoRRrs WoonHULL, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles; and my object is to provide a simple, durable connection of the parts, to insure strength, and to prevent the breaking, springing, or warping of the pivotal axis, which is the king-bolt.

My invention is designed for any class of vehicles which dispenses with the perch, and the novelty consists in a'D fifth-wheel in 00111- bination with an ordinary king-bolt, said Wheel and bolt being braced and secured by a rear brace connecting the bolster and king bolt, and a combined tie cap and brace connecting both plates of the fifth-wheel with .the kingbolt in such a manner as to prevent breakage, springing, or warping of any of the parts, as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fifth-wheel. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the same in side elevation.

My fifth wheel is of that class known as D-wheels, and it is composed of two plates, A and B, of which the former is secured to the axle O of the vehicle, and the latter to the bolster D.

The plate A, which is secured upon the axle by bolts 00 in the usual or any suitable manner, has its upper surface perfectlyflat and with its semicircular extension projecting upon the front side of the axle, as shown. This plate has an aperture through it surrounded by an upwardly-extending boss, 0, for the passage of the king-bolt E, which is of the shape indicated.

The plate B, whose under surface is flat, is bolted to the bolster D, in any suitable manner, directly over the plate A, upon which it bears. This plate has an aperture, b, through it to receive the boss 0 of the plate A, and it is shaped like the letter D, as seen in Fig. 1. The edges of its curved portion are beveled,

as shown at f. Each plate is provided with cars at its corners, which bear against the sides of the axle and bolster, respectively, to aid in holding them securely to their places.

A cap or bearin g tie, F, fits over the curved portion of the plate B, and is secured by bolts h, which pass down through the plate A and through the T-head of a curved brace-rod or arm, G, which, extending from directly under the tie-cap F, has its inner shouldered and perforated end encompassing the projecting end of the king-bolt directly under the axle, as shown.

Upon the rear side of the bolster is bolted a second T-headed brace-rod or arm, H, of the shape indicated, which, passing down, is curved forward to receive the kin g-bolt, which passes through an eye formed in its shouldered end, which end is directly under the end of the brace G, as seen in Fig. 2.

A nut, 1, upon the lower end of the kingbolt, locks the braces and completes the construction.

From this description it will be observed that any tendency of the two plates to slide upon each other, in contradistinction to their turning as fifth-wheels naturally turn, is prevented by the pivotal boss upon the one plate entering a corresponding aperturein the other. Also, that any tendency of the bolster to tilt upon the axle, or vice versa, is prevented by the front and rear braces and the tie-cap. Also, that all parts are so equally sustained and braced that the king-bolt is almost entirely relieved of any other function than that of a pivotal axis.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction herein shown, as in light vehicles the boss 0 may be dispensed with. The shape and construction of the front and rear braces might also be varied to suit the character of the vehicle; but,

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. A fifth-wheel connecting the bolster and axle of a vehicle whose king-bolt or pivotal axis is braced and secured by a combined tiecap and front brace, uniting the fifth-wheel and king-bolt just beneath the axle, and a rear brace uniting the bolster and king-bolt just beneath the axle, whereby breaking, spring ing, or warping is prevented, substantially as the running-gear of a vehicle substantially in specified. l the manner and for the purpose specified. 1o

2. The herein-described fifth-wheel,eonsist- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing of the plates A and B, one of which has a my hand.

pivot-a1 boss entering a corresponding aperture l MORRIS WOODHULL.

in the other, the king-bolt 1' the tie-cap F, j Witnesses:

front. brace, G, rear brace, 11, and nut l, the JAMES LINDEN,

parts being relatively arranged and united in I CHAS. M. PECK.

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