US618649A

US618649A - Fifth-wheel

Info

Publication number: US618649A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1916-01-31

Description

Patented Jan. 3|, I899. E. D. EASTMAN.

FIFTH WHEEL (Applicat 8,)

ion filed Sept. 28, 189

(u Model.)

' INVENTOR [lame WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT CEETEE.

EDGAR DIMOND EASTMAN, OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICA TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,649, dated January 31, 1899.

Application filed September 28, 1898. Serial No. 692,091. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may cmwern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR DIMOND EAST- MAN, a resident of Vest Concord, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-WVheels and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles, the object of the invention being to provide a fifth-wheel which will permit of the easy turning of a vehicle, one that will be practically noiseless, and so construct same as to exclude dust and dirt therefrom.

A further object is to so construct a fifthwheel as to effectually guard against the accidental displacement of the parts thereof.

A further object is to provide a fifth-wheel which will be simple in construction, neat in appearance, and strong and durable when in use.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, and Figs. 2 and 3 are views in section of the same.

1 represents the lower plate, which is provided on its lower face with parallel flanges 2 for the reception therebetween of the axle (not shown) of a vehicle. of the lower plate 1 is curved in the arc of a circle and the inner end of said lower plate is preferably contracted and extends rearward the desired distance. The upper face of the contracted rear end of the plate 1 is provided with a circular enlargement 4:, in which a hole or opening 5 is provided for the passage of the pin 13, whereby to pivotally connect said lower plate with the upper plate or member 6.

The upper face of the plate or member 1 where it comes in contact with the upper plate 6 is preferably flat and smooth, and the lower plate at this point is preferably thicker than the contracted portion thereof to with therein.

The outer edge 3 stand the wear incident to its constant contact with the upper plate.

The upper plate 6 is rounded or curved in the are of a circle at its outer end similar to the curve of the outer edge of the lower plate 1, and said curved or rounded edge of the upper plate or member is provided throughout its entire length with a downwardly and inwardly projecting lip 7, whereby to inclose the edge of the lower plate 1 and exclude dust and dirt from between the plates and avoid any possibility of accidental displacement of said plates or members. The upper plate 6 is provided with rearwardly-extendiug diverging arms or reach-plates S, which are flanged on their upper faces at their outer edges, as shown at 9. A web or brace 10 connects the reach-plates 8 and has its ends merged into said reach-plates. The lower face of said web or brace 10 is provided with recessed enlargement 11, which forms a bearing or socket for the reception of the circular enlargement A and permits same to be turned Ahole or opening 12 is provided in the web or brace 10 in alinement with the hole 5 in the portion 4 of the lower plate for the passage of the pin 13, said pin being provided at one end with a head and at its other end with a nut 14. The lower face of the upper plate 6 Where it comes in contact with the lower plate is smooth and is provided in its center with a socket 14 for the reception of an elastic device 15such, for instance, as rubber block or a springand a metal block 16 is disposed in said socket and by the elas ticity of the rubber block 15 is held against the upper face of the lower plate, and hence prevents any tendency of the device to rattle.

The upper face of the upper plate 6 may be provided with any approved block or support 17, to which any approved vehicle-spring may be secured for supporting the Vehicle, the use of the headblock heretofore employed being thus avoided.

Various slight changes might-be resorted to in the general form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fifth-Wheel, the combination of a lower plate, an upper plate having a socket in its lower face and means in said socket adapted to bear with yielding pressure against the lower plate and means for pivotally c011- necting said upper and lower plates.

2. The combination with a lower plate, and an upper plate having a socket therein, of a block disposed in said socket and an elastic material in said socket adapted to force said block in contact with the lower plate.

3. The combination with the two members of a fifth-wheel, having parallel wearingfaces, one of said members having a socket coincident with the wearing-face, of a block in said socket and an elastic device in said socket behind the block whereby to press the latter against the wearing-face of the other member, substantially as set forth.

4. A fifth-wheel comprising two members having flat cooperating wearing-faces, one member adapted for the reception of an axle and the other member adapted for the direct attachment thereto of a vehicle-spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR DIMOND EASTMAN.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY I-I. CHASE, JAMES H. MoRRIs.