# US 10,118,657 B2 · Active fifth wheel repositioning slider > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,657 B2 - Document ID: US10118657B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/425,445 - Filed: 2017-02-06 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-05 - Assignees: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH - Applicants: SAF-HOLLAND, Inc. - Inventors: Steven Dupay; Ahmad Nizam Mohamad Jembari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118657B2 ## CPC - B62D 53/0814: {with adjustment of the clearance between the tractor or the trailer (devices modifying the load in tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/068)} - B62D 53/0807: {adjustable coupling saddles mounted on sub-frames; Mounting plates therefor} - F16H 1/222: {with non-parallel axes} - F16H 19/04: comprising a rack - F16H 2019/046: {Facilitating the engagement or stopping of racks} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement including a fifth wheel hitch plate, a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position, and a drive assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, the at least one pinion member engaging the rack member of the support arrangement to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate; a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position; and a drive assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, the support arrangement including the rack member; and the at least one pinion member engaging the rack member of the support arrangement to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the support arrangement includes a slide rail and a support bracket arrangement, wherein the support bracket arrangement is coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate, and wherein the support bracket arrangement slidably engages the slide rail such that the fifth wheel hitch plate is slidably movable between the first and second positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 2, wherein the slide rail is configured to be attached to the vehicle frame. ### Claim 4 A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate; a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position; and a drive assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, the at least one pinion member engaging the rack member to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions; wherein the at least one pinion is fixed at a position along the length of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 5 A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate; a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position; and a drive assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, the at least one pinion member engaging the rack member to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions; wherein the rack member of the drive assembly includes at least one drive rack, and wherein the drive assembly includes an actuator member that includes the at least one drive rack that engages the at least one pinion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 5, wherein the at least one pinion includes a first pinion and a second pinion, and wherein the at least one drive rack includes a first drive rack that engages the first pinion and a second drive rack that engages the second pinion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 5, wherein the at least one pinion includes a first gear portion having a first diameter and a second gear portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, and wherein a select one of the first gear portion and the second gear portion engages the at least one drive rack of the actuator member and the remaining of the first gear portion and the second gear portion engages the rack member of the rack-and-pinion arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 7, wherein the at least one drive rack of the actuator member engages the second gear portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 5, wherein the actuator member includes a worm gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one pinion includes a first gear portion and a second gear portion, wherein the first gear portion is engaged by the worm gear and the second gear portion engages the rack member of the drive assembly. ### Claim 11 A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate; a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position; a drive assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, the at least one pinion member engaging the rack member to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions; and at least one locking arrangement coupled to the support arrangement and operable between a locked configuration, wherein the at least one locking arrangement engages the vehicle frame and prevents the fifth wheel hitch plate configuration from moving between the first and second positions, and an unlocked position, wherein the fifth wheel hitch plate is free to move between the first and second positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 11, wherein the at least one locking arrangement includes a first locking arrangement and a second locking arrangement located on opposite sides of the drive assembly from one another. ### Claim 13 A fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement for adjusting a position of a fifth wheel hitch plate along a length of a vehicle frame, the fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement comprising: at least one sensor configured to sense an operating parameter of vehicle operation and produce a first signal based on a state of the operating parameter; a controller configured to receive and process the first signal and to produce a second signal based on the first signal; an actuator arrangement configured to receive the second signal and move an actuator member based on the second signal; and a fifth wheel hitch arrangement, comprising: a fifth wheel hitch plate; a support arrangement coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate such that the fifth wheel hitch plate can be moved between a first position along a length of a vehicle frame and a second position along the length of the vehicle frame that is different than the first position; and a drive assembly adapted to couple to the vehicle frame and coupled to the support arrangement, the drive assembly including a rack-and-pinion arrangement and the actuator member, the rack-and-pinion arrangement including a rack member engaging at least one pinion member, wherein the actuator member is configured to rotate the at least one pinion as the actuator moves the actuator member, and wherein the at least one pinion member is configured to engage the rack member of the support arrangement to move the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions as the at least one pinion member is rotated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the operating parameter sensed by the at least one sensor includes vehicle speed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 14, wherein the second position of the fifth wheel hitch plate is further aft along the vehicle frame than the first position, and wherein the controller is configured control the actuator to move the fifth wheel hitch plate from the first position toward the second position as the vehicle speed decreases. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator arrangement such that the fifth wheel hitch plate moves between the first and second positions at a rate of at least 4 inches per second. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the actuator member is pneumatically driven. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, further comprising: a manual override input configured to allow an operator to manually override the controller and allow for manual adjustment of the fifth wheel hitch plate between the first and second positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, further comprising: a display coupled to the controller and configured to indicate whether the fifth wheel hitch plate is moving between the first and second positions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the support arrangement includes a slide rail and a support bracket arrangement, the support bracket arrangement is coupled to the fifth wheel hitch plate, and wherein the support bracket arrangement slidably engages the slide rail such that the fifth wheel hitch plate is slidably movable between the first and second positions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 20, wherein the slide rail is configured to be attached to the vehicle frame. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the support bracket arrangement includes the rack member of the rack-and-pinion arrangement. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the at least one pinion is fixed at a position along the length of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the actuator member includes at least one drive rack that engages the at least one pinion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 24, wherein the at least one pinion includes a first pinion and a second pinion, and wherein the at least one drive rack includes a first drive rack that engages the first pinion and a second drive rack that engages the second pinion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 22, wherein the at least one pinion includes a first gear portion and a second gear portion, and wherein the first gear portion engages the actuator member and the second gear portion engages the rack member of the rack-and-pinion arrangement. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 13, wherein the actuator member includes a worm gear. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 11, further comprising: at least one locking arrangement coupled to the support arrangement and operable between a locked configuration, wherein the at least one locking arrangement prevents the fifth wheel hitch plate from being moved between the first and second positions, and an unlocked configuration, wherein the fifth wheel hitch plate is free to move between the first and second positions. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fifth wheel hitch adjustment arrangement of claim 28, further comprising: a lock adjustment sensor arrangement configured to sense the configuration of the at least one lock arrangement and communicate the configuration of the at least one lock arrangement with a vehicle operator.