# US 10,479,425 B2 · Automatic rolling fifth wheel hitch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,425 B2 - Document ID: US10479425B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/368,952 - Filed: 2016-12-05 - Published: 2017-03-23 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Applicants: Horizon Global Americas Inc. - Inventors: Michael R. Curl; Newly Mach; Richard McCoy; Eric Stanifer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479425B2 ## CPC - B62D 53/0807: {adjustable coupling saddles mounted on sub-frames; Mounting plates therefor} - 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: 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) ## Abstract A fifth wheel hitch is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch may include a base frame configured to be secured to a load bed of a towing vehicle, a trolley operatively engaged with the base frame, the trolley adapted to move along the base frame between first and second positions, and a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path. The fifth wheel hitch may also include a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path, and a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, where the trolley is moved between the first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fifth wheel hitch comprising: a base frame; a trolley directly engaged with the base frame, the trolley moveable along the base frame between first and second positions; a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path positioned entirely between the base frame; a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path; and a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, wherein the trolley is moved between the first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1, wherein the base frame includes a channel whereby the trolley is directly engaged with the base frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 2, wherein the trolley includes a plurality of rollers, the rollers engaged with the channel and the trolley rolls along the base frame between the first and second positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of guide plates, wherein the guide plates are engaged with the channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1, wherein the cam path includes a detent, the cam follower engaging the detent when in the first position and whereby pivoting of the fifth wheel head moves the cam follower from the detent and permits the trolley to move along the base frame to the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1, wherein the cam path is non-linear, whereby the cam follower operatively engages the non-linear cam path upon rolling movement of the trolley. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1, wherein the cam path includes a first portion causing the trolley to move between the first and second positions at a first rate as the fifth wheel head pivots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 7, wherein the cam path includes a second portion causing the trolley to move between the first and second positions at a second rate as the fifth wheel head pivots whereby the second rate is different from the first rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 8, wherein the second portion is at a different pivot angle of the head relative to a centerline of the cam member than the first portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 8, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 10, wherein the second portion is closer to the second position than the first portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guide blocks positioned on the trolley. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 12, wherein the guide blocks engage the base frame generally preventing vertical movement of the trolley with respect to the base frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 12, wherein the guide blocks limit fore and aft movement of the trolley with respect to a towing vehicle. ### Claim 15 A fifth wheel hitch comprising: a base frame including a channel having one laterally extending open side and a closed side opposite the open side; a trolley having a plurality of rollers, the rollers operatively engaged with the channel, wherein the trolley is moveable between first and second positions along the base frame; a cam path positioned entirely between the base frame, the cam path having a first portion; and a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaging the first portion of the cam path, wherein pivoting of the cam follower releases the cam follower from the first portion permitting movement of the trolley fore and aft between the first and second positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 15, further comprising a cam plate, the cam plate attached with the base frame, whereby the cam path is formed in the cam plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 15, wherein the first portion is an arcuate detent section in the cam path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 17, wherein the cam follower moving from the detent moves the trolley forward to the first position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 17, further comprising a fifth wheel head pivotally engaged with the trolley, wherein pivoting of the fifth wheel head moves the cam follower out of the first portion of the cam path permitting the trolley to move to the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fifth wheel hitch of claim 19, wherein the trolley is moveable fore and aft relative to the towing vehicle. ### Claim 21 A fifth wheel hitch comprising: a base frame securable to a load bed of a towing vehicle, the base frame including a pair of spaced apart channels, each of the pair of channels having one laterally extending open side and one closed side opposite the open side; a trolley having a plurality of rollers, the rollers positioned within each of the respective channels; and a fifth wheel head operatively coupled with the trolley and the base frame, wherein pivoting of the fifth wheel head causes the trolley to move along the channels and the fifth wheel head is positionable fore and aft between first and second positions along the channels and the laterally extending open side is directed toward the fifth wheel head.