# US 12,110,070 B2 · Fifth wheel release arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,070 B2 - Document ID: US12110070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/626,300 - Filed: 2020-07-02 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-24 - Assignees: Volvo Truck Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Truck Corporation - Inventors: Nagendra Rao; Rohith Mn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110070B2 ## CPC - B62D 53/0807: {adjustable coupling saddles mounted on sub-frames; Mounting plates therefor} - B62D 53/0871: {with stabilising means, e.g. to prevent jack-knifing, pitching, rolling, buck jumping (stabilising in general B62D37/00; tractors B62D49/08)} - 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 release arrangement for releasing a trailer from a towing vehicle in response to a trigger signal. The arrangement comprises one or more externally threaded fasteners and one or more pinion nuts comprising internal threads for engaging the external threads on the threaded fasteners, thereby holding the fifth wheel in position with respect to a first bracket attached to a towing vehicle frame, wherein the externally threaded fasteners are arranged to be rotationally fixed when received by the pinion nuts. The pinion nuts further comprise external teeth for engaging a toothed rack, and the rack is movable by an actuator system, in response to the trigger signal, in a direction to rotate the pinion nuts, whereby the externally threaded fasteners are ejected from the pinion nuts upon moving the rack by the actuator system in the direction, thereby releasing the trailer from the towing vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fifth wheel release arrangement for releasing a trailer from a towing vehicle in response to a trigger signal, the arrangement comprising: one or more externally threaded fasteners, and one or more pinion nuts comprising internal threads for engaging the external threads on the threaded fasteners, thereby holding the fifth wheel in position with respect to a first bracket arranged attachable to a towing vehicle frame, wherein the externally threaded fasteners are arranged to be rotationally fixed when received by the pinion nuts, wherein the pinion nuts comprise external teeth for engaging a toothed rack, the rack being movable by an actuator system, in response to the trigger signal, in a direction to rotate the pinion nuts, whereby the externally threaded fasteners are ejected from the pinion nuts upon moving the rack by the actuator system, thereby releasing the trailer from the towing vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein the externally threaded fasteners are threaded bolts arranged to secure the fifth wheel to the first bracket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of the externally threaded fasteners is arranged to be rotationally fixed by a bracket configured to rotationally fix a head portion of the externally threaded fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of the externally threaded fasteners is arranged to be rotationally fixed by a slot formed in the fastener in an extension direction of the threaded fastener, and a key insertable into the slot to prevent rotation of the threaded fastener. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pinion nuts bears against the first bracket on one side of the pinion nut, and bears against a second bracket on the opposite side of the pinion nut. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 5, wherein the pinion nut bearing arrangement comprises one or more thrust bearings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein the actuator system comprises a cylinder configured to extend in response to the trigger signal, thereby moving the rack via a link member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 7, wherein the cylinder comprises any of: a pneumatic system, a hydraulic system, or a pyrotechnical charge configured to extend the cylinder in response to the trigger signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 7, wherein the cylinder is configured to extend by a Sodium Azide charge configured to be activated by the triggered signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, wherein the rack is configured to be moved by an electric motor in response to the trigger signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, comprising a casing arranged to shield the one or more externally threaded fasteners and the one or more pinion nuts from mechanical impact, corrosion, and/or particle build-up. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 1, comprising a control unit arranged to detect a rollover condition and to issue the trigger signal in response to detecting the rollover condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 12, wherein the control unit comprises: a tilt angle sensor arranged to detect a tilt angle of the trailer, wherein the control unit is arranged to issue the trigger signal when the tilt angle of the trailer exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 13, wherein the threshold value is based on an estimated center of gravity location associated with the trailer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fifth wheel release arrangement of claim 13, wherein the threshold value is based on an estimated lateral acceleration associated with the trailer. ### Claim 16 A fifth wheel release arrangement for releasing a trailer from a towing vehicle in response to a trigger signal, the arrangement comprising: one or more externally threaded fasteners, and one or more nuts comprising internal threads for engaging the external threads on the threaded fasteners, thereby holding the fifth wheel in position with respect to a first bracket arranged attachable to a towing vehicle frame, wherein the nuts are arranged to be fixed when having received the fasteners, wherein the fasteners comprise external teeth arranged on a head portion of the fastener for engaging a toothed rack, and wherein the rack is movable by an actuator system, in response to the trigger signal, in a direction to rotate the fasteners, whereby the externally threaded fasteners are ejected from the nuts upon moving the rack by the actuator system, thereby releasing the trailer from the towing vehicle. ### Claim 17 A vehicle combination or towing vehicle comprising: a fifth wheel release arrangement for releasing a trailer from a towing vehicle in response to a trigger signal, the arrangement comprising: one or more externally threaded fasteners, and one or more pinion nuts comprising internal threads for engaging the external threads on the threaded fasteners, thereby holding the fifth wheel in position with respect to a first bracket arranged attachable to a towing vehicle frame, wherein the externally threaded fasteners are arranged to be rotationally fixed when received by the pinion nuts, wherein the pinion nuts comprise external teeth for engaging a toothed rack, the rack being movable by an actuator system, in response to the trigger signal, in a direction to rotate the pinion nuts, whereby the externally threaded fasteners are ejected from the pinion nuts upon moving the rack by the actuator system, thereby releasing the trailer from the towing vehicle.