Rigid gauge for trailer kingpin assessment

A gauge for assessing wear of a base and a shank of a trailer kingpin, the gauge comprising:

• a. a rigid body comprising a front face, a back face, and sides;
• and
• b. an opening in said body passing from said front face to said back face, the opening comprising:
• i. a centrally disposed entrance area sized for entry of said kingpin;
• ii. a first means for measuring a first specified degree of wear of the shank indicating a need to replace or rebuild the kingpin;
• iii. contiguous with said first means for measuring, a second means for measuring a second specified degree of wear of the shank indicating the kingpin has exceeded a specification defining a maximum allowed shank wear;
• iv. to an opposing side of said centrally disposed area, a third means for measuring a first specified degree of wear of the base indicating a need to replace or rebuild the kingpin;
• and
• v. contiguous with said third means for measuring, a fourth means for measuring a second specified degree of wear of the base indicating the kingpin has exceeded a specification defining a maximum allowed base wear.

A gauge for assessing wear of a base and a shank of a trailer kingpin, the gauge comprising:

• a. a body comprising a front face, a back face, and sides;
• and
• b. an opening in said body passing from said front face to said back face, the opening comprising:
• i. an entrance area sized for entry of said kingpin;
• ii. contiguous with said entrance area, a first means for measuring a first specified degree of wear of the base indicating a need to replace or rebuild the kingpin;
• iii. contiguous with said first means for measuring, a second means for measuring a second specified degree of wear of the base indicating the kingpin has exceeded a specification defining a maximum allowed base wear;
• iv. contiguous with said second means for measuring, a third means for measuring a first specified degree of wear of the shank indicating a need to replace or rebuild the kingpin;
• and
• v. contiguous with said third means for measuring, a fourth means for measuring a second specified degree of wear of the shank indicating the kingpin has exceeded a specification defining a maximum allowed shank wear.

A method of measuring desired wear parameters of a kingpin, comprising:

• a. providing a gauge, the gauge comprising a front face, a back face, and sides, and a centrally disposed entrance area sized for entry of the kingpin, the entrance area contiguous with 1) a first zone, defined by a first notch, sized to indicate kingpin replacement or rebuilding based on a level of wear on a shank of the kingpin, the first zone itself contiguous with a more lateral second zone, defined by a second notch, sized to indicate the kingpin shank has exceeded a shank wear specification, and 2) a third zone, defined by a third notch, sized to indicate kingpin replacement or rebuilding based on a level of wear on a base of the kingpin, the third zone itself contiguous with a more lateral fourth zone, defined by a fourth notch, sized to indicate the kingpin base has exceeded a base wear specification;
• b. aligning the gauge perpendicularly to the kingpin, with the shank within the entrance area;
• c. pulling the gauge to one side to contact the first zone with the shank;
• d. rotating the gauge while maintaining the pulling of step “c”;
• e. if the shank enters the first zone, pulling the gauge to contact the second zone with the shank and rotating the gauge while maintaining the pulling of step “e”;
• f. assessing the status of the kingpin based on how far the shank advanced into the first and second zones;
• g. aligning the gauge perpendicularly to the kingpin, with the base within the entrance area;
• h. pulling the gauge to one side to contact the third zone with the base;
• i. rotating the gauge while maintaining the pulling of step “h”;
• j. if the base enters the third zone, pulling the gauge to contact the fourth zone with the base, and rotating the gauge while maintaining the pulling of step “j”;
• and
• k. assessing the status of the kingpin based on how far the base advanced into the third and fourth zones.