Fifth wheel hitch engagement system

A fifth wheel hitch system for connecting a towing vehicle and a trailer, the fifth wheel hitch system configured to receive a kingpin of the trailer, comprising

• a head defining a throat portion, wherein the throat portion is configured to receive a kingpin;
• a pivot pin mounted on the head;
• a jaw pivotally mounted about the pivot pin to secure the kingpin, thereby being rotatable to a closed position;
• a jaw biasing member operatively coupled to the jaw and configured to apply a bias to the jaw towards the closed position;
• a kingpin guiding member positioned within the throat portion opposite the jaw, the kingpin guiding member comprising a first flange portion secured to the head, a second flange portion spaced from the first flange portion, and a longitudinal portion extending between the first flange portion and the second flange portion, the second flange portion configured to engage a minor diameter portion of the kingpin;
• wherein, when the kingpin is positioned in a non-lockable condition relative to the jaw, the second flange portion is configured to support the kingpin and prevent the jaw from rotating to the closed position;
• and
• wherein the kingpin guiding member is configured to deform upon application of a threshold force applied by the kingpin when the kingpin is in the non-lockable condition.

A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:

• a head defining a throat portion configured to receive a kingpin;
• a jaw movable relative to the throat portion to a closed position to enclose the throat portion;
• a kingpin guiding member fixed relative to the head and positioned within the throat portion to engage the kingpin, the kingpin guiding member including a flange portion positioned to support the kingpin in a non-lockable condition;
• and
• an interface module operatively connected to the kingpin guiding member, the interface module including a transceiver configured to communicate with a receiving device;
• wherein the interface module is configured to generate and transmit a signal from a sensor based on interaction between the kingpin and the kingpin guiding member, the signal indicative of a sensor state indicating that the kingpin is in a non-lockable condition relative to the jaw.

A fifth wheel hitch system comprising:

• a head defining a throat portion, wherein the throat portion is configured to receive a kingpin;
• a jaw pivotally mounted about a pivot pin to secure the kingpin, thereby being rotatable between a closed position and an open position;
• a jaw biasing member operatively coupled to the jaw and configured to apply a bias to the jaw towards the closed position;
• wherein the jaw biasing member is configured to bias the jaw to the closed position, thereby locking the kingpin subsequent to the kingpin being received by the throat portion;
• a kingpin guiding member positioned within the throat portion opposite the jaw, the kingpin guiding member comprising a first flange portion secured to the head, a second flange portion spaced from the first flange portion, and a longitudinal portion extending between the first flange portion and the second flange portion,
• wherein the second flange portion is configured to engage a minor diameter portion of the kingpin;
• wherein, when the kingpin is positioned in a non-lockable condition relative to the jaw, the second flange portion is configured to support the kingpin and prevent the jaw from rotating to the closed position;
• wherein the kingpin guiding member is configured to deform upon application of a threshold force applied by the kingpin when the kingpin is in the non-lockable condition;
• and
• an interface module operatively connected to the kingpin guiding member, the interface module including a transceiver configured to communicate with a receiving device;
• wherein the interface module is configured to generate and transmit a signal corresponding to a sensor state based on interaction between the kingpin and the kingpin guiding member, the sensor state including an indication that the kingpin is in a non-lockable condition relative to the jaw.