Fifth wheel coupling
OwnerWalter Hungerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fifth wheel coupling for connection of a semitrailer to a tractor unit is disclosed in which a pair of symmetrical, swivel-articulated closing jaws having semicircular recesses for grasping the king pin have a split bearing comprising an outer bearing half fixed in each closing jaw and inner bearing halves rotatable with respect to the outer bearing halves. The split bearing includes a mechanism for returning each inner bearing half to a position aligned with its respective outer bearing half for uncoupling. The split bearing eliminates friction between the king pin and the closing jaws and is substantially free from wear and maintenance.
Claims11
A fifth wheel coupling for the connection of a semitrailer to a tractor unit, comprising:
- a pair of symmetrical, swivel-articulated closing jaws, said jaws having a mating pair of semicircular recesses for grasping a king pin of the semitrailer;
- a split bearing positioned in said recesses of the closing jaws, said bearing comprising an outer bearing half fixed in each closing jaw and a pair of inner bearing halves rotatable with respect to the outer bearing halves;
- and
- means for returning each inner bearing half to an initial position aligned with its respective outer bearing half.
A fifth wheel coupling according to claim further comprising a hook-shaped radially inward extension for holding the inner bearing.
A fifth wheel coupling according to claim
- wherein the split bearing comprises a rolling bearing having rolling elements in a rolling element cage, the rolling element cage being split in the same plane as the inner and outer bearing halves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.