Tractor trailer anti-jackknifing assembly
AssigneeSemi Transportation Systems, Ltd.
InventorsNorman L. Williams, Colin V. Hall, Patrick Riebalkin, Richard P. Craig, Ian Pallett, James B. Long
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anti-jackknifing apparatus is disclosed for reducing articulation between a tractor having a fifth wheel and a trailer having a king pin. The anti-jackknifing apparatus comprises a rotatable shaft, a lug mounted on the shaft and a rotary actuator operatively engaged with the shaft.
Claims20
An anti-jackknifing apparatus to reduce articulation between a tractor having a fifth wheel with diverging forks defining a slot therebetween and a trailer having a king pin adapted to be engaged between the forks of the fifth wheel, comprising:
- (a) a shaft having a central longitudinal axis mounted to extend transversely with respect to the trailer;
- (b) a lug mounted on the shaft;
- and
- (c) a rotary actuator having a body operatively engaged with the shaft and being arranged such that the central longitudinal axis of the shaft extends through a portion of the body of the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator being operative to cause rotation of the shaft whereby the lug pivots into or out of the slot between the diverging forks of the fifth wheel.
An anti-jackknifing apparatus to reduce articulation between a tractor having a fifth wheel with diverging forks defining a slot therebetween and a trailer having a king pin adapted to be engaged between the forks of the fifth wheel, comprising:
- (a) a shaft having a central longitudinal axis mounted to extend transversely with respect to the trailer, the shaft being longitudinally displaceable along its central longitudinal axis and being rotatable thereabout;
- (b) a lug mounted on the shaft;
- and
- (c) a rotary actuator operatively engaged with the shaft to cause rotation thereof whereby the lug pivots into or out of the slot between the diverging forks of the fifth wheel, the rotary actuator being mounted substantially co-linearly with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the shaft being slidable toward and away from the rotary actuator as the shaft becomes longitudinally displaced along its central longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.