# US 8,465,042 B2 · Upper coupler assembly and inspection method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,042 B2 - Document ID: US8465042B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/760,969 - Filed: 2010-04-15 - Published: 2011-04-21 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-16 - Applicants: Elvin Lloyd Knollman - Inventors: Elvin Lloyd Knollman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465042B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/20: using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material - B62D 53/08: Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)} - B62D 53/0842: {King pins} - G01M 3/26: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 Upper coupler assemblies for mounting coupling devices to trailers, and methods for inspecting upper coupler assemblies. The upper coupler assemblies include a housing having first and second members that define a cavity therebetween. At least the second member has a through-hole adapted to receive a coupling device, such as a kingpin. The cavity contains at least one fluid-tight chamber, more preferably multiple gas-tight and liquid-tight chambers by walls within the cavity. The coupler assembly has at least one fluid inlet for introducing and/or withdrawing a fluid (liquid and/or gas) from one or more of the chambers. The integrity of the upper coupler assembly can be evaluated by introducing or removing a gas from the one or more chambers and detecting the presence of any gas leaks in the one or more chambers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upper coupler assembly for mounting a coupling device on a trailer, the upper coupler assembly comprising: a housing comprising first and second members spaced apart from each other to define a cavity therebetween, the second member having a through-hole therein adapted to receive a coupling device; at least two fluid-tight chambers within the cavity and defined by one or more walls attached to at least one of the first and second members, at least one of the fluid-tight chambers comprises at least one gas-tight chamber and at least one of the fluid-tight chambers comprises at least one liquid-tight chamber; and at least one inlet adapted to introduce and withdraw a fluid from the at least two fluid-tight chambers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid-tight chamber contains a corrosion-inhibiting liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas-tight chamber contains a gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas-tight chamber comprises a plurality of gas-tight chambers and wherein the at least one liquid-tight chamber comprises a plurality of liquid-tight chambers, the plurality of gas-tight chambers and the plurality of liquid-tight chambers separated within the cavity by the one or more walls, and the at least one inlet comprises at least one gas inlet adapted to introduce and withdraw a gas from the plurality of gas-tight chambers and at least one liquid inlet adapted to introduce a liquid into the plurality of liquid-tight chambers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least some of the gas-tight chambers are fluidically connected to define a continuous gas-tight circuit within the cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein all of the gas-tight chambers are fluidically connected to define a continuous gas-tight circuit within the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein the liquid-tight chambers are not fluidically connected to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one liquid inlet comprises a plurality of liquid inlets adapted to separately introduce a liquid into each of the liquid-tight chambers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein the liquid-tight chambers comprise first and second liquid-tight chambers disposed at oppositely-disposed first and second extents of the cavity, and third and fourth liquid-tight chambers disposed between the first and second liquid-tight chambers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first, second, third and fourth liquid-tight chambers are separated from each other by the gas-tight chambers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein the liquid-tight chambers contain a corrosion-inhibiting liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the one or more walls separates at least one of the gas-tight chambers from at least one of the liquid-tight chambers, and the liquid inhibits corrosion of the one or more walls so as to inhibit gas flow into and out of the gas-tight chambers through the one or more walls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a vent pipe in the second member, protruding into one of the liquid-tight chambers, and having an open end spaced apart from the first member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein the gas-tight chambers contain a pressurized gas. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 14, wherein the gas-tight chambers are coupled to an air brake reservoir on the trailer so as to receive pressurized air from the air brake reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 4, wherein the gas-tight chambers are at least partially evacuated so as to be at less than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, further comprising the coupling device disposed within the through-hole in the second member and forming a gas-tight seal therewith, wherein the coupling device comprises a kingpin having a first portion within the at least one gas-tight chamber and a second portion protruding outside the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 17, wherein the kingpin is welded to the second member so as to seal the through-hole in the second member and form the gas-tight seal therewith. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 17, wherein the kingpin is removably secured with fasteners to the second member so as to close the through-hole in the second member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper coupler assembly is an inverted coupler assembly that is at least partially integrated into framework of the trailer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A method of inspecting the upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, the method comprising introducing a gas into the at least one gas-tight chamber to detect leaks in the housing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A method of inhibiting corrosion of the upper coupler assembly according to claim 1, the method comprising introducing a corrosion-inhibiting material into the at least one liquid-tight chamber.