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US 9,868,481 B1Granted
Methods and devices for vertically positioning a fifth wheel hitch assembly
AssigneeRing-Co Transit, LLC
InventorsChad A. Ringer, Jarrett D. Waters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fifth wheel hitch plate assembly adapted to be mounted to a vehicle frame includes a hitch plate component coupled to the frame by a vertical lift component. In one implementation, the vertical lift component includes at least four linkages that are pivotally connected to the hitch plate component and pivotally connected to the vehicle frame, wherein the four linkages operate, together with one or actuating members, to elevate a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly in a vertical or substantially vertical path, i.e., a path substantially perpendicular to the vehicle frame.
Claims15
A fifth wheel hitch assembly pivotally coupled to a frame, comprising:
- a hitch plate component comprising a hitch plate;
- and
- a vertical lift component connected to the hitch plate component;
- wherein the vertical lift component includes at least one actuating mechanism and a plurality of linkages, each of the plurality of linkages pivotally coupled to the frame on one end;
- further wherein the at least one actuating mechanism is operable to transition the hitch plate between a lowered position and a raised position;
- and
- further wherein the vertical lift component constrains the hitch plate to traveling along a lift path that is substantially linear as the hitch plate component transitions between the lowered position and the raised position.
4 more elements
A fifth wheel hitch assembly comprising:
- a hitch plate component comprising a hitch plate;
- a mounting member, the mounting member including a platform adapted to support said hitch plate;
- a first arm extending from the platform on a first side of the mounting member and having an end portion opposite the platform;
- and a second arm extending from the platform on a second side of the mounting member and having an end portion opposite the platform;
- and
- a vertical lift component connected to the hitch plate component;
- wherein the vertical lift component includes at least one actuating mechanism and a plurality of linkages;
- wherein the at least one actuating mechanism is operable to transition the hitch plate between a lowered position and a raised position;
- wherein the vertical lift component constrains the hitch plate to traveling along a lift path that is substantially linear as the hitch plate component transitions between the lowered position and the raised position;
- wherein the at least one actuating mechanism of the vertical lift component comprises a first actuating mechanism having first and second end portions, the first actuating mechanism being pivotally connected to the hitch plate component at the first end portion and pivotally connected to a frame at the second end portion, and a second actuating mechanism having first and second end portions, the second actuating mechanism being pivotally connected to the hitch plate component at the first end portion and pivotally connected to the frame at the second end portion;
- and
- wherein, the plurality of linkages comprises a first proximal linkage pivotally connected to the end portion of the first arm and pivotally connected to the frame, a second proximal linkage pivotally connected to the end portion of the second arm and pivotally connected to the frame, a first intermediate linkage pivotally connected to the first arm between the end portion of the first arm and the platform and pivotally connected to the frame, and a second intermediate linkage pivotally connected to the second arm between the end portion of the second arm and the platform and pivotally connected to the frame.
9 more elements
A fifth wheel hitch assembly system comprising:
- a work machine having a frame;
- one or more ground engaging mechanism coupled to the frame;
- a hitch component including a hitch plate;
- and
- a lift component having at least one proximal linkage and at least one intermediate linkage pivotally coupling the hitch component to the frame, each of the proximal and intermediate linkages having a first end pivotally coupled to the frame at a fixed frame location and a second end pivotally coupled to the hitch component;
- wherein the lift component repositions the hitch component relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position to move the hitch plate along a substantially linear path.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.