Patent ID: 7770910
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. Fifth wheel coupling for coupling sections of an articulated vehicle comprising: a main plate defining a keyhole slot for receiving a kingpin from one of said sections, said keyhole slot terminating in a coupling aperture; a locking mechanism movable between open and closed positions for locking the kingpin in the coupling aperture in said closed position to thereby couple said sections and releasing the kingpin when moved to the open position; a safety latch mounted in said keyhole slot and movable from an inactive position permitting said kingpin to move through said keyhole slot and into said coupling aperture to an active position blocking said keyhole slot thereby preventing movement of the kingpin through the keyhole slot; an operating mechanism for operating the locking mechanism and for moving the safety latch from the active to the inactive position to permit movement of the kingpin out of said keyhole slot, said operating mechanism including a lever pivotally mounted on an underside of said main plate; a first linkage pivotally mounted on said lever and connecting the lever with the locking mechanism, said lever being movable through a predetermined stroke between closed and open positions for moving said locking mechanism between said closed and open positions respectively; and a second linkage for moving said safety latch into said inactive position, wherein said second linkage and said lever include cooperating engagement surfaces whereby the pivoting of said lever in excess of a predetermined arc length of said predetermined stroke operates said second linkage.