Truck tractor fifth wheel-mounted lifting and towing unit

A lifting and towing unit mountable on a fifth wheel of a towing vehicle has an anchoring frame assembly with a king pin for coupling to the towing vehicle fifth wheel and a lifting frame assembly adapted to support a portion of a mobile load and to be releasably attached thereto and to the anchoring frame assembly in a fixed relation thereto. The unit also includes an arrangement in the form of a four-bar linkage interconnecting and mounting the lifting frame assembly rearwardly of and to the anchoring frame assembly for pivotal movement relative to the frame of the towing vehicle between lowered and raised positions. In the lowered position, load engaging structure of the lifting frame assembly is capable of being placed in a supporting relationship with the mobile load portion for lifting the mobile load into a towing relationship behind the towing vehicle, whereas in the raised position the lifting frame assembly load engaging structure is capable of supporting the mobile load at the portion thereof to maintain the mobile load in the towing relationship behind the towing vehicle. In the towing relationship, the anchoring and lifting frame assemblies form a substantially rigid towing beam interconnecting the fifth wheel of the towing vehicle and the mobile load such that the only load forces are a vertical downward force on the fifth wheel of the towing vehicle and a vertical downward force on the wheels of the towed mobile load.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
Reference is hereby made to the following copending patent application 
dealing with related subject matter and assigned to the assignee of the 
present invention: "Disabled Truck Tractor Recovery Unit" by Roland P. 
Gehman et al, assigned U.S. Ser. No. 884,703 and filed Jul. 11, 1986, and 
now U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,358. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to towing apparatus and, moe 
particularly, is concerned with an unit mountable on the fifth wheel of a 
truck tractor for lifting and towing a variety of different mobile loads. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It is conventional practice to provide a towing apparatus to enable a fifth 
wheel-bearing towing vehicle such as a truck tractor to connect with and 
tow a mobile load other than its normal trailer. Furthermore, apparently 
in the prior art, a particular towing apparatus is ordinarily designed for 
towing a specific type of mobile load. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 
(2,481,223) to Johnson, Rellinger (3,715,042), Parkes (4,047,733), Skala 
et al (4,149,643), Dunlap (4,152,006), Flaugh (4,316,617), Hubert 
(4,544,175) and Morton (4,555,214) disclose devices which appear to be 
particularly suited for towing another vehicle. In contrast thereto, U.S. 
Pat. Nos. (2,663,574) to Martin, Moiriat et al (3,384,390), Stafford, Jr. 
(3,645,559) and Berends (3,881,749) disclose devices that appear to be 
particularly adapted for towing low bed trailers carrying modular homes 
and other heavy, bulky cargo. 
Presumably all of these devices achieve the objective of adapting a fifth 
wheel-bearing truck tractor for the purpose of connecting with and towing 
a particular type of mobile load. However, it would be desirable to have 
just one device which could be used for towing a variety of different 
types of mobile loads so that it would not be necessary to have a separate 
device for towing each specific type of load. 
Consequently, a need still exists for renewed efforts to come up with a 
device which has a more universal application. Such device would be one 
that will accommodate towing of a variety of different types of mobile 
loads without requiring complicated and difficult adjustments to and 
conversions of the parts thereof. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a fifth wheel-mountable lifting and towing 
unit designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs. The unit of the present 
invention is adapted for use in lifting and towing diverse types of mobile 
loads. One type of load is a large shipping container which is typically 
removed from a ship, mounted on a set of bogie wheels and then pulled by a 
truck tractor. The unit of the present invention can be used to lift one 
end of the container for placing the set of bogie wheels thereunder and 
then to lift and tow the container from the opposite end. The unit can 
also be used to lift and tow a disable vehicle as well as other types of 
mobile loads, such as a house trailer. 
The safety of the unit is enhanced by its utilization of a method which 
results in its operation being close to that of normal tractor trailer 
operations. The unit advantageously directs the weight of the load onto 
the road via the fifth wheel of the towing tractor, as the driver is 
accustomed to when hauling a trailer. The towed load rests at one end on 
its wheels and is supported at the other end on the fifth wheel of the 
towing tractor by a rigid connection provided by the unit. Thus, the only 
load forces are a vertical downward force on the wheels of the towed load 
and a vertical downward force on the fifth wheel of the towing vehicle, 
the same forces experienced in normal tractor trailer operations. 
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a lifting and towing unit 
for use by a towing vehicle having a fifth wheel supported on a frame of 
the towing vehicle. The lifting and towing unit comprises: (a) an 
anchoring frame assembly having a generally horizontal structure with 
front and rear portions and being adapted to be coupled at its front 
portion to a fifth wheel of a towing vehicle, the anchoring frame assembly 
also having a generally vertical structure rigidly mounted upright to the 
front portion of the horizontal structure; (b) a lifting frame assembly 
having an upright structure and load engaging structure mounted to the 
upright structure and being adapted to support a portion of a mobile load 
and to be releasably attached thereto; (c) a linkage arrangement extending 
between and interconnecting the upright structure of the lifting frame 
assembly to the vertical structure of the anchoring frame assembly for 
providing pivotal movement of the lifting frame assembly relative to a 
frame of the towing vehicle between a lowered position wherein the load 
engaging structure of the lifting frame assembly is capable of being 
placed in a supporting relationship with the mobile load portion for 
lifting the mobile load into a towing relationship behind the towing 
vehicle and a partially raised position wherein the load engaging 
structure of the lifting frame assembly is capable of supporting the 
mobile load at the portion thereof to maintain the mobile load in the 
towing relationship behind the towing vehicle; and (d) an actuating 
mechanism being selectively operable to move the lifting frame assembly 
relative to the frame of the towing vehicle from a fully raised position 
located above the partially raised position to the lowered position for 
placing the load engaging structure of the lifting frame assembly in the 
supporting relationship with the mobile load portion and from the lowered 
to fully raised position for lifting the mobile load into the towing 
relationship. 
More particularly, the linkage arrangement includes laterally spaced pairs 
of upper and lower generally parallel extending link arms extending 
between and interconnecting the upright structure of the lifting frame 
assembly and the vertical structure of the anchoring frame assembly so as 
to form a four-bar linkage providing pivotal movement of the lifting frame 
assembly relative to the frame of the towing vehicle between the lowered 
and partially raised positions. In addition, the actuating mechanism 
includes first and second actuating means. The first actuating means is 
selectively operable to move the lifting frame assembly relative to the 
anchoring frame assembly between the lowered position and a partially 
raised position spaced below the fully raised position. The second 
actuating means is selectively operable to move the anchoring frame 
assembly relative to the frame of the towing vehicle after being coupled 
to the fifth wheel thereof and thereby move the lifting assembly relative 
to the vehicle frame between the partially and fully raised positions. 
Still further, the unit includes locking means for connecting the upright 
structure of the lifting frame assembly to the rear portion of the 
horizontal structure of the anchoring frame assembly after the lifting 
frame assembly is moved to the partially raised position to form the 
anchoring and lifting frame assemblies into a substantially rigid towing 
beam interconnecting the fifth wheel of the towing vehicle and the mobile 
load. 
Also, the load engaging structure of the lifting frame assembly can be 
rearwardly projecting members laterally spaced apart from one another and 
mounted to the upright structure of the lifting frame assembly. The 
members are mounted to the upright structure for pivotal movement between 
generally horizontal support and vertical storage positions. Also, the 
load engaging structure can take other forms, for example, a power wrench 
or a carriage unit. 
These and other advantages and attainments of the present invention will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the 
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings 
wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the 
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENION 
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or 
corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Also in 
the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as 
"forward", "rearward", "left", "right", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the 
like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting 
terms. 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is 
shown a preferred embodiment of a lifting and towing unit, generally 
designated by the numeral 10 and constructed in accordance with the 
present invention, being mounted on the fifth wheel 12 supported on a 
frame 14 of a towing vehicle 16, such as a truck tractor. The lifting and 
towing unit 10 of the present invention is adapted for use on the towing 
vehicle 16 in lifting and towing diverse types of mobile loads. The unit 
10 basically includes an anchoring frame assembly 18, a lifting frame 
assembly 20, a linkage arrangement 22 and an actuating mechanism 24. 
More particularly, the anchoring frame assembly 18 has a generally 
horizontal structure 26 with front and rear portions and a generally 
vertical structure 28 rigidly mounted upright adjacent to the front 
portion of the horizontal structure 26. The horizontal structure 26 of the 
assembly 18 is composed of respective pairs of spaced longitudinal beams 
30 and a cross beam 32 being rigidly interconnected to one another in a 
generally rectangular open configuration. The assembly 20 also has a plate 
34 fixed across the beams 30 at the front portion of the horizontal 
structure 26 and mounting a downwardly extending king pin 36 adapted to be 
coupled to the fifth wheel 12 of the towing vehicle 16. The vertical 
structure 28 of the assembly 18 is composed of respective pairs of spaced 
vertical beams 38 and a cross beam 40 being rigidly interconnected to one 
another in another generally rectangular open configuration. 
The lifting frame assembly 20 of the unit 10 has a generally upright 
structure 42 and a load engaging structure in the form of a pair of 
rearwardly projecting members 44 laterally spaced apart from one another 
and mounted to the upright structure 42 adjacent to a lower end thereof. 
The upright structure 42 of the assembly 20 is composed of respective 
pairs of spaced upright beams 46 and cross beams 48 being rigidly 
interconnected to one another in yet another generally rectangular open 
configuration. The rearwardly projecting members 44 are adapted to support 
a forward portion of a mobile load and to be releasable in a clamping 
relation, such as by use of bolts 45 in FIG. 11 or a conventional link 
chain 47 in FIGS. 14 and 17. 
As seen in the one mounting arrangement in FIGS. 1-3, the rearwardly 
projecting members 44 are mounted to the lower ends 50 of the upright 
beams 46 for pivotal movement relative thereto between generally 
horizontal support and vertical storage positions. The members 44 normally 
rest in their horizontal positions due to the coaction of the gravity with 
the way in which the members are pivotally mounted to the lower ends 50 of 
the beams 46. Specifically, each member 44 has a pair of spaced upstanding 
brackets 52 which extend upwardly on opposite lateral sides of the lower 
beam end 50. A pivot pin 54 extends through the beam end 50 and the 
brackets 52 to pivotally mount the member 44 to the beam 46 so that most 
of the member projects rearwardly from the pivot pin 54 and the beam in 
cantilever fashion and only a short forward end 56 of the member projects 
forwardly from the pivot pin 54 so as to underlie and abut upwardly 
against the bottom of the beam end 52. 
A modified mounting arrangement of the rearwardly projecting members 44 is 
seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Instead of being mounted to the lower ends 50 of 
the upright beams 46 of the upright structure 42, the members 44 are 
mounted to opposite end portions 58 of the lower one of the cross beams 48 
of the upright structure, which end portions 58 extend laterally outward 
from the respective lower ends 50 of the upright beams. In addition, now 
the upstanding brackets 52 on the members 44 are mounted by pivot pins 54 
to brackets 60 fixed to and depending below sleeves 62 which are slidably 
mounted on the lower cross beam end portions 58. A fastener 64 is threaded 
vertically through the upper side of each sleeve 62 for engaging the 
respective cross beam end portion 58 to set the respective sleeve 62 and 
thereby the member 44 pivotally mounted thereto at a particular desired 
position along the lower cross beam 48. In such manner, the members 44 in 
this modified mounting arrangement are releasably mounted to the lower end 
of the upright structure 42 for laterally-adjusted movement toward and 
away from one another. However, the members 44 still normally project 
rearwardly from the upright structure 42 and rest in their horizontal 
support positions, and can pivot to vertical storage positions, the same 
as in the mounting arrangement of FIGS. 1-3. 
In another modified mounting arrangement of the rearwardly projecting 
members 44 shown in FIG. 6, a telescopible actuator 66 is provided for 
pivoting the members 44 in vertical planes relative to the upright 
structure 42. The upstanding brackets 52 on the members 44 (only one 
member being seen in FIG. 6) are mounted by pivot pins 54 to brackets 68 
fixed to and depending below the lower one of the cross beams 48 of the 
upright structure 42. The actuator 66 is pivotally interconnected at its 
upper and lower opposite ends to the one upright beam 46 of the upright 
structure 42 and to the one member 44 (the members are, in turn, connected 
together by a cross bracket not shown) and is operable to pivotally move 
the members relative to the upright structure as its piston rod 70 is 
extended and retracted. 
The linkage arrangement 22 of the unit 10 pivotally mounts the lifting 
frame assembly 20 to the anchoring frame assembly 18. More particularly, 
the linkage arrangement 22 is composed of laterally spaced apart pairs of 
upper and lower generally parallel extending link arms 72, 74 extending 
between and interconnecting the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame 
assembly 20 and the vertical structure 28 of the anchoring frame assembly 
18. The link arms 72, 74 form a four-bar linkage swingable in an arcuate 
path to provide pivotal movement of the lifting frame assembly 20 relative 
to the frame 14 of the towing vehicle 16 and to the anchoring frame 
assembly 18 in a substantially vertical direction away from and toward 
lowered and fully raised positions, as shown in phantom and solid line 
form in FIG. 1. 
In the lowered position of the lifting frame assembly 20, its rearward 
projecting members 44 are capable of being placed in a supporting 
relationship under a forward portion of a mobile load for lifting the 
mobile load into a towing relationship behind the towing vehicle 16. For 
example, in FIGS. 8 and 10, the members 44 are shown successively inserted 
under the front and rear ends of a shipping container C for mobilizing the 
same with a set of bogie wheels W and then placing the mobilized container 
C in towing relationship. In FIG. 12, the members 44 are shown ready to be 
inserted under the front end of a disabled truck D. In FIG. 14, the 
members 44 are shown supporting a travel trailer T at its tongue F. In 
FIGS. 15 and 16, the members 44 are shown supporting a disabled military 
truck M at its front and rear ends respectively. In the fully raised 
position of the lifting frame assembly 20, its rearwardly projecting 
members 44 are capable of being clamped to and supporting the mobile load 
at the front portion thereof to maintain the mobile load in the towing 
relationship behind the towing vehicle 16. Refer to FIGS. 11, 13-16 
wherein mobile loads respectively in the form of mobilized shipping 
container C, disabled truck D, and travel trailer T and the disabled 
military truck M are supported in towing relationship behind the towing 
vehicle 16 by the members 44 of the lifting frame assembly 20 of the unit 
10. 
In a modified embodiment of the linkage arrangement identified as 22' in 
FIG. 7, each of the upper link arms 72 of the arrangement 22 is replaced 
by a telescopible actuator 76. The actuator 76 is attached at its opposite 
ends to respective upper ends of the vertical beams 38 of the anchoring 
frame assembly vertical structure 28 and the upright beams 46 of the 
lifting frame assembly upright structure 42. The actuators 76 (only one 
being shown) are operable to extend and retract the piston rods 78 thereof 
to cause pivoting of the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame 
assembly 20 about its pivotal connection at 80 to each of the lower link 
arms 74 of the pairs thereof between the angular displaced positions shown 
in phantom and solid line form in FIG. 7. 
For moving the lifting frame assembly 20 relative to the towing vehicle 
frame 14, the actuating mechanism 24 of the unit 10 is provided, as seen 
in FIGS. 1-3. More particularly, the actuating mechanism 24 includes a 
first actuating means 82 and a second actuating means 84. The first 
actuating means 82 is selectively operable to move the lifting frame 
assembly 20 relative to the anchoring frame assembly 18 between the 
lowered position and a partially raised position spaced below the fully 
raised position for placing the rearward projecting members 44 of the 
assembly 20 in the aforementioned supporting relationship with the front 
portion of the mobile load and for then lifting the mobile load into the 
towing relationship. The second actuating means 84 is selectively operable 
to move the anchoring frame assembly 18 relative to the vehicle frame 14 
and thereby move the lifting frame assembly 20 relative to the vehicle 
frame 14 and the anchoring frame assembly 18 (after being rigidly attached 
thereto as explained below) between the partially and fully raised 
positions. 
Specifically, the first actuating means 82 is a telescopible actuator 86 
pivotally attached at its opposite ends to and extending between the upper 
cross beam 48 of the lifting frame assembly upright structure 42 and the 
rear cross beam 32 of the anchoring frame assembly horizontal structure 
26. Extension of a piston rod 88 of the actuator 86 raises the lifting 
frame assembly 20, whereas retraction of the piston rod 88 lowers the 
assembly 20. The second actuating means 84 includes a U-shaped auxiliary 
frame assembly 90 and another telescopible actuator 92. The auxiliary 
frame assembly 90 is formed by a pair of laterally spaced legs 94 and a 
transverse member 96 extending between and rigidly interconnecting the 
legs 94. The front ends of the legs 94 are pivotally attached to the 
longitudinal beams 30 of the anchoring frame horizontal structure 26 
intermediate their ends by pins 98. The actuator 92 extends between and is 
pivotally attached at its opposite ends to the middle of the transverse 
member 96 and to the upper end of an upright post 100 fixed to the middle 
of the rear cross beam 32 of the anchoring frame assembly horizontal 
structure 26. Extension of a piston rod 102 of the actuator 92 raises the 
horizontal structure 26 and thereby the anchoring frame assembly 18 
relative to the vehicle frame 14 with the transverse member 96 of the 
auxiliary frame assembly 90 engaging the frame 14 and pivots the fifth 
wheel 12 being coupled the anchoring frame assembly 18. Retraction of the 
piston rod 102 lowers the horizontal structure downwardly toward the 
vehicle frame 14. 
For moving the lifting frame assembly 20 with the anchoring assembly 18 
upon actuating the auxiliary frame assembly actuator 92, the former 
assembly 20 must be attached to the latter assembly 18. For this purpose, 
locking means are provided in the form of a plate 104 attached to and 
extending forwardly of each of the upright beams 46 of the lifting frame 
assembly upright structure 42 and a pair of plates 106 attached to and 
extending rearwardly of the rear end of each of the longitudinal beams 30 
of the anchoring frame assembly horizontal structure 26. The plates 104, 
106 have complementary elements in the form of rows of vertically spaced 
apertures 108, 110 respectively defined therein which are alignable with 
one another. Releasable fastener elements in the form of releasable 
latching pins 112 are provided for insertion through certain aligned ones 
of the apertures 108, 110 for interengaging the plates 104, 106 and 
thereby interconnecting the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame 
assembly 20 to the horizontal structure 26 of the anchoring frame assembly 
18 after the lifting frame assembly 20 has been moved to its partially 
raised position. The anchoring and lifting frame assemblies 18, 20 are 
thusly formed into a substantially rigid towing beam interconnecting the 
fifth wheel 12 of the towing vehicle 16 and the mobile load. With the 
anchoring and lifting frame assemblies 18, 20 rigidly attached together by 
pins 112 interengaging plates 104, 106 and with the lifting frame assembly 
20 rigidly clamped to the mobile load so as to form the rigid towing beam 
therebetween the fifth wheel 12 and the mobile load, the piston rod 102 of 
the cylinder 92 is then retracted to lift the legs 94 of the auxiliary 
frame assembly 90 upwardly from contact with the vehicle frame 14 to the 
position shown in dashed line form in FIGS. 1 and 7 and in solid line form 
in FIGS. 11 and 13-16. 
As mentioned earlier, the unit 10 of the present invention is adapted for 
use in lifting and towing diverse types of mobile loads. As seen in FIGS. 
8-11, one type of load is the large shipping container C which is 
typically removed from a ship, mounted on a set of bogie wheels W by use 
of the unit 10, mounted on the towing vehicle 16 with the members 44 of 
the unit 10 attached and clamped by the bolts 45 under the front portion 
of the container C. The unit 10 is used to lift one end of the container C 
for placing the bogie wheels W thereunder and then to lift and tow the 
container from the opposite end. The unit 10 can also be used to lift and 
tow the disabled vehicle D of FIGS. 12 and 13, as well as other types of 
mobile loads, such as the travel trailer T in FIG. 14 and the disabled 
military truck M in FIGS. 15 and 16. 
Referring to FIG. 18, it can be seen that with the unit 10 providing a 
rigid connection between the fifth wheel 12 of the towing vehicle 16 and 
the towed mobile load L, when the towing vehicle 16 turns relative to the 
mobile load L the latter together with the unit 10 rotate together about 
the fifth wheel 12 the same as a trailer does in a normal tractor trailer 
arrangement. The only load forces are a vertical downward force V(1) on 
the fifth wheel 12 of the towing vehicle 16 and a vertical downward force 
V(2) on the wheels 114 of the towed load L. 
Turning now to FIGS. 19-22, there is shown other examples of load engaging 
structures which can be mounted on the lifting frame assembly 20 for 
supporting the mobile loads. FIG. 19 illustrates a power winch 116 mounted 
to the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame assembly 20 of the unit 
10 along with the rearward projecting members 44. FIG. 20 depicts the 
power winch 116 mounted to the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame 
assembly 20 but without the members 44 of FIG. 19 being used. FIGS. 21 and 
22 illustrate a sling or carriage unit 118, instead of the members 44, 
mounted on the upright structure 42 of the lifting frame assembly 20 of 
the unit 10 for supporting the mobile load. 
It is thought that the fifth wheel-mounted lifting and towing unit of the 
present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood 
from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various 
changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts 
thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or 
sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore 
described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.