Abstract:
A kingpin assembly comprises a housing having a recess located therein, a kingpin having at least a portion located within the recess of the housing, a collar member operably coupled to the kingpin, and a collet member extending about the kingpin and frictionally engaging the housing and the kingpin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a kingpin assembly for use within a fifth wheel hitch assembly, and particularly to a kingpin assembly that includes a locking collet to prevent rotation of the kingpin with respect to an associated housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    One aspect of the present invention is to provide a kingpin assembly that comprises a housing having a recess located therein, a kingpin having at least a portion located within the recess of the housing, a collar member operably coupled to the kingpin, and a collet member extending about the kingpin and frictionally engaging the housing of the kingpin. 
         [0003]    The present inventive kingpin assembly prevents rotation of the kingpin with respect to the associated housing while simultaneously allowing easy access to and replacement of an associated kingpin subsequent to wear thereof. Further, the present inventive assembly is more durable, allows replacement of certain components thereof by even unskilled personnel, is extremely efficient in use, capable of a long operating life, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
         [0004]    These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a tractor and heavy duty trailer supported thereby; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fifth wheel hitch assembly and kingpin assembly of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly taken through the line III-III,  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a collet member of the kingpin assembly; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of the collet member taken through the line V-V,  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the collet member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 ,  3 , and the like. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0012]    The reference numeral  10  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates a heavy duty tractor and trailer combination, wherein a tractor  12  operationally supports an associated trailer  14  via a fifth wheel hitch assembly  16  ( FIG. 2 ) and a kingpin assembly  18  cooperating therewith and generally embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the fifth wheel hitch assembly  16  includes a fifth wheel hitch plate  20  pivotally coupled to a frame  22  of the associated tractor  12  and including a tapered kingpin-receiving throat  24  and a locking assembly (not shown) as well known in the art. 
         [0013]    The kingpin assembly  18  ( FIG. 3 ) is adapted for use within a trailer skid plate  26  mounted to an underside of the associated trailer  14 . The trailer skid plate  26  includes an aperture  28  extending therethrough and that cooperates with the kingpin assembly  18  therein. The kingpin assembly  18  includes a housing  30  having a recess in the form of a centrally-located aperture  32  extending therethrough. The aperture  32  further includes a downwardly-opening, conically-shaped step wall  36 , and an upwardly-opening, conically-shaped engagement wall  37 . The kingpin assembly  18  further includes a ring-shaped collar member  38  including a centrally-located threaded aperture  39  and an abutment surface  40 . 
         [0014]    The kingpin assembly  18  further comprises a kingpin  50  that includes an upper head portion  52 , a lower head portion  54 , a recessed lock-receiving portion  55  positioned between the upper head portion  52  and lower head portion  54 , a body portion  56 , and a threaded upper portion  58  that is threadably received within the aperture  39  of the collar member  38 , such that threadably tightening and loosening the collar member  38  with the kingpin  50  secures the kingpin  50  with respect to the housing  30  in the vertical direction  59 . The upper head portion  52  of the kingpin  50  includes a conically-shaped abutment surface  60  that abuts the step wall  36  of the housing  30 . 
         [0015]    The kingpin assembly  18  further includes a collet member  62  positioned between the housing  30  and the kingpin  50 . The collet member  62  ( FIGS. 3-4 ) is ring-shaped and includes a top surface  64 , a rounded bottom surface  66 , a tapered, conically-shaped outer wall  68  and a cylindrically-shaped inner wall  70  that defines an aperture  72  within which the kingpin  50  is received. In the illustrated example, the outer wall  68  includes a circumferentially-extending relief  76 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 5   a,  a relief  78  extends through the collet member  62 , thereby allowing the collet member  62  to expand and contract in a direction  79  as described below. 
         [0016]    The reference numeral  62   a  generally designates a second embodiment of the collet member. Since the collet member  62   a  is similar to the previously described collet member  62 , similar parts appearing in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  respectively represented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for the suffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. The collet member  62   a  is similar to the previously described collet member  62 , with the most notable exception being the angled inner wall  70   a.    
         [0017]    In assembly, the kingpin  50  is placed within the aperture  32  of the housing  30 . The collet member  62  is then positioned over the kingpin  50  and located between the housing  30  and the kingpin  50 . The collar member  38  is then threadably coupled to the kingpin  50 , so that the collar member  38  is tightened onto the kingpin  50 , such that the abutment surface  40  of the collar member  38  abuts to top wall  64  of the collet member  62 , forcing the outer wall  68  of the collet member  38  into engagement with the inner wall  37  of the aperture  32 , which in turn forces the collet member  38  to contract and the inner wall  70  of the collet  62  into engagement with the kingpin  50 , thereby increasing the frictional engagement between the housing  30 , the collet member  62 , and the kingpin  50 , and preventing rotation of the kingpin  50  with respect to the housing  30 . The tightening of the collar member  38  with the kingpin  50  further draws the upper head portion  52  and the abutment surface  60  of the kingpin  50  into contact with the housing  30 . It is noted that a seal member  80  may be positioned between the bottom wall  40  of the collar member  38  and an upwardly-disposed wall  82  of the kingpin  50 . 
         [0018]    The present inventive kingpin assembly prevents rotation of the kingpin with respect to the associated housing while simultaneously allowing easy access to and replacement of an associated kingpin subsequent to wear thereof. Further, the present inventive assembly is more durable, allows replacement of certain components thereof by even unskilled personnel, is extremely efficient in use, capable of a long operating life, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
         [0019]    In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.