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 coupler member operably coupled to the kingpin, and a collet member engaging the housing and the kingpin, and engaging the coupler member such that an uncoupling of the coupler member from the kingpin at least partially disengages the collet member from 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, and a spanner nut that aids in disassembly of the collet from the kingpin assembly. 
       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 coupler member operably coupled to the kingpin, and a collet member engaging the housing of the kingpin, and engaging the collar member such that at least partially uncoupling the collar member from the kingpin at least partially disengages the collet member from 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 kingpin assembly is adapted to allow easy disassembly of the kingpin assembly by at least partially disengaging a collet member of the assembly as a coupler member is at least partially uncoupled from an associated kingpin. 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. 3A  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly fully assembled, taken through the line III-Ill,  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of the area IIIB of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly, wherein a coupler member is shown partially coupled with a kingpin, and a collet member is shown disengaged from the kingpin and a housing; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly, wherein the coupler member is shown further coupled to the kingpin, and the collet member is shown partially engaging the kingpin; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly, wherein the coupler member is fully coupled to the kingpin, and the collet member is fully engaged with the kingpin and the housing; and, 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the kingpin assembly, wherein a keyway of the coupler member is shown abutting a keyway of the collet member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    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  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    The kingpin assembly  18  ( FIGS. 3A-4 ) 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 . 
         [0017]    The kingpin assembly  18  further includes a ring-shaped collar member or spanner nut  38  including a centrally-located threaded aperture  39  and a first portion of a coupler or a circumferentially extending keyway  40 , a first abutment surface  41 , a conically-shaped second abutment surface  42 , and a third abutment surface  43 . 
         [0018]    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 the lower head portion  54 , a body portion  56 , 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  couples and uncouples the collar member  38  with the kingpin  50 , and 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 first conically-shaped abutment surface  60  that abuts the step wall  36  of the housing  30 , and a second conically-shaped abutment surface  61  located between the upper head portion  52  and the threaded upper portion  58 . 
         [0019]    The kingpin assembly  18  further includes a coupling member  62 , which in the illustrated example comprises a collet member, positioned between the housing  30  and the kingpin  50 . The collet member  62  is ring-shaped and includes a second portion of the coupler or a circumferentially extending keyway  63 , a first abutment surface  64 , a conically-shaped second abutment surface  65 , a third abutment surface  66 , a tapered, conically-shaped outer wall  68  and a conically-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. 4 , 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. 
         [0020]    In assembly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-7 , the kingpin  50  is placed within the aperture  32  of the housing  30 . The collet member  62  is then coupled with the collar member  38  such that the keyway  63  of the collet member  62  is coupled with the keyway  40  of the collar member  38 . The collet member  62  and the collar member  38  are 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 , thereby forcing the first abutment surface  41  and the second abutment surface  42  of the collar member  38  into abutment with the first abutment surface  64  and the second abutment surface  65  of the collet member  62 , respectively, thereby forcing the outer wall  68  of the collet member  62  into frictional engagement with the inner wall  37  of the aperture  32 , and the inner wall  70  into frictional engagement with the abutment surface  61  of the kingpin  50  with the kingpin  50 , and as a result 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 . A rounded corner  80  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) of the collet member  62  assists with beginning the engagement of the collet member  62  with the kingpin  50  as the inner diameter of the inner wall  70  may be less than the outer diameter of the kingpin  50  in the area of the abutment surface  61 . 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 . 
         [0021]    In disassembly, the collar member  38  ( FIG. 8 ) is uncoupled from the kingpin  50  by unthreading the collar member  38  from the kingpin  50 . As the collar member  38  is unthreaded the third abutment surface  43  of the collar member  38  abuts the third abutment surface  66  of the collet member  62 , thereby moving the collet member  62  in an axial direction  84  and disengaging the collet member  62  from the inner wall  37  of the housing  30  and the abutment surface  61  of the kingpin  50 . In the illustrated example, the collet member  62  is removed from the aperture  32  of the housing  30  along with the collar member  38 . 
         [0022]    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. 
         [0023]    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.