Patent GB-1228013-A (GB)
IPC: B61D45/00
Filed: 1968-06-25
Abstract: 1,228,013. Semi-trailer supports; fifth wheel couplings. SUN SHIPBUILDING & DRY DOCK CO. 25 June, 1968 [26 June, 1967], No. 30185/68. Headings B7J and B7T. A truck semi-trailer support device 1 for supporting and securing a semi-trailer, when carried on the deck of an auxiliary vehicle, e.g. a ship, comprises a box-like structure having substantially parallel top and bottom walls 2, 3, Figs. 1 and 2, interconnected by a pair of spaced parallel side walls 4, 5, the top wall 2 having an inwardly tapering first opening 7 extending from its rear edge 2a, 2a, a second opening 8, of arcuate configuration at its inner end, abutting the forward end of opening 7, and adapted to receive and secure the kingpin of a trailer by means of a fifth wheel structure 48, and having a kingpin 12 downwardly depending from a portion of the top wall 2 longitudinally aligned with the openings 7, 8 and spaced forward therefrom for attachment to a tractor frame 20. A vertical plate 25, Fig. 5, extending between the side walls 4, 5 has secured thereon, via a tension spring 34, a locking speed member 31 comprising a wing nut member 37, 47, threaded on the upper end of a shank 32 whose lower end passes through a bush 30 welded in a slot 28 in plate 25, and has a substantially rectangular integral enlarged head 33, Fig. 6 (not shown). Head 33 is adapted to be secured to an abutment member 38, Fig. 13, secured to the vehicle deck, by insertion in a through opening 40 of corresponding cross-section, rotation about 90 degrees in a horizontal plane into a similar shaped opening 41 at right angles to opening 40 but not extending through to the upper surface of member 38, and secured against abutments 42, 44, by use of wing nut 37, 47. Openings (22), (23), Fig. 4 (not shown), in bottom wall 3 similar to openings 7, 8 in top wall 2, as well as an inwardly tapering slot 29 in plate 25, connecting the lower edge of the plate and slot 28, serve to accommodate member 38 when the device is locked thereto. The fifth wheel structure 48, Fig. 11, comprises a a rear jaw 49 pivoted to the undersurface of top plate 2 at 54 and having gear teeth 55 engaging with teeth 56 of a forward jaw 50, slidable fore and aft on the plate 2 so that forward movement of jaw 50 by contact with a trailer kingpin causes the inner surfaces of the jaws to close about that kingpin, while simultaneously a plunger 57, biased upwardly; in Fig. 11, by a spring 62, is pushed aside by a rounded cam surface on jaw 49 and springs behind the jaw to lock it in closed position. A roller 68, secured to plunger 57, rides in a cam slot, which has dwell portions 66, 67 at either end, and is provided to one end of a substantially L-shaped arm 64 pivoted at 65 on the device 1, portion 66 lying nearer than portion 67 to pivot 65 so that on pulling a handle 69 secured to the other end of arm 64 outwards of the device 1, the camming action moves plunger 57 to release the jaws. Withdrawal of the track king pin and consequent opening of the jaws causes jaw 49 to engage a bevel portion 58 of plunger 57 to release roller 68 from dwell portion 66 causing a spring 71 on handle 69 to return plunger 57 to its original position.