Patent ID: 8371600

Claim:
A truck tractor-trailer combination comprising a fifth wheel to connect a truck tractor to a trailer, the fifth wheel comprises a coupling plate on the tractor and a kingpin on the trailer, the coupling plate includes an opening for receiving the kingpin, a locking mechanism for detachably securing the kingpin in the opening of the coupling plate, a driver's cab on the truck tractor, and an anti-theft protection device which comprises elements different from those of the locking mechanism is disposed in a housing which is integrally connected to and beneath the coupling plate, the anti-theft protection device is arranged in the housing such that it is not discernible from the outside, wherein the anti-theft protection device is configured to be electrically actuated, the anti-theft protection device comprises a locking part which projects from the housing and which is configured such that it fits a receiving fixture in a lock part of the fifth wheel, which is adapted to be actuated by a bolt part from a first position, wherein the kingpin may be removed from the opening of the coupling plate, and a second position, wherein the lock part provides a mechanical locking of the kingpin within the opening of the coupling plate, and further includes a control unit in the driver's cab for unlocking the anti-theft protection device, wherein the housing and the coupling plate comprises a cast structure, and wherein the housing is rigidly fixed to the coupling plate.