Fontaine Fifth Wheel Company

Fontaine International

Global Polymer Industries, Inc.

Volvo Gm Heavy Truck Corporation

Jeff Marcus Terry

Steven William Mann

James Matthew Rhodes

Christopher Aaron Bond

Howard Thomas Moulton

Todd M Huntimer

Steve L Barnhardt

Dennis E Greer

Steven L Hadley

Linsey E Brown

Hollis L Cahela, Sr

A fifth wheel assembly comprises a fifth wheel having a plurality of journal bearings extending generally downward from its underside, and an 'I-shaped' transverse beam member for mounting the assembly to a truck frame. The beam member is dimensioned to span across parallel longitudinal truck frame members and it includes mounting flanges extending generally downward from either lateral side where the mounting flanges have a plurality of apertures for receiving suitable fasteners inserted therein for mounting said beam member to the truck frame members. The transverse member also includes a plurality of pivot bearing pairs to receive the journal bearings of the fifth wheel which is coupled thereto by a trunnion.

Fifth wheel assembly

A fifth wheel with a removable bearing plate includes a load structure comprising frame walls and inner bracing, and including a plurality of flanges, each of said plurality of flanges having an aperture disposed therethrough, said load structure also having at least two pivot bearings; and a bearing plate having a plurality of fasteners extending from an underside of said bearing plate disposed at locations corresponding to the disposition of said apertures configured to permit removable attachment of said bearing plate to said load structure and plurality of ridges disposed upon the underside to form a seat for said frame walls.

Fifth wheel assembly with removable bearing plate

A fifth wheel assembly comprises a fifth wheel having a plurality of journal bearings extending generally downward from its underside, and a transverse beam member for mounting the assembly to a truck frame. The beam member is dimensioned to span across parallel longitudinal truck frame members and it includes mounting flanges extending generally downward from either lateral side where the mounting flanges have a plurality of apertures for receiving suitable fasteners inserted therein for mounting said beam member to the truck frame members. The transverse member also includes a plurality of pivot bearing pairs to receive the journal bearings of the fifth wheel which is coupled thereto by a trunnion.

A fifth wheel mounting bracket is provided. Said mounting bracket allows for the transfer of the load placed on the hitch plate through the mounting pin rather than through its contact surface with the saddle bearing of the hitch plate.

Fifth wheel mounting bracket

A molded bearing plate of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is formed with a bearing surface and series of strong, spaced, integrally formed posts extending from the opposed surface. A metal support plate is provided with a series of perforations through which the posts extend. The posts may have exteriorly threaded surfaces, and internally threaded fasteners may be threaded onto the posts to secure the molded bearing plate to the support plate. The posts are integrally formed with the bearing plate in a compression molding operation, and offer sufficient tensile strength to firmly attach the bearing plate to the metal plate. The bearing plate assembly is particularly suitable for use as a fifth wheel assembly.

Molded bearing plate assembly

A novel interconnection of the jaw, wedge and operating handle in a fifth wheel facilitates the provision of a secondary locking mechanism which further insures the security of the system. In the invention, the jaw is connected to the operating handle by a pivoting timing lever which pivots off a pin on the jaw such that the jaw remains engaged with the fifth wheel until the wedge is substantially removed from engagement with the jaw. In cooperation with the primary locking mechanism, a secondary lock is provided at the end of the operating handle such that a pin arrangement engages a stop on the fifth wheel assembly until positively released by the operator.

Fifth wheel locking mechanism

The present invention relates to a bracket assembly for connecting a trailer to a truck. The bracket assembly includes a base, upright support assemblies, a top plate carried on the support assemblies, a unique reinforced bushing for distributing shearing forces through the assembly is positioned in the support assemblies with the top plate, upright support assemblies and bushing interconnected by bracket pins.

Fifth wheel bracket

A interconnection of the jaw, wedge and operating handle in a fifth wheel facilitates the provision of an indicator on a secondary locking mechanism which further insures the security of the system. In the invention, the jaw is connected to the operating handle by a pivoting timing lever which pivots off a pin on the jaw such that the jaw remains engaged with the fifth wheel until the wedge is substantially removed from engagement with the jaw. In cooperation with the primary locking mechanism, a secondary lock is provided at the end of the operating handle such that a pawl arrangement engages a stop on the fifth wheel assembly until positively released by the operator. The pawl arrangement further has a mechanical indicator which extends beyond the fifth wheel assembly and allows the operator to determine whether the king pin is engaged and the secondary lock is activated.

An over-the-highway truck or tractor vehicle having an elongate rail forming a portion of a vehicle frame and an improved battery box in the form of a unitary molded container defining multiple sides of a battery retention space. One of the sides is a base for supporting at least one battery. The container includes a moveable closure which together with the base defines the battery retention space. The enclosure allows access to a battery supported by the container for battery placement in and removal from the battery retention space. Structure including a lower step fixedly connected to the rail supports the container. Pairs of recesses are integrally molded in the base of the container. Air tanks are partially positioned in the recess in a container reinforcing relationship. Connection structure fixes the air tanks and the container together.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, AL, United States of America

Jeff Marcus Terry