Saf-Holland Gmbh

The Holland Group, Inc.

Mark M Audo

Steven C Dupay

Gerald W Hungerink

William J Hicks

Michael H Ginocchio

Samuel A Martin

David R Pernesky

Roger L Elkins

A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange connected to ends of the back rib, and a main rib extending between the back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, with the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange. The fifth wheel hitch also includes skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the back rib. At least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor.

Lightweight narrow-span fifth wheel

A fifth wheel mounting assembly for mounting a fifth wheel hitch plate to a frame of a tractor that includes a pair of first support members adapted to be fixedly coupled to a pair of rails of a tractor, and each having a plurality of first apertures, and a pair of first mounting brackets each including a plurality of apertures that receive mounting hardware therein, wherein the mounting hardware extends through the plurality of apertures of the first mounting bracket and through the plurality of first apertures of the support members, thereby fixedly coupling the mounting brackets with the support members. Each mounting bracket further includes an inwardly exposed aperture adapted to receive a mounting pin therein for pivotally coupling a fifth wheel hitch plate to the mounting brackets, and a recess. The fifth wheel mounting assembly further includes a structural cross member having ends received within the recesses of the mounting brackets, thereby torsionally coupling the pairs of support members and mounting brackets with one another.

Fifth wheel mounting and cross member assembly

Growing community of inventors

Muskegon, MI, United States of America

Mark M Audo