Abstract: A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle includes a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle. The hitch member on the towing vehicle is mounted on a sliding mount extending across the rear axle of the vehicle. A linkage is responsive to pivoting between the trailer and towing vehicle to move the hitch on the towing vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle when turning is effected and to move the hitch on the towing vehicle just forward of the rear axle during normal longitudinal movement of the truck and trailer.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: The invention provides a new automotive tractor unit for use with a new semi-trailer unit to form a rigidly-coupled tractor/semi-trailer combination. The tractor has a long wheel base and has its fifth wheel assembly mounted for extended longitudinal movement between a receiving position at its rear end and a mounting position close to the driver's cab. The tractor and semi-trailer chassis frames cooperate with one another to permit pitching between them while preventing yaw between them. The semi-trailer has a retractable landing gear movable beneath the chassis between a forward position close to the king pin to support the semi-trailer front end in the absence of the tractor, and a rear position close to the running wheels so that the semi-trailer can rest on the tractor and be rigidly coupled thereto. Preferably the tractor wheel base is of length from 6.8 meters (22 feet) to 8.5 meters (28 feet), while the fifth wheel assembly is mounted for a longitudinal movement of from 4.8 meters (16 feet) to 6.

Abstract: A semitrailer support device for supporting the fifth wheel of a semitrailer tractor comprises two sliders arranged for displacement along a guide base. Each of the sliders has a link pivotably connected thereto, the other end of the link being pivoted to the fifth wheel. By displacing one slider relatively to the other slider, the height of the fifth wheel can be changed. By displacing the two sliders in common, the longitudinal position can be changed.

Abstract: A novel pneumatic isolator stabilizing assembly is provided for use with a tow vehicle and a trailer for improving ride characteristics for a driver and passengers and for minimizing the possibility of damage to the tow vehicle and the trailer. The assembly includes a frame, structure for attaching the frame to the tow vehicle, structure for attaching the frame to the trailer, and an air spring for providing a cushion between the tow vehicle and the trailer when traveling over the roads. In one embodiment, the air spring is offset from the attachment point of the frame to the trailer and in another embodiment, the air spring is generally vertically aligned with this attachment point. The frame in each embodiment includes a first subassembly fixed relative to the trailer and a second subassembly fixed relative to the tow vehicle. The subassemblies are connected together such that they can move relative to each other.

Abstract: The slidable hitch of the present invention includes a pedestal having a plurality of wheels mounted for rolling movement on a pair of spaced apart runners, the runners being mounted on the bed of a truck. The pedestal includes a pair of vertical side plates with projecting flanges at the lower end, the flanges journaled between an upper leg and lower back of each runner, to prevent vertical movement of the pedestal off of the runners. Each wheel is substantially enclosed within a pocket to protect the wheels from weather and the environment. A pair of set pins are mounted on each side plate and movable downwardly to engage one of a plurality of holes in the upper leg of the runner, to selectively lock the pedestal in a desired position along the runners. The pedestal includes one of a variety of hitch mechanisms, one embodiment disclosing a hitch ball mounted on a plate on the pedestal, and another embodiment disclosing a fifth wheel hitch plate mounted on the pedestal.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A tractor-trailer fifth wheel suspension assembly which includes a mounting frame adapted to be suitably connected to a tractor body frame and a movable frame for supporting the fifth wheel mounted for parallel vertical movement relative to the mounting frame, and having opposed complementary stabilizing guide members connected to the respective frames to stabilize and limit the relative movement therebetween. In one form of the invention, the movable frame is supported on the mounting frame by a four-point air suspension system to effect relative parallel vertical movement between the respective frames and which function to automatically laterally and longitudinally stabilize the trailer load relative to the tractor when hauling.

Abstract: A dolly distributes weight between a highway truck and trailer while at the same time maintaining an extended wheelbase between load bearing axles. A front end of the dolly includes a king pin that joins to a sliding fifth wheel located on the truck frame. A second fifth wheel is joined to the rear end of the dolly and receives a corresponding king pin on the front end of the trailer. A pivot assembly is joined to a center section of the dolly and is pivotally joined to a rear end of the truck frame. The pivot assembly serves to pivot weight between the front and rear end of the dolly and also maintains the dolly in a rigid longitudinal alignment with the truck. Air bags are located between the steerable dolly wheels and the the rear end of the dolly to further increase adjustability of trailer weight distribution.

Abstract: A position signaling apparatus for indicating desired positioning of vehicle components. The signaling device, including a switch, is mounted to a first vehicle component, such as a tandem axel frame assembly or a portion of the vehicle frame adjacent to the fifth wheel assembly. A trigger mechanism is attached to a second vehicle component. The second vehicle component is adjacent and moves relative to the first vehicle component. The trigger mechanism actuates the switch upon achieving proper alignment of the respect vehicle components. The switch closes a circuit which sends a signal to the vehicle operator upon achieving the desired positioning of the vehicle components.

Abstract: A fifth wheel slide assembly includes a deck plate mounted on the frame of a tractor, with a pair of toothed guide rails on the upper surface. A conventional fifth wheel with pedestal and hitch plate is selectively slidably movable along the toothed rails. A plurality of apertures are formed adjacent each toothed rail, and have freely rotatable rollers projecting therethrough for supporting a pair of flat support plates on the bottom of the fifth wheel pedestal. A pair of stops are mounted on the rearward end of the deck plate to prevent movement of the pedestal beyond the rearward end. The side edges of the deck plate include inwardly opening channels receiving outwardly projecting flanges on the pedestal, to prevent movement of the pedestal upwardly off of the deck plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an easily stored, compact apparatus useful by a truck driver to release either a trailer hitch latch or a rear wheel carriage latch both of which are often difficult to unlatch. The first component of the apparatus comprises an elongate bar with a hook on one end. A second component comprises a lever which is pivotally and adjustably attached to the bar. When the lever is pressed and pivoted against the side of the trailer and with the hook engaging a respective trailer hitch or rear wheel carriage latch, the apparatus acts to release the latch.

Abstract: This is directed to a mounting mechanism for supporting a fifth wheel hitch on the bed of a pickup truck. In incorporates a fixed framework which is ideally bolted to the bed of the pickup. It has a pair of lengthwise facing guide rails which are spaced from one another and extend toward the rear of the truck parallel to the centerline of the truck. That supports on a set of rollers a slidably mounted and movable mounting means so that the mounting means can travel along the facing guide rails. Moreover, the mounting mechanism receives a fifth wheel hitch mechanism thereon. The mounting mechanism is held in the forward most position by means of a latch means which hooks against the mounting means and holding it. The latch means is optionally defeated by an extending lever positioned and located so that it is moved by the trailer mechanism during turning whereupon the slide mechanism moves the trailer toward the rear of the truck.

Abstract: Demountable road transport unit characterized in that it consists of a motor vehicle (8) equipped with a coupling (5) and a demountable body (9), the coupling on the motor vehicle, situated towards the front, and the body comprising on the one hand, in front, a supporting and locking link and also two supports for the body in the demounted position and on the other, at the rear, immobilizing and centering device (30) and also at least one rear support and, towards the bottom, a towing hook support integrated into the body.

Abstract: A jeep for use with a vehicle for carrying heavy loads on conventional roadways. The jeep is supported by many independent wheel/axle units mounted for transverse movement relative to the jeep. A fifth wheel movable in two orientations, vertical and longitudinal, is provided for coupling a load to the jeep.

Abstract: A device for absorbing forces between a tow vehicle and a trailer, such as a fifth wheel, is disclosed. Preferably, the device is mountable in a pick-up truck bed with a cross bar between two force absorbers having biasing precompressed springs to absorb forces such as from jolts and offset forces of the road due to bumps, wind, and other forces. The cross bar may be readily removed to expose the pick-up bed. The force absorbers may include a shaft having a slide body with the springs to resist movement of the slide body along the shaft. The slide body is couplable to the trailer, typically via the cross bar. A mechanism is provided to allow the slide body mounted to the cross bar to pivot to allow pivoting of the cross member between said the first and second force absorbers and so that binding on the shaft is reduces as the cross bar pivots and shifts. The shaft may be disposed in a longitudinal opening in the slide body having a tapered portion, such as a venturi shaped hole, to reduce binding.

Abstract: In a trailer train combination having a tractor, lead trailer and one or two more following trailers, an adjustable dolly under the front end of each following trailer provides for close coupling of the multiple trailers in end to end contact. Then the multiple trailers are lifted to inclined position causing the upper trailer or trailers to discharge its flowable contents out through the lower trailer in a self unloading operation. The dolly has a slidable fifth wheel assembly and self steering ground wheels which may be locked in straight forward positions. A cab controlled electric and pneumatic control system controls these and other functions in the dolly. The trailers may be equipped with walking floors for self unloading in level positions.

Abstract: A tool for adjusting the position of a fifth wheel upon a tractor trailer assembly, in which a leverage arm is provided in combination with a pivotally mounted push and pull bar. The leverage arm is pivotally secured to a first mounting platform and extends the distance between the first mounting platform and a second mounting platform. Upon action of the leverage arm from outside of the second mounting platform, the leverage arm exerts a radial force against a pivotally connected push and pull bar. The push and pull bar is attached to the fifth wheel in such a manner as to translate the radial action of the leverage arm into a direct forward or backward action of the fifth wheel.

Abstract: A vibration isolation suspension system comprises a support plate mounted on a main support plate on the spaced parallel frame members of a truck tractor. The support plate is mounted on a transverse pivotal axis located near the forward end of the tractor. An air bag suspension system is mounted between the support plate and the main support plate. First and second open-ended cylindrical members are attached to each of the plates and surround the air bag in sliding relationship with one another to minimize lateral shift and roll of the fifth wheel support plate. The main plate is adjustable longitudinally on the tractor frame to adjust the fifth wheel position.

Abstract: A trailer truck comprising a trailer mounted at its front on the rear of a chassis frame of a tractor and energy absorbing system located between the chassis frame and a coupler of the trailer and adapted to allow an upward or forward movement of the coupler relative to the frame to absorb kinetic energy of the trailer upon collision.