Abstract: The truck rearview mirror assembly of the present invention is used on a truck having a coupling status system for sensing trailer coupling status. The rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing adapted for mounting to a truck, a mirror disposed within the mirror housing, and a display carried by the housing. The display is coupled to the coupling status system for displaying trailer coupling status information to a driver of the truck.

Abstract: A sensing system employs multiple sensors utilizing mounting structure integrated into a fifth wheel hitch and which is protected from the environment, is capable of accurately measuring forces along longitudinal and vertical axes for providing information as to roll, pitch, yaw, and drawbar load and which utilizes sensors which provide output signals for display and control. In one embodiment, a fifth wheel includes mounting boxes formed on an undersurface thereof on opposite sides of the kingpin receiving slot and a force-sensing unit mounted within each of said mounting boxes. Each force-sensing unit includes a vertical sensor positioned fore and aft of the vertical hitch axis and forward and aft horizontal force sensors. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the sensors are mounted to the sensing unit utilizing elastomeric springs coupling the fifth wheel plate to the force-sensing unit and a plunger for coupling forces from said elastomeric spring to a force sensor itself.

Abstract: An electronic system monitors a trailer hitch assembly that has a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in throat. The system determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer and includes a trailer sensor, a lock sensor, and a control circuit. The trailer sensor senses the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly and the lock sensor senses the position of the locking mechanism. The control circuit is coupled to the trailer sensor and the lock sensor. The control circuit determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer by taking into account the sequence in which the trailer sensor and the lock sensor sense the respective positions of the trailer and the locking mechanism, as well as, the time periods elapsing between the sensing at such positions.

Abstract: The coupling alignment warning system (CAWS) of the instant invention is designed to provide the driver of a towing unit, e.g., a commercial truck, with visual and/or audible cues that indicate whether the towing unit is aligned relative to a towed unit for proper engagement of the coupling components mounted thereon, including a fifth wheel hitch on the towing unit and a king pin on the trailer. The CAWS combines a laser light source and a series of sensors with a reflective target to provide alignment information to the user. In particular, the system combines a low-power laser diode mounted on the towing unit with a retro-reflective target that is attached, preferably temporarily, on the towed unit. The target will continuously return positive coupling alignment information back to the sensors as long as laser light impinges upon the target, i.e., as long as target acquisition is maintained. The sensors transmit detection signals to a processing unit that includes a microprocessor and relay.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch comprising a bifurcated top plate with a dead-end throat for receiving a cooperative kingpin, a hinged jaw pivotal between a closed position across the throat and an open position clear of the throat, the jaw having a rearward surface for engagement by a locking plunger, a locking plunger shiftable between a retracted unlocking position out of engagement with the jaw and an extended locking position engageable with the jaw, wedge mechanism engaging the locking plunger for adjusting the forward-rearward position of the locking plunger to accommodate wear of the jaw, the jaw rear surface having a first rear surface portion and a second rear surface portion rearwardly offset from the first rear surface portion, the plunger having a first front surface portion and a second front surface portion rearwardly offset from the first front surface portion, the first and second rear surface portions of the jaw being engageable with the respective first and second front surface portions of the plunger

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch operable between a fully locked condition and a fully released condition, having a top hitch plate and a lock jaw, a locking plunger shiftable between a biased, extended locking position engaging the jaw and a retracted position for releasing the jaw, a release lever pivotally mounted to the hitch plate and engaging the plunger to move the plunger therewith when actuated, for releasing the primary lock, a hitch release rod subassembly having an outer pull handle and an inner pivotal connection to the release lever for actuating the release lever, the release rod subassembly having a secondary stop aligned with an abutment surface in the fully locked condition to serve as a secondary lock, and shiftable out of alignment with the abutment surface to release the secondary lock, and having a limited play connection between its ends, enabling the subassembly to be lengthened a limited amount from its normal length to a lengthened condition, and biased toward the normal length condition, and hav

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch, actuator and lock assembly comprising a bifurcated hitch plate, a kingpin engagement jaw movable between a closed position for engaging a kingpin and an open position for releasing a kingpin, a lever coupled with the jaw and operatively shiftably attached for movement of the jaw from the closed position to the open position when operatively shifted, a release handle attached to the lever and movable for shifting the lever to thereby move the jaw to the release position, the release handle having an outer end with a hand grip thereon, a pivotal lock on the release handle movable between an extended condition and a retracted condition, the pivotal lock in the extended condition being positioned to lockingly engage the hitch plate to prevent the release handle from moving to shift the lever, and in the retracted position to allow the release handle to move to shift the lever, a lock actuator extending between the pivotal lock and hand grip, and movable to pivot the pivotal lock from extended

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch operable between a fully locked condition and a fully released condition, having a top hitch plate and a lock jaw, a locking plunger shiftable between a biased, extended locking position engaging the jaw and a retracted position for releasing the jaw, a release lever pivotally mounted to the hitch plate and engaging the plunger to move the plunger therewith when actuated, for releasing the primary lock, a hitch release rod subassembly having an outer pull handle and an inner pivotal connection to the release lever for actuating the release lever, the release rod subassembly having a secondary stop aligned with an abutment surface in the fully locked condition to serve as a secondary lock, and shiftable out of alignment with the abutment surface to release the secondary lock, and having a limited play connection between its ends, enabling the subassembly to be lengthened a limited amount from its normal length to a lengthened condition, and biased toward the normal length condition, and hav

Abstract: A landing gear crank handle for raising and lowering vehicle landing gear is provided that includes a first hand hold that is horizontal when the handle is in a full extended position, a second hand hold connected to the first hand hold by a central portion, and an arm connected to the first hand hold; and a jaw connector attached to the arm and adapted to connect the crank handle to a landing gear crank mechanism and adapted to allow the crank handle to lock into a collapsed position, a partially extended position, and a full extended position.

Abstract: An electronic coupling control system for a vehicle trailer hitch assembly having a hitch plate in which a throat is defined for receiving a trailer kingpin and having a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in the hitch throat. The electronic coupling control system includes a trailer proximity sensor for sensing when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, a kingpin sensor for sensing the presence of the kingpin in the hitch throat, a lock sensor for sensing when said locking mechanism is in a locked and secured position, and indicator means located in the vehicle for providing hitch coupling status information to an operator of the vehicle. The indicator means is coupled to the trailer proximity, kingpin, and lock sensors for informing the operator when a trailer is in proximity to the hitch assembly, when the kingpin is positioned in the hitch throat, and when the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The indicator means may include an indicator light and control circuit.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch having a fifth wheel hitch plate with a bifurcated rear portion defining a kingpin-receiving mouth, throat and latch, an upper surface and an upstanding peripheral rim defining a pocket over substantially all of the hitch plate, a plurality of lubricious polymeric pads filling the pocket, specially configurated to interfit and form a bearing surface over substantially all of the hitch plate, the pads each comprising a steel underlayer having a bottom surface on the hitch plate and having a top surface, and a lubricious polymeric overlayer bonded on the top surface of the steel underlayer and extending above the rim, the hitch plate having a pattern of a plurality of vertical, fastener-receiving orifices extending therethrough, a plurality of threaded studs having upper ends stud welded to the steel underlayer bottom surface, positioned to correspond to the pattern of orifices in the hitch plate and having lower ends extending down through the orifices, and a plurality of fastener nuts on t

Abstract: A powered, adjustable height, fifth wheel hitch comprising a support plate having a front end portion and a rear end portion, a fifth wheel plate above the support plate having a front portion and a bifurcated rear portion, coaxial transverse trunnion pins supporting the fifth wheel plate on the support plate, a pair of spaced rear mounts on the support plate rear end portion, torque frame linkage between the rear mounts and the trunnion pins, a pair of spaced forward slides on the support plate front end portion, a pair of spaced forward links between the torque frame linkage and the slides, lock pin receiving openings in the forward links, interconnected lock pins shiftable simultaneously between lock position in the openings and unlock position out of the openings, a pair of laterally spaced cam follower rollers on respective torque frame linkage, a pair of laterally spaced, slidably movable, vertically tapered wedging cams on the support plate, engageable beneath respective ones of the cam followers, a pa

Abstract: A pintle hook hitch having an outwardly upwardly curved, fixed horn, an outwardly extending pivotal latch arm movable between a lower, closed condition over the horn, and a raised open condition, the body having a jamb face for engagement by a lock, a primary lock pivotally shiftable between a lowered and locked position for abutment with the jamb face, and an unlocked position pivotally raised away from the jamb face, a vertical spring biasing the lock toward the lowered lock position, the primary lock also being laterally shiftable with a push button pivot pin between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, a lateral spring biasing the primary lock laterally toward the first lateral position.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch has a single swinging jaw, i.e., pivotal lock element, a unique cam arm, a locking plunger, a release arm, and release handle that all specially function in an interrelated manner to clearly indicate the locked or unlocked condition of the lock element. The release handle has special notches for cooperative interengagement with the top plate, specifically a lock notch and an unlock notch, engageable with a flange of the fifth wheel plate to cause the release handle to be located in specific positions. A cam surface on a finger of the pivotal lock element operates the novel cam arm to shift the release arm, for shifting it out of the unlock notch when the fifth wheel uncouples from the kingpin. The cam arm is held over center when the jaw is open, preventing the jaws from closing until the kingpin enters. When the release handle is pulled to release the locking plunger, the lock notch engages the top plate to retain the pull handle until released from this notch.

Abstract: A controlled fluid release fifth wheel apparatus having a first control in the tractor cab and a second control outside the cab, in series with each other, and functionally located in series between a power source and a power actuator at the fifth wheel hitch. Both the inside and outside controls must be properly actuated in series for the power actuator to operate to release the hitch. A timer is actuated by the first control to set a short time period during which the second control can be actuated. A trailer brake line air pressure sensor in series with the first and second controls prevents operation of the actuator until the trailer brake line is unpressurized such that the brakes on the trailer are locked.

Abstract: A cushioned landing gear foot is attached to the landing gear leg by a tubular suspension axle within a housing abutment member on the lower end of the leg, and which abutment engages a resilient pad in a pocket on the foot when under compression load. The abutment member has a rectangular cross section including a flat bottom surface for abutting the pad. The clearance between this flat surface (in elevated condition) and the resilient pad is less than the potential vertical movement of the hollow suspension axle in a pair of slots into which it extends. The pad retaining pocket includes a pair of fore-and-aft inverted L-shaped retaining walls allowing approximately 20 degree fore-and-aft articulation of the foot on the leg, and approximately five degree side-to-side articulation. When the leg and foot are put under load, the pad will be deformed until a predetermined maximum force is applied to it, and then the axle will bear all load exceeding this predetermined amount.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fifth wheel hitch having a set of jaws removably retained in a pocket on the underside of the bearing plate, replaceable by like jaws or jaws accommodating a different size kingpin. The hitch can be of forged aluminum, for on-highway or off-highway usage. A swinging jaw is pivotally connected to a fixed jaw, and has a lower closure finger contacted by the head of a properly elevated kingpin to close the jaws. The jaws are locked closed by a locking plunger actuated with full jaw closure, by means of a trigger release mechanism. The trigger and plunger are retracted by a slide cam having actuators extending from both sides of the hitch. Adjustment of the jaws for wear is from the hitch exterior, and effectual whether the hitch is coupled or uncoupled.

Abstract: The specification discloses a portable stock race and yard including a stock race supported on wheels and a plurality of wings swingably connected to the stock race and arranged to be folded out to form a stockyard. A tongue is pivotally mounted to the race so that the tongue can be moved out of the stock passageway defined by the race. Wing supports are pivotally connected to the sides of the race to support the wings when folded against the race. Further included are shields releasably mountable below the wings, when the wings are folded out to form the stockyard, to prevent small animals within the stockyard from passing under the wings. A wheel support assembly is provided to shift the wheels on either side of the trailer between transportation and retracted positions. A lever assembly is releasably mountable on the wheel support assembly to provide a mechanical advantage in moving that assembly.

Abstract: The specification discloses a portable stock race and yard including a stock race supported on wheels and a plurality of wings swingably connected to the stock race and arranged to be folded out to form a stockyard. A tongue is pivotally mounted to the race so that the tongue can be moved out of the stock passageway defined by the race. Wing supports are pivotally connected to the sides of the race to support the wings when folded against the race. Further included are shields releasably mountable below the wings, when the wings are folded out to form the stockyard, to prevent small animals within the stockyard from passing under the wings. A wheel support assembly is provided to shift the wheels on either side of the trailer between transportation and retracted positions. A lever assembly is releasably mountable on the wheel support assembly to provide a mechanical advantage in moving that assembly.