Abstract: A powered landing gear mounted to a trailer includes an electrical connector mounted to the trailer that is configured to receive a jumper cable connected to a truck for supplying electrical power to the trailer, with a wiring harness mounted to the trailer that is electrically coupled to the connector. A landing gear includes a housing member, a telescoping leg member, a gear assembly configured to extend and retract the leg member relative to the housing member, and a drive system including a drive motor operatively engaged with the gear assembly, with the landing gear being operatively powered by electricity provided through the connector and wiring harness from the truck. The wiring harness may be operatively electrically coupled to the drive motor and/or a rechargeable power supply that is in turn electrically coupled to the drive motor, including through a controller.

Abstract: A powered landing gear includes a housing member and a telescoping leg member connected with the housing member, an internal gear assembly located within the housing member is configured to extend and retract the leg member. A shaft extends into the housing member and is connected with the internal gear assembly, where the internal gear assembly includes a ring gear arranged to rotate about an axis that is transverse to the telescopic orientation of the leg member with the internal gear assembly configured to operate in a high speed setting and a low speed setting, and with the internal gear assembly automatically shifting from the high speed setting to the low speed setting. A drive system is attached to the housing member and includes a drive motor and a drive gear, with the drive motor configured to operatively drive the shaft via the drive gear.

Abstract: A multi-speed landing gear for a trailer includes a housing and a telescoping leg connected with the housing, and a gear assembly for extending and retracting the leg. The gear assembly includes a ring gear arranged to rotate about an axis transverse to the telescopic orientation of the leg member with the gear assembly configured to operate in a high speed setting and a low speed setting and automatically shift between the high and low speed settings, with an actuator selectively preventing or allowing rotation of the ring gear to enable the gear assembly to operate in the low speed setting or the high speed setting. The actuator may be connected to a shift member, with the actuator causing the shift member to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the ring gear by way of engagement of the shift member with the ring gear.

Abstract: A multi-speed landing gear for a trailer includes a housing and a telescoping leg connected with the housing, and a gear assembly for extending and retracting the leg. The gear assembly includes a ring gear arranged to rotate about an axis transverse to the telescopic orientation of the leg member with the gear assembly configured to operate in a high speed setting and a low speed setting and automatically shift between the high and low speed settings, with an actuator selectively preventing or allowing rotation of the ring gear to enable the gear assembly to operate in the low speed setting or the high speed setting. The actuator may be connected to a shift member, with the actuator causing the shift member to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the ring gear by way of engagement of the shift member with the ring gear.

Abstract: A slide rail for mounting on a frame member of a tractor for supporting a fifth wheel assembly movably thereon. The slide rail includes a vertical attachment leg configured for securing the slide rail to a vertically extending wall of the frame member and a horizontal first leg joined directly to and extending from the attachment leg. A channel member having a slide channel is integrated with the first leg and configured to being positioned above a horizontal top wall of the frame member when the attachment leg is secured to the vertically extending wall of the frame rail. A rack containing a plurality of teeth may be included on the channel member. A pair of slide rails may be mounted to the frame members of a tractor and a pair of stop assemblies may be adjustably movably mounted across the ends of the slide rails.

Abstract: A carrier assembly is mounted on the spaced frame members of a tractor for movably supporting a fifth wheel assembly thereon. An integral one piece slide rail is secured to each of the frame members and has a plurality of individual rack sections separately welded to a U-shaped member of the slide rail. Each of the rack sections contain a plurality of spaced teeth. The teeth extend into a channel formed in mounting brackets of a carriage assembly of the fifth wheel to slidably mount the carriage assembly on the carrier assembly. A leg of the U-shaped member extends into a channel formed in the carriage assembly and is engaged by a set bolt to adjust the carriage assembly for various frame widths. A pair of stop assemblies are adjustably movably mounted across the ends of the slide rails of the carrier assembly. A pair of adjustable plungers secure the carriage assembly in a fixed position on the carrier assembly.

Abstract: A carrier assembly for a fifth wheel mounted on a semi-trailer tractor includes a pair of generally parallel spaced rail assemblies, each comprising a bed plate, a rack of teeth superimposed over the bed plate and a rack cover plate superimposed over the rack of teeth. Bolts extend through the rack cover plate, rack of teeth and bed plate. A slider assembly includes a pair of spaced generally parallel axial elements superimposed over respective bed plates and connected by a transverse element. The slider assembly supports a tooth engaging mechanism that selectively engages the rack of teeth and is spring biased and mechanically biased toward a locked position. Rear stops are removably attached to the carrier assembly. Projections on the bed plate and rack cover plate extend into apertures in the rack of teeth to resist shear forces.

Abstract: A fifth wheel assembly for connecting a tractor trailer combination has a pressure actuated piston operated from within the cab of the tractor which releases the locking jaw from the trailer king pin. A piston rod has an internal floating rod which has a safety latch mechanism attached to its outer end to prevent premature movement of a locking lever which locks and unlocks the locking jaws. The safety latch mechanism has a pivotally mounted spring biased clevis which is moved to an unlatched position by outward movement of the piston rod when actuated to move the lever and connected locking jaw to the unlocked position. The locking jaw is retained in the unlocked position by the lever until the jaw is automatically actuated by an incoming king pin eliminating any manipulation of the locking mechanism by the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A carrier assembly is mounted on the spaced frame members of a tractor for movably supporting a fifth wheel assembly thereon. An integral one piece slide rail is secured to each of the frame members and has a plurality of individual rack sections separately welded to a U-shaped member of the slide rail. Each of the rack sections contain a plurality of spaced teeth. The teeth extend into a channel formed in mounting brackets of a carriage assembly of the fifth wheel to slidably mount the carriage assembly on the carrier assembly. A leg of the U-shaped member extends into a channel formed in the carriage assembly and is engaged by a set bolt to adjust the carriage assembly for various frame widths. A pair of stop assemblies are adjustably movably mounted across the ends of the slide rails of the carrier assembly. A pair of adjustable plungers secure the carriage assembly in a fixed position on the carrier assembly.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers includes a two-speed single reduction gear assembly having fewer, smaller, and simpler parts, resulting in a compact single reduction gear assembly and cost efficient landing gear unit with a unique clutch-shifting mechanism to provide for shifting from one ratio to another. The single reduction gear assembly is disposed on and about vertically offset input and output shafts further resulting in an easy to crank and shift landing gear unit capable of achieving standard crank handle turn to vertical leg travel distance ratios. The low gear or low speed ratio of the landing gear unit can be varied within a broad range during manufacture, if desired, generally without increasing the overall size or complexity of the two-speed single reduction gear assembly. The landing gear can further include a universal mounting feature and is durable and simple to use.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers includes a two-speed single reduction gear assembly having fewer, smaller, and simpler parts, resulting in a compact single reduction gear assembly and cost efficient landing gear unit with a unique clutch-shifting mechanism to provide for shifting from one ratio to another. The single reduction gear assembly is disposed on and about vertically offset input and output shafts further resulting in an easy to crank and shift landing gear unit capable of achieving standard crank handle turn to vertical leg travel distance ratios. The low gear or low speed ratio of the landing gear unit can be varied within a broad range during manufacture, if desired, generally without increasing the overall size or complexity of the two-speed single reduction gear assembly. The landing gear can further include a universal mounting feature and is durable and simple to use.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers includes a two speed double reduction gear assembly having fewer, smaller, and simpler parts, resulting in a compact double reduction gear assembly housed in a relatively small gear box or entirely within one of the landing gear legs, which is a cost efficient landing gear unit with a unique clutch-shifting mechanism to provide for shifting from one ratio to another. The double reduction gear assembly is disposed on and about in-line input and output shafts further resulting in an easy to crank and shift landing gear unit capable of achieving standard crank handle turn to vertical leg travel distance ratios. The low gear or low speed ratio of the landing gear unit can be varied within a broad range during manufacture, if desired, generally without increasing the overall size or complexity of the two speed double reduction gear assembly. The landing gear can further include a universal mounting feature and is durable and simple to use.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers includes a two speed double reduction gear assembly having fewer, smaller, and simpler parts, resulting in a compact double reduction gear assembly and cost efficient landing gear unit with a unique clutch-shifting mechanism to provide for shifting from one ratio to another. The double reduction gear assembly is disposed on and about in-line input and output shafts further resulting in an easy to crank and shift landing gear unit capable of achieving standard crank handle turn to vertical leg travel distance ratios. The low gear or low speed ratio of the landing gear unit can be varied within a broad range during manufacture, if desired, generally without increasing the overall size or complexity of the two speed double reduction gear assembly. The landing gear can further include a universal mounting feature and is durable and simple to use.