Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a trailer of a tractor semitrailer has a supporting element that is telescopically adjustable by way of a gear shifting mechanism having a gear input shaft running vertically onto a spindle. In this way, the supporting element has an especially compact construction and can be installed very easily. The gear shift also has a free floating gear between two shift positions and can be shifted very conveniently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling system for connecting at least one supply line between a towing vehicle and a trailer, the first end of said at least one supply line being attached to the towing vehicle in a fixed manner, and the second end thereof comprising a connector that can be connected to a supply line interface of the trailer. The aim of the invention is to provide a coupling system for the supply lines, by which means a complicated operation between the trailer and the driver's cab of the towing vehicle is avoided. To this end, a coupling system is provided, whereby the supply line interface can be displaced out of a traveling position into an operating position.

Abstract: A method is described for the mounting of a bearing block of a coupling plate on a mounting plate, with the bearing block having a bridge-like shape, being provided with bores at its opposite front and rear ends to accommodate fixing screws and being kept in place on the mounting plate by means of the fixing screws, and the coupling plate engaging with the bearing block in a central area, with the attachment of the bearing block to the mounting plate comprising at least one additional form fitting element. The invention was based on the task of providing a secure attachment of a self-supporting bridge-like bearing block to a mounting plate even under the extreme operating forces that are to be expected. The task is solved in accordance with the invention by means of a method in which by tightening the fixing screw together with the at least one form fitting element causes a deformation of the mounting plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for adjusting a fifth wheel, comprising a displacement device provided with two guide rails placed on the vehicle, in particular on a tractor semi-trailer combination in the longitudinal direction thereof, said guide rails whereon a slide may be installed capable of being moved by means of an actuating device, said actuating device being designed such that, upon a displacement, the positive connection between the guide rails and the slide is maintained. The invention is characterized in that said actuating device which is designed to move the slide, comprises a first powered device. Additionally, at least one first position sensor is arranged to detect the position of the slide, at least said first position sensor being connected to a control device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a supporting device, which comprises a larger clearance for the spindle, whereby the foot receiving device should comprise a high level of stability. The foot-receiving device comprises a component, which occludes the inner sleeve. Said component comprises an opening for admitting the spindle, at least one bracing element located on the upper and/or bottom sides thereof, and two opposing bearing points for the support foot.

Abstract: An arrangement of a motor on twin landing gears is described. The landing gears are interconnected via a connecting shaft and can be telescoped by starting up the motor. To minimize damage to the motor and at the same time to ensure cost-effective production, it is provided that the motor with its driveshaft engages with the connecting shaft and is supported on a component that is fixed relative to the motor.

Abstract: A support device for semi-trailers including a leg which has a receiving device, on its lower end. The support leg has a base element with a base plate, whereby the base element is fastened to the base receiving device by a fixing device. The base element is connected by a pivot bearing device with the support leg, whereby the pivot bearing device is located below the damping element. The compression of the damping element is therefore fully decoupled from the pivoting movement of the base element.

Abstract: An arrangement of a motor on twin landing gears is described. The landing gears are interconnected via a connecting shaft and can be telescoped by starting up the motor. To minimize damage to the motor and at the same time to ensure cost-effective production, it is provided that the motor with its driveshaft engages with the connecting shaft and is supported on a component that is fixed relative to the motor.

Abstract: A device is described for indicating the locking state of a fifth wheel coupling and an arrangement of a first and a second sensor. According to the prior art, the first sensor is arranged on the underside of the locking latch and monitors the position of the kingpin in relation to the locking latch. A second sensor that is used is an inductive proximity switch that monitors a safety mechanism against loosening. In practice, this type of positioning of the first sensor has led to damage of the locking latch and the first sensor, while the signals of the second sensor were often false signals. Thus, the object of the invention is to provide a device for indicating the locking state, which maximizes operational availability and minimizes false signals. A further object of the invention is to optimize the arrangement of the first and the second sensor.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly for a semitrailer includes a pair of legs that may be simultaneously raised or lowered by turning a single crank. Each of the legs is configured to be able to be mounted in either an inboard or outboard configuration. This is achieved by providing both sides of each leg with no protrusions that extend beyond the space provided in the mounting bracket and the mounting hole used to connect the landing gear to the semitrailer. The gear assembly of the landing gear includes a unique floor base that receives and supports the input shaft. A cover is used to support the input ends of the input shaft and the output shaft. The cover is connected to the input side of the upper tube of the leg and allows the gear assembly to be easily assembled within the perimeter of the upper leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for semi-trailers comprising a leg which has a receiving device, on its lower end. The support leg has a base element with a base plate, which is mounted by means of two vertical plates on the base receiving device so that it can move vertically and can pivot. Between the base plate and the base receiving device there is a damping element. To achieve an improved pivoting capability of the support base, whereby the damping element is subjected to a small deformation, the damping element is located on the underside of the base receiving device so that cannot pivot, and is supported on a curved plate which is fixed to the base plate and the contour of which is adapted to the pivoting movement of the base plate in relation to the supporting leg.

Abstract: A fifth wheel coupling comprising essentially a fifth wheel plate and a pair of pillow blocks for the attachment on the frame of a truck tractor. The fifth wheel plate pivots around an axis in relation to the pillow blocks and on its underside, is equipped with a pair of hollow cylindrical bearing troughs, while the pillow blocks have corresponding cylindrical bearing surfaces. Below the bearing surface, the pillow block is equipped with an eye for the penetration of an attachment bridge. The object is to reduce the weight of fifth wheel couplings of this type and to lower the manufacturing cost without thereby complicating the assembly or having to omit an adjustment to differing mounting widths.

Abstract: Landing gears of support devices for articulated vehicle trailers are frequently left in neutral position while the articulated vehicle is being driven. The vibrations which occur during driving can cause the landing gear to descend unintentionally, touch the ground and be damaged. The invention provides a support device with a landing gear which is reliably prevented from descending. To this end, the toothed ring of the input shaft (1) has two longitudinal sections (1a, 1b) of different diameters while having constant tooth spacing throughout. The tooth length in both sections (1a, 1b) is dimensioned in such a way that in neutral position, the input shaft (1) can rotate while the toothed wheel (3a) remains stationary but is prevented from rotating while the input shaft (1) remains stationary.

Abstract: The articulating function of a mounting/bearing for fifth wheels is realized by utilizing a bolted connection or by using rubber elements as a displacement coupling. The object of the current invention is to create a mounting/bearing device for a fifth wheel having the advantages of both the bolted coupling and the displacement coupling. A mounting/bearing as claimed by the current invention for a fifth wheel has a stirrup-shaped bearing pedestal and a bridge which can be fastened to a coupling plate of the fifth wheel, whereby a damping element is arranged between the bearing pedestal and the bridge. The damping element is realized as a walking element. This ensures that the mounting/bearing can be manufactured with large manufacturing tolerances and can be easily swiveled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fifth wheel coupling comprising essentially a fifth wheel plate (1) and a pair of pillow blocks (2) for the attachment on the frame of a truck tractor. The fifth wheel plate (1) pivots around an axis (3) in relation to the pillow blocks (2) and on its underside, is equipped with a pair of hollow cylindrical bearing troughs (5), while the pillow blocks (2) have corresponding cylindrical bearing surfaces (8). Below the bearing surface (8), the pillow block (2) is equipped with an eye (9) for the penetration of an attachment bridge (7). The invention has the object of reducing the weight of fifth wheel couplings of this type and to lower the manufacturing cost without thereby complicating the assembly or having to omit an adjustment to differing mounting widths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding device for a fifth wheel. The aim of the invention is to reduce the overall weight of the system consisting of vehicle frame/slide system and also to simplify its assembly. To this end, the base frame is provided with two longitudinally extending angular profiles that are linked with each other by means of two detachable and slidably mounted tie-bars. Every angular profile comprises retaining means that interact with second retaining means of the upper part in such a manner that the upper part can be displaced relative to the base frame in the longitudinal and the transverse direction. The invention device does not require an auxiliary frame that is conventionally used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support foot, which is equipped with a damping element and which exhibits an improved pivotability. The fixing element which is provided for pivotally fastening to a foot receiving device rests on the damping element or is fastened to the same, whereby the fixing element is held by a bracket which is fastened to the foot plate and which overlaps the fixing element. According to another embodiment, the fixing element is comprised of two vertical plates fastened to the foot plate at a distance from the damping element, whereby each plate comprises a vertically arranged, longitudinal hole or a round hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the bearing element.

Abstract: Fifth wheels are used to establish an articulated connection between a truck tractor and a semi-trailer. They consist of a plate (1) which is attached to the truck tractor and generally has at least one arched slideway lining (4a,4b) acting as a bearing surface and fitting into corresponding recesses of the fifth wheel plate (1) where it is fastened. According to the invention, fastening is provided in the form of a positive fit connection, whereby the lower part of the slideway lining (4a,b) and the upper part of the plate (1) have joining elements (6,8) to ensure a rotationally locked positive fit, thus enabling thermal dilation to occur in the fifth wheel plate (1). Preferably, the positive fitting joining elements for the lower side of the slideway lining (4a,b) are configured as ribs (6) extending radially outwards from a virtual center point (7) and the positive fitting joining elements for the upper side of the fifth wheel plate (1) are configured as complementary grooves (6).

Abstract: A fifth wheel is described with a coupling plate having elements for fastening to the vehicle frame. It is supposed to facilitate the mounting on the vehicle frame, while it should be possible to equalize manufacturing tolerances of the frame in simple fashion. The fastening elements attach to pivot pins, which are detachably arranged on the fifth wheel and project outward to the side beyond the coupling plate.

Abstract: A landing gear for semitrailers has a leg the upper end of which is connected with the semitrailer and the lower end of which is connected with a ground contacting member by a load transmitting device which can turn relative to the leg about a horizontal axis back and forth to opposite sides of a neutral portion and has a part cylindrical shell which can roll on a skid between two upstranding sidewalls of the ground contacting member. The axial ends of the shell are connected with end walls which are inwardly adjacent the sidewalls and carry followers serving to track V-shaped cam slots in the adjacent sidewalls. The load transmitting device is biased to the neutral position by two leaf springs which are located at opposite sides of the pivot axis for the load transmitting device and each of which is separably connected to the leg as well as to the skid.