SE539989C2

SE539989C2 - An arrangement for mounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame or a vehicle

Info

Publication number: SE539989C2
Application number: SE1650925A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Johansson Anders
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2016-06-28
Filing date: 2016-06-28
Publication date: 2018-02-20
Also published as: SE1650925A1; DE102017005810B4; DE102017005810A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement (II) for mounting a fifth wheel (120) on a vehicle frame (110) of a vehicle. Said vehicle frame comprises a right longitudinal beam and a left longitudinal beam (114). Said mounting arrangement (II) comprises a support arrangement for supporting said fifth wheel (120), said support arrangement comprising a right and left pedestal unit (154) for supporting said fifth wheel (120) by said right and left longitudinal beams (114) respectively. Said support arrangement further comprises a right pair of longitudinal elements arranged on opposing sides of said right longitudinal beam and a left pair of longitudinal elements (133, 134) arranged on opposing sides of said left longitudinal beam (114) for connecting said support arrangement and for transferring vertical load from said fifth wheel (120) via said right and left pedestal units (154) to the respective longitudinal beams (114).The present invention also relates to a vehicle.

Description

AN ARRANGEIVIENT FOR IVIOUNTING A FIFTH WHEEL ON A VEHICLEFRAIVIE OF A VEHICLE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an arrangement for mounting a fifth wheel on avehicle frame of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The inventionalso relates to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART Certain vehicles such as co called semi-trailer trucks uses a fifth wheelcoupling to provide a link between the towing truck and the semi-trailer. Thefifth wheel coupling comprises a kingpin arranged in a front portion of thesemi-trailer and a fifth wheel fixedly arranged on a rear portion of the towingtruck. The fifth wheel has a horseshoe shape with the opening facing rearward arranged to receive the kingpin of the semi-trailer.

The fifth wheel is arranged to be mounted on the right and left longitudinalbeams of the vehicle frame by means of a mounting arrangement. A knownmounting arrangement comprises a right and left L-shaped mounting bracketarranged externally along the right and left longitudinal beam respectivelywith a vertical portion projecting upwardly from the respective longitudinalbeam and an outwardly from said projecting portion extending horizontalportion running along the respective longitudinal beam. The mountingarrangement further comprises a mounting plate configured to be arrangedon said horizontal portions extending transversely between said longitudinalbeams. A right and left pedestal unit for supporting said fifth wheel arearranged on the mounting plate essentially over the respective horizontalportion and longitudinal beam. Fig. 2 illustrates such a mounting arrangement.

A problem with such an arrangement for mounting a fifth wheel on a vehicleis that said L-shaped mounting brackets may crack when subjected to loads.ln order to mitigate such problems the mounting plate is required as well as asubstantial amount of screw joint, but even using such a mounting plate mayby heavy loads result in cracks in the mounting brackets due to bendingforces.

There are exists different solutions for mounting a fifth wheel to a vehicle.

WO2014189762 discloses a fifth wheel hitch assembly for use with C-shapedconfiguration vehicle frame rail of e.g. tractor trailer, which hitch assemblyhas support bracket including lower portion and upper portion, where lowerportion is secured to vertical portion of frame rail and upper portion issecured to foot portions of the fifth wheel.

US8511703 discloses a slide hitch assembly for a towing vehicle, whichassembly has cam surfaces that are respectively provided to unlock drivingposition locking pin and manoeuvring position locking pin, when cam element is in corresponding position.

There is however a need to improve mounting of a fifth wheel on a vehicleframe of a vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for mountinga fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle which efficiently may withstandloads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement formounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle which is cost efficient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement formounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle which is weightefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects, apparent from the following description, areachieved by an arrangement and a vehicle as set out in the appendedindependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the arrangement are definedin appended dependent claims.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by an arrangement formounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle. Said vehicle framecomprises a right longitudinal beam and a left longitudinal beam. Saidmounting arrangement comprises a support arrangement for supporting saidfifth wheel. Said support arrangement comprises a right and left pedestal unitfor supporting said fifth wheel by said right and left longitudinal beamsrespectively. Said support arrangement further comprises a right pair oflongitudinal elements arranged on opposing sides of said right longitudinalbeam and a left pair of longitudinal elements arranged on opposing sides ofsaid left longitudinal beam for connecting said support arrangement and fortransferring vertical load from said fifth wheel via said right and left pedestalunits to the respective longitudinal beams.

By thus using said right and left pairs of longitudinal elements loads on thefifth wheel may be efficiently absorbed by mainly membrane tensions in thelongitudinal elements. Hereby no support plate is required which thusreduces weight and costs.

Said right and a left longitudinal beams are according to an embodiment C- shaped beams configured to be arranged with their open side facing each other. Said right and a left longitudinal beams may also be denoted vehicle frame rail.

Said right and left pedestal units for supporting said fifth wheel are accordingto an embodiment separate units to which the fifth wheel is attached. Saidright and left pedestal units for supporting said fifth wheel are according to anembodiment integrated with the fifth wheel and constituting feet portions forsaid support of the fifth wheel.

Said right and left pair of longitudinal elements are according to anembodiment vertically arranged. Said right and left pair of longitudinalelements are according to an embodiment sheet metal elements.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said right and left pair oflongitudinal elements are arranged to project upwardly from the right and leftlongitudinal beam respectively. Hereby said right and left pedestal units maybe efficiently mounted there between.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said right and left pedestalunits are mounted between a projecting portion of the right and left pair oflongitudinal elements respectively. Hereby efficient mounting is obtained. Bythus mounting said right and left pedestal units between a projecting portionof the right and left pair of longitudinal elements an alignment between theright pedestal unit and the right longitudinal beam and correspondingly analignment between the left pedestal unit and the left longitudinal beam isobtained such that efficient absorption of loads on the fifth wheel is obtainedin that the force caused by the load will be essentially vertical from the fifthwheel via the pedestal units to the longitudinal beams.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said support arrangement isarranged in association with a crossbeam between said right and leftlongitudinal beam for carrying lateral loads, said right and left pair oflongitudinal elements being connected to said crossbeam. Hereby lateral loads may be efficiently absorbed further improving the ability to withstand loads.

Said crossbeam between said right and left longitudinal beam is according toan embodiment configured to support and connect boogie wheels of the vehicle.

Said crossbeam between said right and left longitudinal beam comprisesaccording to an embodiment a fastening portion connected to the inner sideof the respective longitudinal beam. Said fastening portion of the crossbeamhas a longitudinal extension along the inner side of the respectivelongitudinal beam and thus arranged between the longitudinal elements ofthe right and left pair of longitudinal element respectively and internally of said right and left longitudinal beam respectively.

According to an embodiment of the arrangement said support arrangementfurther comprises a right and left spacer member arranged between thelongitudinal elements of the right and left pair of longitudinal elementsrespectively and internally of said right and left longitudinal beamrespectively. Hereby lateral loads may be efficiently absorbed further improving the ability to withstand loads.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle comprising an arrangement as set out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention reference is made to thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an arrangement formounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle according to prior art; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a front view of an arrangement for mounting afifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4a-b schematically illustrates perspective views of an arrangement formounting a fifth wheel on a vehicle frame of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 5a schematically illustrates a side view of the arrangement in fig. 4a-b; Fig. 5b schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of the arrangement in ﬁg.5a;and Fig. 6a-b schematically illustrates partly exploded perspective views of the arrangement in fig. 4a-b; DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle V according to thepresent invention. The exemplified vehicle V is a heavy vehicle in the shapeof a semi-trailer truck having a towing truck 1 and a semi-trailer 2. Thevehicle V comprises a fifth wheel coupling to provide a link between thetowing truck and the semi-trailer, the fifth wheel coupling comprising a fifthwheel. The vehicle comprises an arrangement for mounting the fifth wheel onthe vehicle frame, i.e. the frame of the towing truck. The vehicle according tothe present invention could be any suitable vehicle configured to be equipped with a fifth wheel and thus requiring an arrangement for mounting a fifth wheel on the vehicle.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an arrangement IP formounting a fifth wheel 2OP on a vehicle frame 1OP of a vehicle according toprior art.

The fifth wheel 2OP is arranged to be mounted on the right and leftlongitudinal beams 12P, 14P of the vehicle frame 1OP by means of saidmounting arrangement IP. The mounting arrangement IP comprises a rightand left L-shaped mounting bracket 32P, 34P arranged externally along theright and left longitudinal beam 12P, 14P respectively with a vertical portionprojecting upwardly from the respective longitudinal beam and an outwardlyfrom said projecting portion extending horizontal portion running along therespective longitudinal beam. The mounting arrangement further comprises amounting plate 4OP configured to be arranged on said horizontal portionsextending transversely between said longitudinal beams. A right and leftpedestal unit 52P, 54P for supporting said fifth wheel 2OP are arranged onthe mounting plate 4OP essentially over the respective horizontal portion andlongitudinal beams 12P, 14P.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a front view of an arrangement I for mountinga fifth wheel 20 on a vehicle frame 10 of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Said vehicle frame 10 comprises a right longitudinal beam 12 and a leftlongitudinal beam 14. Said mounting arrangement I comprises a supportarrangement for supporting said fifth wheel 20.

Said support arrangement comprises a right pair of longitudinal elements 31,32 arranged on opposing sides of said right longitudinal beam 12 and a leftpair of longitudinal elements 33, 34 arranged on opposing sides of said leftlongitudinal beam 14. Said right pair of longitudinal elements 31, 32 and leftpair of longitudinal elements 33, 34 are vertically arranged. Said right and left pair of longitudinal elements are according to an embodiment sheet metal elements.

Said support arrangement comprises a right and left pedestal unit 52, 54 forsupporting said fifth wheel 20 by said right and left longitudinal beamsrespectively.

The right pair of longitudinal elements 31, 32 arranged on opposing sides ofsaid right longitudinal beam 12 and the left pair of longitudinal elements 33,34 arranged on opposing sides of said left longitudinal beam 14 are arrangedfor connecting said support arrangement and for transferring vertical load Ffrom said fifth wheel 20 via said right and left pedestal units 52, 54 to the respective longitudinal beams 12, 14.

Said right pair of longitudinal elements 31, 32 are arranged to projectupwardly from the right longitudinal beam 12 and the left pair of longitudinalelements 33, 34 are arranged to project upwardly from left longitudinal beam14.

The right pedestal unit 52 is mounted between a projecting portion of theright pair of longitudinal elements 31, 32 and the left pedestal unit 54 ismounted between a projecting portion of the left pair 33, 34 of the longitudinal element.

Said right and a left longitudinal beams 12, 14 are C-shaped beamsconfigured to be arranged with their open side facing each other. The rightand right longitudinal beam 12 thus has an external side Jåamand anopposing internal side êlêband the left longitudinal beam 14 correspondinglyhas and external side Maand an internal side44ief.

Said support arrangement further comprises a right spacer member 62arranged between the right pair of longitudinal elements 31, 32 and a left spacer member 64 arranged between the left pair 33, 34 of longitudinal elements. The right and left spacer members 62, 64 are arranged internally of said right and left longitudinal beam respectively.

The support arrangement may according to an embodiment also be arrangedin association with a crossbeam between said right longitudinal beam 12 andleft longitudinal beam 14 for carrying |atera| loads.

Fig. 4a-b, 5a-b and 6a-b illustrates different views of an arrangement ll formounting a fifth wheel 120 on a vehicle frame 110 of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention Fig. 4a schematically illustrates a perspective view obliquely from above ofthe outer left side of said arrangement ll and fig. 4b a perspective view obliquely from below of the inner left side of said arrangement ll.

The arrangement in fig. 4a-b illustrates perspective views of an arrangementll for mounting a fifth wheel 120 on a vehicle frame 110 of a vehicle havingthe same function as the arrangement illustrated in fig. 3 but shows a more specified and detail embodiment than in fig. 3.

The vehicle frame 110 on which the fifth wheel 120 is arranged to bemounted comprises a right longitudinal beam and a left longitudinal beam114 of which only the left longitudinal beam 114 is shown for illustrative purposes.

Said right and a left longitudinal beams 114 are C-shaped beams configuredto be arranged with their open side facing each other. The right and a leftlongitudinal beams 114 have essentially the same configuration and shape.Below, only the left longitudinal beam 114 is described and called longitudinalbeam 114.

The longitudinal beam 114 has an external side 114a and internal side 114b.The longitudinal beam 114 has an upper side 114c and an underside 114d.

Said support arrangement comprises a right pair of longitudinal elementsarranged on opposing sides of the right longitudinal beam and a left pair oflongitudinal elements 133, 134 arranged on opposing sides of said leftlongitudinal beam 114. Here only the left pair of longitudinal elements 133,134 are shown and denoted pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134.

Said support arrangement comprises a right and left pedestal unit 154 forsupporting said fifth wheel 120 by said right and left longitudinal beamsrespectively. Here only the left pedestal unit 154 is shown, which below isdenoted pedestal unit 154.

The pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 are arranged on opposing sides ofsaid longitudinal beam 114. The longitudinal elements 133, 134 are arrangedfor connecting said support arrangement and for transferring vertical loadfrom said fifth wheel 120 via said pedestal units 154 to the longitudinalbeams 114.

The pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 comprises are attached to thelongitudinal beam by means of screw joints J1.

Said pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 are arranged to project upwardlyfrom left longitudinal beam 114 with a distance D as is shown in fig. 5a.

The pedestal unit 154 is mounted between a projecting portion 133a, 134a ofthe pair 133, 134 of longitudinal elements. The pedestal unit 154 comprises alower portion 154a arranged to be mounted between the a projecting portion133a, 134a of the pair 133, 134 of longitudinal elements. Fig. 6a illustrates anexploded perspective view in which said lower portion 154a of the pedestalunit 154 is shown. The pedestal unit 154 is mounted between a projectingportion 133a, 134a of the pair 133, 134 of longitudinal element by means ofscrew joints J2, see e.g. fig. 4a and fig. 5b, the screw joints J2 beingconfigured to be introduced through the lower portion 154a of the pedestalunit 154. Fig. 5b illustrates a front view of a cross section A-A of fig. 5a. 11 Said support arrangement further comprises a right spacer member and a leftspacer member 164 of which only the left spacer member 164 is shown anddenoted spacer member below. The spacer member 164 is shown e.g. in fig.4b.

The spacer member 164 is arranged between the pair of longitudinalelements 133, 134. The spacer member 164 is arranged internally of saidlongitudinal beam 114, see e.g. fig. 6a.

Said pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 are vertically arranged. Saidlongitudinal elements 133, 134 are according to an embodiment sheet metal elements.

As can be seen in e.g. fig. 5b the left pedestal unit 154 is mounted betweenthe projecting portion of the pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 so that analignment between the pedestal unit 154 and the longitudinal beam 114 isobtained such that efficient absorption of loads on the fifth wheel is obtainedin that the force caused by the load will be essentially vertical from the fifthwheel 120 via the pedestal unit 154 to the longitudinal beam 114. Thealignment is illustrated in fig 5b with the dotted line L.

The support arrangement is arranged in association with a crossbeam 170between said right longitudinal beam (not shown) and left longitudinal beam114 for carrying lateral loads. The pair of longitudinal elements 133, 134 isconnected to said crossbeam 170 so that lateral loads may be efficientlyabsorbed.

Said crossbeam 170 between said right and left longitudinal beam isaccording to an embodiment configured to support and connect boogiewheels of the vehicle.

Said crossbeam 170 between said right and left longitudinal beam comprisesa right fastening portion 172 arranged to be connected to the inner side of theright longitudinal beam (not shown) and a left fastening portion 174 arranged 12 to be connected to the inner side of the left Iongitudinal beam 114. Saidfastening portions 172, 174 of the crossbeam has a Iongitudinal extensionalong the inner side 114b of the Iongitudinal beam 114 and thus arrangedbetween the pair of Iongitudinal elements 133, 134 and internally of saidIongitudinal beam. This is shown in the exploded view of fig. 6a.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. ltis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent topractitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and describedin order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand theinvention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

13 CLAIIVIS

1. An arrangement (|; ll) for mounting a fifth wheel (20; 120) on a vehicleframe (10; 110) of a vehicle, said vehicle frame comprising a rightlongitudinal beam (12) and a left longitudinal beam (14; 114), wherein saidmounting arrangement (|; ll) comprises a support arrangement for supportingsaid fifth wheel (20; 120), said support arrangement comprising a right andleft pedestal unit (52, 54; 154) for supporting said fifth wheel (20; 120) by saidright and left longitudinal beams (12, 14; 114) respectively, characterized inthat said support arrangement further comprises a right pair of longitudinalelements (31, 32) arranged on opposing sides of said right longitudinal beam(12) and a left pair of longitudinal elements (33, 34; 133, 134) arranged onopposing sides of said left longitudinal beam (14; 114) for connecting saidsupport arrangement and for transferring vertical load (F) from said fifthwheel (20; 120) via said right and left pedestal units (52, 54; 154) to therespective longitudinal beams (12, 14; 114).

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said right and left pair oflongitudinal elements (31, 32 33, 34; 133, 134) are arranged to projectupwardly from the right and left longitudinal beam (12, 14; 114) respectively.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said right and left pedestalunits (52, 54; 154) are mounted between a projecting portion (133a, 134a) ofthe right and left pair of longitudinal elements (31, 32 33, 34; 133, 134) respectively.

4. An arrangement according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said supportarrangement is arranged in association with a crossbeam (170) between saidright and left longitudinal beam (114) for carrying lateral loads, said right andleft pair of longitudinal elements (133, 134) being connected to said crossbeam (170).

5. An arrangement according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said supportarrangement further comprises a right and left spacer member (62, 64; 164) 14 arranged between the Iongitudinal elements (133, 134) of the right and leftpair of Iongitudinal elements respectively and internally of said right and leftIongitudinal beam (12, 14; 114) respectively.

6. A vehicle (1) comprising an arrangement according to any of claims 1-ëš.