US732297A - Fifth-wheel. - Google Patents

Description

No. 732,297. Z PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1903. G. A. HENNIGKE.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION nun An. 22, 190-2. no MODEL. 2 8HEET8SHEET 1 JZZZP/zeys m: NORRIS r-s'nzns co. moruumu. wuwmmow, n. c

No. 732,297. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

' C. A. HENNIGKE.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1902.

no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 2.

CRY/(Zia? v uuuuuuu |s warms co.. nmmoufno, wnsnmamu, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT rammed June 30, 1903.

OFFICE.

CHARLES A. HENNICKE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PRATT &

LETCHWORTH COMPANY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,297, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed April 22, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HENNICKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Fifth-W heels,of which the'following is a specification."

This invention relates to a fifth-wheel of that kind in which the king-bolt is arranged in rear of the axle and connects a socket secured to the axle and eyes connected to the head-block and perches.

The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, light, and strong fifth-wheel, composed of few parts, which can be quickly and easily applied to the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very strong and permanent attachment for the king-bolt socket, which permits of the application of the socket to axles varying somewhat in depth without injurious efiect upon the fifth-wheel.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a plan View of portions of the head-block, axle, and reaches of 'a vehicle provided with a fifth-wheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation thereof in line2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional'elevation on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a broken plan view of the lower wheel-segment and king-bolt socket.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the front axle,which, as shown, is composed of the metal axle-bar and the wooden axle-stock or axle-bed resting thereon; B, the head-block, and O the reach-bars or perches.

D represents the lower segment or half of the fifth-wheel, which may be of any usual or preferred construction. It is provided with an axle-plate d, which connects the forward portions of the segment-rim and rests ,upon the axle-stock.

E represents the king-bolt socket, which is provided with a central vertical hole for the king-bolt F. The socket is formed integrally with a vertical transverse plate e, which rests against the rear face of the front axle, and

with a horizontal transverse bar e, which Serial No.104,114. a, mode.)

I bears against the under side of the axle. The horizontal bar 6 is provided at its ends with front and rear lugs 6 through holes in which pass the lower threaded ends of the clip-straps 6 which embrace the axle and the axle-plate of the lower fifth-wheel segment. The clips, which are secured in place, as usual, by nuts, firmly hold the kin g-bolt socket and the lower segment to the axle. The attachment of the socket is further strengthened by horizontal bolts e, which pass through the vertical socket-plate e and the wooden axle-stock.

It is necessary to have the king-bolt socket to enable the workman to apply the parts to the axle without trouble or the necessity for centering-tools the axle-plate of the lower wheel-segment is provided with separated shoulders or rearwardly-proj eeting lugs f, between which engages a finger f, projecting vertically from the vertical socket-plate e. The lugs and finger are so located that when the finger is engaged between the shoulders or lugs the socket is concentric with the lower segment. The interengaging finger and shoulders assist in preventing any independent lateral movement of the lower segment and the socket thus always holding the parts in true concentric relation and relieving the king-bolt from undue strain. The arrangement also permits the socket and lower segment to be firmly attached to axles which r vary somewhat in'depth, as the finger can move vertically between the shoulders in attaching the parts. Thus considerable time, usually required for trimming the axle-stock down to properly fitthe socket attachment, is saved.

The upper half or segment G of the fifth- 0 wheel, which is properly shaped to cooperate with the lower segment, is provided with a head-block plate g, which connects the forward portions of the segment-rim and bears against the under side of the'head-block, to 5 which it is secured by vertical end bolts g and clips g which latter also secure the front body-spring to the head-block. The threaded ends of the clip-straps pass through holes block plate and are held by nuts, as usual.

I represents the perch-iron, the arms of I exactly concentric with the fifth-wheel, and 65 v formed in front and rear lugs g on the head- 1o:

which are trough-shaped and embrace the forward ends of the perches, to which they are secured by bolts or the like 2'. The forward ends of the perch-iron arms are formed integrally with an eye or socket '1 which rests on the king-bolt socket and through a hole in which the king-bolt passes, and a vertical transverse plate i which rests against the rear face of the head-block, to which. it is secured by horizontal bolts The vertical plate 2' engages between two shoulders or rearwardly-projecting lugs J on the head-block plate, which accurately center the king-bolt eye 2" relative to the king-bolt socket and obviate the necessity for centering-tools.

K represents the stay-brace, the rear ends of the arms of which are bolted to the under sides of the perches. The forward end of the stay-brace is provided with an eye or socket 7:, which bears against the bottom of the kingbolt socket. The king-bolt F'passes through the king-bolt socket and eyes on the perchiron and stay-brace and secure these parts together.

The rear portion of the upper wheel-segment is provided with legs on, the lower horizontal ends of which rest on the arms of the perch-iron and are secured to the perches by bolts or the like m.

971 represents the usual antirattler bearingblock, which is carried by a spring secured to one of the perches and bears against the under side of the lower wheel-segment, holding the latter in yielding contact with the upper wheel-segment.

In assembling; the parts of the fifth-wheel the king-bolt eyes 'i and 7a 011 the perch-iron and stay-brace are seated on the upper and lower ends of the king-bolt socket F before the bolts connecting the perch-iron I and staybrace K with the perches C are tightened. These bolts are then tightened and the kingbolt F inserted through the eyes and socket and its nut screwed up to tightly connect the parts in their proper final relation. After this the holes are bored in the head-block B for the horizontal bolts 1', which attach the perchiron to the head block. The perchiron before it is secured to the head-block is free to move vertically to a limited extent between the lugs J on the head-block plate and accommodate itself to the height of the king-bolt socket, and when the parts are finally secured the connection is tight and will not rattle.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and a reach; of a fifth-wheel member, an axle plate integral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed; a second fifth-wheel member, a head-block plate integral therewith secured to the under face of the head-block, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel members and axle-plate, adjustable relative to the latter secured to the axle-bed and having a part engaging the under face of the axle, and a king-bolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

2. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and a reach; of a fifth-wheel member, an axleplate integral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle -bed; a second fifth -wheel member, a head-block plate integral therewith secured to the under face of the head-block, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel members and axle-plate adjustable relative to the latter, secured to the axle-bed and having a part engaging the under face of the axle, means on the axle-plate coacting with the second socket-section to center the latter, and a kingbolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

3. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to the axle; a second fifth-wheel member having a head-block plate secured to the head-block; a perch-iron secured to the reach; a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, separate from the fifth-wheel members and head-block plate and adjustable relative to the latter; a second king-bolt-socket section coacting with the first; a king-bolt passing through said sections; and means on said head-block plate for centering the latter section, substantially as described.

4. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and a reach; of afifth-wheel member, an axleplate integral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a second fifth-wheel member, a head block plate integral therewith secured to the under face of the headblock, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel mem-' bers and axle-plate, adjustable relative to the latter, secured to the axle-bed and having a part engaging the face of the axle, shoulders on the axle-plate, a projection on the second socket-section coacting with said shoulders to center the latter socket-section, and a kingbolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

5. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and a reach;of afifth-wheel member, an axleplate integral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a second fifth-wheel member, a headblock plate integral therewith secured to the head-block, a perch-iron, a king-bolt-socket section carried thereby, a second king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel members, and axle-plate and adjustable relative to the latter, said second socket-section having a vertical plate resting against the rear faces of the axle and axlebed, and a transverse bar embracing the under face of the axle, and a king-bolt passing through said section.

6. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and areach; of a fifth-wheelmember, an axleplate intregal therewith secured to the upper face of the axle bed, a second fifth-wheelmember, a head block plate integral therewith secured to the under face of the headblock, a perch-iron secured to the reach, a king-bolt-socket section carried therebyseparate from the fifth-wheel members and headblock plate and adjustable relative to the latter, a second king-bolt-socket section coacting with the first secured to the axle and axlebed, a king-bolt passing through said sections, and means on the head-block plate for centering the first-named king-bolt-socket section, substantially as described.

7. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and axle-bed, and areach of a fifth-wheel member, an axleplate integral therewith secured to the upper face of the axle-bed, a second fifth-wheel member, a head-block plate integral therewith secured to the under face of the headblock, a perch-iron secured to the reach having a vertical plate finding a bearing against the head-block, a king-bo1t-socket section carried by the perch-iron separate from the fifth-wheel members and head-block plate and adjustable relative to the latter, shoulders on said head-block plate coacting with said vertical plate of the perch-iron to center the socket-section carried by the latter, a second king-bolt-socket section associated with the axle and engaging the first-named socketsection, and a king-bolt passing through said sections.

8. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block,-axle and reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to the axle; a second fifth-wheel memhead-block; a perch-iron secured to the reach and to the head-block; a king-bolt-socket section carried by the perch-iron; a second king-bolt-socket section separate from the fifth-wheel members and axle-plate, and having a vertically-disposed finger associated therewith; separated shoulders projecting rearwardly from the edge of the axle-plate providing a guide for said finger, and a kingbolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

9. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination with a head-block, axle and reach; of a fifth-wheel member having an axle-plate secured to the axle; a second fifth-wheel member having a head-block plate secured to the head-block; a perch-iron, separate from the fifth-wheel members and head-block plate, having a vertical plate finding a bearing against the head-block; a king-bolt-socket section carried by the perch-iron; shoulders projecting rearwardly from the head-block plate coacting with the vertical plate of the perch-iron for centering said socketsection; a second socket-section separate from the fifth-wheel members and axle-plate, a vertical plate associated therewith finding abearing against the rear side of the axle; shoulders projecting from the rear edge of the axleplate coacting with said vertical plate for centering said socket-section; and a king-bolt passing through said sections, substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 12th day of April, 1902.

CHARLES A. HENNICKE.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY.

Images