Lightweight narrow-span fifth wheel

Abstract

A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange connected to ends of the back rib, and a main rib extending between the back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, with the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange. The fifth wheel hitch also includes skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the back rib. At least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor.

1 . A short span fifth wheel hitch comprising:
 a hitch plate defining a throat for receiving a kingpin, the hitch plate having a bottom face;   at least one back rib extending from the bottom face of the hitch plate;   a peripheral flange extending from a periphery of the bottom face of the hitch plate and connected to ends of the at least one back rib;   a main rib extending from the bottom face of the hitch plate between the at least one back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange;   skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the at least one back rib and defining a tapered mouth leading to the throat; and   at least two pairs of mounting ribs located interior of the peripheral flange and the at least one back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor;   the at least two pairs of mounting ribs extending between and being attached to both the main rib and the at least one back rib.   
     
     
         2 . The short span fifth wheel hitch of  claim 1 , further including:
 skirt ribs.   
     
     
         3 . The short span fifth wheel hitch of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hitch plate is configured to support a vertical load of at least 66,000 pounds.   
     
     
         4 . A mounting assembly for mounting a trailer to a tractor comprising:
 a fifth wheel hitch comprising a hitch plate, at least one back rib, a peripheral flange, a main rib, skirts and at least two pairs of mounting ribs;   the hitch plate defines a tapered mouth and throat for receiving a kingpin, the hitch plate having a bottom face;   the at least one back rib extends from the bottom face of the hitch plate;   the peripheral flange extends from a periphery of the bottom face of the hitch plate and is connected to ends of the at least one back rib;   the main rib extends from the bottom face of the hitch plate between the at least one back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange;   the skirts extend from the hitch plate adjacent the at least one back rib; and   the at least two pairs of mounting ribs are located interior of the peripheral flange and the at least one back rib, with each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein; and   mounting brackets, the mounting brackets being inserted into a space between each pair of mounting ribs and configured to accept the mounting pin to connect the fifth wheel hitch to the mounting brackets;   the at least two pairs of mounting ribs extending between and being attached to both the main rib and the at least one back rib.   
     
     
         5 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 4 , further including:
 skirt ribs.   
     
     
         6 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the hitch plate is configured to support a vertical load of at least 66,000 pounds.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 4 , further including:
 mounting structure for mounting the fifth wheel hitch on frame rails of a tractor, the mounting structure including the mounting brackets, a raised base plate and side connecting flanges;   wherein the mounting brackets are connected to a top surface of the base plate; and   wherein the side connecting flanges are connected to side edges of the raised base plate, the side connecting flanges including a first portion extending outward and downward from the side edges of the raised base plate and a second portion extending downward from the first portion, the second portion being configured to be positioned adjacent side edges of the frame rails of the tractor to connect the mounting structure to the frame rails, whereby the raised base plate is elevated over top surfaces of the frame rails of the tractor.   
     
     
         8 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the mounting structure further includes support ribs connected to a bottom surface of the raised base plate and to the first portion of the side connecting flanges, the support ribs being configured to rest upon top surfaces of the frame rails of the tractor to thereby support the raised base plate, the mounting brackets and the fifth wheel hitch.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 4 , further including:
 a fifth-wheel hitch carriage including the mounting brackets;   a pair of suspension brackets mounting an axle suspension component; and   an integrating connector rigidly connecting the fifth-wheel hitch carriage to the suspension brackets at opposite sides of the hitch carriage,   wherein the integrating connector, the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets define an elongated opening configured to be slidably received on frame rails of the tractor and rigidly connected thereto.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the integrating connector comprises a rail plate mounted to each side of the fifth-wheel hitch carriage, each of the rail plates mounting one of the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         11 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the elongated opening is defined by the rail plates and the fifth-wheel hitch carriage.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the suspension component comprises a trailing arm mounting an axle and mounted to each of the pair of suspension brackets.   
     
     
         13 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 12 , further including:
 an air spring connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         14 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 12 , further including:
 a shock absorber connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         15 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the integrating connector comprises a cross-member extending between the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         16 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the elongated opening comprises a pair of frame rail slots formed between the cross member and the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         17 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the suspension component comprises a trailing arm mounting an axle and mounted to each of the pair of suspension brackets.   
     
     
         18 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 16 , further including:
 an air spring connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         19 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 18 , further including:
 a shock absorber connected to each trailing arm and to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         20 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 9 , further including:
 pneumatic components carried by the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets and an integrated pneumatic interface having a single connector harness connected to the pneumatic components for selectively connecting a pneumatic system on the tractor to the pneumatic components.   
     
     
         21 . The mounting assembly for mounting the trailer to the tractor of  claim 9 , further including:
 electrical components carried by the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets and an integrated electronic interface having a single connector harness connected to the electrical components for selectively connecting an electronic system on the tractor to the electrical components.   
     
     
         22 . In a semi-tractor including a pair of C-shaped frame rails extending between a front of the semi-tractor and a rear of the semi-tractor, the frame rails having a rail distance therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a fifth wheel hitch having mounting areas therein;   mounting brackets located within the mounting areas of the fifth wheel hitch; and   a support plate having the mounting brackets thereon, the support plate being movable relative to the frame rails;   wherein an outside distance between the mounting areas is shorter than the rail distance.   
     
     
         23 . The semi-tractor of  claim 22 , further including:
 mounting structure for mounting the fifth wheel hitch on the frame rails, the mounting structure including the mounting brackets, a raised base plate and side connecting flanges;   wherein the mounting brackets are connected to a top surface of the base plate; and   wherein the side connecting flanges are connected to side edges of the raised base plate, the side connecting flanges including a first portion extending outward and downward from the side edges of the raised base plate and a second portion extending downward from the first portion, the second portion being configured to be positioned adjacent side edges of the frame rails of the tractor to connect the mounting structure to the frame rails, whereby the raised base plate is elevated over top surfaces of the frame rails of the tractor.   
     
     
         24 . The semi-tractor of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the mounting structure further includes support ribs connected to a bottom surface of the raised base plate and to the first portion of the side connecting flanges, the support ribs resting upon top surfaces of the frame rails of the tractor to thereby support the raised base plate, the mounting brackets and the fifth wheel hitch.   
     
     
         25 . The semi-tractor of  claim 22 , further including:
 a fifth-wheel hitch carriage including the mounting brackets;   a pair of suspension brackets mounting an axle suspension component; and   an integrating connector rigidly connecting the fifth-wheel hitch carriage to the suspension brackets at opposite sides of the hitch carriage,   wherein the integrating connector, the hitch carriage and the suspension brackets define an elongated opening slidably received on frame rails of the tractor and rigidly connected thereto.   
     
     
         26 . The semi-tractor of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the integrating connector comprises a rail plate mounted to each side of the fifth-wheel hitch carriage, each of the rail plates mounting one of the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         27 . The semi-tractor of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the elongated opening is defined by the rail plates and the fifth-wheel hitch carriage.   
     
     
         28 . The semi-tractor of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the suspension component comprises a trailing arm mounting an axle and mounted to each of the pair of suspension brackets.   
     
     
         29 . The semi-tractor of  claim 28 , further including:
 an air spring connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         30 . The semi-tractor of  claim 28 , further including:
 a shock absorber connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         31 . The semi-tractor of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the integrating connector comprises a cross-member extending between the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         32 . The semi-tractor of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the elongated opening comprises a pair of frame rail slots formed between the cross member and the suspension brackets.   
     
     
         33 . The semi-tractor of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the suspension component comprises a trailing arm mounting an axle and mounted to each of the pair of suspension brackets.   
     
     
         34 . The semi-tractor of  claim 32 , further including:
 an air spring connected to each trailing arm and configured to be connected to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         35 . The semi-tractor of  claim 34 , further including:
 a shock absorber connected to each trailing arm and to one of the frame rails.   
     
     
         36 . The semi-tractor of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the center distance of the mounting areas is approximately 20 inches.   
     
     
         37 . In a semi-tractor including a pair of C-shaped frame rails extending between a front of the semi-tractor and a rear of the semi-tractor, the frame rails having a rail distance therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a fifth wheel hitch having mounting areas therein;   mounting brackets located within the mounting areas of the fifth wheel hitch; and   a support plate having the mounting brackets thereon, the support plate being movable relative to the frame rails;   wherein an outside distance between the mounting areas is shorter than the rail distance,   wherein the fifth wheel hitch comprises:
 a hitch plate defining a throat for receiving a kingpin, the hitch plate having a bottom face; 
 at least one back rib extending from the bottom face of the hitch plate; 
 a peripheral flange extending from a periphery of the bottom face of the hitch plate and connected to ends of the at least one back rib; 
 a main rib extending from the bottom face of the hitch plate between the at least one back rib and a portion of the peripheral flange, the main rib being connected to ends of the peripheral flange; 
 skirts extending from the hitch plate adjacent the at least one back rib and defining a tapered mouth leading to the throat; and 
 at least two pairs of mounting ribs located interior of the peripheral flange and the at least one back rib, each pair of mounting ribs including aligned apertures for accepting a mounting pin therein, whereby a mounting bracket can be inserted into a space between the mounting ribs of each pair of mounting ribs and the mounting pin can be placed through the aligned apertures and the mounting bracket to connect the fifth wheel hitch to a tractor. 
   
     
     
         38 . The semi-tractor of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the fifth wheel skirt further includes skirt ribs.   
     
     
         39 . The semi-tractor of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the hitch plate is configured to support a vertical load of at least 66,000 pounds.   
     
     
         40 . The semi-tractor of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the at least two pairs of mounting ribs extending between and being attached to both the main rib and the at least one back rib.   
     
     
         41 . In a semi-tractor including a pair of C-shaped frame rails extending between a front of the semi-tractor and a rear of the semi-tractor, the frame rails having a rail distance therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a fifth wheel hitch having mounting areas;   mounting brackets engaging the mounting areas of the fifth wheel hitch; and   a rear tractor portion including a support surface having the mounting brackets connected thereto and side frame sections supporting the support surface, the side frame sections including axle supporting components for connecting a tractor axle to the rear tractor portion;   wherein the axle supporting components include at least one link mount and at least one suspension link connected to each at least one link mount, whereby each suspension link is configured to rotate about the at least one link mount;   wherein an outside distance between the mounting areas is shorter than the rail distance; and   wherein the support surface is moveable relative to the frame rails.