| 摘要 |
A carrier assembly (30) for a fifth wheel (87) mounted on a semi-trailer tractor in which there are a pair of generally parallel spaced rail assemblies (32, 34). Each of these rail assemblies (32, 34) comprises a bed plate (36), a rack of teeth (38) superimposed over said bed plate (36) and a rack cover plate (40) superimposed over said rack of teeth (38) and a plurality of vertical axially spaced bolting means (48) extending through said rack cover plate (40), rack of teeth (38) and bed plate (36). The carrier assembly (30) also includes a slider assembly (78) comprising a pair of spaced generally axial elements (80, 82) each of which is superimposed over one of said bed plates (36). There is also a transverse element (88) connecting said generally parallel axial elements (80, 82), and said slider assembly (78) supports a tooth engaging (92, 96) for selectively engaging the rack of teeth (38) on the rail assemblies (32, 34). Arrangements are disclosed which enable the carrier assembly (30) to be attached to the tractor and rear stops (132) to be attached to the rest of the assembly without welding. Arrangements for facilitating motion of the slider assembly (78) and for reducing or eliminating debris accumulation are also disclosed. Another arrangement is disclosed which resists shear forces. The present invention also encompasses a connecting and disconnecting device for a fifth wheel assembly. This device comprises a generally obliquely positioned lever (236) which extends from a forward to a rearward end. A lock bar (244) extends from the lever (236), and a lock jaw (250) is retained by the lock bar (244) in a locked positioned adjacent the blind port (234) but biased to move to an unlocked position when the lever (236) is pivoted to at least partially release the lock jaw (250) to allow it to move to an unlocked position. A handle (264) extending outside the housing (222) is attached to the lever (236) to activate the device. |
