FIFTH WHEEL SLIP PLATE

摘要

A novel improved fifth wheel structure is provided of the type including a fifth wheel plate having an upper bearing face and a rearwardly opening slot having a closed forward end for use in conjunction with a kingpin plate of the type inclu ding a lower bearing face from which a kingpin projects downwardly, the fifth wheel p late being adapted to have the kingpin plate disposed thereover with the respective b earing faces in contact with each other and with the kingpin rotatingly and captively d isposed in the forward end of the slot. The improvement comprises a plurality, e.g., preferably three, four or five, self-lubricating slip pads, each such slip pad b eing formed of self-lubricating plastic polytetrafluoroethylene or ultra-high molecul ar weight polyethylene. Each slip pad is substantially rectangular in shape with fo ur rounded corners and has only its peripheral edges tapered or rounded to be lower than its central region. Each slip pad has a plurality of circular counterbored holes therein, each circular counterbored holes terminating in a circular hole. Each s lip pad is secured into its respective rectangular recess within the upper bearing face of the fifth wheel plate, by means of an associated one of a plurality of weld washers, each of which has been placed in its respective circular counterbored hole in its ass ociated slip plate and then welded to the fifth wheel plate.