Fifth-Wheel Assembly With Conical Washer Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fifth-wheel assemblies for trucks face challenges in secure and easy mounting, ensuring proper alignment, and maintaining secure attachment until removal, while allowing for adjustments and tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A fifth-wheel design featuring a horizontal plate with upward legs, anchors with bushings and T-bolts, adjustable handles, and a pivotable cover, along with conical washers to dampen dynamic loads, facilitating secure and adjustable mounting and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional mounting methods are used, then the fifth-wheel can be mounted on the truck bed, but alignment adjustments and proper positioning become difficult due to tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conical washers under the T-bolts that allow for vertical adjustment of the T-bolt position. By changing the vertical parameter of the T-bolt through the conical washer mechanism, the system accommodates alignment tolerances and achieves proper positioning while maintaining ease of installation.
2Reliability
If the T-bolt is made secure to prevent movement, then mounting security improves, but adjustment capability during installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static to a dynamic state during installation. The T-bolt is initially free to move vertically within the conical washer for adjustment, then becomes secured when the nut is tightened. This dynamic behavior allows both adjustment capability during installation and mounting security after installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical washer is pre-positioned under the T-bolt before final tightening, establishing a reference point that guides the adjustment process. This preliminary action enables the installer to achieve proper alignment before securing the connection permanently.
3Ease of operation
If handles are provided for adjustment, then ease of operation improves, but risk of unintended movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are designed to be movable during the adjustment phase to facilitate easy operation, then become fixed in position after the nut is tightened. This dynamic design allows the handles to serve their adjustment function while preventing unintended movement once installation is complete.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and secure mounting on truck beds with adjustable alignment, secure attachment, and effective damping of dynamic loads, ensuring proper installation and easy removal.
Implementation Method 1
conical washers employed with the T-bolts may help to dampen dynamic loads on the fifth-wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A fifth-wheel that includes a horizontal plate and a pair of legs extending upward therefrom. Also including pair of anchors, each having a bushing mounted under the plate, a cap, above the plate, secured to the respective bushing, a T-bolt extending vertically through the respective bushing and cap, and a handle secured to and extending radially outward from the respective T-bolt through a slot in the respective cap; and nuts securing each T-bolt to the respective anchor. The fifth-wheel may also include a cover, pivotable to selectively provide and block access to the anchors.