Automatic rolling fifth wheel hitch
View Patent ↗A fifth wheel hitch is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch may include a base frame configured to be secured to a load bed of a towing vehicle, a trolley operatively engaged with the base frame, the trolley adapted to move along the base frame between first and second positions, and a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path. The fifth wheel hitch may also include a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path, and a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, where the trolley is moved between the first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head.
1. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a base frame comprising a channel;
a cam member attached with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path positioned entirely between the base frame;
a cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path;
a trolley coupled with the cam follower, wherein the trolley is moveably engaged with the channel of the base frame; and
a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, wherein the trolley is displaced rearward toward a rear of a towing vehicle in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head.
2. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein the cam path includes a detent, the cam follower engaging the detent whereby pivoting of the fifth wheel head moves the cam follower from the detent and displaces the trolley reward toward a rear of the towing vehicle.
3. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein the cam path is non-linear, whereby the cam follower operatively engages the non-linear cam path during displacement of the trolley.
4. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 1 , wherein the cam path includes a first portion causing the trolley to be displaced at a first rate as the fifth wheel head pivots.
5. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 4 , wherein the cam path includes a second portion causing the trolley to be displaced at a second rate as the fifth wheel head pivots whereby the second rate is different from the first rate.
6. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 5 , wherein the second portion is at a different pivot angle relative to a centerline of the cam member than the first portion.
7. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 5 , wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.
8. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a base frame;
a trolley moveable between first and second positions with respect to the base frame;
a cam path positioned entirely between the base frame, the cam path having a first portion; and
a cam follower coupled with the trolley, the cam follower operatively engaging the first portion of the cam path, wherein pivoting of the cam follower releases the cam follower from the first portion permitting movement of the trolley fore and aft between the first and second positions, wherein the first portion is an arcuate detent section in the cam path and wherein the cam follower moving from the detent moves the trolley forward to the first position.
9. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 8 further comprising a cam plate, the cam plate attached with the base frame, whereby the cam path is formed in the cam plate.
10. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 8 , further comprising a fifth wheel head pivotally engaged with the trolley, wherein pivoting of the fifth wheel head moves the cam follower out of the first portion of the cam path permitting the trolley to move to the second position.
11. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 10 , wherein the trolley is moveable fore and aft relative to the towing vehicle.
12. A fifth wheel hitch comprising:
a base frame including fore and aft extending rails configured to be secured to a load bed of a towing vehicle, the rails comprising a channel;
a cam member attached directly with the base frame, the cam member having a cam path positioned entirely between the fore and aft extending rails;
a cam follower operatively engaged with the cam path; and
a trolley coupled with the cam follower, wherein the trolley is moveably engaged with the channel of the rails; and
a fifth wheel head pivotally coupled with the trolley, wherein the trolley is moved between first and second positions in response to pivoting of the fifth wheel head.
13. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 12 , wherein the cam path includes a detent, the cam follower engaging the detent when the trolley is in the first position and whereby pivoting of the fifth wheel head moves the cam follower from the detent and permits the trolley to move to the second position.
14. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 12 , wherein the cam path is non-linear, whereby the cam follower operatively engages the non-linear cam path during movement of the trolley.
15. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 12 , wherein the cam path includes a first portion causing the trolley to move between the first and second positions at a first rate as the fifth wheel head pivots.
16. The fifth wheel hitch of claim 15 , wherein the cam path includes a second portion causing the trolley to move between the first and second positions at a second rate as the fifth wheel head pivots whereby the second rate is different from the first rate.