IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,391,318
Granted Patent B2
US 12,391,318 · App. 17/597,431 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Adapter arrangement for a semitrailer train arrangement

Inventors: Alan Feltham (Schweiz, CH); Randy Kübler (Gottmadingen, DE); Mario Sebastian Köster (Bodman-Ludwigshafen, DE)
Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
B62D53/125B62D53/0842
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,391,318
App. No.
17/597,431
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adapter arrangement, in particular fifth wheel adapter arrangement, for a semitrailer train, comprising a base body, a coupling arrangement, in particular a fifth wheel coupling plate, and a king pin, wherein the king pin is fixed indirectly and/or directly to the base body, wherein in particular the coupling arrangement is stationary relative to the king pin.

Claims (24)

1. A fifth wheel adapter arrangement for a semitrailer train, comprising

a base body;

a coupling arrangement for an automatic coupling system; and

a king pin of the adapter arrangement;

wherein the king pin of the adapter arrangement is fixed indirectly and/or directly to the base body;

wherein the coupling arrangement of the adapter arrangement includes a separate fifth wheel coupling plate of the adapter arrangement which is fixed to the base body, and wherein a trailer king pin and the fifth wheel coupling plate of the adapter arrangement are configured to automatically couple to one another;

wherein the coupling arrangement of the adapter arrangement is stationary relative to the king pin of the adapter arrangement;

wherein the adapter arrangement comprises a plug connector for the automatic coupling system;

wherein the plug connector of the adapter arrangement comprises a connecting plug for the automatic coupling system; and

wherein the connecting plug of the adapter arrangement is spaced from the king pin of the adapter arrangement in a direction of an extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

2. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the king pin of the adapter arrangement is arranged on a king pin surface of the base body rigidly and/or stationarily, indirectly and/or directly.

3. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling arrangement of the adapter arrangement is arranged on a fifth wheel coupling surface of the base body rigidly and/or stationarily, indirectly and/or directly.

4. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the king pin of the adapter arrangement is arranged on the base body opposite to the coupling arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

5. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement is substantially parallel to a normal of a bearing surface of the coupling arrangement.

6. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a projection of the king pin of the adapter arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement is at least partially covered by a projection of the coupling arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

7. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the projection of the king pin of the adapter arrangement of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement is completely covered by the projection of the coupling arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

8. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter arrangement comprises an alignment arrangement including a wedge and/or a wedge arrangement.

9. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting plug is spaced from the king pin of the adapter arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement, and a distance of the connecting plug from the coupling arrangement is greater than a distance of the connecting plug from the king pin of the adapter arrangement in the direction of the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

10. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling arrangement has an entry opening which extends in an entry direction, wherein the trailer king pin is configured to be inserted along the entry direction into the entry opening of the coupling arrangement, and wherein the connecting plug is spaced from the coupling arrangement and/or from the king pin of the adapter arrangement and/or from the base body in the direction of the entry direction.

11. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the plug connector is rigidly and/or stationarily fixed to and/or relative to the base body.

12. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter arrangement comprises a connection console for connecting to a cable assembly that includes a spiral cable, and/or wherein the adapter arrangement comprises a cable assembly that includes a spiral cable, wherein the cable assembly is adapted to be connected to a trailer in an energy-conducting manner.

13. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter arrangement comprises a support device, and wherein the support device is adapted to support or be capable of supporting the adapter arrangement relative to a floor.

14. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the support device is integrally formed with the base body.

15. The fifth wheel adapter arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the support device comprises at least one support surface, and wherein the support surface is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the king pin of the adapter arrangement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2022
From: FELTHAM, ALAN; KÜBLER, RANDY; KÖSTER, MARIO SEBASTIAN
To: SAF-HOLLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 058582/0936 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 118 836.9 · Jul 11, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220281539A1 · Sep 8, 2022
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