A mechanism attached to the trailer of a semi tractor trailer that uses a low friction UHMW or similar bearing sheet material as an interface between the two components. This wear item is easily replicable without the use of fasteners such as screws nuts or bolts. The invention uses a plug and play bayonetted snap in methodology and is easily installed on new or existing rigs such as 18/26-wheeler highway transports. The wearable bearing can be replaced by novice operators not skilled in technical installations in only a few minutes and at very low cost.

A fifth wheel configured to reversibly couple a trailer to a tractor including a coupling plate configured to receive a journal element of the trailer and a bearing block configured to pivotably bear the coupling plate about a pivot axis, in particular about a horizontally extending pivot axis, at least one distance sensor being provided which determines a distance with respect to a reference surface, the at least one distance sensor and/or the reference surface being arranged as part of the bearing block or on the bearing block.

Devices are for compensating for the roll of a fifth-wheel coupling, such as on a prime mover towing a semi-trailer. An automated compensation system for a fifth-wheel coupling mounted on a towing vehicle unit includes a first pivoting support to support one lateral side of the fifth-wheel coupling; a second pivoting support to support an opposite lateral side of the fifth-wheel coupling; an actuator configured to cause movement of the first and second pivoting supports; a sensor to sense a parameter relevant to determining whether roll compensation is required for the vehicle; a controller configured to receive a sensor output of the sensor and to determine whether roll compensation is required based on the sensor output, the controller being further configured to issue a control signal to cause the actuator to move the first and second pivoting supports when the controller determines that roll compensation is required.

A coupling device for a vehicle combination which extends along a longitudinal axis (X), with a wear detection means which comprises: one wear element, which is arranged, aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X), in and/or on the coupling device in such a manner that wear of the coupling device perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) equally or exclusively wears the wear element,
wherein the wear element is arranged in the circumferential direction (U) around the coupling device one cavity, which extends in the circumferential direction (U) in a manner corresponding to the wear element,
wherein the cavity is sealed in a fluid-tight manner by the wear element, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid in the cavity,
wherein the wear element is dimensioned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X) in such a manner that the fluid can escape through a through-opening of the wear element caused by wear, when a wear limit of the coupling device is reached at this point of the coupling device.

Fifth wheel plate with a sliding plate having a top surface and a bottom surface. The sliding plate is detachably secured to the fifth wheel plate by at least one screw connection, the screw connection including a fastening means having a screw head and a threaded shank. The fifth wheel plate screw connection includes a form-fit element which bears against the bottom surface of the sliding plate and which has a form-fit means. The form-fit means cooperates with the sliding plate and forms a form-fit connection acting in the direction of a horizontal plane.