A kingpin arrangement for an automatic coupling system including a kingpin extending in a kingpin direction, a turntable mounted rotatably about the kingpin direction relative to the kingpin and mounted on a plain-bearing, the turntable having an opening, through which the kingpin extends, and a support structure extending in a radial direction, the support structure including a fastener for indirectly and/or directly fastening and/or for mounting a plug connector, the support structure being fixed indirectly and/or directly to an end of the turntable.

A fifth-wheel coupling for releasably coupling a fifth-wheel tractor (10) to a semitrailer (20). A kingpin on s semitrailer can be brought into engagement with a fifth-wheel plate on the fifth-wheel tractor. A first insertion coupling part is arranged on the fifth-wheel plate in such a way that it can be moved by means of a lifting device from a decoupled, retracted idle position into a protruding coupling position. A centering unit, e.g., conical centering pins, is provided on the lifting device which centers the relative position of the first insertion coupling part in the decoupled position. The centering is mounted floating against the force of springs on the fifth-wheel plate. The centering is released in the coupling position after the coupling process. After coupling the semitrailer to the fifth-wheel tractor, during insertion the first plug-in coupling part can easily move laterally for safe insertion due to the released centering, in the case of any small misalignments between the fifth-wheel plate and the kingpin of the semitrailer. After coupling, an undesirable relative movement between the two plug-in coupling parts is prevented, thus minimizing wear.

A fifth wheel includes a fifth wheel plate, a plug, a drive, and a guide arrangement for the plug, wherein the fifth wheel plate has a semi-trailer surface that has an outwardly pointing normal, that is parallel to a vertical direction wherein the fifth wheel plate has an insertion opening that extends in an insertion direction, wherein the plug is displaceable by the drive from a first, in particular retracted, position into a second position, in particular an extended position, wherein the plug is guided from the first position into the second position and/or from the second position into the first position by the guide arrangement, wherein an offset in the vertical direction and in the insertion direction is present between the first position and the second position.

A device for transferring a line between a retracted state and an extended state includes a line arranged in an interface region between a semitrailer train and a semitrailer, wherein the line has a first line section and a second line section and wherein the line is longer in the extended state than in the retracted state, and an envelope element via which the first line section and the second line section are connectable for transfer between the retracted state and the extended state by forming a telescopic mechanism.

A cantilevered coupling component for an interface area between a semitrailer and a tractor unit, which can be releasably connected to one another in the interface area by a pin element, the coupling component including a pin-side connection area for pivotally mounting the coupling component on the pin element, and a rail-side connection area for slidable mounting along a translation direction of the coupling component on a rail of the semitrailer.

A cantilevered coupling component for an interface area between a semitrailer and a tractor unit, which can be releasably connected to one another in the interface area by a pin element, the coupling component including a pin-side connection area for pivotally mounting the coupling component on the pin element, and a rail-side connection area for slidable mounting along a translation direction of the coupling component on a rail of the semitrailer.

A connection system for use on a fifth-wheel coupling includes first and second connection units each including a carrier unit and a plug-in unit each having a coupling axis and mounted on the respective carrier unit so as to be able to pivot about a respective pivot axis, a, the first and second plug-in units respectively including a coupling region of an electrical line element and/or a fluid-conveying line, the second connection unit mounted on a semi-trailer to be pivotable about a pivot axis such that the second connection unit can be moved into a coupling position, wherein the second pivot axis extends parallel to the first pivot axis when the second connection unit is in the coupling position, and wherein the first coupling axis is essentially collinear with the second coupling axis if the first and second plug-in units are in the coupling position.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch plate having a body portion and a pair of extensions extending outwardly from the body portion, wherein the extensions cooperate to form a throat therebetween, a locking arrangement moveable between an unlocked position where a kingpin may be moved into and out of the throat, and a locked position where the kingpin is prevented from being removed from within the throat, and a sensor arrangement that includes at least one sensor located within at least one component of the locking arrangement, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer configured to sense vibrational movement of the at least one component of the locking arrangement.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a fifth wheel hitch plate having a body portion and a pair of extensions extending outwardly from the body portion, wherein the extensions cooperate to form a throat therebetween, a locking arrangement moveable between an unlocked position where a kingpin may be moved into and out of the throat, and a locked position where the kingpin is prevented from being removed from within the throat, and a sensor arrangement that includes at least one sensor located within at least one component of the locking arrangement, wherein the at least one sensor includes an accelerometer configured to sense vibrational movement of the at least one component of the locking arrangement.

A system and method for automatically coupling at least one of an air line or an electrical line of a tractor to a trailer that is configured to be pulled by the tractor. A moveable arm is mounted to the tractor and is configured to exhibit at least one degree of freedom (DOF) of motion relative to the tractor. The moveable arm carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector. A trailer coupling head is mounted to the trailer and carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector that are configured to be connected to the at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector of the tractor. The trailer coupling head can be moved in at least a vertical DOF relative to the ground by the automatic coupling system.