FIFTH-WHEEL COUPLING ARRANGEMENT WITH WEAR DETECTION

Abstract

A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement includes, a plurality of wear sensors, a fifth-wheel coupling plate, a lock claw mounted on the fifth-wheel coupling plate configured to be movable in a first closing direction, a locking mechanism, with a stop, configured to be mounted on the fifth-wheel coupling plate configured to be movable in a second closing direction, wherein the fifth-wheel coupling plate has an insertion opening for a king pin, wherein the lock claw positively prevents the king pin from moving out of the insertion opening in a closed state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and allows the king pin to move out of the insertion opening in an open state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement, wherein the wear sensor is configured to monitor a wear parameter of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement, and wherein the wear sensor has a data output.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement, comprising: at least one wear sensor; a fifth-wheel coupling plate; a lock claw mounted indirectly and/or directly on the fifth-wheel coupling plate and configured to be movable in a first closing direction; and a locking mechanism with a stop which is mounted indirectly and/or directly on the fifth-wheel coupling plate and configured to be movable in a second closing direction; wherein the fifth-wheel coupling plate has an insertion opening for a king pin; wherein the lock claw is configured to indirectly and/or directly positively prevent the king pin from moving out of the insertion opening in a closed state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and is configured to allow the king pin to move out of the insertion opening in an open state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement; wherein the wear sensor is configured to monitor a wear parameter of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement; wherein the wear sensor has a data output that includes a cable; and wherein the at least one wear sensor is configured to determine and/or monitor a material thickness of the fifth-wheel coupling plate in the region of a trailer surface.

17. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wear sensor includes at least two wear sensors, and wherein the at least two wear sensors monitor different wear parameters of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement from one another.

18. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wear sensor includes at least three wear sensors, and wherein the at least three wear sensors monitor different wear parameters of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement from one another.

19. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement comprises at least one bearing block and a bearing shell, wherein the bearing shell supports the fifth-wheel coupling plate relative to the bearing block, wherein the bearing block has a contact area configured to indirectly and/or directly support the bearing block on a vehicle, and wherein at least one wear sensor is configured to monitor the state of wear of the bearing shell.

20. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the contact area lies in a contact plane, wherein the at least one wear sensor is configured to monitor the state of wear of the bearing shell by determining a distance of the contact plane to a measuring surface of the fifth-wheel coupling plate.

21. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the measuring surface is concave.

22. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the measuring surface is part of a tensioning device.

23. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wear sensor includes a non-contact sensor.

24. The fifth wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the non-contact sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

25. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wear sensor is configured to monitor a play due to wear of a part of the locking mechanism.

26. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement of claim 25, wherein monitoring the play due to wear of the part of the locking mechanism includes determining the distance of the part of the locking mechanism to a measuring point of the fifth-wheel coupling plate in the direction of the second closing direction.

27. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according claim 16, wherein the at least one wear sensor includes a vibration sensor.

28. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to monitor the vibrations of the lock claw in a direction of the first closing direction.

29. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement comprises a king pin, and wherein the vibration sensor monitors the vibrations of the king pin.

30. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least two vibration sensors.

31. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the at least two vibration sensors are connected to a comparison unit, wherein the comparison unit is configured to compare the measurement results of the vibration sensors, and wherein the comparison unit is configured to determine a state of wear of the fifth-wheel coupling from the comparison of the measurement results.

32. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a data output of at least one wear sensor is connected in terms of information technology to an evaluation unit, and wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine a state of wear of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement on the basis of the monitoring data of the at least one wear sensor.

33. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to claim 32, wherein the evaluation unit is connected to a display unit, and wherein the display unit is configured to display the state of wear of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement determined by the evaluation unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the figures. Individual features of the embodiments shown can thereby also be used in other embodiments, unless this has been expressly excluded.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a detailed bottom plan view of the locking mechanism and lock claw of the fifth wheel coupling arrangement;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevation view of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement according to the invention; and

[0027] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are bottom plan views of further embodiments according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] In FIG. 1, a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 is shown, wherein this fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 is shown from below in order to achieve a simple type of representation. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention has a locking mechanism 20 comprising a stop 22. This stop 22 is formed, for example, from a metallic material, in particular plain bearing material, and/or from a plastic. The stop 22 is firmly connected to the locking mechanism and moves with it. In this case, the stop 22 makes direct contact with the lock claw 10 so that, in a closed state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1, a king pin cannot move out of the insertion opening 4 of the fifth-wheel coupling plate 2.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the locking mechanism 20 and the lock claw 10 of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention. In order to actuate the locking mechanism 20, the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 has an unlocking handle 12 to achieve a displacement of the locking mechanism 20 and the stop 22 in the direction of the second closing direction SR2—by a manual actuation. In the illustrated embodiment example, the second closing direction SR2 is a rotational movement about the second axis of rotation R2. In the opened state of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 2, the lock claw 10 does not contact the locking arrangement 20, in particular the stop 22, so that in the embodiment shown it is possible to move out a king pin of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement. The lock claw 10, in order to be transferred from the open to the closed state, is supported in such a way that it is movable along the first closing direction SR1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first closing direction SR1 is a rotational movement about the first axis of rotation R1.

[0030] In FIG. 3, a side view of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown, which has a wear sensor 30 configured to detect a wear parameter of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement. In the embodiment shown, the wear sensor 30 measures a distance to the measuring surface 8, which is part of a tensioning device 45. This allows, among other things, indirect conclusions to be drawn about the material thickness of the bearing shell 44—as a measured wear parameter. The fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 has a bearing block 40, which has a contact area 42. This contact area 42 lies in the contact plane E42. Distally opposite the contact plane E42 is the trailer surface 6 of the fifth-wheel coupling plate 2. This trailer surface 6 can, for example, be formed parallel to the support plane E42, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a section through a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention. The locking mechanism 20 has a stop 22 which is connected to the main latch of the locking mechanism 20 via a bolt. This main latch may be engaged indirectly or directly with the unlocking handle 12.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention with a wear sensor 30 which detects a distance to the measuring surface 8.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a fifth-wheel coupling arrangement 1 according to the invention with a wear sensor 30 that detects a distance to the measuring surface 8. In this case, the measuring surface 8 is located on the main latch of the locking mechanism.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0034] 1 Fifth-wheel coupling arrangement [0035] 2 Fifth-wheel coupling plate [0036] 4 Insertion opening [0037] 6 Trailer surface [0038] 8 Measuring surface [0039] 10 Lock claw [0040] 12 Unlocking handle [0041] 20 Locking mechanism [0042] 22 Stop [0043] 30 Wear sensor [0044] 40 Bearing block [0045] 42 Contact area [0046] 44 Bearing shell [0047] 45 Tensioning device [0048] E42 Contact plane [0049] SR1 First closing direction [0050] SR2 Second closing direction [0051] R1 First axis of rotation [0052] R2 Second axis of rotation