KINGPIN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Kingpin assembly for a semitrailer of a road train, including a king pin defining an axis of rotation (A), a pivot bearing arranged around the axis of rotation (A), and a holder connected to the pivot bearing and pivotable around the axis of rotation (A) for indirectly or directly holding an electrical and/or electromagnetic and/or pneumatic and/or hydraulic connecting means wherein the king pin includes a king pin flange for mounting the king pin indirectly or directly to the semitrailer, wherein the pivot bearing includes a fixed bearing ring or a fixed bearing ring segment relative to the king pin and a bearing ring or a bearing ring segment rotatable relative thereto, wherein the holder is fixed to the rotatable bearing ring and wherein a support element, which is axially spaced from the rotatable bearing ring and abuts directly against the king pin, is connected to the holder and is adjustable in length in the radial direction (R) with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

Claims

1. A kingpin assembly for a semitrailer of a road train, comprising: a kingpin defining an axis of rotation (A), a pivot bearing arranged around the axis of rotation (A), and a holder connected to the pivot bearing and pivotable about the axis of rotation (A) for indirectly or directly holding in particular an electrical and/or electromagnetic and/or pneumatic and/or hydraulic connecting means wherein the king pin comprises a king pin flange for mounting the king pin indirectly or directly to the semitrailer, wherein the pivot bearing comprises a bearing ring fixed relative to the king pin or a bearing ring segment fixed relative to the king pin and a bearing ring rotatable relative to the king pin or a bearing ring segment rotatable relative to the king pin wherein the holder is fixed to the rotatable bearing ring or rotatable bearing ring segment and wherein a support element is connected to the holder, which support element is axially spaced from the rotatable bearing ring or the rotatable bearing ring segment, abuts directly against the king pin and is adjustable in length in the radial direction (R) with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

2. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element has a sliding surface in contact with the king pin.

3. The kingpin assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sliding surface is formed by a surface of a friction-reduced material.

4. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element has, at least along the sliding surface, a plastic matrix, in particular of thermoplastic material, in particular of polyethylene (PE), polyimide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyoxymethylene (POM), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).

5. The kingpin assembly according to any claim 2, wherein the kingpin has a cylindrical surface arranged coaxially about the axis of rotation (A) and having a radius r, or at least a segment thereof, against which the support element abuts.

6. The kingpin assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sliding surface is geometrically configured to center the support element relative to the kingpin in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

7. The kingpin assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sliding surface forms a V-shaped contour in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A).

8. The kingpin assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sliding surface is formed as a concavely curved surface with radius r, the radius r being between r?5 mm and r+5 mm.

9. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element is connected to the holder by a connecting element which is adjustable in length in the radial direction (R) with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

10. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element is connected to the holder by a threaded rod extending in the radial direction (R) with respect to the axis of rotation (A).

11. The kingpin assembly according to claim 9, wherein the holder has a transverse strut to which the length-adjustable connecting element and/or the threaded rod are supported.

12. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixed bearing ring or the fixed bearing ring segment is attached directly to the kingpin flange.

13. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixed bearing ring or the fixed bearing ring segment is arranged radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (A) and the rotatable bearing ring or the rotatable bearing ring segment is arranged radially outwardly.

14. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein a support frame is mounted on the holder radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (A), on which support frame a spacer is arranged projecting in the direction of the axis of rotation (A), which spacer is arranged to support the support frame indirectly or directly on the semitrailer.

15. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder is configured as a supporting frame which is oriented radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation (A) and on which is arranged a spacer which projects in the direction of the axis of rotation (A) and is arranged to support the holder indirectly or directly on the semitrailer.

16. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable bearing ring or the rotatable bearing ring segment has a cylinder wall segment extending in the direction of the axis of rotation (A), to which the holder is fixed.

17. The kingpin assembly according to claim 16, wherein the cylinder wall segment has a width in the tangential direction of <2.1?r.

18. The kingpin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support element is designed to be elastically deformable at least in the radial direction (R) with respect to the axis of rotation (A) and/or has a spring element acting in this direction, so that the support element abuts against the king pin under an adjustable pretension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These and other features and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. They show:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the kingpin assembly according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 the kingpin assembly from below;

[0032] FIG. 3 the kingpin assembly from below with supporting frame;

[0033] FIG. 4 the kingpin assembly in section in the side view

[0034] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the kingpin assembly, and

[0035] FIG. 6 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the kingpin assembly according to the invention in side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 5 show the same kingpin assembly 1 for a semitrailer of a road train, comprising a king pin 2 defining an axis of rotation A, a pivot bearing 3 arranged about the axis of rotation A, and a holder 4 connected to the pivot bearing 3 and pivotable about the axis of rotation A. In this multi-part embodiment, the holder 4 is designed as a mounting base for a supporting frame 20 and comprises a cylinder wall segment 16 and two fork-shaped holding arms 21 projecting substantially radially from a cylinder wall segment 16.

[0037] The supporting frame 20 is fixed to the two holding arms 21 of the holder 4, as shown in FIG. 3. This is therefore a multi-part design in which the holder 4 is configured as a mounting base for the supporting frame 20. On the upper side, the supporting frame 20 comprises a protective cover 22. Below the protective cover 22, a connecting means (not shown) is located inside the supporting frame 20 at its free end 23 and indirectly attached to it via a base plate. The supporting frame 20 is formed in sections as a V-shaped frame structure, the sides of which are adapted to the angle of the entry opening corresponding thereto.

[0038] The king pin 2 comprises a kingpin flange 6 for mounting the king pin 2 to the semitrailer, and here more specifically to a plate 18 welded to the semitrailer plate 24. The mounting is carried out, as known in the prior art, by means of bolts 25 arranged in a circle along the flange 6. The plate 18 comprises a recess 26 towards the top, in which the kingpin flange 6 and, in parts, the pivot bearing 3 are received. The depth of the recess 26 plus the thickness of the trailer plate 24 are such that the pivot bearing 3, with the exception of the integrally formed cylinder wall segment 16 of the holder 4, does not project beyond the underside of the trailer plate 24.

[0039] The king pin further comprises, as generally known in the art, as viewed from the top to the bottom, an upper collar 27, a necking 28 and a lower collar 29. The upper collar 27, the necking 28 and the lower collar 29 all have a basic circular cylindrical shape. At the upper collar, the kingpin has a radius r. The necking 28 is the section at which the locking device of the fifth wheel engages.

[0040] The pivot bearing 3 comprises a fixed bearing ring 7, relative to the king pin 2, and a rotatable bearing ring 8, relative thereto. The fixed bearing ring 7 is attached directly to the king pin flange by means of screws 30.

[0041] The double bolting of the flange 6 and the fixed bearing ring 7 means that the kingpin assembly 1 as a whole, or only parts of the pivot bearing 3, can be replaced in a simple manner. No structural changes need to be made to the semitrailer, particularly in the case of retrofitting, because the kingpin assembly 1 according to the invention can simply be mounted in place of an old one. This is ensured not only by the identical screw connection, but also by the small installation space required for the pivot bearing 3 together with the holder 4. For this purpose, it is again advantageous if, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 4, the fixed bearing ring 7 is arranged radially on the inside with respect to the axis of rotation A and the rotatable bearing ring 8 is arranged radially on the outside.

[0042] Together with the fixed bearing ring 7, the rotatable bearing ring 8 forms an axial-radial pivot bearing. In the axial direction, the bearing arrangement is achieved by the axial sliding surfaces of the bearing rings 7 and 8 resting on each other. The sliding surfaces define the plane of rotation or plane of the pivot bearing 32, see FIG. 4. In the radial direction, the bearing rings abut each other along circular cylindrical surfaces 34, thus limiting the degree of freedom of movement of the holder 4 to a purely rotational movement. Along its outer peripheral surface, the rotatable bearing ring 8 comprises a circumferentially stepped stiffening rim 36.

[0043] The holder 4 is fixed to the rotatable bearing ring 8. In the embodiment shown, it is integrally formed with its cylinder wall segment 16 on the latter. The cylinder wall segment thus forms the vertical connection from the plane 32 of the axial rotary bearing to the holder 4.

[0044] The position of the holder 4 is thus determined by the pivot bearing 3 radially and axially relative to the king pin 2 and trailer plate 24.

[0045] To ensure that the support frame 20 does not tilt downwards, or only as little as possible, due to its radial overall length, the kingpin arrangement 1 comprises a support element 9. This is connected to the holder 4 by means of a connecting element 12 which is adjustable in length in the radial direction R with respect to the axis of rotation A. It is arranged axially spaced below the plane 32 of the pivot bearing 3 and there abuts directly against a cylindrical surface 11 of the upper collar 27 of the king pin 2 arranged coaxially about the axis of rotation A. While the necking 28 must remain fully free for locking with the fifth wheel coupling, in an alternative embodiment the support element 9 can also abut against the lower collar 29, resulting in an overall greater lever and thus a firmer support.

[0046] In this example, the connecting element 12 is designed as a threaded rod 13, which is screwed into the cylinder wall segment 16, which here forms the transverse strut 14, on the radially inner side and in this way is supported against it. Alternatively, it can also be fixed to it, for example, by a material-locking or friction-locking connection. On the other side, the threaded rod 12 is screwed into a metal block 40 of the support element 9 and locked with a nut 42. As part of the support element 9, the threaded rod 12 ensures its adjustability in the radial direction R. If the support element is extended in the radial direction by screwing out the threaded rod, for example, the holder 4 is raised at its free end and, conversely, lowered by screwing in. The holder can thus be adapted precisely, for example, to the degree of wear of the king pin, structural tolerances of the supporting frame, plug or trailer plate, so that the plug can be brought vertically exactly into its desired position.

[0047] The support element 9 further comprises a sliding surface 10 in direct contact with the cylindrical surface 11 of the king pin 2, the sliding surface 10 being formed on a plastic block 44 which in turn is bonded or otherwise attached to the metal block 40 of the support element 9. The plastic block 44 has a plastic matrix in which tribologically effective filler particles may be dispersed to reduce the coefficient of friction in cooperation with the surface of the king pin 2.

[0048] The sliding surface 10 is formed as a concavely curved surface with a radius r, whereby the support element 9 aligns itself relative to the kingpin in a tangential direction with respect to the axis of rotation A or the cylindrical surface 11 of the king pin 2.

[0049] FIG. 6 schematically shows a kingpin assembly according to the invention with a radially outwardly oriented supporting frame 20, on which a spacer 46 is arranged projecting upwardly from the supporting frame 20 in the direction of the axis of rotation A, which spacer 46 abuts the supporting frame 20 against the semitrailer plate 24 of the semitrailer.

[0050] Within the supporting frame 20, attached to its free end 23, is a connecting means 48, shown in dashed lines.

[0051] In this embodiment, the support element 9 comprises a spring element 50 acting with respect to the axis of rotation A in the radial direction R. The spring element 50 is shown schematically and can, for example, be a spiral compression spring, a disc spring assembly or an elastically deformable plastic body. In conjunction with the length adjustment of the support element 9, it allows a specific pretension to be adjusted which always ensures that the support element 9 abuts against the king pin 2 and the supporting frame 20 abuts against the trailer plate 24 via the spacer 46 with a constant contact pressure.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 kingpin assembly [0053] 2 king pin [0054] 3 pivot bearing [0055] 4 holder [0056] 6 kingpin flange [0057] 7 fixed bearing ring [0058] 8 rotatable bearing ring [0059] 9 support element [0060] 10 sliding surface [0061] 11 cylindrical surface [0062] 12 connecting element [0063] 13 threaded rod [0064] 14 transverse strut [0065] 16 cylinder wall segment [0066] 18 plate [0067] 20 support frame [0068] 21 support arm [0069] 22 protective cover [0070] 23 free end (of the support frame) [0071] 24 trailer plate [0072] 25 screw [0073] 26 recess [0074] 27 upper collar [0075] 28 necking [0076] 29 lower collar [0077] 30 screw [0078] 32 plane of rotation/plane of pivot bearing [0079] 34 circular cylindrical surface [0080] 36 rim [0081] 40 metal block [0082] 42 nut [0083] 44 plastic block [0084] 46 spacer [0085] 48 connecting means [0086] 50 spring element