US 12,403,964 B2
Primary coupling apparatus, secondary coupling apparatus, fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and automatic coupling system
Mario Sebastian Köster, Bodman-Ludwigshafen (DE); and Randy Kübler, Gottmadingen (DE)
Assigned to SAF-HOLLAND GmbH, Bessenbach (DE)
Appl. No. 17/906,803
Filed by SAF-HOLLAND GmbH, Bessenbach (DE)
PCT Filed Mar. 17, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/056761
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/191008, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 108 004.2 (DE), filed on Mar. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0211837 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 53/12 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 53/12 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement comprising:
a primary coupling apparatus; and
a fifth-wheel plate;
wherein the fifth-wheel plate has a semitrailer surface;
wherein the semitrailer surface has an outward-pointing normal;
wherein the fifth-wheel plate has an insertion opening that extends in an insertion direction;
wherein the primary coupling apparatus comprises a main body, a drive, a coupling mechanism, a cover apparatus, and a plug element, and wherein the main body is configured to be fixed to at least one of the fifth-wheel coupling arrangement and the trailer;
wherein the plug element has energy conducting contacts which point in a plug-in direction;
wherein the drive is mechanically connected to the cover apparatus via the coupling mechanism;
wherein the cover apparatus has at least one cover element that is configured to be displaced by the drive between a first position and a second position;
wherein the plug element is exposed in the first position of the cover element and is covered in the second position of the cover element; and wherein the insertion direction is at least substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.