AU2015205946B2 - A hitch arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A hitch arrangement 20 for attachment to a truck chassis that includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending chassis rails 13. The hitch arrangement 20 includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22 that are connectible to the chassis rails 13, a hitch beam 26 that extends between the longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22 and which is connected to the longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22. The connection between the hitch beam 26 and the longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22 including end plates 27 that connect to opposite ends of the hitch beam 26. The end plates 27 are boltable to the main bearers 21 and 22 to secure the hitch beam 26 to the main bearers2l and 22. "C' 4' 'N"."' 8 N" "N" U~'\ ~ 'N N 4~' hf'~ z ''.'V\ N"' ''N" q. &1%" Nz~5;'tl~ N 4 ~ 'N.NAk ' N N '.#'A¾4 NNa 'N ~ .. N ~ &..*t'.t? '~ ~ K 'C.t~4&"' "."~.. "N ~>.%s 'N ON !t't'2 jN\'* <$~A VN '>ON '.&?'. N.'N \y¾Q'.NNN ;~¼.~4&~' N N t 4'N4N'.. N 'N ~Nfr<~' <NNW\ "V'4 'NN N' \4' N""' ~..NN4$ >'N*'N"'\ QKYK7*K>A' k~j "S 'N N N -'~ >N"'.N" -~ N' 4~' $ 4 N' $ ~ <'N'. '.7'.".. N&V -# - ,& '" "N V.. ' ')-' ~ A~\ >1>'' N '."'N. t~N42f ,.. >s~' $" :4" ~ A' ~ ""N 'N "4 'N' '¾' ''4'

Description

A HITCH ARRANGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a hitch arrangement for attachment to or installation on trucks for the purpose of towing trailers or the like. The invention has been developed for application to small or medium trucks, although it could equally apply to large trucks.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] The present invention has been developed in relation to so-called “fifth wheel hitches”. A fifth wheel hitch is a hitch that can be applied to the rear of a truck for the purpose of towing heavy loads. A fifth wheel hitch is fitted to the rear of a truck, usually between the cabin of the truck and the rear axle, although sometimes the hitch is fitted behind the rear axle towards the end of the truck remote from the cabin. In some arrangements, the trailer being towed (which includes a caravan) extends over the top of the hitch so that at least some of the weight of the trailer bears down on the truck tray or bed. In other arrangements the hitch is attached to a drawbar of a trailer so that there is no overlie between the trailer and the hitch.

[0004] Fifth wheel hitches normally attach to the chassis rails of the chassis of the truck. The hitch can include a plate that has an opening to accept a pin that extends downwardly from a trailer, or the hitch can include a tow ball that extends upwardly for receipt within an opening in the trailer or in the drawbar of a trailer. The plate forms part of a hitch assembly that is welded to longitudinal main bearers that when installed, attach to the chassis rails, so that the hitch becomes an integral part of the chassis, or in other words, the chassis becomes part of the hitch.

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 [0005] The hitch can take forms other than that described above as is suitable for the particular trailer to be towed. However, the hitch that is the subject of the present invention is one that is attached directly or indirectly to the chassis rails.

[0006] The main bearers are formed as channels or sections and typically, the installation of prior art fifth wheel hitches requires a portion of each of the main bearers to be removed to separate the main bearers into two separate main bearer sections, to provide an opening for insertion of the hitch. The hitch is welded to the respective main bearer sections in the opening that is formed, so that the main bearer sections and the hitch become an integral unit. In these installations, while the fifth wheel hitch is installed in a manner to maintain the stiffness and strength of the main bearers prior to them being cut, there nevertheless can be a compromise of the stiffness and strength of the main bearers by the installation of the hitch. Moreover, the actual installation is expensive and difficult given the need to cut the main bearers, but to retain sufficient stiffness and strength. Because of this, the main bearers form part of the hitch assembly that is required to be assessed for engineering certification of the hitch installation.

[0007] Fifth wheel hitches of the prior art that are suitable for installation in small to medium trucks are bulky and heavy, principally because of the integration of the main bearers into the hitch. Because of this, the length of the hitch is equal to the combined length of the main bearers and the hitch. This means that manufacturers of hitches have difficulty supplying hitches to customers that are not local, given that the hitch must be shipped with the main bearers included. Thus, the cost for shipping the hitch can be expensive and prohibitive.

[0008] The applicant has recognised deficiencies in the supply and installation of fifth wheel hitches and has sought to develop a hitch which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention provides a hitch arrangement for attachment to a truck chassis that includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending chassis rails, the hitch arrangement including a pair of spaced apart, parallel,

2015205946 18 Jun 2019 longitudinal main bearers that are connectible to the chassis rails, a hitch beam that extends between the longitudinal main bearers and which is connected to the longitudinal main bearers, the connection between the hitch beam and the longitudinal main bearers including end plates that connect to opposite ends of the 5 hitch beam and chassis mount plates that are positioned on the opposite side of the main bearer to that of the respective end plates, so that the chassis mount plates and the end plates sandwich the main bearers, the end plates and the chassis mount plates being boltable to the main bearers by bolts that extend through the end plates, the main bearers and the chassis mount plates to secure the hitch beam to the main 10 bearers.

[00010] An advantage of the present invention is that the main bearers are not required to be cut in order to install the hitch. Thus, the main bearers can remain continuous and without compromising their stiffness and strength, while the method of installation is less difficult and expensive than the prior art where that requires the 15 main bearers to be cut.

[00011] In addition, the hitch of the invention can be provided in a kit form which, while still heavy, is much less bulky that prior art hitches and therefore the hitch can more readily be dispatched for installation remote from the point of manufacture. Thus, the present invention provides a hitch arrangement kit which includes a pair of 20 longitudinal main bearers that are connectible to the chassis rails of a truck in a spaced apart, parallel relationship, a hitch beam that is connectible to the main bearers to extend between the main bearers, end plates that are connected to opposite ends of the hitch beam, the end plates being boltable to the main bearers to secure the hitch beam to the main bearers.

[00012] The hitch beam can take any suitable form. In some forms, the hitch beam includes a tow ball or other trailer connection while in other forms, the hitch beam includes an opening for receipt of a trailer connection.

[00013] The hitch beam can be formed as a plate or a channel. Stiffening brackets or plates can be employed to stiffen the hitch beam. The hitch beam can be formed 30 as a parallel flange channel (PFC) or other form of channel as appropriate. The hitch

2015205946 18 Jun 2019 beam could be formed by a box channel for example, or from square hollow section (SHS) or rectangular hollow section (RHS).

[00014] The end plates of the hitch beam can connect to the hitch beam in any suitable manner such as by bolting or by welding. The end plates include openings 5 for passage of bolts and the openings can be formed circular or as elongate slots or as a mixture of both. The openings of the end plates will align with openings in the main bearers for connecting the hitch beam to the main bearers.

[00015] The chassis mount plates can be arranged to add stiffness to the hitch installation by suitable selection of size and thickness. The chassis mount plates can 10 also be arranged to connect between the main bearers and the chassis rails.

Connection of the chassis mount plates to the chassis rails can be by bolted connection or welding.

[00016] The chassis mount plates can also include a flange portion that connects to the tray body of a truck by bolted connection or welding. The flange can be formed at 15 a free edge of the chassis mount plates and extend substantially planar with the upper surface of the main bearers.

[00017] The hitch beam has a width measured in the lengthwise or longitudinal dimension of the main bearers and the end plates can extend to the same width or to a greater width. The chassis mount plates can also extend to the same width or to a 20 greater width as the width of the hitch beam, although the preference is for the chassis mount plates to have a greater width than the hitch beam and the end plates. The preference also is for the chassis mount plates to have a greater height or depth than the hitch beam and the end plates. In this respect, as indicated above, the preference is for the chassis mount plates to bridge between the main bearers and 25 the chassis rails and to connect to both, thereby connecting the main bearers and the chassis rails together.

[00018] The main bearers can be formed as channels, preferably parallel flange channels, and therefore the main bearers can have a base or web from which a pair of spaced apart and parallel flanges extend each in the same direction. Normally,

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 with the hitch arrangement installed, the flanges form spaced apart upper and lower flanges, which will be generally horizontal when installed and the base or web will be generally vertical. In some forms of the invention, a portion of the upper flange is removed to accommodate the end plates and ends of the hitch beam. This does not compromise the stiffness and strength of the main bearers, given that only a small section of the upper flange is removed, and the main bearers otherwise remain continuous. Also, connection of the end plates to the main bearers can add to the stiffness and strength of the main bearers, while the use of chassis mount plates also can add to the stiffness and strength of the main bearers. Thus, any loss of stiffness and strength by removal of a portion of the upper flange of the main bearers is compensated for by the connection of the end plates and, if provided, the chassis mount plates.

[0019] The main bearers can alternatively be formed as Z channels, whereby the main bearers can have a base or web from which a pair of spaced apart and parallel flanges extend each in opposite directions. As above, with the hitch arrangement installed, the flanges form spaced apart upper and lower flanges, which will be generally horizontal when installed and the base or web will be generally vertical. An advantage of the use of a Z channel is that there would be no need to remove any portion of the flanges because the upper flange can be arranged to extend away from the end plates and the ends of the hitch beam so that there is no flange that will interfere with the end plates and the hitch beam ends.

[0020] Spacer plates can be employed between the chassis mount plates and the main bearers as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0021] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truck fitted with a hitch arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 [0023] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a hitch arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is an assembled view of the hitch arrangement of Figure 2.

[0025] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the hitch arrangement of Figures 2 and 3, but exploded in a different orientation to the view of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truck known as a “cab chassis” that has been fitted with a hitch arrangement 20 according to the invention. The truck 10 is of a relatively standard form, and includes a cabin 11, wheels 12, a pair of spaced apart and parallel, longitudinally extending chassis rails 13 and a tray frame 14. The tray frame 14 comprises a horizontal frame component 15 and a vertical frame component 16. The tray frame is illustrated as part of the truck 10, although for the purposes of the present invention, the frame 14 need not be present.

[0027] A hitch arrangement 20 is installed in the truck 10 and is connected to the chassis rails 13. The hitch arrangement is shown in an exploded view in Figures 2 and 4, and in an assembled view in Figure 3 and reference will now be made to those figures.

[0028] With reference to Figure 2, the chassis rails 13 of Figure 1 are shown supporting a pair of spaced apart, parallel and longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22. The main bearers 21 and 22 can be bolted to the chassis rails 13, or the main bearers 21 and 22 can rest on the chassis rails 13 and connection between them can be by connection of the hitch arrangement 20 as later herein discussed. Each of the chassis rails 13 and the main bearers 21 and 22 are formed as parallel flange channels (PFCs), with the channels opening inwardly towards each other, although as discussed earlier, one or each of the chassis rails 13 and the main bearers 21 and 22 can be formed of different section, such as Z sections.

[0029] The main bearers 21 and 22 as illustrated are formed with top and bottom flanges 23 and 24, and a base or web 25. A portion P of the top flanges 23 is

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 removed for installation of a hitch beam 26. This would not be required with a Z section as the top flange would extend in the opposite direction to the flange 23.

[0030] The hitch arrangement 20 includes end plates 27 that are welded to opposite ends of the hitch beam 26. The welding can be performed at the point of manufacture of the hitch arrangement 20. This arrangement is more readily shown in Figure 4, which is a further exploded view of the hitch arrangement 20, but with the parts exploded in alignment.

[0031] The end plates 27 include a series of bolt openings for bolting to chassis mount plates 29 and 30. Plate 28 is a spacer plate and is required in some installations, but not all. The plates 29 and 30 are positioned on either side of the web 25 of the respective main bearers 21 and 22. Thus, each of the end plates 27 and the plates 29 and 30 can be connected together by bolting, sandwiching the respective webs 25 of the main bearers 21 and 22, to fix the hitch beam 26 in place relative to the main bearers 21 and 22. Moreover, the plates 29 and 30 include openings for bolting to the chassis rails 13. By this bolted arrangement, the hitch beam 26 can be installed in place relative to the chassis rails 13 without the main bearers 21 and 22 being separated into two separate main bearer sections.

[0032] Figure 2 further shows stiffening plates 31, 32 and 33 that stiffen the hitch beam 26. These plates 31 to 33 are welded to the insides surface of the hitch beam 26. Brackets 34 are body mounts provided to bolt the tray frame 14 to the chassis rails 13.

[0033] Still further, Figures 2 to 4 each show a hitch ball 35 that is fixed to a casing 36, and the casing 36 is welded to the underneath of the hitch beam 26, so that the opening of the casing 36 is flush with the opening 37 in the hitch beam 26. An alternative is to position the casing 36 in a raised position, say at about 75mm above the upper surface of the hitch beam 26.

[0034] The hitch arrangement 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 can thus be installed in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 3, with all welded connections already made and thus facilitate installation without requiring further welding and without requiring that the main bearers 21 and 22 be separated into sections.

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 [0035] It will thus be appreciated from Figures 2 to 4, that the hitch beam 26 can be connected to the longitudinal main bearers 21 and 22 by a bolted arrangement. Moreover, it will be evident that the plates 29 and 30 include openings to be bolted to the chassis rails 13. Figures 2 and 4 do not show openings in the chassis rails 13 to which the plates 29 and 30 attach, but they do show openings in the webs 25 of the main bearers 21 and 22 for bolting purposes. In the installation of a hitch arrangement 20 as shown in the figures, openings are drilled through the webs 38 (see Figure 4) of the chassis rails 13 to attach the sandwich plates 28 and the plates 29 and 30 to the chassis rails 13.

[0036] The chassis mount plates 29 and 30 can include a flange portion 39 that can be connected to the tray body of a truck by bolted connection or welding.

[0037] The hitch arrangement 20 illustrated in the figures provides a number of advantages over prior art hitch arrangements. In particular, it will be evident from the figures, that the main bearers 21 and 22 are continuous and do not require, as in the prior art, that the main bearers be cut into two sections. Thus, the main bearers 21 and 22 retain their strength and stiffness despite attachment of the hitch beam 26. Moreover, it will be evident that a truck such as illustrated in Figure 1 can be retrofitted with a hitch arrangement 20 at locations remote from where the hitch arrangement is manufactured. Thus, the manufacturer of the hitch arrangement 20 can ship each of the hitch beam 26, and the plates 27, 28, 29 and 30 to the end customer and fitting of the hitch arrangement 20 can be made by the end customer. It would be normal for the manufacturer to weld the end plates 27 to the hitch beam 26, so that the end user is only required to bolt the components together and is not required to complete any welding. The manufacturer may or may not also ship the main bearers 21 and 22, as suitable parallel flange channel beams might already be available at the location of the end user.

[0038] A major benefit of the present invention is outlined above, that the component parts of the hitch arrangement 20 can be shipped to end customers for the customers to make their own installation. While the installed hitch would normally be required to be approved by a certified engineer, it is anticipated that this will be relatively easy once it has been established that sufficient bolting has been made. It

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 is also expected that the customer could forward video or photographs of the installed hitch for remote certification by the manufacturer.

[0039] A hitch arrangement according to the invention can be applied to small and medium trucks, such as 4.5, 7 and 10 tonne or higher capacity trucks. The hitch arrangement could also be applied to smaller trucks, although smaller capacity hitches might then be more cost effective for that type of truck.

[0040] Variations that could be made to the hitch arrangement 20 include that the end plates 27 could be formed integrally with the hitch beam 26, rather than being formed as a separate component which is welded to the hitch beam 26. Thus, the hitch beam 26 could be formed with a folded end plate that includes suitable openings for receipt of bolts that will extend through the web 25 of the main bearers 21 and 22 and into the respective plates 29 and 30.

[0041] Alternatively, the plates 29 and 30 could be connected to the hitch beam 26, either integrally or as a separate part that is connected to the hitch beam 26, so that the end plates 27 might not be needed. Thus, the plates 29 and 30 could for example, include a folded portion that could be welded or bolted to the hitch beam 26 and thereafter the plates 29 and 30 could be bolted to the respective main bearers 21 and 22. The bolting could be on either side of the web 25 of the main bearers 21 and 22.

[0042] Still further, the plates 29 and 30 could be removed and the hitch beam 26 could be bolted directly to the respective main bearers 21 and 22, through the end plates 27 by the end plates 27 being formed integrally to the hitch beam 26, or by the end plates 27 being welded to the hitch beam 26. In either case, the end plates 27 are bolted to the respective main bearers 21 and 22.

[0043] Still further, the main bearers 21 and 22 could be formed from Z section, SHS or RHS rather than PFC. If either of SHS or RHS was employed, crush tubes could be fitted into the sections to prevent crushing of the sections when the hitch beam 26 was bolted to it. The crush tubes can be inserted into the sections by drilling oversize holes through the vertical webs of the sections and inserting the crush tube into the section and then welding the crush tube within the section.

2015205946 24 Jul 2015 [0044] However, the illustrated arrangement 20 is the preferred arrangement at this stage, as it provides sufficient strength, stiffness and stability to satisfy towing requirements for the type of small to medium trucks that the invention has been developed in respect of.

[0045] In respect of the embodiments shown in the figures, the various plates 27 to 30 are formed from mild steel of 6mm thickness, while the main bearers 21 and 22 are formed from 100, 125 or 150 PFC. Finally, the hitch beam 26 is formed from 150 or 250 PFC with the wall thickness being 8 or 10mm. Of course all of these dimensions can vary.

[0046] Throughout the description of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word, such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives or components or integers.

[0047] The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] Future patent applications may be filed in Australia or overseas on the basis of or claiming priority from the present application. It is to be understood that the following provisional claims are provided by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future applications. Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions.

Claims (16)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A hitch arrangement for attachment to a truck chassis that includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending chassis rails, the hitch arrangement including a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinal main bearers that are connectible to the chassis rails, a hitch beam that extends between the longitudinal main bearers and which is connected to the longitudinal main bearers, the connection between the hitch beam and the longitudinal main bearers including end plates that connect to opposite ends of the hitch beam and chassis mount plates that are positioned on the opposite side of the main bearer to that of the respective end plates, so that the chassis mount plates and the end plates sandwich the main bearers, the end plates and the chassis mount plates being boltable to the main bearers by bolts that extend through the end plates, the main bearers and the chassis mount plates to secure the hitch beam to the main bearers.
2. 2. A hitch arrangement according to claim 1, the end plates of the hitch beam being connected to the hitch beam by bolting or by welding.
3. 3. A hitch arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, the hitch beam being formed as a channel.
4. 4. A hitch arrangement according to claim 3, the hitch beam being formed as a parallel flange channel.
5. 5. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the end plates include openings for passage of bolts, the openings being formed circular or as elongate slots.
6. 6. A hitch arrangement according to claim 5, the chassis mount plates being connected to each of the main bearers and the chassis rails to connect the main bearers and the chassis rails together.
7. 7. A hitch arrangement according to claim 6, the connection of the chassis mount plates to the chassis rails being by bolting or welding.

   2015205946 18 Jun 2019
8. 8. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the chassis mount plates including a flange portion that connects to the tray body of a truck by bolted connection or welding.
9. 9. A hitch arrangement according to claim 8, the flange being formed at a free edge of the chassis mount plates and extending substantially planar with an upper surface of the main bearers.
10. 10. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the hitch beam having a constant width between the opposite ends of the hitch beam where the width is measured in the lengthwise or longitudinal dimension of the main bearers, the width of the hitch beam being equal to or less than the dimension of the end plates measured in the same direction.
11. 11. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the hitch beam having a constant width between the opposite ends of the hitch beam where the width is measured in the lengthwise or longitudinal dimension of the main bearers, the width of the hitch beam being equal to or less than the dimension of the chassis mount plates measured in the same direction. .
12. 12. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the main bearers being formed as channels which have a base and a pair of spaced apart and parallel flanges, whereby in an installed condition, the flanges form upper and lower flanges, a portion of the upper flange being removed to accommodate a portion of the end plates and the opposite ends of the hitch beam.
13. 13. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the main bearers being formed from Z section, SHS or RHS.
14. 14. A hitch arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 13, one or more spacer plates being employed between the chassis mount plates and the main bearers.
15. 15. A hitch arrangement kit which includes a pair of longitudinal main bearers, a hitch beam, end plates, chassis mount plates and bolts, the end plates being

    2015205946 18 Jun 2019 connected to opposite ends of the hitch beam, the end plates and the chassis mount plates being boltable to opposite sides of the main bearers by extending the bolts through the end plates, the main bearers and the chassis mount plates to secure the hitch beam to the main bearers in position where the hitch beam extends between the main bearers, and to position the main bearers in spaced apart and parallel configuration.
16. 16. A hitch arrangement kit according to claim 15, the end plates being boltable to the main bearers on an inside surface of the main bearers and the kit including chassis mount plates that are boltable to outside surfaces of the main bearers.