CA1266026A - Fork for a lift truck vehicle - Google Patents

Fork for a lift truck vehicle

Info

Publication number
CA1266026A
CA1266026A CA000488652A CA488652A CA1266026A CA 1266026 A CA1266026 A CA 1266026A CA 000488652 A CA000488652 A CA 000488652A CA 488652 A CA488652 A CA 488652A CA 1266026 A CA1266026 A CA 1266026A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fork
arm
lift
parabola
load
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000488652A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Theodore L. Wolf
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DYSON (JOSEPH) AND SONS Inc
Original Assignee
DYSON (JOSEPH) AND SONS Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DYSON (JOSEPH) AND SONS Inc filed Critical DYSON (JOSEPH) AND SONS Inc
Priority to CA000488652A priority Critical patent/CA1266026A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1266026A publication Critical patent/CA1266026A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is disclosed a lift truck fork of substantially reduced weight without sacrificing load carrying capacity, the weight reduction being effected by forming at least one of the load or lift arms with a channel-like cross-section extending throughout a substantial portion of the length of such arm, additionally forming the flanges of said channel-like portions with parabola-like edges.

Description

~6~
1 BACKGROU~D OF THE I~V~NTION
This invention relates to forks for fork lift trucks and particularly to the desirability of reducing the weight therefore by certain changes in configuration.
The usual fork for a fork lift truck consists of an L-shaped body as viewed in side elevation, in which the off-standing arm which is designated herein as the load arm is an integrally connected element with an upstanding arm which for the purposes hereof will be denominated as a lift arm. The lift arm is provided with certain attaching elements for connecting the same to a lift truck structure and thus providing the neces-sary connection, such forks usually being used in pairs.
It is often the case that such lift forks are differ-ently described, with the offstanding arm or longitudinal arm being designated as the blade and the upstanding arm as the shank, Irrespective of the descriptive designations, the func-tions are of course identical and as would be expected, very 20little has been changed in the construction of such forks from the time of th~Ir initial use and construction.
It is of course also well known that forks are made in a number of different ways as by forging and bending during the orging process to comprise the L-shaped body which is commonly provided.
The extremity of the longitudinal or load arm, is ta-pered from a point about mid-way of such arm to the extremity, the main body of the fork ~eing of rectilinear cross-s~ction and of substantial size.
The possibilities of making many changes in a fork 1 structure are obviously limited by the necessity to maintain the strength for lifting purposes which a heavy cross-section fork would normally have and obviously this cross-section is carried through the heel which comprises the connection of the load arm and lift arms and is of particular importance in the same as will be apparent, for load bearing purposes.
It might be noted that under some circumstances the load arm itself is a separate element and may be connected to `10 a lift truck structure for certain uses and without other as-pects being consid~red.
With the foregoing in mind, the efforts which have re-sulted in this invention, to in some way reduce the cost of the fork, have been directed toward various formations which the same may assume, it being recalled that where lifting ability is present, the thickness and width of the fork are important but primarily the thickness so to speak is the controlling fac-tor in the usual contemplation and according to calculations which can be made by those skilled in the art.
The contemplation of this in~ention is therefore di-rected to various aspects of the fork configuration which as far as is known have not heretofore been contemplated at least for forks of substantial capacity and as far as may be available on the market at the present time is known.
~ aving outlined the general field of the invention and the background thereof, it is contemplated by the disclosure here-in to provide a different approach to fork manufacture, inasmuchas the cost of the fork is determined in large measure by the weight thereof and thus any weight reduction which can be ~2~;~i026 effected will obvious:Ly reduce such cost and in the final analysis reduce the selling price thereof likewise.
Generally speaking, the present invention therefore provides a fork for a fork lift truck having a forged body comprising a longitudinal load arm adapted to support a load and for connection at one end to a lift means, the body including an integral vertical lift arm extending from the load arm providing the connection aforesaid, the lift arm having a surface of parabola-like conformation in side elevation, the load arm being of unobstructed open-ended channel-like cross-section throughout a substantial portion of its length, open at least at one end and having flanges extending throughout only at the substantial portion of its length, the flanges having the parabola-like edge conformation aforesaid.
With that in mind, the disclosure is set forth in detail hereinafter and disclosed in the drawing wherein:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a lift truck of any conventional form having supported forwardly thereof a fork made in accordance with the concept herein in the L-shaped configuration as shown in elevation, as pointed out heretofore two of such forks usually being provided.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a different form of fork as availing of some of the aspects of the invention.

rn~

.. .~,. .

~x~o~
5~
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fork shown in Figure 2 to illustrate certain weight reducing aspects.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the load arm oE the fork taken about on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the lift arm of the fork of Figure 2 taken about on the line 5-5 of that figure.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a fork formed similarly to that of Figure 1.

rn/

,. '~ .. .

~L~6~;~32~;

h DETAILED DESCRIPTION O~' TME IN~ENTION
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is disclosed a fork lift truck at least as to the forward end thereof indicated at 1 supported on the tr~vel wheels such as 2 with a m~t 3 extend-ing upwardly therefrom and connected to the truck in any pre-ferred manner, and a pivotal frame 4 in turn connected to such mast for control thereby and ~or raising and lowering movement of a fork of L-shaped configuration supported by a carriage element 5 having suitable transversely extending rail portions 6 at the upper end and 7 on the lower portion thereof.
The fork shown in side elevation in this figure, is of generally conventional L-shape and designated 8, with the load arm portion 9 thereof extending longitudinally and -the lift arm portion 10 thereof extending vertically being connected by a heel section 11.
At the upper end of the lift arm 10, is a suitable hook or a head 12 and a further hook 13 is provided to engage with the transversely extending rail 7.
The fork hereof, as to the load arm 9, is provided at its upper surface with a flat planar portion 14 which is usual-ly provided, and however is formed under that planar portion with what may be termed a parabola-like surface 15, which ex-tends from a very relatively sharp extremity at 16 to the heel portion 11 being the thickest part of said load arm.
Thus the surface 15 follows the parabola-like config-uration as viewed in side elevation.
The lift arm is similarly formed but reversely so since the planar section thereof is at i~s rear and denoted 16 with the parabola-like surface 17 extending forwardly and is ~60;~;
1 viewed in side elevation consisting of that parabola-like form.
It is of course understood that this parabola-like form 17 as disclosed is flat although following the contours suggested.
Turning now to a consideration of Fig. 2, which shows a somewhat different form of fork for illustrative purposes, it will be seen that the load arm in this particular figure, designated 18, is configured with a planar surface 19 upwardly for support of the load, and at its lower surface is equipped with a further planar element 20 extending from the extremity 21 divergently to the lower surface 22, which in turn extends rewardly in a parallel plane to the surface 19 until it is con-nected with the heel section 23.
The upright element or lift arm 24 i9 conventionally formed generally, but as will be explained both of these arms are modified in the ultimate analysis in accordance with the concept hereof as will be subsequently explained in detail.
The lift arm 24 is provided at its upper extremity with the usual head connecting element 25 which is hook-shaped as is well known and in some manner affixed to said arm such as by welding if not integrally formed therewith.
The usual hook element 26 is provided at the lower end of said arm near the heel of the fork.
The difference in this particular fork is by reason of its conformation, shown in Fig. ~ as to the load arm, which indicates that the same is generally channel-shaped including the channel area 27 thereof which is positioned between the flanges 28 and 29, which terminate in edges 28a and 29a respec-tively.

~L266~26 Thus the web of the channel area is of obviously re-duced section as compared with the thickness of the usual fork which would be that designated by the arrows which are denomin-ated 30, the width being designated by the arrows extending and denominated 31.
As will be understood the lift arm 2~ is similarly configured as suggested by Fig. 5 so that it comprises flanges 32 and 33 with corresponding edges 32a and 33a the open area of said channel section being denominated 34.
This is further illustrated in Fig. 3 to sh~w the area which is cut out so to speak and thus comprises ~hannel-shaped sections of the respective arms with the heel portion of said fork 23 being of the best cosidered and shape form consisten~
with the othersshape of this fork but obviously of a solid transverse heavy section.
It might be e~plained that forks of this general shape are usually as to the most common size those forks which con-sist of a load arm for example about forty-eight inches long and a lift arm in the area of twen~y-four inches high, being substantially two to one for all intents and purposes.
It is also to be understood that thè channel-shaping of the respective arms is intended to extend for the greatest possible distance consistent with the load carrying capacity of said fork as can be and has been calculated under various loads Eor whatever purposes they may be necessary and to have the equivalent lifting capacity to that which is found in forks of solid configuration and of the conventional form of equal size as to length of load arm and height of lift arm.

;6~Z6 As suggested in Fig. 2, if the load arm 18 is config-ured as to its lower surface really, surfaces since this illus-trates a channel-shaped portion generally, with the parabola-like form of outline suggested in Fig. l, and by the dotted line designated A in Fig. 2, with a coniguration suggested by the dotted line B in Fig. 2, further weight reduction will be accomplished as compared with the conventional fork of what may be termed generally rectilinear configuration throughout.
The fact of the matter is that by initially configur-ing the fork as shown in Fig. 1 with parabola surfaces 15 and 17 used, a weight reduction of approximately lO percent of the fork as compared with a conventional fork will be provided.
Where the channel-shaped fork of Fig. 2 is provided without more, a lO percent saving at least can be provided li~ewise.
By combining the respectiv~ configurations suggested in Fig. 2 so that the parabola-like surfaces A and B are pro-vided with the channel section, a weight saving of approximately20 percent is accomplished.
As will be apparent such weight saving is in fact a very substantial amount and obviously results in an ability to sell the forks at a less cost after manufacturing costs are re-duced likewise.
It may be noted that in Fig. 6 the fork disclosed is provided with a different exterior configuration as to the lift arm since the parabola-like portion is in rear of the arm as indicated at C with the same kind of parabola-like configuration A being used therein, the fork load arm 32 being connected to the lift arm 33 by the heel 34 in somewhat conventional fashion _ 9 _ ~-;2'66~Z6 ~1 being integral obviouslyl.
This fork configuration may be necessary because of manufacturing problems but basically the concept of parabola-like configuration is used here for the same purposes namely weight saving as is accomplished by the prior forms disclosed.
It is of course obvious that the fork of Fig. 6 may have a similar channel like configuration as to both of its arms as is true of Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, and thus further weight saving accomplished likewise.
In view of the detailed description, it will be appar-ent that the objects of the invention have been carried out as to weight saving and it is thei.entire value of the invention found in this particular arrangement, with the suggestion that there may be other cross-sectional configurations which could accomplish similar weight reduction or possibly more bearing in mind that the thickness so to speak of the load arm and lift arm are the controlling factors in lifting strength.
Thus where the usual fork is four inches wide and about 1 3/4 inches thick as to the major dimensions, it is possible to make a fork of 3 inch width and 2 inch thickness which will have the same lifting capacity, and yet with the configurations described in the previous forms herein, addition-al weight saving accomplished which is desirable andmay be neces-sary without sacrificing the lifting ability at all.
It should be pointed out however that while lifting capacity or ability of the forks is not affected adversely by the configurations disclosed and described in detail, there may be some additional deflection under maximum loads without at the ~ 6~26 ~1 same time destroying the fork or otherwise adversely affecting its use.
When the term fork is used, it is understood that plural use of the term is intended where necessary and appli-cable, usually a pair of forks being supplied for most circum-stances.

~;LO

~0

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fork for a fork lift truck having a forged body comprising a longitudinal load arm adapted to support a load and for connection at one end to a lift means, said body including an integral vertical lift arm extending from the load arm providing the connection aforesaid, said lift arm having a surface of parabola-like conformation in side elevation, the load arm being of unobstructed open-ended channel-like cross-section throughout a substantial portion of its length, open at least at one end and having flanges extending throughout only at said substantial portion of its length, the flanges having the parabola-like edge conformation aforesaid.
2. A fork for a fork lift truck comprising an L-shaped forged body having a longitudinal load arm and an integral upright lift arm connected thereto and arranged for attachment to lifting means of a fork lift truck, said arms being of unobstructed open-ended channel-like cross-section throughout a substantial portion of their respective lengths, one of said arms being opened at least at one end, said arms having flanges extending throughout only at said substantial portion of their respective lengths, the flanges of at least one of the arms including edges of parabola-like conformation in elevation.
CA000488652A 1985-08-14 1985-08-14 Fork for a lift truck vehicle Expired - Fee Related CA1266026A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000488652A CA1266026A (en) 1985-08-14 1985-08-14 Fork for a lift truck vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000488652A CA1266026A (en) 1985-08-14 1985-08-14 Fork for a lift truck vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1266026A true CA1266026A (en) 1990-02-20

Family

ID=4131178

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000488652A Expired - Fee Related CA1266026A (en) 1985-08-14 1985-08-14 Fork for a lift truck vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1266026A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4599038A (en) Fork for a lift truck vehicle
CA2221246C (en) Movable subframe for tractor-trailers
US4842302A (en) Lifting bogie for a vehicle
EP2719603B1 (en) Industrial truck with load rollers arranged in load roller mounts on a wheel arm
CA1266026A (en) Fork for a lift truck vehicle
DE602004011875T2 (en) tire
US6957819B2 (en) Lift axle parallelogram suspension system
DE3807759C2 (en)
US3663987A (en) Hinge for doors of freight containers, transport vehicles and the like
US4207967A (en) Combined lifting mechanism and overhead guard for lift vehicles
CN209051496U (en) A kind of semitrailer crossbeam
US4580764A (en) Pedestrian-controlled lift truck for moving helicopters
US5431475A (en) Body for end dump trailer
US2417640A (en) Truck trailer chassis
US5694857A (en) Truss for overhead bridge crane
US5386969A (en) Plastic load rest for a jack
WO1988008385A1 (en) Moving floor for a road vehicle
CA2058661A1 (en) Road vehicle having a rear dump box
CN215121865U (en) Tractor lifting arm
CN214420573U (en) Suspension mounting point additional strengthening, suspension installation assembly and vehicle that has it
DE2924511A1 (en) Improved wear grip link for snowchain - has thickening additions to grip edges without increasing height of grips
CN109466612A (en) A kind of plastics cart panel of strength enhancing
US3999267A (en) Method for assembling a lift truck mast
CN115320713B (en) Commercial car concatenation formula frame longeron and frame assembly
US3005610A (en) Pallets for handling material

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKLA Lapsed