EP0050119A1 - A fork lift carriage assembly having side shift adjustable forks. - Google Patents
A fork lift carriage assembly having side shift adjustable forks.Info
- Publication number
- EP0050119A1 EP0050119A1 EP81900671A EP81900671A EP0050119A1 EP 0050119 A1 EP0050119 A1 EP 0050119A1 EP 81900671 A EP81900671 A EP 81900671A EP 81900671 A EP81900671 A EP 81900671A EP 0050119 A1 EP0050119 A1 EP 0050119A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- forks
- bar
- tracks
- carriage
- cylinder
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F9/00—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
- B66F9/06—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
- B66F9/075—Constructional features or details
- B66F9/12—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members
- B66F9/14—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members laterally movable, e.g. swingable, for slewing or transverse movements
- B66F9/142—Movements of forks either individually or relative to each other
- B66F9/144—Movements of forks relative to each other - independent
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to load carrying apparatus and more particularly to a load lifting carriage having side shift adjustable forks.
- Material handling vehicles such as fork lift trucks are used to pick up and deliver loads between, stations.
- the fork lift truck typically has a mast which supports a load lifting carriage that can be raised along the mast.
- the carriage normally carries a pair of forks which are maneuverable beneath the load prior to lifting the load.
- the forks may not be properly aligned with the load to be maneuvered under it. Rather than maneuvering the entire truck, it may be preferable to reposition the forks along the carriage. Under certain loading conditions, it may be necessary that the pair of forks be on the same side of the centerline of the carriage.
- the carriage is fixed on the mast against lateral displacement.
- the forks are releasably secured by pins in notches on the top edge
- OMPI of the carriage can be laterally displaced along the carriage by removing the pins and manually positioning them into other notches.
- One problem is that the forks, being heavy and cumbersome, may require significant manual exertion in repositioning them along the carriage.
- the forks can be hydraulically laterally displaced in relation to the centerline.
- the carriage includes a main carriage which is fixed on the mast against a lateral displacement and a sub- carriage which is movable laterally along the main carriage.
- the forks are mounted on the sub-carriage and hydraulic cylinders are connected to the sub- carriage to shift it laterally along the main carriage.
- the sub-carriage cannot be shifted laterally so as to position both forks on one side of the centerline.
- the member which is shiftable to laterally displace the forks i.e., the sub-carriage, is a member that supports the forks and hence the load being carried by the forks.
- this sub-carriage must be of a heavyweight construction. This adds to the overall weight of the mast assembly, which reduces the actual load carrying capacity of the lift truck. Also, because of the sub-carriage, the forks and hence the load are positioned further away from the front wheels of the truck, which undesirably increases the load moment constant.
- the cylinder rods' of the cylinders are rigidly connected to the members that are shifted to laterally displace the forks. Should, for example, an undue side impact load act on the
- V Y/.-IiPrOv carriage or forks this can be transmitted to the rods and bend or otherwise damage them.
- the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
- a load lifting carriage having rails, first and second forks movably supported on the rails, and first and second cylinder means for moving the first and second forks along the rails, respectively. Included are first and second means for coupling the first and second cylinder means to the first and second forks, respectively, to position the first and second forks at one side or the other side of a centerline of the carriage.
- the coupling means of the present invention which permit hydraulic shifting of both forks to such one side. Since the forks are supported on the rails which carry the load, the coupling means can be of a lightweight construction.
- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective of a mast and carriage assembly
- Fig. 2 is a front view, partially broken away, of the carriage of Fig. 1 having an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 3 is an exploded rear view of a portion of the carriage of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 is a view taken along lines IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view taken along lines V-V of
- Fig. 1 shows a load carrying assembly 10 including a carriage 12 that is vertically movable along a mast 14 and a pair of forks 16, 18 which are supported on the carriage 12.
- the carriage 12 has a pair of roller brackets 20, 22 which support carriage rollers (not shown) that roll along the mast 14 in a conventional manner for moving the carriage 12 between spaced apart elevated positions on the mast 14.
- Carriage 12 also includes upper horizontal rails 24, lower horizontal rails 26, a side vertical member 28 and a side vertical member 30.
- Fork 16 is slidably supported on upper rails 24 and lower rails 26, while fork 18 also is slidably supported on upper rails 24 and lower rails 26.
- a cylinder means 32 is used to shift the fork 18 laterally and a cylinder means 34 is used to shift the fork 16 laterally along the rails 24 and rails 26.
- Cylinder means 32 includes an outer jacket 36 which is fixed to the vertical member 28 and a movable cylinder rod 38.
- Cylinder means 34 includes an outer jacket 40 that is fixed to the vertical member 30 and a movable cylinder rod 42.
- a means 44 couples the cylinder means 32, particularly the rod 38, to the fork 18 to permit the fork 18 to be positioned on either side of the centerline (see Fig. 2) of the carriage 12.
- OMP 46 couples the cylinder means 34, particularly the rod 42, to the fork 16 to permit the fork 16 to be positioned at either side of the centerline.
- the cylinder means 32 and cylinder means 44 can be independently actuated to position the fork 16 and the fork 18 at a variety of lateral positions along the carriage 12, including positioning both forks 16, 18 simultaneously on one side or the other side of the centerline.
- the coupling means 44 includes an upper L-shaped track 48 and a lower L-shaped track 50 which are fixed to the rear of the fork 18.
- the upper track 48 has a single slot 52.
- a bar 54 has a pair of spaced-apart notches 56, 58 at its upper surface and is slidable along the tracks 48, 50 to align either notch 56 or notch 58 with the slot 52.
- notch 56 and notch 58 can be spaced-apart by 12 inches.
- a lock pin 60 is removably retained in either notch 56 or notch 58 and slot 52. When pin 60 is removed, the bar 54 can slide relative to the fixed tracks 48, 50, and hence relative to the fork 18, whereas when the pin 60 is inserted as shown, the bar 54, tracks 48, 50 and hence the fork 18 will move together.
- the rod 38 of the cylinder means 32 is connected to the bar 54 by a pin 62 which is supported on a bearing 63.
- a shearable retaining ring 64 which is a snap ring, holds the pin 62 in the position shown.
- the retaining ring 64 can be, for example, a rubber O-ring.
- the pin 60 is T-shaped and has an internal bore 66.
- a small, spring biased ball 68 is supported in the bore 66 to be biased against a surface 70 of notch 56 (or notch 58) of the bar 54 to help retain the pin 60 in the position shown.
- the ball 68 will move against this bias into the bore 66 when removing the pin 60 from the position shown.
- the coupling means 46 is substantially the same as the coupling means 44, as can be appreciated from Figs. 2-4.
- the corresponding structure of the coupling means 44 and coupling means 46 is shown by the similar reference numerals, so that, for example, bar 54 of means 44 and bar 54' of means 46 are similar components.
- the load carrying assembly 10 can be connected to a conventional fork lift truck in a well-known manner to pick up and deliver loads between various stations.
- fork 16 and fork 18 are adjacent one another at the centerline of the carriage 12, which is termed a full-in position.
- fork 18 can be moved from the full-in position at the centerline to a position adjacent the vertical member 30, which is termed a full-out position, as shown in phantom lines.
- cylinder means 34 can be actuated to move the fork 16 from the full- in position at the centerline to a full-out position adjacent the vertical member 28.
- the carriage 12 is moved to the lower most position on the mast 14 with the fork 16 and fork 18 being adjacent the ground. Then, the pin 60 is manually removed from the notch 56 and slot 52.
- the cylinder means 32 is actuated to hydraulically move the rod 38 from the full line position shown to the phantom line position.
- the bar 54 also will be moved or slid along the tracks 48, 50 in relation to the fork 18 to align the notch 58 with the slot 52.
- the pin 60 is placed in the notch 58 and slot 52. Note from Fig. 3 that the fork 18 as well as the fork 16 are still adjacent the centerline of the carriage 12 at the full-in position.
- the lift truck operator can hydraulically actuate the cylinder means 34 to move the fork 16 from the full-in position to the full-out position adjacent the vertical member 28.
- the cylinder means 32 can be independently hydraulically actuated to retract the partially extended rod 38 which will now move the fork 18 across the centerline a distance equal to the distance between notch 52 and notch 58, that is, a distance of 12 inches in the example, past the full-in position.
- both fork 16 and fork 18 are simultaneously positioned on one side of the centerline of the carriage 12.
- the fork 18 can be moved to a position up to 12 inches across the centerline, it can also be seen that if the rod 38 is extended the full stroke from the jacket 36, the fork 18 can be moved not to the full-out position, but to 12 inches from the vertical member 30.
- cylinder means 34 and coupling means 46 can be maneuvered so as to place the pin 60' in the. notch 58' and slot 52'.
- the fork 16 can be moved between a position 12 inches across the centerline of the carriage 12 and a position 12 inches from the vertical member 28.
- both fork 16 and fork 18 can be simultaneously positioned on the other side of the centerline of the carriage 12.
- the fork 16 and fork 18 can be shifted laterally along the carriage 12 between any number of positions other than those specifically described above. These positions depend on the relative position of the pair of cylinder means 32, 34, particularly rods 38, 42, to the forks 18, 16, as provided by the pair of coupling means 44, 46, and the amount of extending rods 38, 42.
- the present invention provides coupling means 44 and coupling means 46 «which enable the forks 16, 18 to be shifted laterally along the carriage 12 to any number of positions including, particularly, positions in which both forks are
- the coupling means 44 and coupling means 46 do not support the load that is picked up or carried by the forks 16 , 18. Rather, this load is carried through the forks to the rails 24 and rails 26 on which the forks are supported. Consequently, the coupling means 44 and coupling means 46 can be relatively lightweight. Still furthermore, only a simple pin connection by means of releasable pin 60 and pin 60' is required to be able to slide bar 54 and bar 54' on the tracks 48, 50 and tracks 48', 50' in relation to the forks.
Abstract
Un chariot de levage de charge (12) possede des rails horizontaux (24, 26), des organes lateraux verticaux (28, 30), des fourches (16, 18) supportees en coulissement sur les rails (24, 26), des cylindres (32, 34) ayant des chemises externes (36, 40) reliees aux organes verticaux (16, 18) et des bielles de cylindre (38, 42), et des coupleurs (44, 46) qui effectuent l'accouplement des bielles (38, 42) aux fourches (16, 18) pour permettre aux fourches (16, 18) d'etre positionnees simultanement d'un cote ou de l'autre par rapport a la ligne mediane du chariot (12). Le chariot resout les problemes rencontres sur un chariot elevateur a fourche concernant le deplacement lateral des fourches vers certaines positions sur le chariot, l'utilisation de sous-chariots lourds qui supportent et deplacent lateralement les fourches, et l'endommagement des cylindres, qui sont lies de maniere rigide aux fourches, du a une charge excessive. Les coupleurs de cette invention permettent le positionnement simultane des deux fourches de chaque cote de la ligne mediane du chariot, ne supportent pas de charge, et assurent le desaccouplement du cylindre des fourches en cas d'impact d'une charge excessive.A load lifting carriage (12) has horizontal rails (24, 26), vertical side members (28, 30), forks (16, 18) supported slidingly on the rails (24, 26), cylinders (32, 34) having external liners (36, 40) connected to the vertical members (16, 18) and cylinder connecting rods (38, 42), and couplers (44, 46) which effect the coupling of the connecting rods ( 38, 42) to the forks (16, 18) to allow the forks (16, 18) to be positioned simultaneously on one side or the other with respect to the center line of the carriage (12). The carriage solves the problems encountered on a forklift with regard to the lateral displacement of the forks towards certain positions on the carriage, the use of heavy sub-carriages which support and move the forks laterally, and the damage of the cylinders, which are rigidly tied to the forks due to excessive load. The couplers of this invention allow the simultaneous positioning of the two forks on each side of the center line of the carriage, do not support a load, and ensure the uncoupling of the fork cylinder in the event of an impact of an excessive load.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1980/000380 WO1981002885A1 (en) | 1980-04-07 | 1980-04-07 | Load lifting carriage having side shift ajustable forks |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0050119A1 true EP0050119A1 (en) | 1982-04-28 |
EP0050119A4 EP0050119A4 (en) | 1982-07-13 |
EP0050119B1 EP0050119B1 (en) | 1985-06-19 |
Family
ID=22154274
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP81900671A Expired EP0050119B1 (en) | 1980-04-07 | 1980-04-07 | A fork lift carriage assembly having side shift adjustable forks |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0050119B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1981002885A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4632630A (en) * | 1983-05-03 | 1986-12-30 | Koehring Company | Forklift attachment |
DE3632031A1 (en) * | 1986-09-20 | 1988-04-07 | Kaup Gmbh & Co Kg | Front add-on device with two sliding fork blades |
DE4020544C2 (en) * | 1990-06-28 | 1999-07-01 | Kaup Gmbh & Co Kg | Attachment device for a forklift with two pairs of forks |
US5823737A (en) * | 1995-10-31 | 1998-10-20 | Lucent Technologies | Probemat handler |
US9340376B2 (en) | 2013-08-22 | 2016-05-17 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | Apparatus and system for transferring carts |
CN103434983B (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2015-07-22 | 柳州柳工叉车有限公司 | Forklift working device |
US11906347B2 (en) | 2021-08-20 | 2024-02-20 | Buckeye Scale Llc | Adjustable width lift and weigh apparatus for lifting machines |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3684113A (en) * | 1970-06-12 | 1972-08-15 | Skagit Corp | Dunnage clamp for forklift trucks |
FR2385640A2 (en) * | 1977-04-01 | 1978-10-27 | Gibert Pierre | Variable width fork for lift truck - has jack to vary spacing between prongs with grooved slide blocks and locking blocks engageable in recess in lower member |
DE2726147A1 (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1978-12-21 | Bengel Friedrich | Forklift truck with extensible lifting mechanism - has forks adjustable sideways on guides individually or together |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2270664A (en) * | 1940-11-06 | 1942-01-20 | Towmotor Co | Industrial truck |
US2663443A (en) * | 1951-04-18 | 1953-12-22 | Baker Raulang Co | Carrier for industrial elevating trucks |
US3634113A (en) * | 1968-10-30 | 1972-01-11 | Larry L Fehrenbacher | Stabilized zirconium dioxide and hafnium dioxide compositions |
US3754673A (en) * | 1971-12-13 | 1973-08-28 | Clark Equipment Co | Detachable fork for lift trucks |
-
1980
- 1980-04-07 WO PCT/US1980/000380 patent/WO1981002885A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1980-04-07 EP EP81900671A patent/EP0050119B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3684113A (en) * | 1970-06-12 | 1972-08-15 | Skagit Corp | Dunnage clamp for forklift trucks |
FR2385640A2 (en) * | 1977-04-01 | 1978-10-27 | Gibert Pierre | Variable width fork for lift truck - has jack to vary spacing between prongs with grooved slide blocks and locking blocks engageable in recess in lower member |
DE2726147A1 (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1978-12-21 | Bengel Friedrich | Forklift truck with extensible lifting mechanism - has forks adjustable sideways on guides individually or together |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO8102885A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1981002885A1 (en) | 1981-10-15 |
EP0050119A4 (en) | 1982-07-13 |
EP0050119B1 (en) | 1985-06-19 |
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