EP2881357A1

EP2881357A1 - Lifting vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2881357A1
Application number: EP13195834.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Amilcare Merlo
Original assignee: Merlo Project Srl
Current assignee: Merlo Project Srl
Priority date: 2013-12-05
Filing date: 2013-12-05
Publication date: 2015-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-05
Also published as: ES2622904T3; EP2881357B1

Abstract

Lifting vehicle comprising:
- a frame (12) having a front frame portion (12a) and a rear frame portion (12b),
- a lifting arm (20) having a rear arm section (22) articulated to the rear frame portion (12b) about a transverse axis (B) and a front arm section (24) equipped with attachment means (28) for the connection of implements (30),
- a lifting cylinder (26) articulated to the frame (12) and to the lifting arm (20) and configured to move the arm (20) between a lowered position in which the arm (20) extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (A) of the vehicle (10) and a plurality of raised positions, and
- a cabin compartment (32) and an engine compartment (34) located on opposite sides of the lifting arm (20),
wherein the front arm section (24) is connected in a removable manner to the rear arm section (22), so that the vehicle (10) can assume a first working configuration in which it is equipped with the complete lifting arm (20) and a second working configuration in which the vehicle (10) is devoid of the front arm section (24).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a lifting vehicle comprising:

a frame having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion,
a lifting arm having a rear arm section articulated to the rear frame portion about a transverse axis and a front arm section equipped with attachment means for the connection of implements,
a lifting cylinder articulated to the frame and to the lifting arm, and configured to move the arm between a lowered position in which the arm extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a plurality of raised positions, and
a cabin compartment and an engine compartment located on opposite sides of the lifting arm.

A vehicle of this type is known for example from EP-A-0945395 of the same Applicant.

Description of the prior art

Vehicles with lifting arms arranged longitudinally have been shown to have a great versatility of use. These vehicles can be used as aerial platforms, machines for use in building construction, forklift trucks, etc. Vehicles of this type can also be fitted in the rear portion of the frame of a power take-off and of a three-point hitch as described in the document EP-A-0945395 , so that the vehicle can also be used as an agricultural machine.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a lifting vehicle of the type indicated above having a further improved flexibility of use.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a lifting vehicle having the characteristics forming the subject of Claim 1.
The claims form an integral part of the disclosure provided in relation to the invention.

Brief description the drawings

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a lifting vehicle according to the present invention with the lifting arm in the lowered position and in a generic raised position, respectively,
Figure 3 is a perspective view analogous to Figure 1 with the engine compartment removed,
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the vehicle of Figures 1 and 2 with the front arm section removed,
Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V of Figure 4,
Figure 6 is a section analogous to Figure 5 with the front arm section mounted,
Figures 7, 8, and 9, 10 are details on a larger scale of the parts indicated, respectively, by the arrows VII, VIII, IX and X in Figures 5 and 6,
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention with the front arm section removed,
Figure 12 is a perspective section along line XII-XII of Figure 11,
Figure 13 is a view according to the arrow XII of Figure 12 with the front arm section mounted, and
Figure 14 is an enlarged detail of the part indicated by the arrow XIV in Figure 13.

Detailed description the invention

With reference to Figures 1-3, numeral 10 indicates a lifting vehicle according to the present invention. The vehicle 10 comprises a frame 12 having a front frame portion 12a and a rear frame portion 12b that carry, respectively, a pair of front wheels 14 and a pair of rear wheels 16. The frame 12 comprises two vertical longitudinal walls 18a, 18b parallel to each other between which a longitudinal channel is defined that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle A.
The vehicle 10 comprises a lifting arm 20 articulated to the rear frame portion 12b about an axis B transverse to the longitudinal axis A of the vehicle 10. The lifting arm 20 has a rear arm section 22 and a front arm section 24. The rear arm section 22 is permanently articulated to the frame 12 about axis B. A lifting cylinder 26 has a rear end articulated to the frame 12 and a front end articulated to the rear arm section 22. The lifting cylinder 26 controls the oscillation of the lifting arm 20 about the axis B between a lowered position shown in Figure 1 and a plurality of raised positions. In the lowered position, the lifting arm 20 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the vehicle 10 and is located between the two vertical longitudinal walls 18a and 18b of the frame 12.
The front arm section 24 is equipped at its distal end with attachment means 28 for the connection of an implement 30. Different types of implements 30 can be connected to the lifting arm 20, such as forks, shovels, aerial platforms, etc. In the lowered arm condition, the front end of the lifting arm 20 protrudes from the front face of the vehicle 10, so that the implement 30 is located in front of the front wheels 14.
The vehicle 10 comprises a cabin compartment 32 and an engine compartment 34, located on respective sides of the vehicle 10, on opposite sides with respect to the arm 20. The cabin compartment 32 and the engine compartment 34 project laterally from the respective vertical walls 18b and 18a of the frame 12.
According to the present invention, the front arm section 24 is connected in a removable manner to the rear arm section 22. In this way, the vehicle 10 can assume a working configuration in which it is equipped with the lifting arm 20 and can be used for operations to be performed with the implement 30 applied to the end of the lifting arm 20. Removing the front arm section 24, the vehicle 10 assumes the configuration illustrated in Figure 4. In this configuration, the vehicle 10 may be used as an agricultural tractor. In this second working configuration, the vehicle 10 is devoid of elements protruding from the front part.
The front arm section 24 can be replaced with different types of arm sections or with various types of implements. For example, the vehicle 10 may be equipped, in turn, with front arm sections 24 with greater or lesser lengths depending on the work to be carried out. In the known solutions it is not possible to vary the maximum length of the lifting arm 20 of the vehicle and it is necessary to use a different type of vehicle when, for example, greater lifting heights need to be reached. The vehicle according to the present invention allows a greater versatility of use thanks to the possibility of removing the front arm section 24 and replacing the front arm section 24 with an arm section with different characteristics. The front arm section 24 can be telescopic or with a fixed length depending on the requirements.
With reference to Figure 5, the rear arm section 22 has a tubular shape, for example a rectangular cross section, with an open front end configured to receive a portion of equal length of the front arm section 24 inside it. The rear arm section 22 and the front arm section 24 are equipped with mutually cooperating engagement means 36, 38 which allow the fixing of the front arm section 24 to the rear arm section 22. With reference to Figure 10, the engagement means 36, 38 are arranged on the respective outer sides, for example on the upper sides, of the arm sections 22, 24 and may be formed by a hook 40 articulated to the rear arm section 22 and driven by a cylinder 42 between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In the engaged position, the hook 40 engages a transversal pin 44 fixed to the front arm section 24.
With reference to Figure 9, the arm sections 22, 24 may be equipped with respective electro- hydraulic connectors 46, 48 which engage with each other in the position wherein the front arm section 24 is fixed to the rear arm section 22. When the connectors 46, 48 are coupled to each other, it is possible to transmit electrical signals and hydraulic commands from the vehicle 10 to the front arm section 24 and to the implement 30 mounted at the distal end of the front arm section 24. Preferably, the connectors 46, 48 are located at the respective rear ends of the arm sections 22, 24 and engage frontally with each other when the rear end of the front arm section 24 is located alongside the rear end of the rear arm section 22.
With reference to Figure 7, the front arm section 24 can be fitted with sliding runners 50 applied on its outer surface and configured to slide on the inner walls of the rear arm section 22 during insertion or extraction of the front arm section 24. The rear frontal end of the front arm section 24 can be equipped with recesses 52 which engage transverse pins 54 (Figure 9) attached to the inside of the rear end of the rear arm section 22 to form a stroke end of the insertion movement of the front arm section 24 and to couple together the rear ends of the arm sections 22, 24.
With reference to Figures 5 and 8, the front frame portion 12a can be equipped with one or more rollers 56 with horizontal axes supported between the two vertical walls 18a, 18b of the frame 12. The rollers 56 serve to support and guide the front arm section 24 during the operations of insertion and removal.
Figure 5 shows the assembly phase of the front arm section 24 on the vehicle 10. The front arm section 24 rests on a stand 58, which keeps the rear end of the front arm section 24 at a certain height from the ground. The vehicle 10 is approached at the front arm section 24 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front arm section 24. In a first step, the rear end of the front arm section 24 rests on the rollers 56. At this point, the stand 58 can be removed. Continuing to advance the vehicle 10, the rear end of the front arm section 24 is inserted through the open front end of the rear arm section 22. In this first step, the rollers 56 support and guide the front arm section 24. The movement of the vehicle 10 continues until the rear end of the front arm section 24 comes into abutment against the pins 54 located at the rear end of the rear arm section 22. At this point, the electro- hydraulic connectors 46, 48 are coupled together and they can provide an indication of the correct coupling between the arm sections 22, 24 in the cabin of the vehicle. At this point, the cylinder 42, which controls the rotation of the hook 40 towards the fixing position, is driven. When the hook 40 engages the pin 44, the rear part of the front arm section 24 is compressed axially between the hook 40 and the pins 54. The removal of the second arm section 24 is carried out by repeating these operations in reverse.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 is articulated to the rear arm section 22. Therefore, the rear arm section 22 has a dimension in the longitudinal direction greater than the minimum length of the lifting cylinder 26, so as to allow the articulation of the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 to the rear arm section 22.
In Figures 11 to 14 a second embodiment is illustrated in which the rear arm section 22 has a dimension in a longitudinal direction less than the minimum length of the lifting cylinder 26. In this case, the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 is articulated to the front arm section 24. Figures 11 and 12 show the vehicle of this second embodiment devoid of the front arm section 24. In this case, the rear arm section 22 has a very small dimension in the longitudinal direction. The rear arm section 22 is equipped as in the case described above with engagement means 36 for locking the front arm section 24.
In this second embodiment a coupling device is also provided, configured to couple the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 to the front arm section 24 in an articulated manner. With reference to Figures 13 and 14, the front end of the lifting cylinder 26 carries a pivot pin 60 connected to the piston rod of the lifting cylinder 26 by means of a fork element. The front arm section 24 is equipped on its underside with a hook 62 articulated to the lower outer side of the front arm section 24 and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The hook 62 is driven by a cylinder 64 having a first end articulated to the hook 64 and a second end articulated to the lower side of the front arm section 24.
In this case, as well, the first and the second arm sections 22, 24 are equipped with electro- hydraulic connectors 46, 48 which couple with each other in the position wherein the front arm section 24 is fully inserted into the rear arm section 22.
Also in this second embodiment, support and guide rollers 56 are provided to support and guide the front arm section 24 during manoeuvres of insertion and removal. Such manoeuvres are performed in a similar manner to those described above with reference to the first embodiment.

Claims

Lifting vehicle comprising:
- a frame (12) having a front frame portion (12a) and a rear frame portion (12b),

- a lifting arm (20) having a rear arm section (22) articulated to the rear frame portion (12b) about a transverse axis (B) and a front arm section (24) equipped with attachment means (28) for the connection of implements (30),

- a lifting cylinder (26) having a rear end articulated to the frame (12) and a front end articulated to the lifting arm (20) and configured to move the lifting arm (20) between a lowered position in which the lifting arm (20) extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (a) of the vehicle (10) and a plurality of raised positions, and

- a cabin compartment (32) and an engine compartment (34) located on opposite sides of the lifting arm (20),
characterized in that that the front arm section (24) is connected in a removable manner to the rear arm section (22), so that the vehicle (10) can assume a first working configuration in which it is equipped with the complete lifting arm (20) and a second working configuration in which the vehicle (10) is devoid of the front arm section (24).
Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm sections (22, 24) are equipped with mutually cooperating engagement means (36, 38) located on respective outer sides of the arm sections (22, 24).
Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that said engagement means (36, 38) are controlled by a cylinder (42).
Vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that said arm sections (22, 24) are equipped with respective connectors (46, 48) located at the respective rear ends of the arm sections (22, 24) and engageable with each other in the condition wherein the rear end of the front arm section (24) is located alongside the rear end of the rear arm section (22).
Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear arm section (22) has a tubular form with an open front end, configured to receive a rear part of equal length of the front arm section (24) inside it.
Vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the front frame portion (12a) carries at least one guide roller (56) on which a lower side of the front arm section (24) is destined to rest during the assembly and removal operations.
Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting cylinder (26) has a front end articulated to the rear arm section (22).
Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said lifting cylinder (26) has a front end disengageably articulated to the front arm section (24).
Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the front arm section (24) comprises a hook (62) on its lower side movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, said hook (62) being configured to engage a pivot pin (60) located at the front end of said lifting cylinder (26).
Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that said hook (62) is controlled by a cylinder (64).