FR2791049A1 - EQUIPMENT CARRIER FOR A LIFTING MACHINE, A MAT OF A LIFTING MACHINE COMPRISING SUCH AN EQUIPMENT CARRIER AND LIFTING MACHINE SUCH AS A FORK TROLLEY PROVIDED WITH SAID MAT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an equipment carrier (35) for a lifting device (1), comprising means suitable for allowing its movement in a transverse direction, means suitable for allowing its tilting by forward rotation, means able to allow the rapid attachment and locking of various equipment such as forks, bucket, hydraulic grab or equivalent. The invention also relates to a lifting mast for a lifting device, comprising such an equipment carrier, as well as to a lifting device provided with said mast.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of forklifts.

  The invention relates more particularly to mast forklifts

  frontal and generally targets industrial forklifts, semi

  industrial and all-terrain, telescopic forklifts and variable-reach trucks. The invention relates more particularly to the so-called TDL (lateral displacement carriage) translation devices making it possible to receive tools such as

forks.

  There are already known in the prior art devices for manual translation or hydraulically controlled in particular, for the displacement of one or more forks of such trolleys with a front mast, this displacement being able to be carried out with the aim of reducing or increasing the spacing of the forks or

  move laterally, in unison, all of the forks.

  Document WO-98 / 15,490 describes a fork support comprising a first beam and a second beam, and at least two spacers which fix the first and the second beam at a certain distance from each other, and this in a substantially parallel manner, the fork elements being mounted on the first and the second beam and being able to be displaced along

beams.

  Document WO-98/21 141 describes a system for adjusting the forks on a forklift. Two hydraulic cylinders powered by a pump are installed in an upper element of parallelepipedal section to avoid obscuring the field of vision from the driving position. The ends of the movable pistons are fixed to mandrels, the latter supporting the forks. During operation of the hydraulic fluid pump, the forks perform a symmetrical inward movement

and the outside.

  Document EP-A-774 441 describes a device for the opposite movement of

  fork arms of industrial trucks.

  Document EP-A-785 167 describes a lateral translation device for forklift forks. This lateral stacker device for industrial trucks which, for their part, has a lifting slide with a base frame respectively with an upper grip edge and a lower grip edge for fixing the fork arms, has a frame

side stacker.

  This has the following elements - two horizontal profiles with cross sections which surround the grip edges of the base frame on the one hand, and the grip edges for the fork arms on the other hand; - a double-acting hydraulic drive for moving the frame of the

lateral stacker.

  The lower horizontal profile can be pivoted through an upwardly facing cross-sectional end behind the lower grip edge of the base frame and, for the sliding connection by blocking safety between the base frame and the stacker frame side, U-shaped sliding bodies are tucked in from the side between the lower grip edge of the frame

  base and lower horizontal profile of the side stacker frame.

  The document US Pat. No. 5,190,436 describes an apron for a forklift truck in which the first and second forks are movable transversely,

  independently or in unison.

  We can also refer to the following documents:

  - US patents Nos. 5,147,171.4 960,357, 4,406,575, 4,335,992.

  - European patent applications Nos. 314 207, 540 931, 628 511, 869 100,

355,668;

  - international patent applications Nos. 91/07345, 92/21606, 91/08164,

91/07345;

  - Japanese patent applications published under the numbers 5 221 600, 5 213

  589, 5 208 800, 5 208 799, 5 178 591, 5 162 997, 5 155 599, 5 403 199, 5 039

  196, 4 361 999, 4 338 100, 2 209 399, 2 265 900, 2 276 799, 3 102 098, 3 102

  099, 3 102 100, 3 138 298, 3 211 196.

  For some applications, a bucket or similar device is adapted on the

  side shift apron or on the mast apron.

  The operator must get off his cart to fix this bucket on the apron to

  lateral displacement, then proceed to the hydraulic connection.

  Various solutions have also been envisaged for fixing a bucket on a

  forklift with front mast, holding the forks in place.

  Reference may be made, for example, to documents JP-A-3 192 097, WO-A-

89/02409.

  We also know forklifts that can receive an apron that allows rapid attachment of equipment without the operator having to

leave the driving position.

  However, in this configuration, there is no possibility of translating the

equipment.

  Document JP-A-2 095 698 describes a device for mounting the forks of a forklift in which two hydraulic cylinders, placed on the sides of a U-shaped support piece open towards the front and integral with the lifting mast , allow the mounting and dismounting of a fork support, from the

cockpit.

  The superimposition of an apron with lateral movement on an apron for quick attachment of equipment would certainly allow both

  translation of the equipment that a quick attachment of it.

  However, this superposition has the following drawbacks: the operator must descend from the driving position to ensure the mechanical and hydraulic connection of the side-shifting deck; - the center of gravity of the carriage is moved forward, which results in

  load capacity reduction.

  The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the devices known in the prior art for quick attachment or translation of equipment for a forklift truck with a frontal mast or equivalent, the translation of the equipment being obtained while retaining attachment to quick take-up of this equipment, the operator not having to leave his driving position, the tool holder also enabling digging, all of the hydraulic functions

  having been integrated into the equipment carrier.

  The invention relates, according to a first aspect, to an equipment carrier for a lifting machine, comprising means able to allow its movement in a transverse direction, means able to allow its tilting by rotation towards the front, means suitable for quick attachment and locking of various equipment such as fork, bucket, hydraugriffe or equivalent. The equipment carrier can have the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination with each other: - the means able to allow its movement in a transverse direction include double-acting cylinders and double rod, integrated in the body of the equipment carrier; - The means able to allow its inclination by forward rotation comprise at least one axis of rotation; the means capable of allowing rapid attachment of equipment comprise

  at least one convex part projecting from the upper part of the holder

  equipment. The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a lifting mast

  comprising at least one equipment carrier as above presented.

  The lifting mast can have the following characters, taken alone or in combination: - the equipment carrier can be tilted forward by an angle between a few degrees and 60 relative to the mast; - the mast is telescopic;

  - the mast is tiltable forward.

  The invention relates, according to a third aspect, to a lifting machine

  comprising a mast as presented above.

  The machine may have the following characters, taken alone or in combination with one another. The machine comprises means for controlling the transverse movement,

  tilting forward, and locking the equipment carrier.

  The control means are hydraulic and / or electric and / or

electro-hydraulic.

  The machine comprises mechanical safety means limiting or prohibiting the tilting of the equipment carrier forwards, these safety means being able to

  be operated from the driving position.

  The machine is chosen from the group comprising industrial forklifts, semi-industrial forklifts, all-terrain forklifts,

  telescopic carts and variable reach carts.

  Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the

  following description of embodiments, description which will be made

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a side view of a forklift truck with a front mast provided with a conventional side shift carriage; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a front part of the carriage shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a side view of a forklift mast front provided with a conventional attachment device of an equipment, such as a bucket shown placed on the ground in the front part of the cart, before hooking it operator having to leave the driving position to ensure the mechanical and hydraulic connection; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the front part of the carriage shown in Figure 3, the bucket being in a position detached from the mast; - Figure 5 is a side view of a forklift truck with a front mast provided with a conventional deck allowing rapid attachment of the equipment; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front part of the carriage shown in Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a side view of a front mast carriage provided with an apron for quick attachment and an apron with lateral displacement superimposed the apron with lateral displacement which can be actuated as soon as the operator has provided the hydraulic connection, which forced him to leave his driving position; - Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front part of the carriage shown in Figure 7; - Figure 9 is a side view of a front mast forklift provided with a device according to the invention; - Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the forklift shown

in figure 9.

  - Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, the fork carrier being

attached to the equipment rack.

  The invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures in

  which is shown a configuration of a carriage 1 with a front mast 2.

  It is understood, however, that the front mast forklift according to the invention may have a general structure different from that shown in the figures, the invention generally relating to industrial, semi-industrial and all-terrain forklifts, carts telescopic and

variable reach trolleys.

  Front mast forklifts are known in various forms in

prior art.

  Reference may be made, for example, to the following documents: - Japanese patent applications published under the numbers 4,072,299, 3,003

  899, 5,147,896, 5,178,586, 5,170,399;

  - European patent applications Nos. 365 865, 367 545, 363 859, 465 838,

448,242, 458,184, 664,273, 650,921;

  - patent applications in France Nos. 2,681,304, 2,683,774, 2,670,196, 2

  764,279, 2,740,443.2 747,778, 2,711,636;

  - international patent applications Nos. 91/04221, 96/26154, 96/06795,

93/19001, 98/50300.

  The general structure of these front mast forklifts will be

  consequence briefly recalled in the rest of the text.

  The carriage 1 shown in the figures comprises a self-driving chassis with three or four wheels, the front wheels 3 having a diameter greater than or equal to therein.

rear wheels 4.

  The front and / or rear wheels can be driven and steered.

  The carriage 1 comprises a cabin 5 containing a driving position 6 and a power train 7 protected by a cover 8, part of which supports the

driver's seat 9.

  In one embodiment, the cover 8 is tiltable and allows access to the

powertrain 7.

  The term “powertrain” means any means of creating mechanical or hydraulic energy capable of transmitting a movement to the wheels and of actuating the actuators and gripping elements of the whole of the possibly telescopic mast 2, in particular the powerplants comprising an internal combustion engine and powertrains

  electric operation powered by battery.

  In one embodiment, the cover 8 is tiltable and allows access to the

  at least in part, to this powertrain 7.

  In other embodiments, the cabin 5 is tiltable forward or

can be lifted up.

  In the figures, the cover 8 is in a closed position protecting the powertrain, and the driver's seat 9 mounted on the cover is

  in a position corresponding to the driving of the carriage by an operator.

  In the remainder of the text, the terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" will be used, unless otherwise indicated, with reference to a driver seated in seat 9, in normal driving position. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the carriage 1 comprises a front mast 2 provided with a conventional side movement apron 10 making it possible to receive forks 11, 12. The lateral drive of these forks can be obtained by hydraulic piston

double effect, in particular.

  The arms 13, 14 of the forks 11, 12 are fixed on a grip edge 15 provided with conventional notches 16. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the forks 11, 12 have arms 13, 14 in the form of an S in lateral view, so as to come in

  support on the upper face 17 of the lower beam 18 of the fork support.

  The apron with lateral displacement represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, conventional,

  equips most semi-industrial and all- industrial forklifts

  currently performing land. It does not allow quick attachment of

  equipment and does not allow digging.

  We now refer to Figures 3 and 4.

  For certain applications, it is known to fit on the mast 2 of a carriage a

  bucket 19 or any other equivalent tool different from the forks.

  The operator must then descend from the driving position 6 to fix the bucket 19 on the side shift carriage 10 or directly on the mast carriage and to make the hydraulic connection necessary for controlling the

bucket movements 19.

  Aprons 20 are also known which allow rapid attachment of the

  equipment without the operator having to get out of the driving position 6.

  Figures 5 and 6 show such an apron embodiment for hanging

equipment fast.

  The apron 20 comprises positioning means 21, 22 of the support

fork 23.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these positioning means 21, 22 are substantially frustoconical parts, projecting upwards from the substantially horizontal upper face 24 of the upper beam 25 of the deck 20. On the support fork 23 are provided with positioning means

  complementary 26, 27 to means 21, 22.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these complementary positioning means are hollow parts open downwards

  26, 27 arranged laterally in the upper part of the fork support 23.

  A conventional hook 28, projecting towards the rear of the support 23 allows the

  quick fixing of this support on the mast 2.

  In such an apron configuration, the translation, that is to say the lateral displacement of the load carried by the forks or any other equipment is not possible. The digging movement is no more

possible.

  The superimposition of a conventional lateral movement apron 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 on an apron for quick attachment of equipment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to end up with the device, such as

  shown in Figures 7 and 8 has many drawbacks.

  In particular, the operator must always get out of the driver's seat to

  ensuring the hydraulic and mechanical connection in certain applications.

  In addition, the center of gravity of the forklift is moved forward,

  which leads to a reduction in carrying capacity.

  The invention discloses a tool holder allowing rapid attachment of the tools, maintaining the translational capacity of the equipment relative to the front mast 2, the operator not being required to leave his driving position to

  put the tools in place, the digging movement being, moreover, possible.

  Referring to Figures 9 to 11 which illustrate a first embodiment

of the invention.

  The device has a symmetry with respect to a vertical median plane P. The front mast 2, possibly telescopic, comprises two beams

substantially vertical 29, 30.

  In one embodiment, between these two beams 29, 30, in the lower part of the front mast 2, a part 31 is placed this part 31 supporting a bar

  substantially horizontal attachment 34.

  This bar 34 is projecting forwardly relative to the front end plane P 'of the mast 2, this plane P' being substantially vertical in the position

  shown in Figure 9 for mast 2.

  A multifunctional equipment carrier 35 is mounted movable in rotation about a substantially horizontal axis 36 and placed below and facing the

hanging bar 34.

  The equipment carrier 35 can be inclined at an angle ax of between a few degrees and about 60 relative to the plane P 'defined above, which authorizes the digging. The equipment carrier 35 supports two centering cones 37, 38 projecting towards the

  top, similar to those shown in Figures 7 and 8.

  The equipment carrier 35 has a reduced bulk, the hydraulic cylinders or other actuation means being contained in a substantially parallelepipedic envelope, the front face 39 of which is

substantially flat.

  The translational movements of a fork carrier or a bucket or any other equipment are made possible by the equipment carrier 35 with quick coupling and mobile in rotation about the axis

36 for possible digging.

  The equipment carrier 35, compact, multifunctional, is associated in one embodiment with mechanical and / or hydraulic safety means preventing or limiting the inclination of the equipment carrier 35 forwards,

  especially when forks are used to transport a load.

  In a particular embodiment, hydraulic safety means are provided, closing the hydraulic circuit in the event of a hose rupture by

example.

  The set of controls for tilting, locking and translating jacks of the equipment carrier 35 can be hydraulic, electric or electro-hydraulic.

Claims (16)

  1. Equipment carrier (35) for a lifting machine (1), characterized in that it comprises means able to allow its movement in a transverse direction, means able to allow its tilting by rotation forwards, means suitable for rapid fixing and locking   various equipment such as fork, bucket, hydraugriffe or equivalent.   2. Equipment carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the means able to allow its movement in a transverse direction comprise double-acting cylinders and double rod, integrated in the body of the equipment carrier (35).   3. Equipment carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means capable of allowing it to tilt by rotation forwards comprise at least one axis of rotation (36).   4. Equipment holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the means capable of allowing rapid attachment of equipment comprise at least one convex part projecting in   upper part of the equipment carrier.   5. Equipment carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that the means capable of allowing rapid attachment of equipment comprise at least two frustoconical parts (36, 37) placed laterally projecting at the top of the equipment carrier and include the equipment locking device, this equipment carrier (35) being substantially   contained in a parallelepipedic envelope, the front face (39) of the holder   equipment (35) being substantially planar.   6. Lifting mast for lifting machine, characterized in that it comprises a   equipment carrier (35) as set forth in claims 1 to 5.   7. Mast according to claim 6, characterized in that the equipment carrier is tiltable forwards by an angle of between a few degrees and 60 by compared to the mast.   8. Mast according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it is telescopic.   9. Mast according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is tiltable forward.   10. Lifting machine, characterized in that it comprises a mast as presented in claims 6 to 9.   1. Lifting device according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the transverse movement, the inclination towards   the front, and the equipment carrier lock (35).   12. Lifting device according to claim 11, characterized in that the   control means are hydraulic.   13. Lifting device according to claim 11, characterized in that the   control means are electric.   14. Lifting machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the   control means are electro-hydraulic.   15. Lifting machine according to any one of claims 10 to 14,   characterized in that it comprises mechanical safety means limiting or prohibiting the inclination of the equipment carrier (35) towards the front, these means   safety can be operated from the driving position.   16. Lifting machine according to any one of claims 10 to 15,   characterized in that it is chosen from the group comprising industrial forklifts, semi-industrial forklifts, all-terrain forklifts   terrain, telehandlers and variable reach trucks.