GB2061222A - A vehicle with load lifting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A front wheel drive motor road vehicle has lifting forks E arranged between the rear wheels B, and extending from in front of the rear axes to behind them, the forks being supported on a hollow upright 19 which can be moved up and down within a hollow member 18, which in turn is mounted on the vehicle for pivotal movement in a vertical plane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load lifting apparatus This invention relates to a motor road vehicle having load lifting apparatus.

The invention fulfills a goods handling system not yet available on the market. Basically the requirement calls for a vehicle which combines the features of a forklift truck and a road transport vehicle at low initial and operating cost.

The universal employment of the forklift truck in all its forms, handling, loading and unloading goods is confined to terminal operations and does not qualify for the transportation of goods over public roads. Consequently a consignment employs three separate vehicles and operators for the transport of goods between terminal points; a forklift to load, a road transport vehicle, and a forklift to unload; very uneconomical especially for small consignments.

According to the invention we provide a motor road vehicle having front and rear axles and front wheel drive provided with lifting fork elements extending from front to rear of the rear axles and operating means for lifting and lowering said elements disposed between the longitudinal planes of the wheels immediately to the rear of the driver, said means comprising a vertical support member pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the rear of the vehicle cab, a vertically movable hollow member within said support member, a first piston and cylinder device mounted within said hollow member for raising the latter, means for mounting the lifting fork elements on the lower end of the hollow member, and a second piston and cylinder device connected with said support memberfortilting it about said axis together with the hollow member and lifting fork elements.

A deck may be fitted over the forks to permit roll-on roll-off articles also to be handled.

Hydraulic power for operating the fork elements may be powered by the normal vehicle battery through a power pack unit comprising motor, high pressure pump and fluid tank. The arrangement does not necessitate the use of high pressure flexible hoses.

The vehicle is an accepted road vehicle plus forklift performance. One operator handles the complete operation without leaving his seat and the possible damage caused by transshipping the goods is reduced to a minimum together with costs.

Unlike the conventional and expensive forklift truck the vehicle is not handicapped with the necessity to counter-balance the load carried. This permits a lighter and more economical, construction to be employed.

The vehicle is not confined to the handling of pallet loads. The fork blades may be adjustable for width and detachable from the vehicle. Detachable fittings enable self tipping containers to be picked up and discharged and cable reels may be accommodated.

It is not the intention of this invention to incur the high cost of producing a complete specialised vehicle to incorporate the self loading system, but to utilise to the full existing automobile products already in substantial manufacture. The choice of the basic road vehicle for conversion is however confined to those which incorporate front wheel drive as standard propulsion. To this end various makes of commercial pick up trucks are applicable.

The invention is illustrated byway of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle made in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an elevational view of the operating means of the lifting fork elements, Figure 3 is a front view of said operating means, and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the plane 4-4 on Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows the vehicle with front axle A, rear axle B, normal driver's cab C, vertical column D for guiding the lifting forks E, special bodywork F. A deck can be provided over the forks and a tailboard can be fitted.

The vehicle can pick up a load with the forks lowered or with forks in various positions e.g. for lifting a skip J or cable reel K. In this case the forks may be fitted with brackets.

A standard vehicle can be converted to the present invention. The rear part with rear wheels are removed leaving the front part undisturbed with engine, transmission, suspension, front road wheels, steering, seating, cab and controls. The space frames are then fitted to the front part. Finally the power fork lift system is fitted. The redundant rear section of the vehicle may be converted into a trailer.

Line XX on Figure 2 denotes the position of severence between the forward half of the basic vehicle and the rear half.

The bodywork F comprises right and left hand fabricated rectangulartube sections forming a framework enclosed by sheet metal, forming rigid box section extensions to the front half of the vehicle.

The above mentioned tube sections are extended into the front half of the vehicle and permanently secured forming a complete unit.

The sheet metal floors of the framework are extended at Fl to further integrate the rear half of the vehicle with the front half and to form running boards.

Hinged lids F2 on each side enclose the box sections for weather protection of the available locker space and security of ancillary equipment.

A fuel tank is mounted within the left hand space frame.

The space wheel is detachably mounted within the right hand box section.

Rear suspension units removed from the rear half of the original vehicle complete the box sections structure.

The rear suspension units are attached to the box sections structure.

Central bracing between each box section of sheet metal sides also form mudguard protection of the box section.

A detachable tail board may be provided.

The operating mechanism shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 is attached to the front part of the vehicle by structural members such as 10, 11. The member 11 carries pivots 12, 12Aon which brackets 13, 13Aare mounted which carry a square tube 14. The tube 14 is welded to an upright support column 18 inside which is a vertically slidable hollow member or column 19. Upper guide rolls 22 and lower guide rolls 23 project through openings in the column 18 to engage the member 19. These rolls are carried by brackets 22A, 23A which are fixed to the tube 14. A fork lift jack ram thrust bracket 26 is slotted in and supported by the tube 14. The ram consists of a cylinder 27 and piston 28 located within the column 18, the cylinder being fixed in the bracket 26 while the free end of the piston can engage a head plate 30 of the column 18 so as to raise the column 18 when required. The operating parts are enclosed by suitable members such as a cover 32 and screen 33. The cylinder 27 receives pressure fluid from a pump 34 operated by a motor 35. A tank 36 is provided to contain the fluid.

The bracket 23A is connected to a second piston and cylinder device 39 attached to a fixed bracket 40 The lower end of the column 18 carries a cross-bar 41 which in turn carries the lifting forks E.

The rams 27,28, and 39 are controlled by suitable control means in the driver's cab.

Claims (5)

1. A motor road vehicle having front and rearaxles and front wheel drive provided with lifting fork elements extending from front to rear of the rear axles and operating means for lifting and lowering said elements disposed between the longitudinal planes of the wheels immediately to the rear of the driver, said means comprising a vertical support member pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the rear of the vehicle cab, a vertically movable hollow member within said support member, a first piston and cylinder device mounted within said hollow member for raising the latter, means for mounting the lifting fork elements on the lower end ofthe hollow member, and a second piston and cylinder device connected with said support member for tilting it about said axis together with the hollow member and lifting fork elements.

2. A motor road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 having upper and lower rollers mounted on the support member and serving as a guide for the hollow member, said rollers projecting through openings in the support member.

3. A motor road vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein rigid box sections are attached to the front part of the vehicle and the floors of these sections are extended to connect with said front part and to form running boards.

4. A motor road vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the box sections form locker spaces and are covered by movable lids.

5. a motor road vehicle substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.