GB2062578A - Fork lift truck attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment for a fork lift truck enables the truck to handle loads at positions spaced from the tines of the truck. The attachment comprises a base portion 1 adapted to be engageable by the tines of the truck so as to be supported thereon, and, mounted on said base portion, an extendable boom 11. The boom may extend laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truck, and may be extendable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement 27. One or more lifting points 37 and 41 may be provided near the end remote from the truck of boom 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fork lift truck attachment This invention relates to attachments for fork lift trucks and in particular to attachments enabling the trucks to lift loads located some distance away from the tines of the truck.

According to the present invention there is provided an attachment for a fork lift truck comprising a base portion adapted to be engageable by the tines of the fork lift truck such as to be supported thereon and, mounted on said base portion, an extendable boom enabling loads to be handled at positions spaced from the tines of the truck.

An attachment in accordance with the present invention allows a fork lift truck to be operated, for instance, in a relatively confined space, in which it is difficult to position the truck directly adjacent the load to be handled.

Preferably the boom extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truck.

Preferably the boom is extendable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement.

Preferably the boom includes two elongate members, one of said elongate members being rigidly attached to the base portion and extending outwardly therefrom and the other elongate member being mounted for telescopic movement relative to the first-mentioned elongate member.

More preferably rollers are provided between said elongate members to assist the relative movement therebetween.

Preferably a lifting point is provided at the end of the moveable elongate member, said point being in the form of a plate extending within the hollow end of the elongate member and being welded thereto along at least both long sides of said plate. This arrangement provides a very strong connection between the lifting point and the boom.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an attachment in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the attachment of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view of the attachment of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an attachment for a fork lift truck in accordance with the present invention includes a base portion 1 comprising two lower parallel spaced apart box section members 3 and 5. Overlying members 3 and 5 and interconnecting them are two channel section members 7 and 9.

Supported on base portion 1 is an extendable boom 11. Boom 11 comprises a first elongate box section member 13 which, as shown in the drawings, is rigidly attached to members 7 and 9 of base portion 1 and extends outwardly therefrom. Reinforcing plates 1 5 are provided to strengthen the connection between member 13 of boom 11 and members 7 and 9 of base portion 1 at the points of particular stress.

Boom 11 also includes a further elongate member 1 7 which is also of box section and is mounted within member 13 of boom 11 for relative telescopic type movement thereto. As shown in Figure 1, members 1 3 and 1 7 are provided with rollers 1 9 and 21 to assist the relative movement between the members. Roller 19 is mounted between arms 23 attached to the end of elongate member 13, the surface of roller 1 9 extending slightly above the interior surface of the lower horizontal side of elongate member 13.

Roller 21 extends between arms 25 attached to that end of elongate member 1 7 which lies within elongate member 13. The surface of roller 21 extends slightly above the outer surface of the upper horizontal wall of elongate member 1 7 so as to engage the inner surface of elongate member 13.

Interconnecting elongate members 1 3 and 1 7 is a hydraulic ram arrangement 27. Thus the cylinder 29 of ram 27 is rigidly attached by bracket 31 to elongate member 13 and in a similar way the piston 33 of ram 27 is rigidly attached to elongate member 1 7.

Pipes 35 supply hydraulic fluid to ram arrangement 27 to cause extension or retraction of the boom by movement of elongate member 17 relative to member 13. Pipe 35 may extend to and be operable by the hydraulic system of the fork lift truck.

Each of the elongate members 13 and 17 of boom 11 is provided with a lifting point. Lifting point 37 is in the form of a plate which is welded to the underside of elongate member 13 and includes eyes 39 from which may be hung, for instance, a D-shackle enabling loads to be lifted.

Lifting point 41 is also in the form of a plate but as best seen in Figure 3 the plate extends inwardly of the end of elongate member 17. The ends of the side walls of elongate member 1 7 are turned inwardly towards plate 41 and the end edges of elongate member 1 7 are welded down at least the whole of the vertical length of each side of plate 41. Plate 41 may be further welded along the top and bottom edges to the end of elongate member 17. Eye 43 is provided in plate 41 to enable, for instance, a D-shackle and attached load to be supported thereon.

A safety clamp 45 is connected to elongate member 13 of boom 11 by means of a chain 47 attached to plate 49 which is in turn welded to member 13. Safety clamp 47 may be attached to a plate integral with the body of the fork lift truck.

The above-described attachment for a fork lift truck is in all welded construction which is extremely sturdy and enables loads to be lifted which are positioned some distance away from the tines of the fork lift truck. In order to utilise the attachment, the tines of the fork lift truck are inserted within channel section members 7 and 9 of base portion 1 and the pipes 35 are connected to the source of hydraulic fluid on the truck. The safety clamp is connected to the body of the truck.

With the truck in position loads may be lifted by attaching them to lifting points 37 and/or 41. The distance between lifting point 37 and the tines of the truck is of course fixed. However, the distance between lifting point 41 and the tines of the truck can be varied between the minimum and maximum extensions of elongate member 17 relative to member 13. In a typical case this lifting point may be used to lift loads located from seven to about twelve feet away from the tines of the truck.

Claims (10)

1. A lifting attachment for a fork lift truck comprising a base portion adapted to be engageable by the tines of the fork lift truck so as to be supported thereon, and mounted on said base portion, an extendable boom enabling loads to be handled at positions spaced from the tines of the truck.

2. An attachment according to claim 1 wherein said boom extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truck.

3. An attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said boom is extendable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement.

4. An attachment according to any preceding claim wherein said boom includes two elongate members, a first being rigidly attached to the base portion, and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second being mounted for telescopic movement relative to said first elongate member.

5. An attachment according to claim 4 wherein bearings are provided between said elongate members, so as to assist relative movement therebetween.

6. An attachment according to claim 5 wherein said bearings are in the form of rollers.

7. An attachment according to any preceding claim wherein a lifting point is provided at the end of the movable elongate member.

8. An attachment according to claim 7 wherein said lifting point is in the form of a plate extending within the hollow end of the elongate member, and is welded thereto along at least both long sides of said plate.

9. A lifting attachment for a fork lift truck substantially as described herein.

10. An attachment according to claim 1 and substantially as described in the accompanying drawings.