GB2229686A

GB2229686A - Vehicles or vessels with dismountable power packs

Info

Publication number: GB2229686A
Application number: GB9004033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sydney Shaw
Original assignee: Shaw Sydney & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shaw Sydney & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1989-02-22
Filing date: 1990-02-22
Publication date: 1990-10-03
Also published as: GB9004033D0; GB8904029D0

Abstract

An industrial vehicle, eg. a fork-lift truck, or a vessel has an integral power pack which is readily dismountable and is capable of operation when dismounted, eg. for testing. The power pack may comprise a frame (2), i.c. engine (3), hydraulic pump (5), hydraulic hoses (6), fuel tank (7), hydraulic fluid reservoir (8), battery (14), and control box (15). In a fork-lift truck the hoses (6) supply the driven wheels and forks; in a vessel, the hoses may be of considerable length, leading from the inboard power pack to the outboard hydraulic motor and screw. The fuel tank (7) and fluid reservoir (8) are mounted low so that there is little change in the centre of gravity of the vehicle as the fuel and fluid levels change. <IMAGE>

Description

Intearal Power Packs The invention relates to industrial vehicles, vessels or plant, and particularly but not exclusively to fork lift trucks, incorporating motive power units.

According to the invention there is provided a unit being an industrial vehicle, a vessel or craft or an installation such as a mechanical handling plant, said unit incorporating an integral power pack dismountable and capable of operation remote from the units, the power pack comprising a frame, on or in which are mounted an integral combustion engine, a battery and at least one hydraulic pump operatively connected with the engine, a fuel tank in fluid connection with the engine and a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid connection with the pump. The pack may also comprise oil filters.

Preferably the tank and the reservoir are located beneath the engine and pump.

In known fork lift trucks it is common to find that the side elements of the chassis each comprise two plates spaced apart, and the space between the plates being used to accommodate, at one side, the fuel tank and, at the other side, the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The construction now proposed has the advantage that both of the liquid-filled containers may be arranged closer to the centre of gravity of the truck and that there is little change in the centre of gravity as the level of fluid, particularly in the fuel tank, lowers in use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Fig. 1 shows schematically a plan view of a dismountable power pack for a fork lift truck; and Fig. 2 shows, also schematically, a side elevation of the power pack of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the power pack comprises a rigid substantially rectangular steel frame 1 having holes 2 for mounting bolts. A diesel engine 3 is mounted on the frame and its output shaft 4 is connected to a hydraulic pump 5.

Also connected to the frame 1 but slung thereunder are a rectangular fuel tank 7 and a hydraulic fluid reservoir 8.

The fuel tank is connected to the engine 3 by means of a fuel pipe 9 passing through a suitable orifice in the frame, whilst the tank has a fuel inlet pipe 10. The engine has an exhaust pipe 19 directed away from the pump 5.

A hydraulic fluid feed pipe 11 connects the reservoir 8 to the low pressure side of the pump 5 which in this embodiment has two high pressure output ports to which are connected high pressure hoses 6. The reservoir also has hydraulic fluid filters 20, return ports 12 and a valved inlet 13 for filling the reservoir.

A battery 14 is mounted on the frame 1 adjacent the engine 3, and this is connected to the engine in the conventional manner and also to a control box 15 from which an electrical conductor 16 leads to a jack plug 17.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the engine 3 and all the necessary pieces of auxiliary equipment necessary to produce a hydraulic output are supported by the single frame 1. In what may be regarded as its normal function the frame is mounted by means of bolts passing through the holes 2 and securing the frame to a fork-lift truck. Then in order to utilise the motive power of the unit, all that is required is for the hoses 6 and the return ports 12 to be connected by quick release hydraulic couplings respectively to and from those parts of the truck requiring hydraulic pressure, for example the drive wheels and the lifting mast. Electrical control of the unit is transferred to the conventional dashboard of the truck by connecting the jack plug 17 to a socket appropriately connected to the dashboard.

It will be readily understood therefore that by disconnecting the jack plug 17 from the socket and the disconnection of the hoses 6 and the return ports 12 from the auxiliary equipment of the truck by releasing the quick release couplings, the complete unit may be removed from the truck by unfastening the bolts fastening the frame 1 to the truck whereupon the whole unit can be removed from the truck by the use of appropriate lifting tackle and being a completely integral unit it may thereafter be operated away from the fork-lift truck as an auxiliary unit for other hydraulic equipment.

Moreover, the power unit may be started up, serviced or tested away from the vehicle which may prove a significant advantage over systems in which each of the elements such as battery, pump, fuel tank and reservoir are separately mounted in the vehicle.

As shown in the figures, the drive shaft 4 of the engine 3 passes through the pump 5 to terminate it at 18, so that the unit not only provides power by means of a pressure differential between the high pressure hoses 6 and the return ports 12 but also kinetic energy by means of the rotary shaft end 18. Whether on the fork-lift truck or away from the truck the shaft end 18 may be connected to drive rotary elements through gears, pulleys or the like or, alternatively, the shaft may be connected to an auxiliary hydraulic pump mounted, if required, to the frame 1.

Preferably, the unit will be mounted symmetrically with regard to the fore and aft centre line of the truck so that the centre of gravity of the unit as a whole lies on that centre line, and the tank 7 and reservoir 8 being symmetrical with regad to the frame 1, the centre of gravity of the unit as a whole does not depart from the centre line notwithstanding any variation in the level of liquid in either of the containers.

In an alternative application of the invention a power pack substantially as descried above in relation to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is installed in a vessel and the high pressure hoses 6 are connected to a hydraulic motor which is mechanically connected to drive a propeller or screw, with a return hose leading from the hydraulic motor back to the return port 12 of the power pack. It will be understood that the hoses may be of considerable length, and thus it will be quite practicable for the hydraulic motor and screw to be located aft of the vessel in the manner of a conventional outboard motor, whilst the power pack may be located at any desired part of the vessel where its weight and bulk can be most readily accommodated. The arrangement thus obviates two limitations existing in conventional craft, namely the need for a seal where the propeller shaft passes through the wall of the vessel, and the need for the power unit to be located in line with the propeller shaft.

The Applicant reserves the right to submit further claims, both singularly and in combination, in accordance with the nature of the invention hereindescribed.

Claims

1. A vehicle incorporating an integral power pack dismountable therefrom and capable of operation remote from the unit.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein the power pack comprises a frame, on or in which are mounted an internal combustion engine, a battery and at least one hydraulic pump operatively connected with the engine, a fuel tank in fluid connection with the engine and a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid connection with the pump.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2 wherein the power pack also comprises oil filters.

4. A vehicle according to Claims 2 and 3 wherein the tank and reservoir are located beneath the engine and the pump.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding claims wherein the power pack is mounted onto the vehicle by means of bolts passing through holes located in the frame.

6. A vehicle according to Claims 2 to 5 wherein the power pack is functionally coupled to the vehicle using quick release hydraulic couplings to connect both parts of the vehicle requiring hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pump and using a jack plug to connect the battery to the vehicle controls.

7. A vehicle according to Claims 2 to 6 wherein the engine is operatively connected with at least one hydraulic pump via a drive shaft passing through the pump such that the engine may provide kinetic energy.

8. A vehicle according to Claims 2 to 7 wherein the power pack is mounted symmetrically on the vehicle with regard to a fore and aft centre line of the vehicle so that the centre of gravity of the power pack as a whole lies on said centre line, and the fuel tank and hydraulic fluid reservoir are symmetrical with regard to the frame, the centre of gravity of the unit as a whole does not depart from the centre line notwithstanding any variation in the level of liquid in either the fuel tank or the fluid reservoir.

9. A vehicle having a fuel tank and a hydraulic fluid reservoir wherein the tank and the reservoir are arranged close to the centre of gravity of the vehicle and there is little change in the centre of gravity as the level of fluid in either the fuel tank or fluid reservoir lowers in use.

10. A vehicle according to Claim 9 wherein the fuel tank and fluid reservoir are mounted symmetrically with regard to a fore and aft centre line of the vehicle.

11. A vessel having a power pack comprising a frame, on or in which are mounted an internal combustion engine, a battery and at least one hydraulic pump operatively connected with the engine, a fuel tank in fluid connection with the engine and a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid connection with the pump, said power pack being installed in the vessel such that high pressure hoses are connected to a hydraulic motor which is mechanically connected to drive a propellor or screw, with a return hose leading from the hydraulic motor back to a return port of the power pack.

12. A vessel according to Claim 11 wherein the hoses may be of considerable length such that it is practicable for the hydraulic motor and screw to be located aft of the vessel in the manner of a conventional outboard motor, whilst the power pack may be located in any desired part of the vessel where its weight and bulk can be most readily accommodated.

13. A vehicle as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.