GB2289669A

GB2289669A - Industrial lift truck

Info

Publication number: GB2289669A
Application number: GB9410163A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dawson Sellar; Paul John Eckersley
Original assignee: Lansing Linde Ltd
Current assignee: Linde Material Handling UK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-20
Filing date: 1994-05-20
Publication date: 1995-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-20
Also published as: DE19518116A1; GB9410163D0; GB2289669B

Description

INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCKS 2289669 This invention relates to industrial lift

trucks.

More particularly but not exclusively, the driverfs cab or compartment rises with the load carriage to allow the driver to order pick or manually select items at a raised level. On such a truck it is normal for the driver's seat to face forwardly of the truck. The driver is also able to stand in the cab whilst order picking items and placing them onto a load supporting platform mounted on the load carriage. Otherwise the truck has load supporting forks on the load carriage. Particularly when the truck is operating in an aisle, the driver has to manoeuvre the truck both forwards and is backwards, and repeated turning of the head and body to reverse the truck can cause the driver strain. The same applies on other types of truck having a driver's position facing forwardly of the truck, whether the driver sits or stands to operate the truck controls.

On other trucks, for example reach trucks, the driver's seat can face sidewardly of the truck, but again the driver has to turn at least his head whilst maneouvring the truck forwards and backwards.

An object of this invention is to provide greater safety when the driver is manoeuvring a truck and less tendency for the driver to suffer repetitive strain caused through frequently reversing the truck.

According to the invention there is provided an industrial lift truck having means for manoeuvring the truck actuated by control means accessible to the driver, and a driverfs compartment in which the driver sits or stands in a position which allows the driver to operate the control means, wherein the driver's position is provided with a turntable on which the driver sits or stands and on which the control means are mounted, and wherein there are provided means for rotating the turntable to turn the driverfs position, together with the control means, about a vertical axis relative to the remainder of the truck.

Preferably the turntable is rotatable through at 0 least 180 It is also preferred that a seat for the driver is mounted on the turntable. The seat is preferably a folding seat to enable the driver to stand or sit. The seat may be profiled so that when folded it maximises the space for the driver to stand and/or provides a support for the driver in a squatting position.

Preferably the control means also actuate the particular functions of the truck.

The control means is preferably a control panel having a multiplicity of switches for electrically actuating the truck manoeuvring means and the particular functions of the truck.

Preferably the driverfs compartment has upper and lower side rails on at least one side which are interconnected for movement together between closed and open positions to allow the driver access to the driverfs compartment. In one embodiment of the invention said rails are mounted for upward pivotal movement to their respective open positions and are interconnected by belt drive means extending between the pivot axes of the rails. The rails are preferably associated with an interlock which prevents operation of the control means when the rails are out of their closed positions.

The or each upper side rail may be additionally movable in an outward direction to a limited extent, thereby increasing the driverfs reach.

In a particular embodiment, the truck has a load support platform adjacent the driver's compartment, in which case access may be provided for the driver to move onto the load support platform from the driver's compartment. By way of example, specific embodiments in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an industrial lift truck having a driver's compartment which rises with load support means on a mast structure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the driver's compartment of the truck of Figure 1 showing the driver's folding seat and the truck control means mounted on a turntable; Figure 3 is a side view of the driverts compartment; Figure 4 shows the control means for the driver to manoeuvre the truck and to actuate the particular functions of the truck; Figure 5 is a detail view of the seat when folded showing the profile of its front edge and underside; Figure 6 shows the turntable rotated through 900; Figure 7 shows the turntable rotated through 180 0 to facilitate reversing of the truck; Figure 8 illustrates drive means for the turntable; Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 3 showing the seat folded and the side rails pivoted upwardly; Figure 10 illustrates drive means for interconnecting the upper and lower side rails; Figure 11 is a detailed view showing one of the upper side rails moved outwardly to a limited extent, thereby increasing the driverfs reach; Figure 12 illustrates the mounting of the upper side rail for outward movement as shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 illustrates an alternative arrangement for pivoting the upper side rail outwardly; and Figure 14 shows the turntable in the same position as in Figure 6 with the front rail pivoted upwards to allow the driver to move from the driver's compartment onto a load support platform.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows an electrically driven industrial lift truck comprising a body portion 10, battery 11, and extendible mast structure 12. Mounted on the mast structure is a driverfs compartment 13, and turret load support means 14 including a secondary mast 15, load carriage 16 and load support forks 17. As in a conventional truck of this type, the driver rises with the load support means 14 and the turret enables the driver to pick up loads both forwardly of the truck or laterally, the turret moving to either side on racks 18 fixed on the front of the driver's compartment. The above features are known and need not be described further.

The invention concerns the driverfs compartment 13 which will now be described. Within the driverfs compartment 13, control means comprising a control panel 20 is accessible to the driver to enable the driver to actuate drive means for manoeuvring the truck and for performing the particular functions of the truck. In this embodiment, each control operation is electrically actuated by a respective switch 21 on the control panel 20. A separate knob 19 actuates an emergency brake. If desired, there may be provided a foot pedal (not shown) which acts as a "dead-man" control over at least the drive means for manoeuvring the truck. The control panel 20 with its multiplicity of switches 21 (Figure 4) is supported on the upper end of a vertical column 22 through which pass the electric cables (not shown) connecting the switches 21 to the respective drive means.

A seat 23 is provided for the driver which normally faces forwardly of the truck, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the conventional manner for this type of truck. In this embodiment, the seat 23 has two adjustment levers 24, one on either side, beneath the seat. One lever enables the height of the seat to be varied, and the other lever allows the seat to be adjusted fore and aft. The seat can also fold to increase the space for the driver to stand and to move about within the compartment. The seat is profiled, i.e. concave, on its underside 25 and front edge 26 so that when the seat is folded (Figure 5), the seat respectively maximises the space for the driver to stand and provides support for the driver to adopt a squatting position.

The seat 23 and the column 22 which supports the control panel 20 are mounted on a turntable 27 which, in this embodiment forms the central area of the floor 36 of the driverls compartment 13. Also, in this embodiment, the seat 23 is supported on a concave carrier 40 which at its lower end is mounted on the turntable and at its upper end has a stub shaft 41 which is rotatable in a bearing in the roof 42 of the driverts compartment, the shaft having the same vertical axis as the axis of rotation of the turntable 27. Rotation of the turntable 27 by actuating the respective switch 21 on the control panel 20, turns the driver's position, i.e. the seat 23 and the carrier 40, together with the control means 20, 22, through at least 180 0 in the required direction. Another switch on the control panel returns the turntable to its central position.

In Figure 6, the turntable is shown rotated through 0 in which the driver faces to one side of the truck, and in Figure 7 the turntable has turned the driver's position through 180 0 so that the driver faces directly to the rear of the truck and can see rearwardly through a glass panel 28 between the uprights of the mast 12. Reversing this type of truck has to be performed repeatedly and is thus greatly facilitated by the provision of the turntable 27 for turning the driverfs position. The turntable also gives the advantage of increased safety and avoids the risk of the driver suffering an injury through repetitive strain of turning his head and shoulders to reverse the truck.

In this embodiment, the means for rotating the turntable 27 is an electric motor 29 mounted beneath the floor 36 of the driverfs compartment 13 and in driving relation with the turntable by a timing belt drive 50.

The belt 51 transmits the drive from a pulley 30 on the output shaft of the motor to a larger diameter pulley 31 fixed to the underside of the turntable 27. The belt drive provides a smooth motion, no backlash and quiet operation.

On each side of the driverts compartment 13, there are provided upper and lower safety rails 32, 33, and at the front of the driver's compartment there is a cross rail 34 at the same height as the upper side rails 32.

Each pair of side rails 32, 33 are pivotally mounted at one end to a stanchion 35 for upward pivotal movement towards an open position (Figure 9) to provide access for the driver to the driverfs compartment. In this embodiment. the rails 32, 33 are interconnected by a timing belt drive so that manual upward movement of the upper rail 32 by the driver causes simultaneous upward movement of the associated lower rail 33. The timing belt drive 52 (Figure 10) is arranged vertically within the respective stanchion 35 so that the drive means are concealed and protected. The belt 53 interconnects pulleys 54, 55 mounted on the rails 32, 33 respectively. When the rails are fully open they are substantially aligned vertically and minimise any restriction on the driverfs access to the driverfs compartment 13. Preferably the belt 53 is steel wire reinforced for additional strength. and to minimise flexing of the system, as well as to reduce any backlash, i.e. floppy movement of the rails 32. 33. to very nearly zero. Pulley 54 on the lower rail 33 carries a cam 56 to operate a microswitch 57. Thereby an interlock is - 7 provided on each side of the truck so that the lift controls cannot be operated without both pairs of rails 32, 33 being in their horizontal closed positions. switch 57 is both environmentally and mechanically protected by being mounted within the stanchion 35. Enclosure of the switch also at least reduces the possibility of any tampering with the switch and thus acts as a safety feature.

Each upper rail 32 is further movable to a limited extent in an outward direction as shown in Figure 11 which enables the driver of the order picker truck (Figure 1) to move closer to racking for ease of operation, i.e. this feature effectively increases the driver's reach. For this purpose each upper rail 32 is (see Figure 12) can move outwardly against a spring 60 mounted within the adjacent end of the front cross rail 34. To allow the upper rail 32 to move outwardly, the driver depresses button 58 to release a ball catch 59.

In an alternative arrangement (Figure 13), each upper rail 32, together with the associated lower rail 33 and stanchion 35, can pivot outwardly against spring 61 when lent on by the driver.

In Figure 14, the front cross rail 34 is shown pivotally raised to allow the driver, when the turntable is rotated through 90 0, to move from the driver's compartment 13 onto a load support platform carried by the forks 17. The platform comprises a three sided cage into which the driver can load required items.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiment described above. In particular, the turntable for turning the driver's position can be employed on any other type of truck in which the driver sits or stands. For example, the truck may be a reach truck in which the driver normally sits transversely of the truck, or a counterbalance truck. In each case the driver's seat and the control means would be mounted on the turntable to rotate therewith.

Z

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An industrial lift truck having means for manoeuvring the truck actuated by control means accessible to the driver, and a driver's compartment in which the driver sits or stands in a position which allows the driver to operate the control means, wherein the driver's position is provided with a turntable on which the driver sits or stands and on which the control means are mounted, and wherein there are provided means for rotating the turntable to turn the driver's position, together with the control means, about a vertical axis relative to the remainder of the truck.

is

2. A truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turntable is rotatable through at least 1800.

3. A truck as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a seat for the driver is mounted on the turntable.

4. A truck as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seat is a folding seat to enable the driver to stand or sit.

5. A truck as claimed in claim 4, wherein the seat is profiled so that when folded it maximises the space for the driver to stand.

6. A truck as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the seat when folded provides a support for the driver in a squatting position.

7. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means also actuate the particular functions of the truck.

8. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is a control panel having a multiplicity of switches for electrically actuating the truck manoeuvring means and the particular functions of the truck.

9. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driverfs compartment has upper and lower side rails on at least one side which are interconnected for movement together between closed and open positions to allow the driver access to the driverts compartment.

10. A truck as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said rails are mounted for upward pivotal movement to their respective open positions and are interconnected by belt drive means extending between the pivot axes of the rails.

11. A truck as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the rails are preferably associated with an interlock which prevents operation of the control means when the rails are out of their closed positions.

12. A truck as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the or each upper side rail may be additionally movable in an outward direction to a limited extent, thereby increasing the driver's reach.

13. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the truck has a load support platform adjacent the driver's compartment, and wherein access is provided for the driver to move onto the load 35 support platform from the driver's compartment.

14. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the truck has a load support platform adjacent the driver's compartment, and wherein access is provided for the driver to move onto the load support platform from the driver's compartment.

is

15. An industrial lift truck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings

14. An industrial lift truck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

is j;Z--- Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An industrial lift truck having means for manoeuvring the truck actuated by control means accessible to the driver, and a driver's compartment in which the driver sits or stands in a position which allows the driver to operate the control means, wherein the driver's compartment has a floor on which the driver can stand and/or move about combined with a turntable on which the control means are mounted, and wherein there are provided means for rotating the turntable to turn the driver7s position, together with the control means, about a vertical axis relative to the remainder of the truck.

is 2. A truck as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the turntable provides the central area of the floor.

3. A truck as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the turntable is rotatable through at least 1800.

4. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a seat for the driver is mounted on the turntable.

5. A truck as claimed in claim 4, wherein the seat is a folding seat to enable the driver to stand or sit.

6. A truck as claimed in claim 5, wherein the seat is profiled so that when folded it maximises the space for the driver to stand.

7. A truck as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, R 13 wherein the seat when folded provides a support for the driver in a squatting position.

8. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means also actuate the particular functions of the truck.

9. A truck as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is a control panel having a multiplicity of switches for electrically actuating the truck manoeuvring means and the particular functions of the truck.

10. A truck as claimed in any one of the is preceding claims, wherein the driver's compartment has upper and lower side rails on at least one side which are interconnected for movement together between closed and open positions to allow the driver access to the driver's compartment.

11. A truck as claimed in claim 10, wherein said rails are mounted for upward pivotal movement to their respective open positions and are interconnected by belt drive means extending between the pivot axes of the rails.

12. A truck as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the rails are preferably associated with an interlock which prevents operation of the control means when the rails are out of their closed positions.

13. A truck as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the or each upper side rail may be additionally movable in an outward direction to a IL limited extent, thereby increasing the driver's reach.