GB2471657A

GB2471657A - Fork spacing device

Info

Publication number: GB2471657A
Application number: GB0911600A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-06
Filing date: 2009-07-06
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-06
Also published as: GB0911600D0; GB2471657B

Abstract

Fork spacing device (90, Fig 4, 110 Fig 5), for remotely varying the spacing between forks 20 on materials handling equipment, can be retro-fitted to a floating fork carriage 10 of the handling equipment so that, in use, device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) is fitted on top and/or behind and/or within the carriage 10. The device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) may remain in position when carriage 10 carries one of more various handling implements, and may be removably attached to carriage 10. The spacing may be varied by a reciprocating ram (98, Fig 4) or by rotary means (120, 122, 124, Fig 5), and device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) may be operated from operator's cab (6, Fig 1). Device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) may include bearer means 93, 94 for acting on forks 20, and bearer means 93, 94 may include a position compensator for maintaining the ability to vary the relative positions of the forks 20 along fork carrier means 80. Device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) may be attached to carrier means 80. Device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) may be included on a vehicle such as a telehandler (5, Fig 1). Methods of operating the device (90, Fig 4, 110, Fig 5) and fitting it to materials handling equipment are also claimed.

Description

Fork Spacing Device The present invention relates to a fork spacing device, to a materials handling vehicle including a fork spacing device, to a method of varying the spacings of forks on materials handhng equipment and to a method of retro-fitting a fork spacing device to materials handhng equipment.

Materials handling equipment such as telehandlers may include a pair of forks for the lifting of materials such as pallets. These forks are typically carried on a carriage.

However, as not all materials are of a standard si2e it is sometimes necessary to vary the spacing between the forks. This may be effected manually in that the forks may be moved along a carrier, forming part of the carriage, by hand. This method is time consuming and can be dangerous in that the likelihood of trips and falls and trapped fingers is increased.

To address this it is 1-uiown to supply replacement carriages which include fork spacing devices. This is relatively expensive. Moreover, when it is desired to fit other material handling implements to the equipment the whole carriage must be removed and replaced with the original carriage onto which the other implements may be fitted.

It is also known to retro-fit remote fork spacing means onto existing materials handling equipment. These fit onto the front of the carriage and thus have the disadvantage that they reduce the safe working rating of the equipment in that materials of less weight may be lifted since the equipment has to also lift the retro-fitted remote fork spacing means. Another disadvantage of such means is that they have to be removed prior to attaching implements other than forks to the carriage.

It is desirable to be able to provide a retro-fittable fork spacing device for remotely varying the spacing between forks which has less impact on the rating of the equipment and which allows greater flexibility for the attachment of various implements.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a fork spacing device for remotely varying the spacing between forks on materials handling equipment, said forks being carried by a floating fork carriage, said carriage for carrying one or more various materials handling implements simultaneously or consecutively, said device for retro-fitting to said carriage, said device, in use, being substantially located on top of, and/or behind, and/or within said carriage.

I

The carriage may not previously include a remote means for varying the spacing of forks. It may, however, include a bar, or other carrier means, which support the forks and along which the forks may be moved manually, for instance by hand, and not remotely, to vary the spacing therebetween.

The term "floating fork carriage" is a recognised term of the art which includes an arrangement whereby the bar, or other carrier means, may move relative to the carriage. This allows for the loading and unloading of a load where the plane in which the loading points of the load for accepting the forks is not parallel to the plane in which the forks he. This may be due to uneven ground on which the materials handling equipment is standing and/or due to the load standing unevenly. The bar, or other carrier means, may move, in one embodiment, due to slots in the sides of the carriage through which each end of the bar rests. The slots may be larger than the size of the bar such that each end of the bar move along its slot. In this regard, the movement of the bar, or other carrier means, relative to the carriage may be provided manually, or may be powered by remote control, or may be effected in an unpowered way.

The carriage may be the carriage supplied by the original equipment manufacturer. For instance, in one embodiment, the device is particularly suited to being retro-fitted to JOYs (RTM) Q-frt (TM) carriage.

The term "on top of' refers to the orientation in normal use. In other words the device may be located above the carriage with the carriage fitted to the materials handhng equipment. The term "behind" refers to the area between the carriage and the materials handling equipment in normal use. In other words the device may be located between the carriage and the materials handling equipment with the carriage fitted to the materials handling equipment.

The term "substantially located" refers to the possibility that at least a part of the device is located, in use, in front of the carriage, as will be explained in more detail below.

The device may be adapted to remain in position with one or more of said various material handling implements, other than forks, being carried by said carriage.

For instance a single spike may be fitted to the carriage in between the forks without the need for the forks or the device to be removed.

The spacing of the forks may be along an axis substantially horizontal, in use.

The spacing of the forks may be varied by at least one reciprocating ram. The ram may move one fork directly or indirectly and move the other fork indirectly by means of a chain or rack and pinion system. Alternatively, two rams may be provided, one for moving each fork.

The spacing of the forks may be varied by rotary means. For instance, a motor may drive a cog which moves a chain, or rack and pinion system, to adjust the spacing of the forks. The motor may be driven hydraulically, pneumatically or by electricity.

The power for the motor and/or reciprocating ram may be provided by the power unit of the vehicle.

The device may be remotely operated from the operator's cab. This avoids the need for the operator to exit and re-enter the cab. The device may also be remotely operated from other locations not necessarily on or in the vehicle. For instance, a banksrnan may remotely control the spacing from in front of the vehicle.

The fork spacing device may include means for varying the spacing of the forks through at least one opening in a rear portion of the carriage. The carriage may comprise a substantially rectangular frame with means for connection to the materials handling equipment on the side closest to the materials handling equipment when fitted to the materials handling equipment. The frame may include uprights which extend from the underside of the top of the frame to the upperside of the bottom of the frame.

These uprights may extend to and from positions towards the centre of the top and bottom sides of the frame. The device may comprise parts which extend at least partially through the openings between these uprights and the left and/or right sides of the frame.

The fork spacing may include means for removably attaching said device to said carriage. These may be bolts, clamps, screws or other such means which allow the relatively simple fitting of said device to said carriage, without the need for welding, and without the need for specialist tools and/or skills. However, the device may be welded to the carriage in one embodiment.

The fork spacing device may include bearer means for acting on the forks to vary the relative positions thereof.

The carriage may include fork carrier means, said forks being carried by said fork carrier means and being moveable along the length of said fork carrier means by said bearer means, and wherein said bearer means include position compensator means for maintaining the ability to vary the relative positions of the forks along the fork carrier means with the fork carrier means at any position relative to said carriage.

The position compensator means may include an articulated joint to allow for variations in angle between the forks and the bearer means.

The fork carrier means may be one or more rods or rails on which the forks are mounted and along which the forks may shde.

As previously discussed, the position of the fork carrier means relative to the carriage may vary. This allows loads to be collected by, and removed from, the forks when the surface on which the load is resting/to be unloaded onto is not parallel with the surface on which the materials handling device is standing. The variability of the fork carrier means relative to the carriage may be provided by slots in the sides of the frame of the carriage which hold the ends of the fork carrier means and which allows one end of the fork carrier means to be at a different substantially vertical position from the other end relative to the carriage. Other means are contemplated.

The fork carrier means may be considered to part of the carriage.

The device may be attached to the fork carrier means. This embodiment may negate the need for position compensator means as the device and the bearer means may move with the fork carrier means relative to the carriage.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a materials handling vehicle including the fork spacing device of the first aspect and as described and claimed herein.

This materials handling vehicle may be a telehandler.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of varying the spacings of forks on materials handling equipment, comprising the steps of fitting a fork spacing device, according to the first aspect and as described and claimed herein, to a carriage on said materials handling equipment; and operating said device to vary the spacings of said forks.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of retro-fitting a fork spacing device to materials handling equipment, comprising the steps of providing a fork spacing device, according to the first aspect and as described and claimed herein, providing a piece of materials handling equipment, and fitting said device to said equipment.

The invention may provide a device which enables all types of telescopic handlers fitted with fixed or removable floating fork carriages as originally supplied by the manufacturer to be converted from manual positioning of the lifting forks to powered positioning of the lifting forks. The device may be easily fitted to, or removed from, new or used machines without the need for special tools or skills. There may be no, or minimal, loss or change in the performance of the machine.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic elevational side view of a telehandler according to the

prior art;

Figure 2 is an schematic elevational front view of a carriage according to the

prior art;

Figure 3 is a close-up schematic elevational side view of the carriage and part of the support art of the telehandler of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the device according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the device according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic elevational side view of the device retro-fitted to a carriage in a first position; Figure 7 is a schematic elevational front view of the device and carriage of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic elevational side view of the device retro-fitted to a carriage in a second position; and Figure 9 is a schematic elevational side view of the device retro-fitted to a carriage in a third position.

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term "connected", used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device A connected to a device B" should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Connected" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this

disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can he used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

The invention \vill now be described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

In Figure 1 a piece of materials handling equipment in the form of a telehandler is shown. It comprises an operator's cab 6 mounted on a chassis 7 supported by wheels 8. At the rear of the telehandler 5 a pivot point 9 is provided for supporting an arm 11. This arm telescopically includes a smaller arm 12. The smaller arm 12 may be extended in length relative to the arm 11 by means of an hydraulic ram 14. The smaller arm 12 telescopically includes an even smaller arm 13 which may also be extended and retracted relative to the smaller arm 12 by means of an hydraulic ram (not shown). At the end of the arm 13 a connecting member 15 is provided. This connecting member is used to carry a carriage 10. The carriage 10 is pivoted relative to the connecting member 15 around pivot point 30. The carriage 10 may be pivoted around pivot point by means of an hydraulic ram 40. The carriage 10 carries the forks 20. The arm 11 may be lowered and raised relative to the telehandler S such that loads may be collected by the forks 20 and moved.

The carriage 10 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. It comprises a generally rectangular frame 11 with three support members 50, 60 provided between the upper and lower sides of the frame 11. These support member 50, 60 are provided generally towards the rear of the carriage 10. The middle support member 60 includes a hook 70 which, together with the right and left hand sides of the frame 11, support a rail 80.

This rail 80 is generally tubular. The rail 80 supports two forks 20 which are generally L shape including a substantially vertical member and a tine 22 projecting forwards from the lower end of the vertical member. The forks 20 may be moved along the length of the rail 80 so as to vary the distance between them.

Figure 3 shows more clearly the connection between the carriage 10 and the connecting member IS at the end of the arm 13 which is telescopically provided within arm 12, which is itself telescopically provided within arm 11. The carriage 10 is pivoted about pivot point 30 and moved about this point 30 by means of an hydraulic ram 40.

Figure 4 shows one way in which the distance between the forks may be varied remotely. The device 90 comprises a housing 100 which is a substantially rectangular box. Within the housing 100 a belt 91 is provided and held substantially taught by two wheels 92, 94, one at each end. An hydraulic actuator 96 is provided adjacent the belt 91. The actuator 96 includes a ram 98 which may be extended and retracted relative to the actuator 96 by means of hydraulic control. The control means for this actuator 96 may be located within the operator's cab 6. The belt 91 is continuous and in the form a loop having two substantially parallel sides. The end of the ram 98 is connected to the belt 91 by a connection means 102. Connected to each side of the belt 91 is a bearer 93, 94 in the form of a bracket. One bearer 93 is located such that a part of it may act on one fork 20 to move it along the rail 80. The other bearer 94 is located such that a part of it may act on the other fork 20 to move it along the rail 80. As shown, the two forks are relatively close to one another towards the middle of the rail 80. If the actuator 96 is energised such that the ram 98 is extended relative to the actuator 96 the belt 91 will be moved in an anti-clockwise manner. This movement will move the bearer 94 towards the wheel 92 shown on the right and move the bearer 93 towards the wheel 94 shown on the left. Thus, in use, the spacing of the forks will be increased. Conversely, retracting the ram 98 relative to the actuator 96 will move the belt 91 in a clockwise direction bringing the two bearers 93, 94 closer together and thus decreasing the spacing between the two forks 20. Although the actuator 96 has been referred to as hydraulic it will be understood that it could be pneumatic or indeed driven by other means.

Although the term "belt" has been used, it is contemplated that a chain could be used.

The ram 98 may be connected via connection means 102 directly to one of the bearers 93, 94, rather than directly to the belt 91, however, this means that, in effect, the ram 98 may be connected to the belt 91 indirectly via the connection means 102 and one of the bearers 93, 94.

It is also possible for the device 90 to include two rams 98, each one connected either directly or indirectly to one of the bearers 93, 94. In this way, the position of each bearer 93, 94 and thus each fork 20 relative to the rail 80 may be independently controlled and varied. A belt 81, in this embodiment, may not be required.

Another way in which the spacing of the forks 20 may be varied is shown in Figure 5. The device 110 shown uses a motor 120 to turn a wheel 124 by means of an axle 122. The wheel 124 acts on two other wheels 126, 128 located with their axles 127, 129 lying perpendicularly to the motor's axle 122. One wheel 126 is located to one side of the wheel 124 and the other wheel 128 is located on the diametrically opposite side of the wheel 124. In this way when the motor 120 is energised, the wheel 124 will turn one wheel 126 in one direction and the other wheel 128 in the opposite direction simultaneously. Each wheel 126, 128 may be toothed, or have other engaging means, for engaging with a rack 130, 132. These racks 130, 132 may reciprocate in the direction of their longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail 80. A bearer 93, 94 is connected to each rack 130, 132 such that as the racks move so do the bearers. Each bearer 93, 94 bears or acts on each fork 20 SO as to move them along the rail 80. Tn this way, when the motor 120 is energised to rotate the wheel 124 in one direction, the spacing of the forks may be decreased, and with the motor 120 energised to rotate the wheel 124 in the opposite direction, the spacing of the forks 120 may be increased. The motor 120 may be operated from the operator's cab. It may be electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic in nature.

It should be understood that the description of the following Figures may be with respect to either form of device 90, 110, or indeed, that of another device which achieves the same effect of varying the spacing of the forks 20 along the rail 80.

Figure 6 shows how the housing 100 for the device may be mounted on the top of the carriage 10. Tn this way the bearers 93, 94 extend rearwardly from the housing 100 before extending downwardly and then forwardly to engage with the forks 20 supported on the rail 80.

Although, not shown the bearers 93, 94 could extend forwardly from the housing 100 before extending downwardly and then rearwardly to engage with the forks supported on the rail 80.

Figure 7 shows the same embodiment as in Figure 6 but viewed from in front of the carriage 10. The bearer 93, 94 can be seen engaging with each fork 20.

In Figures 4, 5 and 7 the bearers 93, 94 are shown as including a bifurcated end which fits around the top of each fork 20. The extent of overlap of the bifurcated ends with the top of each fork may be greater than shown. If this is the case, and there is some room provided between the sides of the top of each fork and the inside surfaces of each bifurcated end then the bearers 93, 94 could be said to include position compensator means. Tn this way, if one end of the rail 80 is at a higher position than the other end relative to the lower side of the frame 10, the bearers 93, 94 will still be able to apply pressure and/or force onto the forks 20 to move them along the rail 80.

An alternative method, not shown, is to include articulation between the bearers 93, 94 and each fork 20, and/or between the belt 91/rack 130, 132 and the bearers 93, 94. The articulation may be provided by a universal joint, a pivot, or other such well understood means.

Figure 8 shows how the housing 100 for the device may be mounted within the carriage 10. In this way the bearers 93, 94 extend downwardly from the housing 100 to engage with the forks 20 supported on the rail 80.

This figure also caters for the possibility that the device is attached directly or indirectly to the rail 80. Tn other words, rather than the device being supported by the carriage 10 frame it is supported by the rail 80. The housing 100 may or may not be present. In this way, if the rail 80 is removed from the carriage 10, the device may be removed with it. Furthermore, as the rail 80 is a floating rail, in that it can move relative to the carriage 10, there is no additional requirement to cater for ensuring that the bearers 93, 94 always contact with the forks to move them regardless of the position of the rail 80 relative to the carriage 10, since they always \vill contact with the forks.

Although not shown, the housing 100 could be located anywhere within the carriage 10.

Figure 9 shows how the housing 100 for the device may be mounted on the rear of the carriage 10. Tn this way the bearers 93, 94 extend forwardly from the housing 100 before extending upwardly and then forwardly to engage with the forks 20 supported on the rail 80. Other arrangements are possible such as the bearers 93, 94 extending forwardly and then upwardly, or upwardly and then forwardly as long as they may engage with the forks 20 to facilitate their movement along the rail 80.

Although not shown, the housing 100 could be located on the rear of the carriage 10. Furthermore, with respect to any of Figures 6 to 9, although not shown, the bearer 93, 94 may act on portions of the forks 20 other than the uppermost portions which support the forks on the rail 80. For instance the bearers 93, 94 may act on the corners of each fork where the tines 22 project forward from the substantially vertical members.

For any of the embodiments shown and/or described herein the bearers 93, 94 may act through the spacings between the support members 50, 60 and the sides of the frame of the carriage 10.

Any of the embodiments shown and/or described herein may be fitted to a telehandler as shown in Figure 1.

The invention may be particularly suited to non-mast type materials handling equipment. In this regard traditional forklifts may be considered to be of the mast type.

Claims

Claims 1. A fork spacing device for remotely varying the spacing between forks on materials handling equipment, said forks being carried by a floating fork carriage, said carriage for carrying one or more various materials handling implements simultaneously or consecutively, said device for retro-fitting to said carriage, said device, in use, being substantially located on top of and/or behind, and/or within said carriage.
2. The fork spacing device of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to remain in position \vith one or more of said various material handling implements, other than forks, being carried by said carriage.
3. The fork spacing device of either one of claims I and 2, wherein the spacing of the forks is varied by at least one reciprocating ram.
4. The fork spacing device of either one of claims I and 2, wherein the spacing of the forks is varied by rotary means.
5. The fork spacing device of any preceding claim, wherein said device is remotely operated from the operator's cab.
6. The fork spacing device of any preceding claim, wherein said device includes means for varying the spacing of said forks through at least one opening in a rear portion of said carriage.
7. The fork spacing device of any preceding claim, including means for removably attaching said device to said carriage.
8. The fork spacing device of any preceding claim including bearer means for acting on the forks to vary the relative positions thereof.
9. The fork spacing means of claim 8, wherein said carriage includes fork carrier means, said forks being carried by said fork carrier means and being moveable along the length of said fork carrier means by said bearer means, and wherein said bearer means include position compensator means for maintaining the ability to vary the relative positions of the forks along the fork carrier means with the fork carrier means at any position relative to said carriage.
10. The fork spacing device of either one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the device is attached to the fork carrier means
11. A materials handling vehicle including the fork spacing device of any previous claim.
12. The materials handling vehicle of claim 10 being a telehandler.
13. A method of varying the spacings of forks on materials handling equipment, comprising the steps of fitting a fork spacing device, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, to a carriage 011 said materials handling equipment; and operating said device to vary the spacings of said forks.
14. A method of retro-fitting a fork spacing device to materials handling equipment, comprising the steps of providing a fork spacing device, according to any one of claims I to 9, providing a piece of materials handling equipment, and fitting said device to said equipment.
15. A fork spacing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A materials handling vehicle including a fork spacing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of varying the spacings of forks on materials handhng equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A method of retro-fitting a fork spacing device to materials handhng equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.