GB707296A - Improvements in fork-lift trucks - Google Patents

Abstract

707,296. Fork lift trucks. RUBERY, OWEN & CO.. Ltd. Dec. 12, 1951 [Dec. 16, 1950], No. 30719/50. Class 78 (3) [Also in Group XXXI] A fork lift truck, in which the fork can be raised and lowered relative to a supporting mast (whilst the mast is also being telescopically extended or contracted) and can be tilted in a fore-and-aft direction relatively to the truck, has a main shaft, which can be selectively driven in either direction from a single prime mover, and gearing whereby a drive can be taken from the main shaft selectively to (a), drive the truck (b), raise or lower the fork and to extend or contract the mast, or (c) tilt the mast. As shown, the invention is applied to a lift truck which is supported by wheels 11 and a rear steering and driving wheel 12. The truck has a reversible electric motor 17 or a non-reversible prime mover and a reversing gear. The motor is connected by a chain with a sprocket 21a on an input shaft 21 of a gear box 28. The shaft 21 is gear connected with lay shafts 22, 23. The shaft 22 rotatably carries gears 34, 35 meshing with gears 36, 37 on shafts 25, 26 respectively, the shaft 25 being connected to the rear wheel and the shaft 26 being connected through bevel gearing 49, 50 with a shaft 29 which is connected to mechanism for raising or lowering the fork 14. The gears 34, 35 can be clutched to the shaft 22 by an axially slidable dog clutch member 40. The shaft 23 rotatably carries a gear 43, to which it can be clutched by a similar dog clutch member 46, which gear 43 meshes with a gear 44 on a shaft 24 connected to mechanism for tilting the mast 13. The clutch members 40, 46 carry forks 59, 61 having cheeks between which a selector 55 is adapted to engage the selector being carried by an axially movable shaft 54 under the control of a hand lever 19. The hand lever passes through a J-shapped gate (not shown), to effect the desired clutch engagement. Alternatively use may be made of two levers, one-a two position levercontrolling the tilting operation and the othera three position lever-controlling the wheel drive and fork raising, the two levers being interlocked so that fork raising and mast tilting can only be effected one at a time. Limiting means may be provided for the fork raising and mast tilting. Specification 707,295, [Group XXXI], is referred to.