IL282072A - Forklift attachments - Google Patents

Description

תוזגלמל םיפרוצמ םינקתה FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTSFORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS The invention relates to loading, unloading, and handling equipment. It is intended for usage on a self-propelled forklift with a cab and a swivel mast with a movable carriage located in front of it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various attachments for forklift trucks are known: lifting forks, bucket grabs, pliers and tippers for barrels, containers for bulk and liquid cargo, fixed on forks, etc. These devices have a support frame mounted on a carriage with a working body (forks, bucket, barrel holder, pliers) fixed on it and a mechanism for their driving and controlling. Typically, such mechanism consists of one or more hydraulic cylinders connected by flexible hoses to the hydraulic system of the forklift.

There is known a patent application US2018072547 (Al), in which its author, HOKANSON CRAIG RICHARD, describes a forklift gripping mechanism designed to clamp the fork with a load by applying a tensile or compressive force between the forklift attachment and the forks, by using a tie-down device, bolts, engine , latch or other means. 1There is also known a patent application US2018072548 (Al), in which its author, HOKANSON CRAIG RICHARD, describes a forklift fork grabber mechanism provided for clamping forks for a load by applying tensile or compressive force between a forklift attachment and the forks using a motor or other electromechanical means. The provided apparatus, system and method comprise proximity sensors and, in some embodiments, a video camera.

There is known a Chinese patent application CN107473137 (A), in which MING GANG and others have described a forklift and its adapters. The adapters consist of a fork tool and a pallet matched to the fork tool and used for anchoring to the ground. The fork tool includes a support, a plurality of forks located in the lower part of the support with a protrusion, a mounting support movably connected to the rear side of the support and used to connect to the forklift frame, and a first drive mechanism used to drive the support up and down. The pallet contains a housing with a plurality of guide grooves at the top, and the fork plates, which can extend into the guide grooves. In addition, the invention includes a forklift with a frame, a forklift attachment and a third drive mechanism. Depending on the attachment and forklift, matching of the fork plates and the pallet, the loads are placed on the pallet and conveyed through the fork plates, so the pallet can be reused.

There is known an attachment for a forklift described by AIZU NOBUHIKO in a Japanese Patent Application JPH10297894 (A). In an attachment for cargo handling of a forklift to be mounted in an attachable/detachable manner, an elevating/lowering member is capable for elevating/lowering along a mast through 2an upper hook and a lower hook, and a leg for assisting attachment/detachment by forming the L-shaped lower hook. The leg is stored in a backside of a base member in a condition where the lower hook is locked by the elevating/lowering member. When the locking of the lower hook is released, the leg is projected downward from the base member, and in attaching/detaching the attachment, and the leg is landed together with the lowest end part of the attachment. The attachment is placed on the ground and is held in a stable condition.

Closest to the claimed invention is the device according to the Japanese patent application JPH06199496 (A), in which its author, NAGATSUKA MASAHIRO, describes weight attachable device of forklift, containing cable stretched through the pulley in the struts at the front and rear, the frame covering parts of the casing of the head, the engaging part in the end part of the cable pulled from the front pillar, which engages with the back of the mast device. Hook at the end part the cable, extended from the rear pillar, engages with a lifting bar set to the upper part side of a counterweight. With an engagement protrusion at the rear lower part of a vehicle body engaged with the hook of the counterweight placed in a sideway falling posture, the counterweight is lifted up by a wire cable, using of the lifting movement of the mast device.

The hydraulic hoses connecting the adapters to the forklift hydraulic system are the most damageable parts of these attachments. They are subjected to mechanical damage from contacts with the environment, as well as from a large number of bends in the attachment points. This results in hydraulic fluid leakage and failure of the adapter. In addition, hydraulic hoses become clogged and freeze during the cold season. 3It takes time to connect the hydraulic hoses to the forklift, but even more time is spent adjusting the hydraulic system after attaching the adapters, and it is often necessary to install additional blocks in the hydraulic system.

The aim of the invention is to improve the reliability of the attachments and simplify their installation on the forklift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes the detachable attachments for forklift having a main frame with wheels, an engine, a counterweight and a driver's seat protected by an overhead guard. This forklift is equipped with a mast, pivotally attached to the main frame, to which the load backrest with a carriage and forks are attached with a possibility of reciprocating motion. The forklift is additionally equipped with detachable attachments.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the forklift is supplied with a bucket, which has levers rigidly connected to it, to which brackets are pivotally connected by means of hinges. These brackets are rigidly connected to each other by a support platform, and the free ends of the levers are provided with lugs, inside of which rollers are pivotally mounted. The bucket's levels are made with the possibility of contacting of the turning rollers, mounted on their free ends with a support post or a forklift overhead guard.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the forklift has an additionally support post pivotally attached to the mast of the forklift at its lower end, which 4has at its lower end brackets rigidly attached thereto and provided with turning rollers at their free ends.

According to other embodiments of the invention the forklift may be supplied with an attachment for overturning the barrels containing a barrel holder, a support frame mounted on the forks of said forklift and a spring-loaded lever, mounted in a hinge on this frame. The barrel holder is fixed by the semi-shafts, passed through bushings to the support frame. On the free end of one of the semi- shafts, a lever is rigidly fixed, which is connected to the frame lever by means of a shackle and two hinges.

According to still other embodiments of the invention, the forklift may be supplied with a gripper for moving bales and packages containing a working body of two levers fixed on the support frame by means of hinges and having branches with rollers at the ends, where levers are interconnected by a spring. The gripper is attached by means of a hinge to the additional support arm, having the fork and turning roller at its free end. The gripper is mounted on the carriage of the forklift during the vertical position of its mast. The gripper's support arm is made with the possibility of contacting with the turning roller, mounted on its free end with a support post or the forklift overhead guard.

According to still other embodiments of the invention, the forklift may be supplied with the detachable attachments, which are fastened onto its mast and carriage or forks using a lever-hinge system. The lever-hinge system includes an upper support frame rigidly attached to the upper part of the mast, to which holders are rigidly fixed, and the last are pivotally connected to the corresponding detachable attachment via intermediate articulated arm. The lever-hinge system 5includes also a lower support frame rigidly attached to the carriage or forks of the forklift and pivotally connected to the corresponding detachable attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by the drawings of FIG. 1 - 39.

Sheet 1 shows a general view of the loader.

The drawings of FIGS. 1 -12 depict the structure, attachment and operation of the attachment bucket.

The drawings of FIGS. 13-20 show the construction, attachment and operation of the barrel-tipping device.

The drawings of FIGS. 21-28 show the construction, fastening and operation of the bale and bag loading device.

The drawings of FIGS. 21-39 depict the design, attachment and operation of loader attachments suspended and operated by means of a lever-hinge system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described in the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Embodiments of the 6present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. It is noted that the drawings are schematic.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 there is shown a general view of a classic forklift 10 having a truck frame 8 with wheels and tires 9, an engine (power source) 7, a counterweight 6 and a driver's seat protected by an overhead protective frame (overhead guard) 2. A mast 5 is pivotally attached to the forklift 10, to which the load backrest 1 with a carriage 3 and forks 4 are attached with a possibility of reciprocating motion.

This loader is equipped with a set of detachable attachments.

The first is the bucket shown in FIG. 1 -12. Bucket 12 (FIG. 3, 4) has levers 14 rigidly connected to it, to which brackets 16 are pivotally connected by means of hinges 18. Brackets 16 are rigidly connected to each other by support platform 20. The free ends of levers 14 are provided with lugs 22 (FIG. 7), inside of which rollers 26 are pivotally mounted by axles 24. The forklift is additionally equipped with support post 28 pivotally attached to mast 5 at its lower end. Support post 28 has at its lower end brackets 30 rigidly attached thereto and provided with turning rollers 32 (FIGS. 5, 6, 8) at their free ends.

Another adapter for forklift 10 is an attachment for overturning the barrels (FIGS. 13-20). The device contains barrel holder 34, a support frame 36 mounted on forks 4 of forklift 10 and spring-loaded lever 38 mounted in hinge 40 on frame 36. Barrel holder 34 is fixed by semi-shafts 42 passed through bushings 44 to support frame 36. Lever 46 is rigidly fixed on the free end of one semi-shaft 42. Lever 38, having roller 48 at its free end, is connected to lever 46 by means of shackle 50 and two 7hinges 52 and 54. Support frame 36 is provided with stop 56 and is connected to lever 38 by means of spring 58 and two hinges 60 and 62.

In the drawings, FIG. 21 - 28 there is shown a gripper for moving bales and packages. The device contains a working body consisting of two levers 64 (flaps, jaws), fixed on support frame 66 by means of hinges 68. Levers 64 have branches 70, provided with rollers 72 at the ends, and interconnected by spring 74. To support frame 66 by means of hinge 76 is attached support arm 78 with fork 80 and turning roller 82 at its free end. The gripper is mounted on carriage 3 of forklift 10 during the vertical position of its mast 5. Roller 82 is in mobile contact with support post 28 or overhead guard 2 of forklift 10 (FIG. 27).

There are options for the implementation of detachable attachments for a forklift, in which the specified equipment is attached to its mast and carriage or forks using a lever-hinge system. The system includes an upper support frame rigidly attached to the upper part of the mast, to which holders are rigidly attached, pivotally connected to the corresponding attachment, and a lower support frame rigidly attached to the carriage or forks of the forklift and pivotally connected to the specified attachment.

The drawings, FIGS. 29 - 33 illustrate removable bucket 84 with a lever-hinge system attached to it, consisting of upper support frame 86 to which holders 88 are rigidly attached. Bucket 84 is fixed on lower support frame 90 by means of intermediate articulated arm 92 and lever 94 with hinges 96 and 98.

The drawings of FIG. 34 - 39 illustrate another removable attachment - barrel holder 100 (FIG. 35), mounted on carriage 3 or on forks 4 of forklift 10 by means of lower support frame 102, which is rigidly fixed on this carriage 3 or on forks 4 of 8forklift 10. In this case, barrel holder 100 is fixed on axle shafts 104 and 106, passed through bushings 108, rigidly fixed to lower support frame 102. Lever 110 is rigidly fixed to the free end of axle shaft 106, and is connected by means of an articulated lever 112 and two hinges 114 and 116 with upper support frame 118, fixed on the upper part of mast 5 of forklift 10.

The offered interchangeable attachments for the forklift are mounted and operated as follows.

The first is the bucket shown in FIGS. 1 -12. Bucket 12 (FIGS. 1, 4) is mounted on forklift 10 in the initial position in such a way that its support platform 20 is attached to carriage 3, and rollers 26 rest on mast 5 or support post 28. In the initial position, bucket 12 is ready to scoop up the load (FIG. 1). The capture of the load by bucket 12 is carried out with the forward movement of forklift 10. Bucket 12 is lifted into the transport position when mast 5 of forklift 10 is turned back towards its cabin and carriage 3 with the support frame 20 is simultaneously raised. Bucket 12, together with levers 14 pivots upward around hinges 18, since rollers 26 slide along the surface of mast 5 or support post 28 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2. Unloading of bucket 12 occurs when mast 5 is tilted forward and rollers 26 and stop contacting mast 5 or support post 28. Then carriage 3 with support platform 20 and bucket 12 attached to them is lowered and the cycle repeats.

Another adapter for forklift 10 is a barrel tipper attachment (FIGS. 13-20).

Support frame 36 of the tipper attachment is attached to forks 4 of forklift 10. Mast is positioned vertically. The barrel is installed in holder 34. To transport the barrel, carriage 3 is lifted together with frame 36, holder 34 and the barrel itself (FIG. 18).

To overturn the barrel, mast 5 is tilted towards the cabin. In this case, lever 38 rests 9against the upper protective frame 2 of the forklift or against support post 28 (not shown in the drawings) and, pivoting in hinge 40, drives lever 46 by means of shackle 50 and two hinges 52 and 54. Lever 46 pivots relatively to bushing 44 and rotates axle shaft 42 together with holder 34 together with the barrel fixed therein, releasing the latter from the load (FIG. 20). After that, mast 5 of forklift 10 returns to the vertical position and the attachment device together with the barrel are returned with the help of spring 58 to its original position.

In the drawings, FIG. 21 - 28 there is shown the gripper for moving bales and bags. The gripper is installed on carriage 3 of forklift 10 with the vertical position of its mast 5. Roller 82 is movably in contact with support post 28 or overhead guard 2 of forklift 10 (FIG. 27). When gripping the load, mast 5 is tilted towards the cabin.

In this case, roller 82 slides over support frame 28 or overhead guard 2 of forklift . Levers 64 therefore rotate in hinges 68 due to the action of lever 78 with roller 82 on branches 70 provided with rollers 72, freeing up space for picking up the load.

Then mast 5 is returned to a vertical position, as a result of which levers 64 come closer together, clamping the load together. To transport the load, carriage 3 of the loader is raised up, and for unloading, mast 5 is again tilted towards the cabin of forklift 10.

When attaching detachable attachments using a lever-hinge linkage system, upper support frame 86 is rigidly attached to the top of mast 5, and lower support frame 90 is rigidly attached to carriage 3 or forks 4 of forklift 10.

Replaceable bucket 84 is installed on forklift 10 together with the lever-hinge system in such a way that it is mounted in hinges 92 on lower support frame 90 rigidly fixed to carriage 3 or forks 4. Upper support frame 86 is attached to mast 5. 10In the initial position, mast 5 is located vertically, and carriage 3 is in the lower position (FIG. 30). Grabbing the load by bucket 84, moving the bucket to the transport position and unloading occurs when carriage 3 with lower support frame 90 is raised to the upper position. In this case, first, bucket 84 rotates in hinges 92 clockwise, and levers 94 rotate in hinges 96 and 98 counterclockwise. With further lifting, levers 94 continues to rotate in hinges 96 counterclockwise, while bucket 84 reverses its direction of rotation around hinges 92 and begins to rotate also counterclockwise until bucket 84 is unloaded. After that, carriage 3 is returned to its original position and the cycle is repeated (FIGS. 30 - 33).

When fastening barrel holder 100 using a lever-hinge system, it is mounted on carriage 3 or forks 4 of forklift 10 by means of lower support frame 102, which is rigidly fixed on this carriage 3 or on forks 4. In this case, barrel holder 100 is fixed on axle shafts 104 and 106, passed through the bushings 108 of support frame 102.

Additional lever 110 is connected with articulated lever 112 and two hinges 114 and 116 to upper support frame 118 fixed to the upper part of mast 5 of loader 10.

Barrel holder 100 is installed using carriage 3 of forklift 10 in a position that allows the barrel to be fixed on the surface. Moving the barrel to the transport position and unloading it occurs when carriage 3 of forklift 10 is raised. Barrel holder 100, axle shafts 104 and 106 and lever 110 rotate counterclockwise, and lever 112 rotates in hinges 114 and 116. After reaching carriage 3 of the upper position on mast 5, the barrel is unloaded (FIG. 38, 39), after which carriage 3 is lowered to its original position and then the cycle is repeated. 11Thus, the present invention describes detachable attachments for a forklift that do not containing hydraulic cylinders for their own drive and thereby are not associated with the hydraulic system of this forklift. The specified interchangeable devices are driven by the existing mechanisms of the forklift itself, which ensures their quick replacement and reliability in operation.

The present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, and it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be constructed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended below claims. 12