JP2783099B2 - Industrial vehicle step structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a step provided in an industrial vehicle such as a forklift, and more particularly, to a step structure of an industrial vehicle in which the step forms a part of a fuel tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an industrial vehicle such as a forklift, a step is provided on a side surface of a side frame for the purpose of making it easy for a driver to get on and off because a floor panel is at a high position. As the step structure, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 56-76579, an open step structure has recently been tending to be adopted.

In order to reduce the number of times of refueling, it is common practice to provide a fuel tank in a side frame portion capable of securing a large space, and a fuel tank is arranged below a step formed in the side frame. There is. As a conventional step structure in which the fuel tank is disposed on the side frame and the fuel tank is also located below the open step, for example, structures shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are known.

[0004] A tank panel 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section abuts the inside of a side panel 1 having a substantially U-shaped vertical cross-section constituting a side frame, and the joint is welded all around the fuel. A tank is formed. Then, the upper part of the front end of the side panel 1 and the front part of the tank panel 2 forming the fuel tank are cut out for step formation, and the step cover 3 abuts on the back surface on the entire periphery of the cut end face. The step cover 3 also constitutes a part of the fuel tank. The step cover 3 is formed of three flat plate portions that are substantially orthogonal to each other.

A stiffener tilt bracket 6 constituting a front fender is mounted so as to cover the step cover 3 and the front end of the side panel 1 from the front side, and the open step is performed by the stiffener tilt bracket 6 and the step cover 3. Is configured.
The stiffener tilt bracket 6 forms a front tire house together with a front axle mount plate 7 that supports the front axle.

[0006]

Since the connection between the panels forming the fuel tank is all-around welding, it is difficult to maintain airtightness. If a leak is detected by a leak test, it will be dealt with by post-repair. Like that. However, in the conventional step structure having the above structure, the joint between the step cover 3 and the tank panel 2 is covered by the stiffener tilt bracket 6 and is hidden, so that the joint, particularly FIG. It is difficult to repair by welding the joint indicated by W, and there is a problem that the repair is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a step structure in which the fuel tank can be easily repaired later.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a step structure of an industrial vehicle according to the present invention comprises a fuel cell comprising a side panel forming a side portion of a vehicle body and a tank panel provided inside the side panel. A tank is formed, and an upper front end of a side panel constituting the tank and a front end of a tank panel connected thereto are cut out, and a step cover is fixed so as to cover the cutout, and the lower part of the step cover is also fueled. A stiffener tilt bracket forming an inclined rear portion of the front fender is attached so as to form a part of the tank and abut the front end face of the step cover, and an open step is formed by the stiffener tilt bracket and the step cover. In some industrial vehicles, the notched end face of the side panel and -A step cover having a substantially L-shaped vertical section is attached so as to abut on the side of the tank panel facing outward in the vehicle width direction, and the vertical surface of the step cover is covered so as to cover the exposed surface of the front part of the tank panel. And a cover step notch formed by cutting out a side surface of the support step cover so that the side surface of the tank panel is exposed, and a support step cover that is laid between the support step cover and the stiffener tilt bracket. It is characterized by.

At this time, it is preferable that a plate cover is detachably attached to the support step cover so as to cover the cover notch.

[0010]

The step cover is brought into contact with the side surface of the tank panel, and the corresponding contact portion, which is a joint, is welded. (W portion in FIG. 8) is no longer a joint portion forming the fuel tank.

Further, since the joint between the step cover and the side surface of the tank panel is exposed through the notch of the cover of the support step cover, even if a leak is detected at the joint, post-repair is performed. Can be easily implemented. Also,
The support step bracket protects the exposed end face of the fuel tank plate.

[0012] Further, since the support step cover is laid horizontally between the stiffener tilt bracket and the step cover, the force input from the front axle mount plate or the like is transmitted to the rear through the support step cover. The step portion is reinforced by the support plate cover. Further, by attaching the plate cover, the side surface portion of the tank panel exposed through the cover notch is protected except when necessary.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the industrial vehicle such as a forklift of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, open steps are respectively formed at the front portions of the left and right side frames, and the fuel tank is arranged on the left side frame side.

The fuel tank is formed by a side panel 1 having a substantially U-shaped vertical section and constituting a side frame, and a tank panel 2 having a substantially U-shaped cross section disposed inside the side panel. The space for the tank is secured by being joined to face left and right. Steps are formed at the front portions of the side panel 1 and the tank panel 2 that form the fuel tank.

Next, the step structure will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper part of the front end of the side panel 1 is cut out, and the upper part of the front end 2a of the tank panel 2 connected to the notch 1a is cut out. Is missing. Then, the step cover 3 having a substantially L-shaped vertical section has its back surface abutted against the above-mentioned notch portion except for the notch portion 2b extending vertically, and the end surface thereof is exposed on the side surface of the tank panel 2. The contact portion, which is a joining portion, is welded so as to be able to engage with 2c. Thereby, the step cover 3 is connected to the tank panel 2 and the side panel 1, and forms a part of the fuel tank.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a support step cover 4 having an L-shaped vertical section is attached so as to cover the exposed end face 2d and side face 2c of the tank panel 2, and the support step cover 4 is provided. Extends horizontally in the front-rear direction, and is laterally suspended between a vertical portion 3b of the step cover 3 and a stiffener tilt bracket 6 described later, and
6 are connected. In addition, a portion of the support step cover 4 that faces left and right with the side surface of the tank panel 2 is cut out to form a cover cutout 5.

The front end surfaces 1 of the side panels 1, the step cover 3, and the support step cover 4 are provided.
The stiffener tilt bracket 6 is fixed to b, 3a and 4e from the front side. The stiffener tilt bracket 6 and the front axle mount plate 7 together form a front tire house.

Then, the passenger gets on and off the floor panel of the vehicle via the horizontal surface of the step cover 3. In the step structure having the above configuration, the joint between the end of the step cover 3 and the side surface of the tank panel 2 for forming the fuel tank is exposed through the cover notch 5, so that the leakage from the joint is prevented. Post-repair can be easily performed even if is detected.

Further, since the support step cover 4 connects the vertical portion 3b of the step cover 3 and the stiffener tilt bracket 6 in the front-rear direction, the front axle mount plate 7 and the like are connected via the stiffener tilt bracket 6. It transmits the force input from the rear and plays a role of a reinforcing member for improving the rigidity of the step portion.

Therefore, the stiffener tilt bracket 6
It is also possible to omit the connection between the bottom of the step cover 3 and the tank panel 2.
Can be exposed. Further, by making the upper portion 4a of the support step cover 4 horizontal, the floor portion of the vehicle becomes wider.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover notch 5 is covered with a plate cover 9,
The plate cover 9 is bolted to the support step cover 4. This protects the exposed side surface of the tank panel 2 so that a foot stepped on the step cover 3 is not inserted except when it is necessary to perform post-repair or the like. The space defined by the plate cover 9 (portion 10 in FIG. 5) may be used as an accessory case.

[0022]

As described above, the step structure of the industrial vehicle according to the present invention has an effect that the post-repair operation for detecting the leak from the joint portion between the step cover and the tank panel can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a step structure of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a step structure and a vehicle body of the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a step cover attached state of the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing attachment of a plate cover having a step structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional step structure.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing a step structure in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a conventional step structure viewed from the inside of a vehicle body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 side panel 2 tank panel 3 step cover 4 support step cover 6 stiffener tilt bracket 9 plate cover

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fuel tank is formed by a side panel forming a side portion of a vehicle body and a tank panel provided inside the side panel. A fuel tank is formed. A front end is cut out, and a step cover is fixed so as to cover the notch, and a lower portion of the step cover also constitutes a part of the fuel tank, and a front fender is provided so as to abut the front end face of the step cover. The stiff na tilt bracket that forms the inclined rear part of the
In an industrial vehicle in which an open step is formed by the stiffener tilt bracket and the step cover, a substantially L-shaped cross section is formed so as to abut on the cut end surface of the side panel and the side surface of the fuel tank panel facing outward in the vehicle width direction. Attach the step cover of the shape, and cover the exposed surface of the front part of the tank panel, the support step cover laid between the vertical surface of the step cover and the stiffener tilt bracket, and the side surface of the tank panel A step structure for an industrial vehicle, comprising: a cover notch formed by cutting a side surface of the support step cover so as to be exposed. 2. The step structure for an industrial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plate cover is detachably attached to the support step cover so as to cover the cover notch.