JPH11199191A - Fork housing type forklift truck - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compactly house the horizontal part of a fork projected out to the forward part of a car body. SOLUTION: A fork 5 is divided into a vertical rise part 6 and a horizontal part 7. In order to connect the rise part 6 with the horizontal part in such a way as to be freely engaged/disengaged therewith, projected parts 20 are projected out of both the sides at the lower end part of the rise part 6 so as to allow the projected parts 20 to be fitted with the recessed groove 21 of each projected part 22 projected out of both the sides at the base part of the horizontal part 6. Cut-out parts through which the projected parts 22 are inserted, are provided for a mounting frame 4 guiding the rise part 6 in such a way as to be freely slid, and when the fork 5 is to be housed in, the fork 5 is brought up to the innermost side, so that each projected part 22 is thereby joined with each cut-out part. At this time, the insertion part 32 of a pull-in stem 31 located at the side of a car body 1, is inserted into the insertion hole 33 of the horizontal part 7, so that the horizontal part 7 can thereby be compactly housed in the inner side of the car body 1 by letting the horizontal part 7 be pulled in by means of a hydraulic cylinder 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a forklift truck, and more particularly to a forklift truck capable of retracting a horizontal portion of a fork into a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a forklift truck is provided with a fork on a mast attached to a front portion of a vehicle body, and performs lifting and lowering of the fork attached to the mast by a hydraulic mechanism. By the way, the fork in the forklift truck has an L-shaped structure having a rising portion and a horizontal portion, and the horizontal portion always projects to the front of the vehicle body. For this reason, when turning in a narrow place, the fork is difficult to protrude and rotate. There is also a problem that it is necessary to secure a large parking space for the forklift truck when not in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fork-retractable forklift truck which can solve such a problem and can store a horizontal portion of a fork projecting forward as required inside a vehicle body. I do.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fork which is provided on a vehicle body and which can be moved up and down; Connecting means for removably connecting the horizontal portion of the fork, an insertion portion provided on the support means for allowing the horizontal portion to move inside the vehicle body, and engaging the horizontal portion with the horizontal portion; And storage means for pulling the inside of the vehicle body.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the horizontal portion can be retracted into the vehicle body by the storage means by sliding the horizontal portion so as to match the insertion portion of the support means. Can be stored inside the vehicle body as needed.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a forklift truck according to the present invention will be described below. 1 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
Is a mast provided at the front of the vehicle body 1 and is moved up and down by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown). 4 is mast 3
A pair of left and right forks 5 are slidably mounted on the mounting frame 4. The fork 5 has a vertical rising portion 6 and a horizontal portion 7 protruding forward from a lower end of the rising portion 6, and is entirely bent into an L shape. In this embodiment, the rising portion 6
And the horizontal portion 7 are separated and separated from each other, and the rising portion 6 and the mounting frame 4 constitute support means for slidably supporting the horizontal portion 7.

At the upper edges of the upper frame 4A and the lower frame 4B of the mounting frame 4, step grooves 10A and 10B are formed in the width direction of the mounting frame 4, respectively. Inverted L-shaped engaging claws 11A and 11B are formed to engage with the step grooves 10A and 10B. Further, a stopper 12 that is in contact with the lower surface of the upper frame 4A is fixed to the rear side of the rising portion 6 by a bolt 13. ing. The engaging claws 11A, 11B of the rising portion 6 are engaged with the step grooves 10A, 10B formed in the mounting frame 4 to guide the mounting frame 4 slidably, and the stopper 12 is used to guide the mounting frame 4. 4 is kept.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description will be given of the configuration of the connecting means 10 of the divided rising portion 6 and horizontal portion 7. FIG. The connecting means 10 includes a convex portion 20 protruding outward from both sides of a lower end portion of the rising portion 6, a protruding portion 22 protruding upward from both sides of the base of the horizontal portion 7, and a protruding portion 22. And a concave groove 21 which is open to the front surface of the boss and which is fitted with the convex portion 20. Then, by fitting the concave groove 21 and the convex part 20, the rising part 6 and the horizontal part 7 are connected orthogonally to each other. At this time, the projecting portion 22 of the horizontal portion 7 has an upper rear surface in contact with the lower frame 4B of the mounting frame 4 and the lower frame 4B.
The horizontal portion 7 is prevented from coming off by sandwiching the protruding portion 22 of the horizontal portion 7 between B and the protruding portion 20 of the rising portion 6. The lower frame 4B has a cutout portion 24 at the center of the lower end, which serves as an insertion portion for the protrusion 22. The left and right forks 5 are moved toward the center and the protrusion 22 of the horizontal portion 7 is cutout. The horizontal portion 7 can be moved to the rear side, that is, to the vehicle body side 1 by being inserted from the 24. Also, the rising part 6
A projecting portion 25 projecting rearward is formed at a lower end portion of the cover to secure a contact area with the horizontal portion 7.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a hydraulic cylinder as storage means, which is arranged below the floor of the vehicle body 1. A retractable rod 31 located between the left and right horizontal portions 7 is connected to a cylinder rod 30A of the hydraulic cylinder 30, and the retractable rod 31 has a T-shaped having an insertion portion 32 protruding outward at the tip. An insertion hole 33 that engages with the insertion portion 32 is formed on the inner surface side of the horizontal portion 7. Numeral 34 denotes a receiving tray provided below the floor of the vehicle body 1, which stores the horizontal portion 7 when the horizontal portion 7 is drawn inside the vehicle body 1. The pan 34 and the hydraulic cylinder 30 are moved up and down by a lifting mechanism (not shown). That is, when the horizontal part 7 is opened by the lifting mechanism to perform the cargo handling work, the pan 34 and the cylinder rod 30A of the hydraulic cylinder 30 are used.
When the horizontal portion 7 is closed and the horizontal portion 7 is closed, the pan 34 and the retractable rod 31 connected to the cylinder rod 30A of the hydraulic cylinder 30 are lowered as shown by a chain line in FIG.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a slide drive mechanism for moving the left and right forks 5 left and right along the mounting frame 4. The U-shaped holder 41 fits into the rising portion 6 and drives the holder 41. A hydraulic or electric motor 42
Transmission means for transmitting the rotation of the motor 42 to the holder 41
As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission means 42A includes racks on the inner surfaces of the left and right holders 41, respectively.
A connecting rod 44 having 43 is fixed, and a pinion 45 fixed to a drive shaft of the motor 42 is meshed with the motor 42 so that the motor 42 rotates forward and backward.
The distance between the left and right forks 5 is adjusted by moving the left and right forks 5 in opposite directions. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, endless chains 46, 46A are connected to the holder 41, respectively, and the chains 46, 46A are mounted on a sprocket 47 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 42. At this time, one of the chains 46A is twisted and mounted on the sprocket 47, so that the motor 42 is rotated forward and reverse to rotate the sprocket 47.
The right and left forks 5 move in opposite directions by the chains 46 and 46A meshing with the 47, and the distance between the left and right forks 5 can be adjusted. When the left and right forks 5 are driven by the chains 46, 46A, the sphere 49 is connected to a wire.
When the chains 46, 46A connected by 49A are used and the sprocket 47 is provided with a hemispherical recess 49B in which the sphere 49 is fitted, when the chains 46, 46A are drawn, they can be easily drawn without twisting. It is suitable in this respect.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, at the time of cargo handling work, for example, the slide drive mechanism 40 is adjusted in accordance with the interval between pallets loaded with cargo.
Adjusts the distance between the forks 5. At the time of this cargo handling operation, the horizontal portion 7 connected to the rising portion 6 is located outside the notch 24 formed in the mounting frame 4, and the protruding portion 22 protruding from the horizontal portion 7 is formed on the mounting frame 4. Lower frame 4B and convex portion of rising portion 6
It is caught between 20 and is locked. Then, the mast 3 is moved up and down by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown) to perform the cargo handling work. After the loading operation is completed, the fork 5
Is once lowered to the lowermost position, and the fork 5 is moved to the innermost position by the slide drive mechanism 40. Thereby, the insertion part 32 of the retractable rod 31 arranged between the horizontal parts 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 33 formed in the horizontal part 7, and the horizontal part 7 and the retractable rod 31 are connected. Also, by moving the horizontal portion 7 of the fork 5 to the innermost position, the protrusion 22 of the horizontal portion 7 and the notch 24 of the lower frame 4B are aligned, and the protrusion 22 can be pulled out of the notch 24. Becomes By retracting the cylinder rod 30A of the hydraulic cylinder 30, the horizontal portion 7 is retracted, and the horizontal portion 7 protruding from the vehicle body 1 is accommodated inside the receiving tray 34 provided under the floor of the vehicle body 1 and stored inside the vehicle body 1. Is done. At this time, the left and right horizontal parts 7 are positioned by the tray 34, and the insertion part 32 of the retracting rod 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 33 formed in the horizontal part 7.
Never get out of Then, the pan 34 in which the horizontal portion 7 is stored is lifted by an elevating mechanism (not shown) and is stored away from the ground. When the cargo handling work is performed again, the tray 34 storing the horizontal portion 7 is lowered, and then the cylinder rod 30 </ b> A is extended so that the horizontal portion 7 passes through the notch 24 and follows the lower end surface of the rising portion 6. Is pushed forward. Thereafter, the protruding portion 22 of the horizontal portion 7 passes through the notch 24, and the concave groove 21 of the protruding portion 22 and the protruding portion 20 of the rising portion 6 are fitted, so that the rising portion 6 and the horizontal portion 7 are orthogonal to each other. Are linked together. Thereafter, the fork 5 is slid outward by the slide drive mechanism 40 so that the insertion portion 32 of the pull-in rod 31 comes out of the insertion hole 33 of the horizontal portion 7, and the protruding portion 22 is also disengaged from the notch 21. Since the rearward movement of the horizontal portion 7 is restricted in contact with the frame 4, the horizontal portion 7 does not come off during the cargo handling operation.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the horizontal portion 7 of the fork 5 bent into an L shape is detachably connected to the rising portion 6 so as to be engaged with the rising portion 6, and the horizontal portion 7 protruding forward of the vehicle body 1 is formed. It can be stored compactly inside the vehicle body 1 as required. For this reason, since the obstructive horizontal portion 7 does not protrude forward of the vehicle body 1, it is possible to enhance the turning performance of the forklift truck, and it is easy to drive even in a narrow place with a small turn.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the mounting frame 4 for mounting the fork 5 shown in the first embodiment and the rising portion 6 of the fork 5 are omitted. That is, in the present embodiment, the fork 5 is constituted by the horizontal portion 7 and the guide rail 50 serving as a support means is connected and fixed to the left and right masts 3. An inverted L-shaped engagement projection 51 is integrally provided on the horizontal portion 7 and an engagement groove 52 engaged with the engagement projection 51 is formed on the guide rail 50.
The horizontal portion 7 is slidably guided along the engagement groove 52. A notch recess 53 is formed on the upper edge side of the guide rail 50 between the masts 3, and a notch 55 serving as an insertion portion of the engagement protrusion 51 is formed in the center of the rear surface of the guide rail 50. Are formed so as to communicate with the engagement groove 52.

In this embodiment constructed as described above, the mast 3 is moved up and down by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown) during the loading and unloading operation.
The horizontal portion 7 of the fork 5 supported by the above is moved up and down to perform the cargo handling operation. The spacing between the horizontal portions 7 is adjusted by a slide drive mechanism (not shown) in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the holder of the slide drive mechanism is connected to the horizontal portion 7 so as to be freely detachable. I have. When sliding this horizontal part 7,
The horizontal part 7 moves right and left along the engagement groove 52 of the guide rail 50. Then, when the horizontal portion 7 is stored, the fork 5 is lowered to the lowermost position, and the horizontal portion 7 of the fork 5 is positioned at the innermost position by a slide drive mechanism (not shown), as in the first embodiment. Further, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 11, the pan 34 and the retracting rod 31 connected to the cylinder rod 30A of the hydraulic cylinder 30 are lowered by a lifting mechanism (not shown). As a result, the insertion portion 32 of the retractable rod 31 located on the vehicle body 1 side and the insertion hole 33 formed on the inner surface side of the horizontal portion 7 are fitted to each other, and the horizontal portion 7 is retracted. The part 51 escapes from the notch 55 of the guide rail 50 and the horizontal part 7 is
Is stored inside. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the horizontal portion 7 protruding forward of the vehicle body 1 can be compactly stored inside the vehicle body 1 and the obstructive horizontal portion 7 does not protrude forward of the vehicle body 1, so that the forklift The turning property of the truck can be improved. In addition, even in a narrow place, a small turn is effective and driving is easy. Further, in this embodiment, the mounting frame 4 is omitted, and the notch concave portion 53 located between the masts 3 is formed on the upper edge side of the guide rail 50, so that a member that obstructs the driver's view can be omitted. Not only can it be achieved, but also by cutting off a portion having no problem in strength, it is possible to secure visibility and achieve weight reduction.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
Various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the second embodiment of the present invention, an example is shown in which the guide rail 50 erected on the mast 3 and the horizontal portion 7 are formed with an inverted L-shaped engagement groove 52 and an engagement protrusion 51. As shown in the third embodiment of the present invention, a T-shaped engaging projection 51A is
The guide rail 50 may be formed with a T-shaped engagement groove 52A that fits with the engagement projection 51A, and the horizontal section 7 and the guide rail 50 may constitute the connecting means 10. Alternatively, in the first embodiment in which the rising portion and the horizontal portion are divided, a T-shaped engaging groove is formed in the rising portion, an engaging convex portion that fits with the engaging groove is formed in the horizontal portion, and the rising portion is formed. On the other hand, the horizontal portion may be slidably connected in the front-rear direction. The point is that the horizontal portion is connected perpendicularly to the rising portion, and the connection structure does not hinder the rearward movement of the horizontal portion. The structure of the connecting means between the rising portion and the horizontal portion may be appropriately set. Although a motor is shown as a drive source of the slide drive mechanism that slides the horizontal portion, a hydraulic cylinder may be used instead. Furthermore, the slide drive mechanism is not always necessary, and the fork can be manually slid.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a vertically movable fork provided on a vehicle body, and a supporting means for supporting at least a horizontal portion of the fork so as to be slidable in a lateral direction,
Connecting means for releasably connecting the support means and the horizontal part of the fork; an insertion part provided on the support means for allowing the horizontal part to move inside the vehicle body; and engaging with the horizontal part Since the horizontal portion is provided with storage means for drawing the horizontal portion inside the vehicle body, the horizontal portion of the fork projecting forward of the vehicle body can be stored compactly inside the vehicle body as required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a partially cutaway forklift truck according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a fork is stored.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fork.

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away side view in which the vicinity of the fork is enlarged, showing a state where the fork is projected.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same fork.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fork; FIG. 5A shows a state where the fork is protruded, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the fork is stored.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the slide drive mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the slide drive mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing a transmission mechanism of the slide drive mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view in which the vicinity of a fork according to a second embodiment of the present invention is enlarged.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the fork.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the fork.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a fork showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 5 Fork 4 Attachment frame (supporting means) 6 Rise (supporting means) 7 Horizontal part 10 Connecting means 20,60,61 Convex part which is connecting means 21 Depressed groove which is connecting means 22 Projected part which is connecting means 24,55 Notch (insertion part) 30 Hydraulic cylinder (storage means) 50 Guide rail (support means) 51, 51A Engaging projection 52, 52A serving as connecting means Engaging groove serving as connecting means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vertically movable fork provided on a vehicle body, support means for supporting at least a horizontal portion of the fork so as to be slidable in a lateral direction, and releasably connecting the support means and the horizontal portion of the fork. Coupling means, an insertion portion provided on the support means for allowing the horizontal portion to move inward of the vehicle body, and storage means for engaging with the horizontal portion and retracting the horizontal portion into the vehicle body. A fork-retractable forklift truck characterized by the following.