US1391699A - Industrial truck - Google Patents

Description

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1919.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

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INDUSTRIAL TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1919.

1,391,699. PatentedSept. 27,1921.

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INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1919.

1,391,699. PatentedSept. 27,1921.

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3&1 @Mozmeq I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SCHROEDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KARRY-LODE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application filed June 20, 1919. Serial No. 305,582.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ScHRoEDnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in an Industrial Truck, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to industrial trucks, and has for its object to provide a simple, light and lowpriced construction that is flexib e, and will permit the weaving of the parts to prevent the localization of shocks, while withstanding hard usage.

The usual form of construction of industrial truck provides a rigid channel frame with bracing, supporting a platform. Such construction is heavy, while the rigid frame tends to localize the jars and shocks, so that spring suspension is usually required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable step and a brake pedal that may be folded with the step without affecting the brake.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon:

Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a truck embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a top view, with parts broken out to show the arrangement of the stiffeners and the location of the power plant. Fig. 4 is a broken view in side elevation of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a top view, partly broken away to show a four wheel steering mechanism.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to use a plate of preferably diamond corrugated sheet steel bent down at each side substantially at right angles to form a flexible platform and to utilize this platform as a frame. By doing so, I lighten the weight of the truck about 600,pounds, in one common size, and cheapen the cost. The platform acts like a huge gusset, as it is very flexible, to distribute the shocks and jars and to prevent their localization. As the truck is driven over inequalities of the ground or shop floor the flexible platform will warp or weave so that the wheels do not leave the ground. In order to permit the truck body to weave and to prevent the stresses that might affect the power plant, batteries and other parts, due to this weaving, I support the platform upon the axles through interposed angle stiffeners, and hang the unit removable power plant on the axle, with no support at the forward end of the power plant in order to prevent the transmission of the stresses set up in the platform as it warps or weaves to the power plant and to prevent the bending moment of the power plant from being transmitted and localized upon a small area of the platform. The batteries are spring supported from the platform in a bell mouthed pocket formed by the unconnected longitudinaland transverse stiffeners.

lVhile, therefore, I have shown and will now describe my invention in a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited. or restricted in respect to thespecific details shown, nor do I desire to be limited to a two wheel drive as the construction of the truck is such that it is readily adapted to a four wheel drive.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the flexible steel platform; 2 are cast steel end pieces that act as stifieners to the platform and also as end buffers; angle iron stiffeners 3 are riveted to the platform. The platform is diamond corrugated to lend stilfness to the sheet metal. The angle irons-3 do not run the full length of the platform but stop just beyond the wheels 4 and 5. Between angle irons 3 and parallel thereto are separate longitudinal bell mouthed stiffeners 58 bolted to platform 1. Separate transverse bell mouthed stiffeners 10 are likewise bolted to the platform 1 and in conjunction with the longitudinal bell mouthed stifl'eners form a pocket for the battery 21. The power plant is supported at one point only. Upon the underside of forward axle 6 and integral therewith. and about the center thereof is a plate 11, to which is bolted a plate 12, forming a part of the differential transmission housing 13. The forward end of the transmission housing 13 also carries a plate 14, integral therewith, to which is bolted a corresponding plate 15 of the motor casing 16. Attached to the forward end of the armature shaft 17 is a brake drum 18 adapted to rotate therewith. Armature shaft 17, at its rear end, carries a bevel gear adapted to drive through a train of gears 59 the conventional form of differential. Live axles 20 are of the full floating type and drive the wheels 4 through hub caps 19.. The live axles 2O carry knuckle joints 62 to permit steering on all four wheels and have squared ends adapted to fit into the differential and to be driven thereby. The wheels 4 and 5, rotate on single ball bearings 63, and are of metal disk construction. The dead axles 6 are bolted to angle irons 3 with space 8 between the top of the axles and the platform. Such construction localizes in the axle structure the stresses set up by the power plant.

The integral platform and frame necessitate the provision of a battery elevating means, as the conventional cut out portion and cover in the platform to permit the insertion of the battery, its inspection and filling, would destroy the characterization of applicants sheet metal platform and integral frame.

Attached to batteries 21 are wheels 22 and forked spring seat members 23. Rods 24, havihg hooks at one end and spring collars at the other end, pass through springs 25. Attached to rods 24 are chains 26 which are wound up on rods 27 by means of a removable crank handle 28. The cam and gravity actuated latch 61 on rod 27 prevent the unwinding of chains 26. The latch 61 is released from the cam by a slight rotation of the handle 28 which causes the bent end of the latch to rise from the depression in the cover and then by a fairly rapid reverse rotation of the handle 28 the chains 26 may be made to unwind from rods 27. The bent end of the latch 61 slides over the cover without engaging the depression during this more rapid reverse rotation. The batteries 21 are firmly held under spring suspension in the bell mouthed pocket formed bv the stiffeners 10 and 58, which, being independent, are free to weave with the warping of platform 1.

Bolted to front buffer 2 and to platform 1 is a drivers platform comprising a back plate 29 and hinged step 30 made of the same -material as platform 1. Back plate 29 carries controller 31, controller handle 32 and steering handle 33 pivoted at 34: to rock lever 35. The steering is on all four wheels, see Fig. 5, through handle 32, lever 35, rocker 36, link 37, rocker arm 38, drag link 39, rocker arm 10, link 41 and rocker arm 42 for front wheels 4: thence through rocker arm 43 drag link 44 to rocker arm 45 drag link 46 to rocker arm 47 for rear wheels 5. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 drag link 9 corresponds to link it but it runs longitudinally instead of across the platform.

The step 30 is hinged to back plates 29 by rod 48. The brake pedal 49 is forked at its rear end and when pressed down by the operators foot engages brake lever 50 and when raised with step 30 folds up against the back plate 29 without touching brake lever 50. Spring 51 is attached at 52 to back plate 29 and normally operates to maintain contracting brake band 53 in frictional engagement with brake drum 18, through link 54. crank 55, and toggle 56.

In the modified form, see Figs. l and 5. the flexible platform 1 is bent forward of the mid-section to form a low platform truck.

In this type of truck, the rear wheels 5 are of smaller diameter, the batteries are not slung under the flexible platform 1 but are carried over the front wheels at, and the stiffening has been changed. The batteries are spring restrained to platform 58 of the same material and construction as platform 1 and inclosed by plates 59. Platform 58 and housing plates 59 are bolted to platform 1 and back plate 29. Housing plates 59 serve as gussets to stiffen platform 58 and back plate 29 and the abutment-portion of platform 1. The stiffening of the lower platform 1 is accomplished by longitudinal angle irons 3 to which the rear axle is bolted. \Vhen the platform is bent the turned down sides must first be cut at 5'7 and as the bending takes place the cut in the sides opens up and gussets are welded in in order to have continuous sides.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple construction of truck that is light and yet strong and one which is flexible and of low priced construction.

Having now set forth the obiect and nature of my invention and various arrangements embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels independently secured to said platform adja-. cent each end, and longitudinal interntediate stiffening means carried by said platform.

2. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels independently secured to said platform adjacent each end, and disconnected longitudinal intermediate stiffening means carried by said platform adjacent each axle.

3. K power driven industrial truck comprislng a flexible platform, longitudinal intermediate stiffeners for said platform. an axle carrying wheels rigidly attached to said stitfeners adjacent each end of the. platform, a propelling motor attached at one end to one of said axles and unsupported at the other.

4. A power driven dirigible, industrial truck having a flexible platform, separate longitudinal intermediate stiffeners for said platform, independent axles attached to said stiffeners, wheels for said axles and one of said axles carrying a propelling motor.

5. An industrial truck comprising a flexible sheet metal platform having integral, downwardly bent sides, and castings secured to the ends of said platform between said sides, and axles carrying wheels independently carried by said platform adjacent the ends.

6. An industrial truck comprising a flexible sheet metal platform composed of a sheet having sides bent at an angle to form a flexible longitudinal stiffening, interior longitudinal intermediate stiffening means adjacent each end permitting limited intermediate flexibility of the platform, and an axle carrying wheels independently secured to said platform adjacent each end between said interior stiffening means.

7. In a truck comprising a flexible platform, wheels and axles adjacent the ends thereof, driving means mounted on an axle, and angle irons interposed between the axles and the platform to distribute the stresses due to the driving means set up in said platform.

8. In a power driven truck comprising a flexible platform, stifl'eners, axles, wheels and driving means therefor, the said stiffeners and axle secured to said platform to permit the platform to warp in order to maintain the said wheels upon the ground when driven by said driving means over inequalities of the ground.

9. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, wheels and axles, power transmission means, and a unit removable power plant suspended from one of said axles.

10. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, angle iron intermediate stiffeners, forward and rearward dead axles bolted to said stifl'eners, wheels for said axles, a unit removable power plant bolted to said forward dead axle, full floating live axles from said power plant for power transmission to said wheels,

11. In a truck comprising a flexible steel platform, wheels supporting said platform, axles separately attached to the platform for said wheels, means hung from an axle and unsupported at the forward end for driving the truck.

12. In an electric industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, reversible driving means and spring sup orted batteries therefor, bell mouthed stifl eners separably attached to said platform to permit the warping of said platform and forming a pocket for said batteries.

13. In a truck comprising a weavable platform formed by sheet steel bent down at sides, and independent intermediate longitudinal and transverse stiifeners for said platform.

14. In an industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, formed of sheet metal with downwardly; turned sides, end stiffeners therefor, intermediate longitudinal and transverse stiifeners for said platform, axles attached to said platform, wheels supporting said axles and a cantaliver axle supported removable power plant for driving said truck.

15. An industrial truck having a metal plate bent down at the sides thereof, to form a flexible integral frame and platform, stiffeners for said platform independent axles carried by said stiffeners and wheels for said axles.

16. A springless four wheel industrial truck comprising a rigid axle at each end, wheels on the ends of the axles, those on at least one of said axles being dirigibleand a load carrying platform connected to said axles by rigid connections and having provision for warping to respond to inequalities of the supporting surface.

17/A springless four wheel industrial truck having a sheet metal platform with integral bent sides, an independent axle and .wheels at each end, and unconnected intermediate longitudinal and transverse stiffening means attached to said platform.

18. A springless four wheel industrial truck having a sheet metal platform with integral bent sides, an axle and wheels unit, one at each end independently connected to the platform, a unit removable power plant supported at one end by one of saidaxles and unsupported at the other.

19. In an electric industrial truck comprising a sheet metal platform, driving means and spring supported batteries therefor, bell mouthed stifl'eners separably attached to said platform and forming a spring pocket for said batteries.

20. In an electric industrial truck comprising a flexible platform, driving means, spring supported batteries, bell mouthed stiffeners separably attached to said platform and forming a spring pocket. for said batteries, and means for elevating and main.- taining said batteries in said pocket.

21. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal, wheeled supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, and longitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto at points intermediate said supporting means, permitting said platform to warp without sagging between said supporting means.

22. An industrial truck having a. flexible platform composed of shect metal, an axle adjacent each of the ends of said platform for supporting the same, wheels carried upon the ends of said axles, and longitudinal stiffening means for said platform at tached thereto at points intermediate said axles, permitting said platform to warp without sagging between said axles.

23, An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal, wheeled supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, and longitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto at points intermediate said supporting means, said stiffening means terminating short of said supporting means, permitting said platform to warp without sagging between said supporting means.

24. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal,an axle adjacent each of the ends of said platform for supporting the same, wheels carried upon the ends of said axles, discontinuous longitudinal stiffening means over each of said axles, and secured to said axles and to said platform, and longitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto at oints intermediate said axles, and terminating short of said axles, permitting said platform to warp without sagging between said axles.

25. An industrial truck having a flexible platform composed of sheet metal with integral bent sides, an axle adjacent each of the ends of said platform for supporting the same, wheels carried upon the ends of said axles, and discontinuous longitudinal stiffening means for said platform attached thereto, permitting said platform to warp without sagging between said axles.

Signed at New 'York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18. day of June, A. D. 1919.

WILLIAM SCHROE i) E It.

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