US1662604A - Elevating truck - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1928. s 1,662,604

H. S. GERMOND, JR

ELEVATING TRUCK Filed May 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March '13, 1928. 1,662,604

H. S. GERMOND, JR

ELEVATING TRUCK Filed May 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

HENRY s. GERM ND, JR, or BAYONNE, NEW messy.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

Application filed May 5,

This invention relates in general to elevatingtrucks of the type including a main frame mounted on wheels and adapted to be moved about and steered by a draft handle and pushed beneath a load which is to be transported, said main frame carrying an elevating plat-form adapted to be raised by swinging of the draft handle in a vertical plane to elevate the load from the floor.

hilore particularly, the invention relates to that type of elevating trunks including a member movable substantially vertically in or parallel to the axis of'swive'l of the steering wheels, said member being adapted to be so connected to the draft handle as to elevate the platform by swinging of the handle in vertical planes with the handle in any of the usual steering positions at angles to the longitudinal median line of the truck.

One object of the invention is to provide a truck of the character described ei'nbodying a novel and improved actuating mechanism for raising said platform by means of said draft handle including a member vertically movable substantially in the line of axis of the steering swivel and connected to said draft handle, and means for connecting said vertically movable member to said platform to raise the latter while said handle is in any usual steering position.

Another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a device of the character described embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby descent of the elevating platform cannot take place until said vertically movable member has been disconnected from said platform, so as to prevent possibility of the handle being accidentally forcibly swung upwardly by descent of the platform and injuring the operator.

Other objects are to provide in an elevating truck of the character described novel and improved manually operated means for connecting and disconnecting the platform to and from said vertically movable member; to provide means whereby said platform can be connected to or disconnected from said vertically movable member while the ban die is in any of the usual steering positions; to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable construction, and to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1926. Serial No. 106,858.

in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters, 7

Figure 1 isa side elevation of an elevating truck embodying the invention, showing the elevating platform in its normal lowered position; i v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a front end .of the truck, showing the elevating platform arranged in its uppermost position; Figure 3 is of the truck, showing the manner of elevating the platform from one side of the truck, and a 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the front end of the trucl g In the specific embodiment of the inventionshown on the drawings, the reference character A designates the frame of the truck which may be of any suitable construction and is mounted at the rear end on wheels 1 journaled .on a transverse shaft 2 (see Fig. 1) The forward end of the frame A is provided substantially centrally of its width with a king pin 3 revolubly journaled in the frame and carrying at its lower end a pair of steering wheels 4, this construction enabling the truck to be steered by rotation of the king pin i d An elevating and load sustaining platform B is mounted on the frameA in such a manner that the truck may be pushed b cneath aload which is spaced from the floor by means of skids, the said platform being adapted to'be elevated on the frame A to raise the load from the floor onto the truck. Any suitable means may be utilized for so mounting the platform on the same, but in the present instance a pair of parallel links 5 is shown as pivotally connected between the frame A and the platform B at each end so that forward motion of the platform causes oscillation of the parallel links 5 which in turn raises the platform on the main frame. construction is old and well-known, and no claim tonovelt-y is based thereon.

For the purpose of drawing the truck from place to place and steering the same, the king pin 3 may have secured thereto a bracket 6 formed with two upwardly projecting spaced ears 7 between which is pivotally mounted between its ends on a pin 8 All of the above-mentioned 1 a I 05 an elevation of the front end a draft handle 9, said handle being adapted to swing about its pivot 8 in vertical planes and to revolve the king pin 3 by swinging of the handle in horizontal planes so as to steer the truck. The handle is provided at one end with handholds for drawing the truck and said handle is also adapted to be operatively connected with the platform B to draw the same forwardly so as to oscillate the links 5 and elevate the platform.

A sleeve 11 is slidably mounted on the king pin 3 above the frame A. and is provided at its lower end with a substantially semi-circular flange 12 having an upwardly facing groove 120 to cooperate with a hooked end 13 on one end of a link 14*. pivot-ally connected at its other end to the foward end of the platform 13. The end of the d aft handle opposite the handholds is pivotally connected as at 15 to one end of a link 16 the other end of which is pivotally connected to an ear 17 on the upper end of the sleeve 11. The link 14 may be connected to the forward end of the platform in any suitable manner, but in the present instance I have shown the link connected to the front side of a skid stop 18 which forms the forward end of the platform B and is adapted to engage a skid to limit the movement of the truck beneath the skid bearing a load which it is desired to elevate and transport by the truck.

\Vhen the platform B is in its normal lowermost position, the link 14 is swung rearwardly into a substantially vertical position against the skid stop 18, as shown by solid lines in Figure 1, and in this position the handle 9 is free for drawing and steerin the truck. I \Vhen it is desired to elevate the platform 13, the handle 5) is swung upwardly into a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure 1. which lowers the sleeve 1.1 to the top of the frame it after which the link 14 is manually swung for wardly, for instance by the foot of the operator, so that the hook 1 3 lies in the groove 120 of the sleeve. The handle 9 is then swung dowuiwardly in a vertical plane as indicated by Figure 2, whereby the sleeve 11 is raised upon the king pin 3 and the platform B pulled forwardly and elevated by oscillation of the links 5.

Any suitable means may be employed for holding the elevating platform in its uppermost position. but in the present instance I have shown the forward end of the platform B provided with a rearwardly facing lug 11) adapted to be engaged by the head of a latch lever 21 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at on the forward end of the main frame A. The latch lever 21 is normally influenced into the path of the lug 19 by means of a spring 23, and as the platform B rises, the lug 19 slips beneath the head 20 of the lever 21, which then engages the rear face of the lug to hold the platform against rearward movement and descent. The platform is shown in its uppermost position in Figure 1 of the drawings and may be steered under ordinary conditions without throwing the link l'all'wardly. due to the lateral play between the groove 1'20 and hook 13. After the platform has been raised to this position and it is desired to lower the platform. it is advisable to disconnect the link 14 from the sleeve It. and this disconnection is readily accomplished by swinging the handle 9 iujnvardly into the position shown in Figure 1. and then pushing the link rmlrwardly into contact with the skid r-top 18. To release the platform the forward end of the latch lever 21 is provided with a t'readle Q-l which may be depressed by the operator so as to disengage the head 53!) of the lever from the lug 1t) whereupon the platform descends by action of gravity. Any known means, such as a dash-pot construction, may be utilized to retard the drscent f the platform.

For preventing operation of the latch lever 21 and descent of the platform ll until the link H- has been completely disconnecn-d from the handle 1), whereby the possibility of the handle being forcibly swung upwardly by descent of the platform in such a manner as to injure the operator, is obviated. I may provide a gravity actuated pawl 25 pivotally connected at one cud 2G to the forward end of the platform ii. for instance to the skid stop 18, above the lug 1.9, the lower end of said pawl being normally positioned by action of gravity to c11 gage the top of the head 20 of the latch lever 21 when the platform is in its uppermost position and the link l-l connected to the handle 9. The pawl 2.3 is shown in (u'ierative relation to the lever 31. in Figure 2. and it will be obvious that with the pawl in this position the lever-'21 cannot be oscil lured by pressure on the trcadlc Lil.

'lo automatically release the lever 21 when the link 14- is disconnected from the handle 9. 1 may provide the link It with a laterally projecting lug 27 adapted to t'ngug a similar lug 2%; on the adjacent side of the pawl 27 so that as the link l-l falls l't'tll'\\';lltll to its lllOPLl'tlllVC position. the lug '37 engages the log 25' and swings the pawl .25 rearwardly out of engagement with the latch lever 21 as shown in Figure l. \Vith the pawl 25 in this position. the latch lever 21 may be freely operated so as to permit. descent of the platform B. but it; will be observed that there no possibility of the handle 9 being swung upwardly, since the pawl is caused to release the lever :21 onlv after the link l-lhas been completely disconnected from the handle S).

t nder some conditions the load on the platform 13 is so close to or so overhangs the skid stop 18 as to render it difficult or impossible for the operator to reach the link 14 with his foot to pull it forwardly into engagement with the flange 12. To overcome this difficulty, I may provide the upper end of the pawl 25 with an upwardly and forwardly projecting treadle 29' so arthe link '14 forwardly, a lateral arm 30 may be provided on the link to be engaged by the foot of the operator.

It will be observed that a truck con structed in accordance with the invention permits the elevating platform to be raised upon the main frame by oscillation of the handle, 9 in vertical planes and in any of the usual steering positions of the handle, for instance as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, where the handle is shown to swing in a plane at substantially right angles to the longitudinal median line of the truck. Furthermore, the platform can be easily and quickly connected to and disconnected from the draft handle by mere swinging of the link 14.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in certain details of construction, it will be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in said details without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of said frame, a rotatable member movable vertically in substantially the line of axis of said steering swivel and having a horizontal coaxial arcuate flange, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement, means operatively connecting said flange of said member and said platform so that vertical movement of said member elevates said platform and said member may rotate independently of said connecting means, a handle pivot-ally mounted upon said swivel, and an operative connection between said handle and said member so that swinging of said handle in vertical planes in a'nyof the steering positions of said handle raises and lowers said member.

2. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrea r end, a steering swivel'carrying wheels ournaled in the front end of said frame, a membertvertically movable in substantially the line of axis of said steering swivel and having a horizontal coaxial arcuate flange, an elevatmg platform mounted on said frame for,

vertical movement, means operatively connecting said flange on said member and said platform so that the platform is elevated as said member is raised and rotation of said member relatively to said means is per mitted, a draft handle pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said steering swivel, and a link pivotally connected to one end of said handle and to said member so that as the handle is swung downwardly said memher is raised and said platform is elevated and theplatform may be elevated with the handle in any steering position.

An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of said frame,- a member vertically movable in substantially the line of axis of said steering swivel, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement, a link pivotally connected at one end to said platform, the other end of said link and said vertically movable member having cooperating portions to engage each other so that raising of said member elevates said platform, said cooperating portions having a relatively slidable engagement in the same horizontal plane of said member at any point in the vertical movement thereof so that said member may rotate relatively to said link, a handle pivotally mounted upon said swivel, and an operative connection between said handle and said member so that swinging of said handle in vertical planes in any of the steering positions of said handle raises and lowers said member.

.LAII elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rear end, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of said frame, a member vertically movable in substantially the line of axis of said steering swivel and having a coaxial upwardly facing arcuate recess, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement, means operatively connecting said platform and said movable member including a hook arranged in said recess so that raising of said member elevates said platform and said member can rotate relatively to said connecting means, a handle pivotally mounted upon said swivel,

and an operative connection between said handle and said member so that swinging of said handle in vertical planes in any of the steering positions of said handle raises and lowers said member.

An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rear end a king pin journal d in the front end of said frame and carrying wheels for steering the track. an elevating platform mounted on said frame for vertical. movement, a sleeve vertically slidahle on said king pin having an arenate flange provided with an upwardly facing arcuate groove, a link having one end pivotally connected to said platform and formed at its other end with a hook to enter said groove so that raising of said sleeve will elevate said platform and said sleeve may rotate relatively to said hook, a handle pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said king pin, and an operative eonneetion between said sleeve and said handle so that swinging of the handle in vertical planes raises and lowers said sleeve.

6. An elevating trnek comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at its rear end, a king pin jonrnaled in the front end of said frame and carrying wheels for steering the truck, an elevating platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement a sleeve vertically slid-able on said king pin having an arcaate flange provided with an n iwardly facing arcnate groove, a link having one end pivotally connected to said platform and formed at its other end with a hook to enter said groove so that raising ol said sleeve will elevate said platform and said sleeve may rotate relatively to said hook, a handle pivotall mounted intermediate its ends upon said king pin, and a link connected to said sleeve and said handle so that swinging of the handle in vertical planes raises and lowers said sleeve.

l-l ENRY S. GERMOIID, .la.

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