US2368122A

US2368122A - Industrial truck

Info

Publication number: US2368122A
Application number: US501449A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer J Dunham
Original assignee: Clark Equipment Co
Current assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
Priority date: 1943-09-06
Filing date: 1943-09-06
Publication date: 1945-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-30

Description

Jan. 30, 1945. E. J. :JUNI-'IAM INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1943V .INVENTOR Jmm l J -fa Jan. 30; 1945. E. J. DUNHAM INDUSTRIAL TRUCK-` Filed Sept. 6, 1943 '5' Sheets-Sheet 5 Suk@ @2,

IN VEN TOR. 7W ZIM/Pm?? BY Filed Sept. 6, 1943 "J gw Jan. 30, 1945 ture shown in Figure 6.

Patented Jan. 30, 1945- UNITED s'rAT-E so PATENT ori-'ICE INDUSTRIAL 'moon Elmer J. Dunham, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,449

17 Claims.

this carriage being adapted to receive forks or fingers for supportinga load, or a ram or crane mechanism, by which the load may be picked up, elevated and transported Broadly stated, the present invention is concerned particularly with a novel constructionh of load supporting carriage so designed as to receive either forks, a ramor a crane, each of which may be detachably secured to the carriage depending upon the type of goods andthe yoperations required in the handling of specific types of material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a construction in which an auxiliary rack or frame may be'detachably secured to the load supporting carriage to increase its vertical extent when light bulky packages are handled by the truck.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following mast at the forward end of the truck are indicated generally at and comprise channelshaped members spaced apart and rigidly held in position by means of transverse spacing mem'- bers 8 and 1, member B being located at the top of the uprights and 'I being located intermediate the endsl of the uprights.

At the lower end of the uprights there is prol vided a transverse cradle member 8 rigidly bolty I3 adapted to be acted upon by suitable pressure detailed description, which taken in conjunction l with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art aparticular construction and operation oit a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

' Figures l-A and l-B comprise a side elevational view of a standard of an industrial truck 'with load supporting -fingers shown mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the load supporting carriage. v I

.Figure 3 is a rear elevational view lift fingers.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a ram structure supported on the load supporting carnage.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing a crane structure mounted on-the load supporting carriage.

Figure '7 is a front elevational view'of the strucof one of the Figure 8 is a. side elevational 'vie'w showing a rack mounted o'n the load supporting carriage,

and

Figure 9 is a corresponding elevational view of the rack.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1 to 3, inclufor raising and lowering cross -head I4 which carries suitable sprockets over whichv chains y are trained which are connected to the load supporting carriage indicated generally at I5.

The carriage I5 is provided at its upper end with outwardly directed stub shaft portions Il iournalled in the upper ends of the carriage and carrying rollers I8 operating within channels of the uprights 5. Similar shafts I9 are provided in the lower end of the carriage and carrying corresponding rollers 20 also operating in the channels 5 whereby the carriage is guided for vertical movement within the channels of the uprights. The chains which are 4trained over the sprockets on the cross head I4 are anchored to the carriage through pins 22 bolted to thecarriage adjacent E its lower end.

' right assembly is journalled on a transverse shaft carried -by the truck chassis to provide'for rock- .ing movement of the uprights so that they may be tiltedforwardly or rearwardly. l'I'his Itilting action is produced by suitable tilting cylinders having pistons connected to the journal lportion 28 of suitable brackets 29 bolted to the outer sides vof the uprights intermediate the cradle member 8 and -the'transverse reinforcing bar l.

sive, the uprights which form the standard or- This construction is similar to that shown and described in my Patent 2,264,512 issued December 2, 1941.

The load supporting carriage i5 projects forwardly of the uprights 5 as shown in Figure l-B and is provided with transverse surfaces spaced apart vertically. 'I'he surfaces 36 are adapted to receive suitable cap screws 32 whereby transverse plate members 33 and 34 are secured to the face of the carriage I5 forwardly of the upright-s. The upright plate member 33 is provided with a depending tongue portion 35 at its lower transverse edge. The upper surface or edge of the member 33 is provided with laterally spaced recesses 36 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

In Figures l-B and 3 there is disclosed a lift linger or fork comprising an L-shaped member with a lower horizontally extending portion 31 adapted to project forwardly of the uprights 5 and to engage in a suitable pallet or under a skid or tote box. The upwardly extending portion 3S of the lift fingers has suitably welded to the rear face thereof a bracket member 39 havingV a depending tongue or flange 40 adapted to engage over the rear edge of the upper surface of the plate member 33 thereby locking the iingers against forward movement relative to the plate member. Spaced vertically below the bracket 39, a second bracket 42 is provided, having an upwardly extending lip or flange 43 engaging v behind the flange 35 of the plate member 33 whereby the fingers are deilnltely locked against release relative the plate member 33. The ngers 38 are assembled on to the load supporting carriage 5 by being moved laterally over the end of the plate 33 and then moved laterally into position. Preferably two such iingers are provided and are spaced apart laterally on the plate member 33, the lateral spacing being adjustable as required by the pallet construction or other conditions and the fingers then being anchored by plungers 44 having their lower ends' projecting into the recesses 36. The plungers are preferably spring biased into the recesses 38 to lock vthe fingers against lateral movement on the plate member 33. i

The lower portion of the vertical part 38 of the fingers abuts against the surface of plate 34 so that the fingers are held in proper position on the carriage and'cannot be released therefrom without raising the plungers 44 and sliding the fingers laterally off of the plate 33.

It will therefore be apparent that the load supporting carriage basically consists of the carriage portion l5 provided with suitable rollers guiding it for vertical movement within the channels 5 and is provided with transverse vertically spaced plates 33 and 34 upon which the actual load engaging members are carried, these members being detachable depending upon the type of material to be handled.y f

Thus, with the present construction it is apparent that the fingers 38 may be readily removed from the carriage and other types of load handling members may be attached thereto such as shown in Figures 4 to 7.

In Figures 4 and 5 I provide a ram structure consisting of a mounting plate which is preferably a rectangular vertically extending plate havingbrackets 52 welded to the rear face thereof in laterally spaced relation as shown in Figure 5.

'Ip'hese brackets have depending lip portions 53 engaging over the upper rear edge ofthe plate 33and correspond to the locking brackets 39 on the fingers 3B. The plate 33 is provided at its center with an extending bar 54 welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the plate 33 and adapted to act as a centering means. The plate 5E is provided with two depending lugs 55 carried by a cross member 56 welded or otherwise secured to the rear-face of the plate 58 intermedithe brackets E2.

Below the plate .it the vertical rain support 5t is provided with detachable brackets bolted as by means of bolts 5S to the rear face of the plate 50 and provided with tongue o? lip portions 5S i engaged behind the depending flange T125 ci the plate member 33.

In assembling the plate on to the carriage, the upper portion of the plate is hooked over the upper edge of the member 33 with the lugs 55 disposed on opposite sides of the bar 5i. The plate is then moved into vertical position and the brackets 5l attached, the brackets when placed in position securely locking the plate 50 to the carriage and preventing its removal therefrom.

Projecting forwardly from the plate 5G is the ram member Sil which is welded or otherwise suitably secured as indicated at B2 in an aperture formed in the plate 5G, a reinforcing web mem- -ber 63 being welded to the rain GB and the outer surface of the plate 5G for strengthening the ram against deflection. The ram itself can be of varying length depending upon the load to be carried, such rams normally being used. for carrying coils of wire, cable or similar material, these coils being placed over the ram and thus transported from one location to another.

In-Figures 6 and 'I l have disclosed the mounting of a crane upon the load supporting carriage for such a truck. In this form of the invention the crane structure comprises two vertically extending -beam sections 1U which are secured in laterally spaced position to vertically extending plate members l2. The plate members 'l2 are provided at their upper ends with brackets 13 'having depending lips 14 locking,r over the upper edges of the upper plate 33 of the load supporting carriage. Intermediate the plates l2 there is provided an angle member 151 rigidly secured tothe plates and carrying lugs 16 for centering the assembly relative the centering bar 54 mounted on the plate 33. Similarly detachable brackets 11 are secured to the plate 12 below the transverse plate 33 and hook over the depending lip 35 to grip the plates 22 securely to the plate 33.

The I-beams 10 adjacent the lower ends are spaced apart by channel member 18 and are so vshaped as to converge above the plate 12, the

converging ends being secured together by a transverse Aplate 80 welded across the upper ends of the beams 10.

A pair of channel members 82 are secured at one end over the rtop of the plate 80 and project forwardly in parallel relation, being reinforced by transverse spacing members 83 intermediate their ends and at theend provided with an intermediate block 84 adapted to receive the depending crane hook 85.

Suitable angle bars 8G provide intermediate bracing between the extending portions of theA channel 82 and the vertically extending I-beam 10, these angles being welded at opposite ends to these members.

the I-beam l0. This forms a rigid strong crane structure capable of ready mounting or detachment from the load supporting carriage of the truck.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have disclosed means for extending ,the vertical height of the load supporting carriage to provide protection when relatively light bulky packages are handled by the truck, this extension being provided by a rack member adapted to be secured to the plates 33 and 34 of the load supporting carriage.

Y When such a rack is -to be employed vertically extending bars 90 are welded to'the ends of the plates 33 and 34 and extend vertically thereabove, being connected at their upper ends by the transverse bar 92. Each of the bars 90 is provided on its outer' surface with laterally spaced strips 93 and 94 welded to the surfaces thereof and forming a guide for the depending ends 95 of the rack frame Q6. These depending ends 95 are reduced in width to extend between the giudes 93 and 94 whereby the frame is held against tilting movement relative the load supporting carriage. Suitable bolts 91 lock these endsv to the side members 90 of the carriage. The frame member 96 ris preferably a A U-shaped form and includes the rack lportion comprising vertically extending strips Q8 and horizontally extending strips 99- verse' strip 92 thereby securely locking-the racky to the load supporting carriage but providing for ready detachment thereof when desired.

It is therefore believed apparent that I have provided a rnovel type of load supporting carriage designed as to make it adaptable to receive either lift lingers, a ram or crane depending upon the type of material loads to be handled by the truck and also capable of receiving an extension rack when such rack is desired. This particular construction is of distinct advantage and allows la. single truck to be used for various purposes in a plant where, for economical reasons, it may not be practical :to purchase three or fourdiilerent types of trucks. The interchangeability of the various load' engaging members on the carriage provides for flexibility in operation of the truck and the particular construction facilitates this exibility by providing quick attachment and detachment of4 the various load handling means from the carriage.

I am aware that variousv changes may be made in centain details of the present construction, and

I therefore do not intend to be limited except as defined by ethe scope and spirit of the appended claims.

" Iclaim:`

1. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one lend thereof, a load supporting carriage mounted lfor vertical movement, in said mast and including a pair of vertically spaced laterally extending plates supported forwardly of said mast,

and detachable load-engaging means supported bysaid carriage and including means hooking over the upper and lower transverse edges of the upper plate and abutting against the outboard surface of the lower plate. 2. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one end thereof, a carriage mounted for vertica-1 movement in said mast and having a, first laterally extending vertical plate member carried forwardly of said, mast and a' second coplanar plate member disposed in spaced relation therebeneath, load-engaging means adapted to be detachably secured to said carriage and including i bracket members engaging over the upper edge of said rst plate member to hold said means 5. The combination of claim l wherein said load-engaging means comprises a pair of L-shaped lift lingers each having the vertical portion hooked to said upper plate and bearing against the outboard surface of the lower plate.

6. In combination, in an industrial truck having a pair of laterally spaced channel-shaped uprights, a carriage having vertically spaced rollers at opposite sides thereof engaging within the flanges of said uprights for guiding said carriage for vertical movement, supplementary vertically spaced rollers on said carriage bearing against the webs of said uprights to prevent lateral binding of said carriage therein, a pair of coplanar vertically-spaced laterally-extending plates supported on said carriage forwardly of saiduprights, and detachable load-engaging means mounted on said plates..

, 7. On an industrial truck having a pair of laterally-spaced'channel-shaped uprights, a load supporting carriage arranged for ,vertical movement in said uprights and comprising a body member having a pair of vertically spaced rollers on each side thereof engageable within the flanges of said uprights to guide said carriage for vertical movement therein, a second pair of vertically spaced rollers at eachside of said body member arranged to bear against the webs of said uprights to prevent lateral binding of said member in said uprights, and plate means secured to said body member forwardly of said uprights for receiving detachable load-engaging means.`r

8. The combination, with a vertical mast atl the inner surfaces of both the flanges and webs of said uprights guiding said carriage for vertical' movement and preventing binding action in said uprights,Y and load engaging meansv detachably secured to said body member'forwardly of said uprights.

v9. Load-engaging means for an industrial'lift truck having a vertically movable carriage pro-v -l vided with coplanar vertically-spaced laterallyextending plates, comprising a. planar base member having brackets adjacent .the upper edge` thereof hooking over the upper edge of the upper plate, detachable brackets on said base member hooking under the lower edge of said upper plate, whereby said base member is detachably clamped to said upper plate, the lower portion of said base member abutting the outer surface of the lower plate, and a forwardly projecting ram anchored tosaid base member.

10. Load-engaging means for an industrial lift truck having a vertically movable carriage provided with coplanar vertically-spaced laterally-extending plates, comprising planar base means having brackets hooking over the upper edge of said upper plate, detachable clamps hooking under the lower edge of said upper plate whereby said means is detachably clamped to said upper plate, vthe lower portion of said base means abutting against the outer surface of said lower plate, and upwardly and forwardly extending means secured to said base means and formy ing a forwardly projecting crane arm.

ly-extending plates, comprising a pair of L-k shaped lift fingers having means engaging over the upper and lower edges of said upper plate for detachably securing said fingers thereto, said fingers being laterally slidable into position on said upper plate, and having their lower vertical portions abutting the outer surface of said lower plate. Y

12. The combination o claim 9 further characterized by the provision of interengaging means on the upper edge ofsaid upper plate and on said base member centering said base member on said plate and preventing lateral shifting thereof.

13. The combination of claiml() further characterized by the provision of interengaging means on the upper edge of said plate and on said base means centering said crane arm relative to said carriage and preventing lateral shifting thereof.

14. The combination of claim 11 further characterized by the provision of laterally spaced vertical recesses in the upper edge` of said upper plate, and plungers in said fingers engageable in said' recesses for positioning saidflngers in selected positions laterally on said plate.

15. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one end thereof, a carriage vertically movable in said mast and having a pair of coplanar vertically-spaced laterally extending plates disposed forwardly of said mast, vertically projecting and plates secured to the ends of said laterally extending plates, a transverse bar secured across the top of said end plates abovel the upper edge of said upper plate, a rack adapted to be detachably secured to said carriage having downwardly extending arms engaging the outer surfaces of said end plates and secured thereto, pin means on said rack interlocking in said transverse bar, and bolt means clamping said rack to said bar intermediate said pin means.

16. 1n the truck of claim 15, the provision of channel-forming means in said end plates receiving the lower ends of said arms and maintaining them against tilting.