Battery compartment including a battery lifting mechanism

• US 20060285955A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Raymond Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Raymond Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Weed, Leland D.
• Application Number:
  US11/156,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20060285955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/466
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38

Abstract

A battery compartment for a lift truck includes a plurality of walls defining a volume having an open top for receiving a battery therein. The platform is disposed in the volume and has a support surface for supporting the battery thereon. A lifting mechanism operatively connected to the platform lifts the platform vertically from a lower position toward an upper position and raises the battery supported on the support surface through the open top of the volume.

Claims

1. A battery compartment for a lift truck, said battery compartment comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a volume having an open top for receiving a battery therein;

a platform disposed in said volume and having a support surface for supporting the battery thereon; and

a lifting mechanism operatively connected to said platform to lift said platform vertically from a lower position toward an upper position and raise the battery supported on said support surface through said open top of said volume.

2. The battery compartment as in claim 1 in which said lifting mechanism includes a hydraulic ram operatively connected to said platform, said hydraulic ram having a first position and a second position, wherein movement between said first position toward said second position raises said platform from said lower position toward said upper position.

3. The battery compartment as in claim 2 in which said hydraulic ram is operatively connected to said platform by a cable.

4. The battery compartment as in claim 2, in which said hydraulic ram is mounted in said volume.

5. The battery compartment as in claim 1, in which said platform is guided by at least one lift track assembly fixed to one of said walls as said platform moves between said upper and lower positions.

6. The battery compartment as in claim 5, in which said lift track assembly includes a vertically extending guide slot that guides said platform between said upper and lower positions.

7. The battery compartment as in claim 5, in which pulleys rotatably mounted to said lift track assembly guide at least one cable operatively connecting said ram to said platform.

8. The battery compartment as in claim 1, including at least one slide strip fixed to said support surface to minimize friction when sliding the battery onto said platform.

9. The battery compartment as in claim 1, in which said platform includes an edge, and a roller rotatably mounted adjacent said edge supports the battery as the battery is loaded onto said platform.

10. The battery compartment as in claim 1, in which said platform is a pan having a bottom wall defined by edges and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from one of said edges.

11. A lift truck comprising:

a battery compartment having a plurality of walls defining a volume having an open top for receiving a battery therein;

a platform disposed in said volume and having a support surface for supporting the battery thereon; and

a lifting mechanism operatively connected to said platform to lift said platform vertically from a lower position toward an upper position and raise the battery supported on said support surface through said open top of said volume.

12. The lift truck as in claim 11 in which said lifting mechanism includes a hydraulic ram operatively connected to said platform, said hydraulic ram having a first position and a second position, wherein movement between said first position toward said second position raises said platform from said lower position toward said upper position.

13. The lift truck as in claim 12 in which said hydraulic ram is operatively connected to said platform by a cable.

14. The lift truck as in claim 12, in which said hydraulic ram is mounted in said volume.

15. The lift truck as in claim 11, in which said platform is guided by at least one lift track assembly fixed to one of said walls as said platform moves between said upper and lower positions.

16. The lift truck as in claim 15, in which said lift track assembly includes a vertically extending guide slot that guides said platform between said upper and lower positions.

17. The lift truck as in claim 15, in which pulleys rotatably mounted to said lift track assembly guide at least one cable operatively connecting said ram to said platform.

18. The lift truck as in claim 11, including at least one slide strip fixed to said support surface to minimize friction when sliding the battery onto said platform.

19. The lift truck as in claim 11, in which said platform includes an edge, and a roller rotatably mounted adjacent said edge supports the battery as the battery is loaded onto said platform.

20. The lift truck as in claim 11, in which said platform is a pan having a bottom wall defined by edges and at least one vertical wall extending upwardly from one of said edges.

21. A method of loading a battery into a battery compartment of a lift truck;

said method comprising;

raising a platform vertically toward an upper position proximal an open top of a volume defined by vertically extending battery compartment walls;

sliding a battery onto a support surface of said platform over at least one of said vertically extending battery compartment walls;

lowering said battery disposed on said platform through said open top toward a lower position in said volume defined by said battery compartment walls.

22. The method as in claim 21, in which raising said platform includes actuating a ram operatively connected to said platform.

23. The method as in claim 21, including guiding said platform between said upper and lower positions.

24. The method as in claim 22, in which guiding said platform includes engaging a sliding block extending outwardly from said platform in a vertical slot adjacent said platform.