MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CONTROLLER COUPLED TO A FRONT WALL OF A FRAME

• US 20080202858A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew D., Borchers, Charles F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/233
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07572 Propulsion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07586 Suspension or mounting of wheels on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07595 Cooling arrangements for device or operator

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment; first and second front wheels coupled to the frame; a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to the frame; an electric motor; and a controller coupled to a front wall of the frame to control the operation of the electric motor.

Claims

1. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment;

first and second front wheels coupled to said frame;

a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to said frame;

at least one electric motor; and

at least one controller coupled to a front wall of said frame to control the operation of said at least one electric motor.

2. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 1, wherein said at least one electric motor comprises a first drive motor coupled to said first wheel for driving said first wheel, and said at least one controller comprising a first controller coupled to said front wall of said frame to control the operation of said first drive motor.

3. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 2, wherein said at least one electric motor further comprises a second drive motor coupled to said second front wheel, and said at least one controller further comprises a second controller coupled to said front wall for controlling the operation of said second drive motor.

4. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 3, further comprising:

a motor/pump assembly coupled to said frame;

a hydraulic reservoir coupled to said frame and in fluid communication with said motor/pump assembly;

mast apparatus coupled to said frame and including a pair of forks; and

a third controller coupled to said front wall to control the operation of said motor/pump assembly.

5. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 2, wherein said first controller comprises cooling fins and further comprising a fan mounted to said frame near said frame front wall to force air along a path in front of said frame front wall so as to pass over said cooling fins.

6. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 5, wherein said front wall of said frame is defined by a front wall of said battery compartment and said frame further comprising a side wall extending forward of said battery compartment front wall, said fan being mounted adjacent to said side wall.

7. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 6, wherein said side wall includes at least one opening, said fan pulling air through said at least one opening in said side wall and moving said air along said path in front of said battery compartment front wall.

8. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 1, wherein said at least one controller comprises cooling fins and further comprising a fan mounted to said frame near said frame front wall to force air along a path in front of said frame front wall so as to pass over said cooling fins.

9. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 8, wherein said front wall of said frame is defined by a front wall of said battery compartment and said frame further comprises a side wall extending forward of said battery compartment front wall, said fan being mounted adjacent to said side wall.

10. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 9, wherein said side wall includes at least one opening, said fan pulling air through said at least one opening in said side wall and directing said air along said path in front of said battery compartment front wall.

11. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 8, wherein said at least one controller further comprises a rear wall, said cooling fins extend from said rear wall and are located adjacent to said frame front wall.

12. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment;

first and second front wheels coupled to said frame;

a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to said frame;

at least one electric motor coupled to said frame;

a motor/pump assembly coupled to said frame;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir coupled to said frame;

mast apparatus coupled to said frame and including a pair of forks;

at least one controller coupled to a front wall of said frame to control the operation of at least one of said at least one electric motor and said motor/pump assembly, said at least one controller including cooling fins; and

a fan mounted to said frame near said frame front wall to force air along a path in front of said frame front wall so as to pass over said cooling fins.

13. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 12, wherein said front wall of said frame is defined by a front wall of said battery compartment and said frame further comprises a side wall extending forward of said battery compartment front wall, said fan being mounted adjacent to said frame side wall.

14. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 13, wherein said frame side wall includes at least one opening, said fan pulling air through said at least one opening in said frame side wall and directing said air along said path in front of said battery compartment front wall.

15. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 14, wherein said at least one controller further comprises a rear wall, said cooling fins extending from said rear wall and located adjacent to said frame front wall.

16. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment;

first and second front wheels coupled to said frame;

at least one drive motor coupled to said frame and at least one of said first and second wheels for driving said one wheel;

a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to said frame;

a motor/pump assembly coupled to said frame;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir coupled to said frame;

mast apparatus coupled to said frame and including a pair of forks; and

at least one controller coupled to a front wall of said frame to control the operation of at least one of said at least one drive motor and said motor/pump assembly.

17. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 16, wherein said at least one controller comprises a controller for controlling said at least one drive motor.

18. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 16, wherein said at least one controller comprises a controller for controlling said motor/pump assembly.

19. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 18, wherein said at least one controller further comprising a controller for controlling said at least one drive motor.