MATERIALS HANDLING TRUCK

• US 3,756,350 A
• Filed: 03/01/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lornts B. Nilsen, Peter F. Gandolfo
• Original Assignee: Lornts B. Nilsen, Peter F. Gandolfo
• Inventors: Gandolfo, Peter F., Nilsen, Lornts B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maffei, Merle F.
• Application Number:
  US05/119,470
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 187/9 180/14
• US Class Current: 187/222
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07518 Fuel or oil tank arrangements

Abstract

A materials handling truck consisting of base, mast and power modules. The three modules, all of which have common dimensions at the points of connection, are detachably bolted together. Selected modules can be combined to produce a variety of truck models of various sizes and capacities.

Claims

1. A materials handling truck comprising:

an elongate base having a pair of spaced base arms extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base, the base arms having wheels at their rearward ends and vertical supports intermediate their lengths;

means defining a channel along the longitudinal axis of the base;

a mast having a fixed and movable section, the fixed section being detachably bolted to the vertical supports, and an operator'"'"''"'"'s platform and fork mounted upon the movable section of the mast;

a power unit mounted partially within the channel and between the front ends of the base arms and secured thereto at a position to the front of the mast, the power unit being pivotably attached to the base arms and pivotable in a vertical plane;

the power unit comprising a drive motor and a pivotable drive wheel which in part supports the power unit; and

controls on the movable section of the mast connected to the power unit and operable by an operator on the platform whereby the materials handling truck may be driven.

2. The construction as set forth iin claim 1 the power unit comprising additionally a second motor and pump driven thereby and associated hydraulic means for raising and lowering the movable section and fork under the control of the operator.

3. The construction as set forth in claim 1 the base arms having other wheels at their front ends lateraly spaced from the power unit, the power unit being pivotally related to the spaced base arms about a horizontal axis located between the drive wheel and the mast and rearward of the center of gravity of the power unit whereby the load of the power unit on the drive wheel will be adequate for driving the truck, and stop means for limiting the angular movement of the drive unit about the axis.

4. The construction as set forth in claim 1 the base arms in the rearward direction being substantially coextensive with the platform and the power unit being immovable with respect to the base arms.

5. The construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means defining a channel includes vertical webs located to the front of the vertical supports and between which the power unit is positioned and to which the power unit is detachably affixed.