Method and means for enabling access to vehicular compartment

• US 3,897,960 A
• Filed: 03/24/1972
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry L. Cosby
• Original Assignee: Henry L. Cosby
• Inventors: Cosby, Henry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/237,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 296/102 280/15C 214/672,DIG.7
• US Class Current: 280/755
• 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: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07554 Counterweights
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A lift truck is shown to exemplify the invention in which a seat support member is pivoted at one side to allow the seat to be swung outwardly of one side of the truck to a noninterfering location relative to a compartment housing the power source apparatus, such as an electric storage battery. A protective overhead guard device includes one pivotable and longitudinally adjustable connector and one longitudinally adjustable connector for adjusting the length of the guard for connection to a longitudinally adjustable and novel counterweight structure at different adjusted positions thereof, thereby enabling the same truck chassis to be utilized for a relatively wide range of lift truck capacities. In addition, the pivoted connector is adapted to provide an opening in the guard structure through which may pass a chain or cable of a lifting and transfer device which, with the pivoted seat structure, provides simple means for performing an efficient method of removing and replacing the power source or other devices without removing or disassembling the overhead guard or seat structure.

Claims

1. An overhead guard for industrial vehicles comprising on one side thereof front and rear vehicle mounted inverted generally Lshaped aligned and facing rail portions, the upper generally horizontal legs of which terminate in overlapping relatively adjustable end portions providing on said side an inverted generally U-shaped guard rail, the front and rear legs of which rail are rigidly and non-pivotably connected to respective front and rear vehicle body portions, said overlapping end portions being adjustable longitudinally in relation to each other so as to vary selectively the effective length of the guard rail for vehicles varying in length between the locations of connection thereof to the front and rear portions of the vehicle, and the opposite side of said guard comprising front and rear vehicle mounted inverted L-shaped aligned and facing rail portions, the upper generally horizontal legs of which terminate in spaced and facing relation to each other, and generally horizontal connecting means for closing the said space to provide on said opposite side an inverted generally U-shaped guard rail, the front and rear legs of which are also rigidly connected to respective front and rear body portions, said connecting means being adjustable also to vary selectively the effective length of the guard rail for vehicles varying in length between the locations of connection thereof to the front and rear portions of the vehicles, said connecting means being also movably connected to one of said upper horizontal legs for opening the said space.