Battery changer on a mobile machine
First Claim
1. A method for picking up and transporting a battery holder comprising the steps of,extending a lift unit rearwardly from a frame of a transport vehicle,supporting the lift unit for pivotal movement on the frame between a lowermost position in contact with ground and an uppermost position raised to a preselected elevation above the ground,positioning the lift unit in close adjacency to peripheral surfaces of a battery holder positioned on the ground,advancing a pair of lift arms of the lift unit into surrounding relation with the battery holder,raising the lift unit relative to the battery holder to move load bearing surfaces of the lift arms into engagement with the battery holder and transfer weight of the battery holder to the lift unit,guiding the battery holder on the lifting arms load bearing surfaces to move to a secure position on the lift unit as the lift unit pivots upwardly to raise the battery holder from the ground, andsecurely supporting the battery holder on the lift arms as the lift unit pivots upwardly from the ground to move the battery holder to a preferred elevation for transporting the battery holder.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance. Piston cylinder assemblies are operable to raise and lower the lifting forks in a manner that assures secure positioning of the battery holder on the lifting forks once the lifting forks engage the holder and raise the holder to an operating height that does not exceed the maximum vertical dimension of the mobile vehicle.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for picking up and transporting a battery holder comprising the steps of,
extending a lift unit rearwardly from a frame of a transport vehicle, supporting the lift unit for pivotal movement on the frame between a lowermost position in contact with ground and an uppermost position raised to a preselected elevation above the ground, positioning the lift unit in close adjacency to peripheral surfaces of a battery holder positioned on the ground, advancing a pair of lift arms of the lift unit into surrounding relation with the battery holder, raising the lift unit relative to the battery holder to move load bearing surfaces of the lift arms into engagement with the battery holder and transfer weight of the battery holder to the lift unit, guiding the battery holder on the lifting arms load bearing surfaces to move to a secure position on the lift unit as the lift unit pivots upwardly to raise the battery holder from the ground, and securely supporting the battery holder on the lift arms as the lift unit pivots upwardly from the ground to move the battery holder to a preferred elevation for transporting the battery holder.
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6. A method for changing a battery comprising the steps of,
extending a pair of lift arms in spaced relation from a frame of a mobile vehicle, pivotally connecting the pair of lift arms to the frame for movement between a position to pick-up a battery positioned on ground and a position elevating the battery above ground for transport, initially engaging the battery on supporting surfaces of the lift arms as the lift arms are pivoted upwardly from adjacent the ground to the elevated position, positioning the battery on the supporting surfaces of the lift arms as the lift arms are elevated, guiding the battery on the supporting surfaces as the lift arms are elevated above the ground to a position firmly supported on the lift arms, and advancing the battery to a secure position on the lift arms when the lift arms are elevated to an operating position of the battery on the mobile vehicle.
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15. A method for lifting and transporting an electrical storage battery on a battery powered vehicle comprising the steps of,
extending a pair of lifting forks in spaced parallel relation from an end of a frame of the battery powered vehicle, maintaining the lifting forks a distance apart corresponding to a width of the vehicle, connecting the lifting forks to the frame for pivotal movement from a position adjacent ground to pick-up a battery to an elevated position to lift the battery from the ground for transport, initially engaging the battery on inclined surfaces of the lifting forks and lifting the battery from the ground upon upward pivotal movement of the lifting forks, supporting the battery on the inclined surfaces as the battery is lifted from the ground, advancing the battery down the inclined surfaces to a final resting position on the lifting forks upon the upward pivotal movement of the lifting forks, and securing the battery in a fixed position on the elevated lifting forks.
Specification