Industrial truck with a lateral frame opening and a frame-reinforcing door

• US 7,070,225 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH (KION GROUP AG)
• Original Assignee: Linde AG (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Udo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/941,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.6, 296/187.03, 296/187.12, 296/193.02, 296/193.05, 296/193.06, 296/203.01, 296/203, 296/190.11, 296/190.08, 292/341.15, 292/89, 292/341.17, 292/87, 292/303, 493/94
• US Class Current: 296/146.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0487 simplified doors related to cabins of, e.g. golf carts, tractors, jeeps, cranes, forklifts, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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 9/07527 Covers for, e.g. engines or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07536 Battery stoppers, i.e. means to hold battery in position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 With movable dog, catch or striker

Abstract

An industrial truck, such as a counterweight fork-lift truck, has a vehicle frame (1) with a frame portion (2) configured to receive a battery block. The frame portion (2) has at least an upper frame opening (2a) and a lateral frame opening (2b). The lateral frame opening (2b) can be covered by a door (3) pivotable about a substantially vertical axis (A). The door (3) is configured to reinforce the frame and can be locked in the closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit (4). The locking unit (4) can have a force-transmission element (5) which receives tensile and pressure forces and can be adjusted in the longitudinal and height direction.

Claims

1. An industrial truck, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising a frame portion configured to receive a battery block, wherein the frame portion includes at least an upper frame opening and a lateral frame opening, wherein the lateral frame opening can be covered by a door that is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, and wherein the door is configured to reinforce the frame and to be locked in a closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit, wherein the industrial truck is a counterweight fork-lift truck,

wherein the locking unit includes a first force-transmission element configured to absorb tensile and pressure forces, and

wherein the frame portion includes a lower frame opening directly adjoining the lateral frame opening.

2. The industrial truck according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit includes a second force-transmission element, vertically spaced from the first force-transmission element.

3. The industrial truck according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit includes a leaf spring which is elastically deformable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is fastened to the vehicle frame and, when the door is in the closed position, fixes a locking pin in a transverse direction.

4. The industrial truck according to claim 1, wherein the door is coupled to an articulated tie rod that is pivotally fastened to the vehicle frame and acts to limit movement in a right-angled open position of the door.

5. The industrial truck according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second force-transmission elements is adjustable in a lateral direction and a height direction.

6. The industrial truck according to claim 2, wherein the door is coupled to an articulated tie rod that is pivotally fastened to the vehicle frame and acts to limit movement in a right-angled open position of the door.

7. An industrial truck, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising a frame portion configured to receive a battery block, wherein the frame portion includes at least an upper frame opening and a lateral frame opening, wherein the lateral frame opening can be covered by a door that is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, wherein the door is configured to reinforce the frame and to be locked in a closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit, wherein the industrial truck is a counterweight fork-lift truck,

wherein the locking unit includes a first force-transmission element configured to absorb tensile and pressure forces, and

wherein the force-transmission element is adjustable in a longitudinal direction and in a height direction.

8. An industrial truck, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising a frame portion configured to receive a battery block, wherein the frame portion includes at least an upper frame opening and a lateral frame opening, wherein the lateral frame opening can be covered by a door that is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, wherein the door is configured to reinforce the frame and to be locked in a closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit, wherein the locking unit includes a force-transmission element configured to absorb tensile and pressure forces, and

wherein the force-transmission element includes a screwed pin connected to the door and a locking pin screwed onto an end of the pin remote from the door, the locking pin configured to engage the vehicle frame or a component connected thereto and thus being fixable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

11. The industrial truck according to claim 8, wherein the locking unit includes a lock.

12. The industrial truck according to claim 11, wherein the lock can be unlocked by a Bowden cable.

13. The industrial truck according to claim 11, wherein the lock includes a latch fixed to the frame and which, when the door is in the closed position, can be brought into engagement with an axial extension of the locking pin acting as a locking member.

9. An industrial truck, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising a frame portion configured to receive a battery block, wherein the frame portion includes at least an upper frame opening and a lateral frame opening, wherein the lateral frame opening can be covered by a door that is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, wherein the door is configured to reinforce the frame and to be locked in a closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit, and

wherein the locking unit includes a leaf spring which is elastically deformable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is fastened to the vehicle frame and, when the door is in the closed position, fixes a locking pin in a transverse direction.

10. The industrial truck according to claim 9, including an active element which automatically bends the leaf spring on closing and is fastened to the door.

14. An industrial truck, comprising:

a vehicle frame comprising a frame portion configured to receive a battery block, wherein the frame portion includes at least an upper frame opening and a lateral frame opening, wherein the lateral frame opening can be covered by a door that is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, wherein the door is configured to reinforce the frame and to be locked in a closed position by a force-transmitting locking unit, and

wherein the frame portion includes a lower frame opening directly adjoining the lateral frame opening.