Fork lift truck with a laterally removable battery block

• US 7,128,179 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Still Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Original Assignee: Still Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Inventors: Szymanski, Marek
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US10/686,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/68.5, 180/908, 320/109, 414/522
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0754 Battery removal arrangements

Abstract

A fork lift truck has a chassis and a battery block located inside the chassis. The chassis has a lateral opening for the removal of the battery block essentially in the horizontal direction. The chassis has a beam (5) to which a bending load can be applied and which is located on the upper side of the opening in the chassis. The beam can have an at least approximately T-shaped section.

Claims

1. A fork lift truck, comprising:

a chassis; and

a battery block inside the chassis,

wherein the chassis has a lateral opening for removal of the battery block in a substantially lateral direction,

wherein the chassis includes a beam to which a bending load can be applied and which beam is located on an upper side of the lateral opening in the chassis,

wherein the chassis is at least partly open on the bottom underneath the battery block,

wherein the space underneath the battery block is at least partly free of load-bearing chassis components,

wherein contact points for the battery block are located on the chassis underneath the battery block, and

wherein the space between a forward contact point and a rear contact point is free of load-bearing chassis components.

2. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear portion of the beam is connected directly with a rear counterweight of the fork lift truck.

3. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam has an at least approximately T-shaped section.

4. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam includes at least one hollow section.

5. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein a forward portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a receptacle for a front axle of the fork lift truck.

6. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 5, wherein a rear portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a rear counterweight of the fork lift truck.

7. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is shaped so that it extends to a rear side of the opening in the chassis.

8. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chassis is at least partly open on the bottom in a vicinity of the battery block.

9. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 7, wherein a forward portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a receptacle for a front axle of the fork lift truck.

10. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 7, wherein a rear portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a rear counterweight of the fork lift truck.

11. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam is shaped so that it extends to a front side of the opening in the chassis.

12. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein the beam is shaped so that it extends to a rear side of the opening in the chassis.

13. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein the chassis is at least partly open on the bottom in a vicinity of the battery block.

14. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein a forward portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a receptacle for a front axle of the fork lift truck.

15. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein a rear portion of the beam is rigidly connected with a rear counterweight of the fork lift truck.

16. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein the beam has an at least approximately T-shaped section.

17. The fork lift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein the beam includes at least one hollow section.