Industrial truck

• US 7,284,627 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2006
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• 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: Leifert, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLADO, CYNTHIA FRANCISCA
• Application Number:
  US11/358,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20060137930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.5, 180/65.2, 180/68.5, 180/305
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07518 Fuel or oil tank arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07531 Battery compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07572 Propulsion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07595 Cooling arrangements for device or operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An industrial truck, such as a fork-lift truck, has an electrical drive system and an energy supply based on gaseous media. At least one pressure vessel for the storage of at least one gaseous medium is installed in a mounting device which can be easily replaced together with the pressure vessel in the lower portion of the industrial truck (5) between the axles (7). Devices necessary for the generation of electrical energy from the gaseous medium can be advantageously installed in the mounting device.

Claims

1. An industrial truck, comprising:

spaced axles;

an electrical drive system;

an energy supply of at least one gaseous medium; and

at least one pressure vessel for the storage of the at least one gaseous medium installed in a mounting device that can be replaced together with the at least one pressure vessel, wherein the mounting device is located in a lower portion of the industrial truck between the spaced axles, and

wherein the mounting device includes additional devices for the generation of electrical energy from the gaseous medium and for easy removal and replacement with said mounting device.

2. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure vessel in the industrial truck is refillable while the pressure vessel and/or the mounting device are installed in the industrial truck.

3. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting device corresponds in terms of its mechanical connecting elements and electrical connections to a battery tray.

4. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, including a battery tray connectable to the devices and connections of the industrial truck to accept the mounting device.

5. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional devices include an internal combustion engine configured to generate electrical energy from the gaseous medium.

6. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein a main flow of air supply to the additional devices for the generation of electrical energy from the gaseous medium runs at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the truck.

7. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein control and monitoring devices for operating systems and the additional devices for the generation of electrical energy are permanently installed in the industrial truck.

8. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein the additional devices include an internal combustion engine configured to generate electrical energy from the gaseous medium.

9. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 5, wherein the internal combustion engine is a reciprocating engine.

10. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the industrial truck is a fork-lift truck.

11. The industrial truck as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control and monitoring devices are located on a driver'"'"'s control console.

12. An industrial truck, comprising:

a driver'"'"'s seat;

at least two spaced axles; and

a mounting device located between the spaced axles with respect to a longitudinal direction of the truck, wherein the mounting device includes;

at least one pressure vessel for the storage of at least one gaseous material; and

a power source connected to the at least one pressure vessel, and

wherein the mounting device is located under the driver'"'"'s seat for removal and replacement of the pressure vessel and the power source as a unit with the mounting device.