Fork lift for trucks, methods, and associated devices

• US 8,322,968 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Mizner
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Mizner
• Inventors: Mizner, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEENAN, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US10/958,520
• Time in Patent Office: 2,983 Days
• Field of Search: 414628-635, 414477-478, 414/486, 414664-666, 414668-670, 414/471, 224495-497, 224/502
• US Class Current: 414/635
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/4421 the loading platform being carried in at least one vertical guide
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07563 Fork-lift trucks adapted to be carried by transport vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07581 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/082 inclinable

Abstract

A fork lift for a truck may have at least one mounting beam for pivotally supporting a fork lift mast on a truck frame. The mounting beam may be mounted in a bed of the truck via other structural members and bolts that extend through the members, bed, and truck frame. The fork lift may extend well below a level of the truck bed to enable engagement of palletized loads resting on the ground by the forks of the fork lift. The fork lift may have hydraulics including pumps, solenoids and motors that may be supported in a tool box that also helps to secure the mounting beam. An electric over hydraulic control system enables remote control from within the cab of the truck. Fork position during stabbing of a pallet may be viewed on a monitor in the cab, with the monitor operatively connected to one or more cameras.

Claims

1. A fork lift for attachment to a truck frame of a truck, comprising:

first and second mounting beams carried by the truck frame;

a plurality of detachable attachment mechanisms connecting the first and second mounting beams to the truck frame, the plurality of detachable attachment mechanisms extending through a truck body of the truck;

a fork lift mast assembly pivotably connected to the first and second mounting beams;

a fork lift carriage carried by the fork lift mast assembly, the fork lift carriage being repeatably slideable between raised and lowered positions relative to the fork lift mast assembly;

a tilt actuator connected between the first mounting beam and fork lift mast assembly; and

a tool box positioned on the first and second mounting beams, wherein the tool box includes first and second channels which receive the first and second mounting beams, respectively, the tool box being positioned at an opposite end of the first and second mounting beams from the fork lift mast assembly.

2. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the truck body is positioned between the truck frame and the first and second mounting beams.

3. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the detachable attachment mechanisms extend perpendicular to the first and second mounting beams.

4. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detachable attachment mechanisms is positioned between a rear of the truck body and a rear tire of the truck.

5. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the fork lift mast assembly is pivotably connected to the first and second mounting beams proximate to the rear of the truck body, wherein the fork lift mast assembly rotates in response to actuating the tilt actuator.

6. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a fork lift hydraulic ram, wherein the fork lift carriage slides along the fork lift mast assembly in response to actuating the fork lift hydraulic ram.

7. The fork lift of claim 6, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes first and second mast chains, wherein the fork lift hydraulic ram is operatively coupled to the fork lilt carriage through the first and second mast chains.

8. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the fork lift carriage and fork lift mast assembly have a lifting capacity between about 1,000 pounds to about 7,000 pounds.

10. The fork lift of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting beams extends longitudinally relative to the truck frame.

9. A fork lift attached to a truck frame of a truck, wherein the truck frame carries a truck bed, the fork lift comprising:

flat stock material;

first and second mounting beams which extend longitudinally relative to the truck frame, wherein the first and second mounting beams are engaged with the flat stock material;

first and second detachable attachment mechanisms connecting the first and second mounting beams, respectively, to the truck frame, the first and second detachable attachment mechanisms extending through the truck bed;

a fork lift mast assembly pivotably connected to the first and second mounting beam, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a fork lift hydraulic ram;

a fork lift carriage carried by the fork lift mast assembly, the fork lift carriage being repeatably slideable between raised and lowered positions relative to the fork lift mast assembly in response to actuating the fork lift hydraulic ram;

first and second tilt actuators coupled to the first and second mounting beams, respectively, and the fork lift mast assembly; and

a tool box positioned on the first and second mounting beams, wherein the tool box includes first and second channels which receive the first and second mounting beams, respectively, the tool box being positioned at an opposite end of the first and second mounting beams from the fork lift mast assembly.

28. The fork lift of claim 9, wherein the fork lift carriage and fork lift mast assembly are capable of lifting between about 1,000 pounds to about 7,000 pounds.

29. The fork lift of claim 28, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a first fork lift mast which is coupled to the first tilt actuator and first mounting beam.

30. The fork lift of claim 29, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a first fork lift mast bracket which couples the first tilt actuator to the first fork lift mast.

31. The fork lift of claim 29, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a second fork lift mast which is coupled to the second tilt actuator and second mounting beam.

32. The fork lift of claim 31, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a second fork lift mast bracket which couples the second tilt actuator to the second fork lift mast.

11. A fork lift attached to a truck frame of a truck, comprising:

first and second mounting beams positioned above and spaced from a truck bed of the truck, the truck bed being carried by the truck frame;

first and second attachment mechanisms extending through the truck bed, the first and second attachment mechanisms having ends connected to the truck frame and opposed ends connected to the first and second mounting beams, respectively;

a fork lift mast assembly pivotably connected to distal ends of the first and second mounting beams, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a fork lift hydraulic ram;

first and second tilt actuators connected between the first and second mounting beams, respectively, and the fork lift mast assembly; and

a tool box engaged with a proximal end of the first and second mounting beams, the tool box being positioned at an opposite end of the first and second mounting beams from the fork lift mast assembly;

wherein the tool box includes first and second channels, the proximal ends of the first and second mounting beams extending through the first and second channels, respectively.

12. The fork lift of claim 11, wherein the truck bed is positioned between the truck frame and the first and second mounting beams.

13. The fork lift of claim 12, further including flat stock material positioned between the first and second mounting beams and the truck bed.

14. The fork lift of claim 11, wherein the first and second detachable attachment mechanisms extend perpendicular to the first and second mounting beams, respectively.

15. The fork lift of claim 11, wherein the distal ends of the first and second mounting beams extend beyond the rear of the truck bed.

16. The fork lift of claim 11, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms have ends engaged with the truck frame and opposed ends engaged with the first and second mounting beams, respectively.

17. A fork lift attached to a truck frame of a truck, comprising:

first and second mounting beams;

first and second detachable attachment mechanisms connecting the first and second mounting beams, respectively, to the truck frame, the first and second detachable attachment mechanisms extending through a truck bed of the truck;

a fork lift mast assembly pivotably connected to the first and second mounting beam, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes a fork lift hydraulic ram;

a fork lift carriage carried by the fork lift mast assembly, the fork lift carriage being repeatably slideable between raised and lowered positions relative to the fork lift mast assembly in response to actuating the fork lift hydraulic ram;

first and second tilt actuators connected between the first and second mounting beams, respectively, and the fork lift mast assembly; and

a tool box which engages a proximal end of the first and second mounting beams, the tool box being positioned at an opposite end of the first and second mounting beams from the fork lift mast assembly;

wherein the tool box includes first and second channels, the proximal ends of the first and second mounting beams extending through the first and second channels respectively.

18. The fork lift of claim 17, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes first and second mast chains, wherein the fork lift hydraulic ram is operatively coupled to the fork lift carriage through the first and second mast chains.

19. The fork lift of claim 17, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms are engaged with the truck frame and first and second mounting beams, respectively.

20. The fork lift of claim 17, further including flat stock material positioned between the first and second mounting beams and the truck bed.

21. The fork lift of claim 17, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes first and second pivot mast arms pivotably connected to the first and second mounting beams, respectively.

22. The fork lift of claim 21, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes first and second sliding mast arms slidingly engaged with the first and second pivot mast arms, respectively.

23. The fork lift of claim 22, wherein the first and second sliding mast arms slide relative to the first and second pivot mast arms in response to actuating the fork lift hydraulic ram.

24. The fork lift of claim 22, wherein the fork lift mast assembly includes first and second mast chains coupled between the first and second sliding mast arms, respectively, and the fork lift hydraulic ram.

25. The fork lift of claim 24, wherein the first and second mast chains are coupled to the fork lift carriage.

26. The fork lift of claim 21, wherein the first and second pivot mast arms are C-channel beams.

27. The fork lift of claim 22, wherein the first and second sliding mast arms are I-channel beams.