SIX WHEEL MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE

• US 3,799,362 A
• Filed: 01/22/1973
• Issued: 03/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry S. Mankey, Norman Dean Oswald
• Original Assignee: Harry S. Mankey, Norman Dean Oswald
• Inventors: Oswald, Norman Dean, Mankey, Harry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US05/325,310
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 214/1R,1H,1D,1Q,13R 180/6.48,24.08,24.11,66
• US Class Current: 414/680
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/36 for driving tandem wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/00 Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/183 Control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0621 comprising traction increasing arrangements, e.g. all-wheel traction devices, multiple-axle traction arrangements, auxiliary traction increasing devices anti-skid or anti-slip devices fitted onto the wheels B60B15/02, B60B39/12; arrangements of transmission for driving both front and rear wheels or tandem wheels of vehicles B60K17/34, B60K17/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/30 Track-tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/10 with more than four wheels tractors of the low ground pressure type B62D49/002
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/87 Ammunition handling dollies or transfer carts F41A9/86 takes precedence

Abstract

A six wheel material handling vehicle comprises an engine and a hydrostatic drive which functions both to propel the vehicle and to manipulate the vehicle by means of skid steering. The engine is mounted at one end of a frame, and apparatus is provided for receiving and vertically manipulating a load at the opposite end of the frame. The wheels are arranged in three pairs, with the center pair extending below a plane extending tangent to the bottoms of the wheels at the ends of the vehicle. During operation over adverse terrain, the vehicle is supported on all six wheels. During operation on a hard, smooth surface, the vehicle is supported either on the forward and center pairs of wheels or on the center and rearward pairs of wheels, depending on weight distribution.

Claims

1. A material handling vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a prime mover mounted at one end of the frame;

a mechanism mounted on the frame for receiving a load at the opposite end thereof from the prime mover and for manipulating the load vertically relative to the frame;

six wheels comprising three pairs of opposed wheels positioned at spaced points along the opposite sides of the frame for supporting the vehicle;

the wheels comprising the center pair extending beneath the wheels at the opposite ends of the frame so that during operation over adverse terrain the vehicle is supported by all six wheels and so that during operation on a hard, smooth surface the vehicle is supported either by the center and rearward pairs of wheels or by the center and forward pairs of wheels depending on weight distribution; and

transmission means operatively interconnecting the prime mover and at least the center pair of wheels so that the wheels are operative to propel the vehicle.

2. The material handling vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the transmission means operatively interconnects the prime mover and all six wheels.

3. The material handling vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the orientation of all six wheels relative to the frame is fixed and wherein the transmission means functions to steer the vehicle by independently regulating the direction and speed of operation of the three wheels on one side of the vehicle and the direction and speed of operation of the three wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle.

4. The material handling vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the load receiving and manipulating means comprises a boom pivotally supported on the frame for manipulation between a position wherein it extends between at least the forward pair of wheels and a position wherein it extends above at least the forward pair of wheels, a lift table mounted at the distal end of the boom for receiving and supporting the load, and means adapted for actuation by the prime mover for pivoting the boom relative to the frame.

5. A material handling vehicle comprising:

a frame;

six wheels mounted on the frame for supporting the vehicle and including forward, center, and rearward pairs of wheels positioned at spaced points lengthwise of the frame;

said center pair of wheels extending somewhat below a plane extending tangent to the bottoms of the forward and rearward pairs of wheels;

a prime mover mounted at the extreme rear end of the frame and adapted to pivot the frame rearwardly so that the vehicle is normally supported on the center and rearward pairs of wheels;

means mounted on the frame for actuation by the prime mover to receive a load at the front end of the frame and to vertically manipulate the load, whereby the frame is pivoted forwardly so that the vehicle is supported on the forward and center pairs of wheels; and

hydrostatic transmission means operatively interconnecting the prime mover and all six wheels for propelling the vehicle and for manipulating the vehicle by means of skid steering.

6. The material handling vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the transmission means further comprises:

a pair of hydraulic pumps each operatively connected to the prime mover for actuation thereby;

a pair of hydraulic motors each adapted for actuation by one of the hydraulic pumps; and

means forming a driving connection between each of the hydraulic motors and the three wheels mounted on one side of the frame.

7. The material handling vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the load receiving and manipulating means further comprises:

a boom pivotally supported on the frame for manipulation between a position wherein it extends between the wheels on the opposite sides of the frame and a raised position;

means mounted on the distal end of the boom for receiving and supporting a load; and

means driven by the prime mover for selectively pivoting the boom relative to the frame and thereby selectively raising and lowering the load receiving and supporting means.

8. The material handling vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the transmission means further comprises:

dual hydraulic pumps both driven by the prime mover;

dual hydraulic motors each individual to and driven by the output of one of the pumps; and

means forming a driving interconnection between each motor and the three wheels on one side of the vehicle.

9. A material handling vehicle comprising:

a frame including a main portion and a pair of spaced apart portions extending forwardly from the main portion;

a boom pivotally supported at the forward end of the main portion of the frame and extending forwardly therefrom for pivotable movement between a position wherein it extends between the forwardly extending portions of the frame and a position wherein it extends above the forwardly extending portions;

a lift table mounted on the distal end of the boom for receiving and supporting a load;

six wheels each mounted on the frame in a fixed orientation with respect thereto for supporting the vehicle and including a rearward pair of wheels positioned under the main portion of the frame, a forward pair of wheels positioned at the front ends of the forwardly extending portions of the frame, and a center pair of wheels positioned between the forward and rearward pairs;

said center pair of wheels extending below a plane extending tangent to the bottoms of the forward and rearward pairs of wheels;

an operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment mounted on the main portion of the frame behind the pivotal connection of the boom thereto and directly above the rearward set of wheels;

a prime mover mounted at the extreme rear end of the frame behind the operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment;

whereby during operation of the vehicle over adverse terrain the vehicle is supported by all six wheels and during operation over a hard, smooth surface the vehicle is supported either by the rearward and center pairs of wheels or by the center and forward pairs of wheels, depending on weight distribution;

hydrostatic transmission means operatively interconnecting the prime mover and all six wheels for propelling the vehicle by means of the wheels and for steering the vehicle by selectively operating the three wheels on one side of the frame at a different direction and/or speed of operation from the direction and speed of operation of the three wheels on the opposite side of the frame; and

means adapted for actuation by the prime mover for selectively pivoting the boom and thereby selectively raising and lowering the lift table.

10. The material handling vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the transmission means further comprises:

a pair of hydraulic pumps driven by the prime mover;

a pair of hydraulic motors each adapted for actuation by one of the hydraulic pumps; and

drive means operatively interconnecting the three wheels on each side of the frame to one of the hydraulic motors.

11. The material handling vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the three wheels, the associated hydraulic motor, and the drive means on each side of the vehicle are mounted on a subframe adaPted for connection to the frame of the vehicle.

12. The material handling vehicle according to claim 11 further including a control lever mounted in the operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment for selective rotation about horizontal and vertical axes to control the flow of hydraulic fluid between each hydraulic pump and its corresponding hydraulic motor and thereby control the direction of operation, the speed of operation, and the steering of the vehicle.

13. The material handling vehicle according to claim 12 further characterized by:

an additional hydraulic pump driven by the prime mover;

a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected between the frame and the boom; and

valve means mounted in the operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the additional pump and the hydraulic cylinder and thereby selectively pivoting the boom relative to the frame of the vehicle.