Forklift truck

• US 6,079,935 A
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Original Assignee: Linde AG (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Mundkowski, Rudolf, Brunner, Norbert, Spennemann, Wilhelm, Gotz, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US08/959,111
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 414/917, 414/914, 414/662, 414/663, 414/664, 414/668, 414/659, 414/661, 414/630, 414/631, 414/637, 414/628, 414/629, 414/546, 414/673, 414/641, 414/642, 254/10 R, 254/10 C, 187/222, 187/234, 187/237, 187/226, 180/210, 180/906, 180/24.02, 180/209, 280/638, 280/688, 280/149.2
• US Class Current: 414/641
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07522 Variable length or width chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/122 longitudinally movable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/906 Adjustable axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/127 Handling vehicles with overhead guard for operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/13 Handlers utilizing parallel links

Abstract

A forklift truck has a frame, a cab including a roof to protect the driver and a lift support structure connected to the frame. A load-carrying fork is mounted on the lift support structure for vertical movement and the lift support structure, the roof and the frame are all welded together to form a single load-bearing assembly.

Claims

1. A forklift truck having:

a frame having a plurality of ground engaging wheels with at least one of said wheels being steerable;

a cab including a roof to protect the driver and a lift support structure connected to said frame wherein at least a portion of said lift support structure is stationary relative to said roof;

load-carrying means mounted on said lift support structure for vertical movement;

means for powering said forklift truck and said load-carrying means;

means for inclining said load-carrying means relative to said lift support structure and said frame, wherein said lift support structure, said roof and said frame are connected to form a load bearing assembly; and

wherein said lift support structure, said roof and said frame are substantially rigidly connected.

2. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift support structure and said roof are connected to said frame by welds.

3. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lift support structure has a stationary mast section connected to said roof and said frame, and a vertically extendable mast section located within said stationary mast section and vertically movable relative thereto, whereby the height of said lift support structure is increased by raising said vertically extendable mast section.

4. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means, and at least one rear wheel mounted on said frame longitudinally spaced from said spaced front wheels, and said lift support structure is located in the longitudinal direction between said spaced front wheels and said at least one rear wheel.

5. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means, and at least one rear wheel mounted on said frame longitudinally spaced from said spaced front wheels, and said lift support structure is located in the longitudinal direction between said spaced front wheels and said at least one rear wheel.

6. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one rear wheel is driven and steerable.

7. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means and means for moving said spaced front wheels horizontally toward the load when said load-carrying means is raised above the top of said spaced front wheels.

8. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift support structure has a stationary mast section connected to said roof and said frame, and a vertically extendable mast section located within said stationary mast section and vertically movable relative thereto, whereby the height of said lift support structure is increased by raising said vertically extendable mast section.

9. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means, and at least one rear wheel mounted on said frame longitudinally spaced from said spaced front wheels, and said lift support structure is located in the longitudinal direction between said spaced front wheels and said at least one rear wheel.

10. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means and means for moving said spaced front wheels horizontally toward the load when said load-carrying means is raised above the top of said spaced front wheels.

11. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means and means for moving said spaced front wheels horizontally toward the load when said load-carrying means is raised above the top of said spaced front wheels.

12. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cab has a floor and a battery for electrically powering said forklift truck, an operator'"'"'s station in said cab wherein an operator operates said forklift truck in a standing position on said floor, and said battery is located on said floor next to said operator'"'"'s station.

13. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 1 including a battery for electrically powering said forklift truck, an operator'"'"'s station in said cab, and a seat in said cab wherein an operator operates said forklift truck in a sitting position on said seat, and said battery is located below said seat.

14. A forklift truck including:

a frame having a plurality of ground engaging wheels with at least one of said wheels being steerable;

a cab including a roof to protect the driver and a lift support structure connected to said frame, wherein said lift support structure, said roof and said frame are substantially rigidly connected to form a load-bearing assembly;

load-carrying means mounted on said lift support structure for vertical movement;

means for powering said forklift truck and said load-carrying means;

said plurality of ground engaging wheels including spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means; and

said plurality of ground engaging wheels further including at least one rear wheel mounted on said frame longitudinally spaced from said spaced front wheels, wherein said lift support structure includes a vertically extending mast with a forward edge of said vertically extending mast located in the longitudinal direction between a vertical plane connecting a forward edge of said spaced front wheels and a vertical plane connecting a rearward edge of said spaced front wheels.

15. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 14, including means for moving said load-carrying means horizontally in front of said spaced front wheels when said load-carrying device is in the lowest position.

16. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 14 wherein said at least one rear wheel is driven and steerable.

17. A forklift truck including:

a frame having a plurality of ground engaging wheels with at least one of said wheels being steerable;

a cab including a roof to protect the driver and a lift support structure connected to said frame, wherein said lift support structure, said roof and said frame are connected substantially rigidly to form a load-bearing assembly;

load-carrying means mounted on said lift support structure for vertical movement;

means for powering said forklift truck and said load-carrying means;

said plurality of ground engaging wheels including spaced front wheels mounted on said frame close to said load-carrying means; and

means for moving said spaced front wheels horizontally to a forwardmost position toward the load when said load-carrying means is raised above the top of said spaced front wheels, wherein said forwardmost position positions a rearward edge of said spaced front wheels longitudinally behind a forward edge of said lift support structure.

18. A forklift truck comprising:

a short frame defining an operator station with a floor defining a space for a standing operator wherein said frame has a plurality of ground engaging wheels with at least one of said wheels being steerable;

at least one of said wheels defines a front axis of said forklift truck;

a lift support structure connected to said frame near said front axis, said lift support structure not displaceable longitudinally relative to said frame;

a load-carrying device mounted on said lift support structure for vertical movement, wherein a load supported on said load-carrying device is positioned in front of said front axis;

means for powering said forklift truck and said load-carrying means; and

a cab including a roof connected to said lift support structure and said frame, said cab covering said space for a standing operator and wherein said cab, said lift support structure and said frame are substantially rigidly connected to form a stable, rigid load bearing assembly conducting loads from the middle and top of said lift support structure to a rear end of said forklift truck.

19. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 18 wherein said frame has a longitudinal length of less than 1.3 meters.

20. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 18 further including an independent counterweight mounted within said cab, wherein said counterweight does not extend outside of said roof of said cab.

21. A forklift truck as set forth in claim 20 wherein said plurality of ground engaging wheels includes a pair of front wheels mounted on said frame at said axes and at least one driven, steerable rear wheel is mounted on said frame longitudinally spaced from said spaced front wheels, wherein said lift support structure is located between said spaced front wheels and said at least one rear wheel in said longitudinal direction of said forklift truck, wherein said lift support structure and said roof are connected to said frame by welds, wherein said cab has a floor and a battery for electrically powering said forklift truck, and wherein said battery is located on said floor next to said operators station.