US3773201A - Self-storing material handling attachment for lift trucks - Google Patents

Self-storing material handling attachment for lift trucks Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3773201A
US3773201A US00211393A US3773201DA US3773201A US 3773201 A US3773201 A US 3773201A US 00211393 A US00211393 A US 00211393A US 3773201D A US3773201D A US 3773201DA US 3773201 A US3773201 A US 3773201A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
leg
frame
attachment
self
legs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00211393A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
N Thompson
C Chelin
L Liljequist
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Caterpillar Industrial Inc
Original Assignee
Towmotor Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Towmotor Corp filed Critical Towmotor Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3773201A publication Critical patent/US3773201A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
    • B66F9/00—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
    • B66F9/06—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
    • B66F9/075—Constructional features or details
    • B66F9/12—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members
    • B66F9/18—Load gripping or retaining means
    • B66F9/186—Container lifting frames

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A self-storing material handling attachment having a material engaging device including a frame for removably mounting the same on a transport vehicle, including a plurality of support legs borne by the frame for movement relative to the frame between a retracted position permitting unrestricted operation of the vehicle and an extended position for supporting and storing the attachment independently of the vehicle.
  • the structure of the present invention is .intended to permit the convenient storage of a material handling attachment after it has been removed from a lift truck. or other vehicle on which it is adapted to be mounted.
  • one appraoch has been to provide a separate storage rack or stand for such a conventional material handling attachment.
  • the lift truck or other mounting vehicle is moved into a position facing the storage rack and the material handling device is placed in a supported position upon the rack. The device is then disconnected from the mounting vehicle, freeing the latter for other duties.
  • the present invention provides a material handling attachment including a self-contained apparatus making the attachment independent from special storage racks.
  • Such apparatus is retractable and unobstrusive when the attachment is in use on a transport vehicle, but at the same time is quickly and simply positioned to support and store the attachment when the attachment is not needed on the transport vehicle.
  • Another object is to provide such an attachment, which includes a frame having a multiplicity of supporting legs that are an integral part of the attachment so as to be continuously available for immediate use.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide such an attachment in which the supporting legs can be locked in either an extended attachment supporting position, or in a retracted position providing unrestricted operation of the mounting vehicle.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment embodying the principles of the present invention shown in the self-supporting, storage position.
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevation and partial section of one of the pivotable support leg assemblies of the attachment of FIG. 1 showing the leg swung to a retracted position.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the leg in its unlocked position.
  • FIG. 4 is a front elevation and partial section showing the support leg of FIGS. 2 and 3 in an extended, unlocked position.
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevation and partial section showing the support leg of FIG. 4 in its external locked attachment-supporting position.
  • FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the attachment mounted on a lift truck, fragmentally indicated in dashed lines, with all supporting legs locked in their retracted positions.
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the attachment of FIG. 6, with a load indicated in dashed lines.
  • a material handling attachment embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. As .shown in FIG. 6, the attachment is adapted to be conveniently mountable on a lift truck 12, which has a mast l4 and fork-type carriage assembly 15 from which the forks have been removed.
  • the self-storing material handling attachment 10 has .a substantially vertical frame assembly 16, and supporting a beam 18 oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the lift truck 12.
  • the ends of the beam individually retain a support and lift arm assembly 20 by means of pivots 25 journaled into yolks affixed to either end of beam 18.
  • Each of the arm assemblies 20 includes a twist lock 22 on each of its ends as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the mechanism for the cargo container twist locks are similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,563 to J. E. Forry, et a1, and is designed to fit into the upper corner fittings of a standard cargo container 39.
  • the standard container dimensions are set forth and the structure of the comer fittings and twist lock mechanism are described in publication MI-I5.l1962 entitled Specifications for Freight Containers of the United States of America Standards Institute.
  • a flared container corner guide 24 is dependently mounted on the rearward end of each lift arm assembly 20 nearest to the lift truck after installation.
  • the entire lift frame 10 is removably mountable on the carriage assembly 15 of lift truck 12 by any suitable fastener device, not shown, such as a plurality of hook-type brackets or the like. Accordingly, the attachment can be mounted and dismounted from the operators station on the lift truck by proper manipulation of the usual hydraulic controls thereon after the hydraulic connections to the attachment have been removed.
  • the vertical frame assembly 16 is a generally rectangular configuration and is fabricated from relatively heavy steel box section beams.
  • Two spaced substantially parallel, generally vertically-oriented box beams 26 and 28 form a pair of upright members thereof, while similar beams 30 and 32 form a pair of upper and lower cross-members of the frame, respectively.
  • Corner gussets 33 welded between cross beam and uprights 26, 28, are used to provide additional strengthening members for the frame assembly 16.
  • the transverse beam 18 is joined to the vertical frame assembly 16, by arms 34 and diagonal frame brace members 35.
  • the arms ex- .tend generally horizontally away from the vertical frame assembly 16 for a distance of somewhat more than half the width of a standard cargo container 39. Clearance space is thus provided between the vertical frame assembly 16 and the adjacent side of the cargo 7 container, as best seen in FIG. 7.
  • the container is thus allowed to swing about pivots to a. limited degree without contacting the vertical frame, while said cons. tainer is being lifted and transported.
  • the. single transverse beam and the relatively narrow vertical frame assembly afford excellent operator visibility and vehicle clearance when the lift truck is traveling without a load.
  • attachment 10 further includes a pair of vertically-oriented, slidable legs 36 and 38 disposed along the bottom vertical portion of frame 16.
  • the legs are of rectangular shape with downwardly depending flat foot members 40 that are generally horizontally-disposed, and further include strategically placed holes 42 in at least one side of the legs, to accept legloo'king pins 44, which lock the legs in either the extended or retracted position on the attachment.
  • the legs move in a substantially upward and downward direction within brackets 46, which brackets are shaped to slidably receive the legs therein.
  • Brackets 46 have strategically placed holes 48 correspondingly spaced relative to the leg holes 42 to accept the leg locking pins 44 when the legs are placed in their extended or retracted position.
  • the brackets46 are individually secured to vertical box beams 26 and 28 as by welding orthe like.
  • the lock pin holes 42 and 48 are understood to be of a size to accept the hand-emplaced locking pins.
  • the locking pins can include keeper-chain mechanisms 50, with one end of said mechanism attached to the pins and the other end attached to brackets 46 or vertical beams 26 and 28.
  • the keeper chains serve to eliminate loss or misplac e ment of the pins 44. 4 r
  • the legs 52 and 54 are generally rectangularl shaped and have a downwardly depending generally horizontally disposed flat foot member 56 that is weldably attached to the legs lowermost extremity.
  • the uppermost extremity of the leg has a generally rectangularly-shaped leg-locking end 58 (FIGS. 2-5) incorporating a cam roller 60 thereon, a lever arm portion 62, a slotted hole 64 and an enlarged leg pivot portion 66 that accommodates a leg pivot sleeve 68.
  • Bracket assembly 74 includes apivotpiri hole 76 for mounting the pivot pin 72 there thr'ough', and also includes'in'teriorly formed notches 78 arid 80, shaped and sized to receive the correspondingly-shaped leg locking end 58 for locking; Legs in either agenerally horizontal or a generallyyertical; positiom I A cam surface 82 is disposed on the interior of assembly 74betwe en the notches to provide a smooth leg action when the leg being changed from one position tothe other;
  • the leg slotted hole 64 is of a size to allow the legto slidably travel within the pivot sleeve for a distance sufficient for the leg locking end to be withdrawn from the bracket notch 78 or 80.
  • the pivot sleeve guides the leg in this slidable travel, and also serves to reduce the pin load in bending by forcing the leg to assume a rigid upright position when it is supporting the load of the stored attachment 10.
  • Hydraulic jacks 84 having a head end 86 and a rod end 88, are provided for movement of legs 52 and 54 between their extended attachment-storing posin'ons and their retracted attachment-operating positions.
  • the head ends86 are pivotally attached to the backing plate of bracket assembly 74 or to the transverse beam 18, while the movable rod ends are pivotally attached to'the lever arm portion 62 of the leg locking end, as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and S.
  • the hydraulic fluid pressure for powering the jacks is provided by a hydraulic system (not shown) normally associated with fork lift trucks.
  • the carriage After mounting and coupling the attachment 10 to the carriageassembly 15 of the lift truck 12, the carriage is elevated a short distance sufficiently to remove the attachment weight from the legs 36, 38, 52 and 54.
  • the locking pins 44 of the rearwardly disposed slidable legs 36 and 38 are withdrawn from the bracket holes 48 and the leg holes 42, at which time the legs are raised manually and the locking pins are reinserted in the bracket holes 48 and the appropriate leg holes 42.
  • the forwardly disposed pivotally-mounted legs 52 and 54 are then moved hydraulically from the downwardly extended positions shown in FIG. 5 to the retracted positions shown in FIG. 2 by appropriate manipulation of the hydraulic control system normally associated with the fork lift truck.
  • leg cam rollers 60 The action of the leg cam rollers 60 on the bracket cam surfaces 82 provides a relatively frictionless guided leg movement between the various leg positions.
  • Continued fluid pressure directed into the headend of the jacks 84 causes the leg locking ends 58 to enter the correspondingly shaped locking notches 80 in the brackets 74, thus locking the legs in the substantially horizontal position of FIG. 2.
  • Hydraulic fluid pressure is directed to the rod end of the hydraulic jacks 84, causing the rod-ends 88 to retract into the jacks. Since the rod ends 88 are rotatably attached to the leg lever arms 62, the leg locking ends 58 are withdrawn from the bracket locking notches 80.
  • FIG. 2 shows the leg 54 position prior to the initiating the leg unlocking action and
  • FIG. 3 shows the leg to bracket relationship after the leg end is removed from said locking notch.
  • the legs slidably travel within the sleeves 68 on the pins 72 to the extent allowed by the slotted holes 64 in the legs.
  • the cam roller 60 bearing along the cam surface 82, serves to help control the speed of leg rotative movement and provides added guidance of the lag action.
  • the legs assume the fully locked positions of FIG. 5, when the lift truck carriage 15 is lowered, causing the weight of the attachment 10 to rest on its supporting legs.
  • a self-storing material handling attachment has been provided that is readily removable from a mounting vehicle, for storage at any convenient location without a separate supporting rack or stand. It is significant that the multiplicity of supporting legs are an integral part of the attachment, so as to be continuously available for immediate use.
  • a self-storing material handling attachment mountable on a transport vehicle comprising, material engaging means, frame means including an upright frame member for attachment directly to said transport vehicle, and a horizontally disposed transverse member rigidly supported on said frame member, said transverse member of said frame means supporting said engaging means and said upright member being removably mounted on a transport vehicle, and support means including a multiplicity of leg members home by said frame means for movement relative to the frame means between retracted positions permitting unrestricted operation of the vehicle and extended positions for supporting the attachment independently of the vehicle, wherein at least one of said leg members is slidably mounted on said upright frame member, and at least one of said leg members is pivotably mounted on said transverse member, and wherein said pivotal legs include a lower surface-engaging foot end, an upper locking end, and an extended intermediate portion connecting said ends, power means borne by said frame pivotally connected to each said pivotal leg adjacent its locking end for swinging the leg between a substantially vertically disposed frame supporting position and a substantially horizontally disposed retracted position,
  • a self-storing material handling attachment mountable on a transport vehicle comprising, material engaging means, frame means including an upright frame member for attachment directly to said transport vehicle, and a horizontally disposed transverse member rigidly supported on said frame member, said frame means supporting said engaging means and removably mounted on a transport vehicle, and support means including a multiplicity of leg members borne by said frame means for movement relative to the frame means between retracted positions permitting unrestricted operation of the vehicle and extended positions for supporting the attachment independently of the vehicle, wherein,
  • leg members a least one of said leg members is slidably mounted on said upright frame member, and at least one of said leg members is pivotably mounted on said transverse member,
  • pivotal legs include a lower surfaceengaging foot end, an upper locking end, and an extended intermediate portion connecting said ends, said intermediate portion further defining an elongated slot therethrough adjacent said locking end, a pin mounted in said frame and extending through said slot, power means borne by said frame pivotally connected to each said pivotal leg adjacent its locking end for swinging the leg about said pin between a substantially vertically disposed frame supporting position and a substantially horizontally disposed retracted position, and lock means on said transverse member for fixedly retaining said locking end of the leg in each of said leg positions.
  • said lock means includes a pair of spaced upper and lower right angularly related notches in the frame for alternatively receiving said locking end of the leg, and a camming surface on the frame angularly extending between said notches against which said locking end of the leg is slidably guided during movement of the leg between its frame supporting and retracted positions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Loading Or Unloading Of Vehicles (AREA)
US00211393A 1971-12-23 1971-12-23 Self-storing material handling attachment for lift trucks Expired - Lifetime US3773201A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21139371A 1971-12-23 1971-12-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3773201A true US3773201A (en) 1973-11-20

Family

ID=22786751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00211393A Expired - Lifetime US3773201A (en) 1971-12-23 1971-12-23 Self-storing material handling attachment for lift trucks

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3773201A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4870254A (fr)
BE (1) BE791377A (fr)
CA (1) CA962633A (fr)
FR (1) FR2164601B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1404475A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978991A (en) * 1973-09-03 1976-09-07 Uwe Kochanneck Storage installation with automatic pick-up device
US4184708A (en) * 1975-05-27 1980-01-22 Modular Distribution Systems Limited Handling apparatus for goods transport containers
US4824318A (en) * 1984-04-04 1989-04-25 Glenn Warner Quick disconnect container carrier
EP0208413B1 (fr) * 1985-07-12 1991-10-09 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Dispositif de fermeture muni d'un capuchon avec une charnière à effet de ressort

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2484986A1 (fr) * 1980-06-19 1981-12-24 Ventron Yves Appareil de manutention de conteneurs, destine a l'equipement des chariots elevateurs
FR2598399A1 (fr) * 1986-05-06 1987-11-13 Koehl Jean Marie Dispositif amovible et autostable de fixation de potence de levage sur des tabliers elevateurs
FR2929867B1 (fr) * 2008-04-10 2010-08-20 Rotobloc Psp Dispositif de manutention adapte a un engin de levage pour manutentionner des produits tels que des bobines et engin de levage equipe d'un tel dispositif

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3495727A (en) * 1968-01-19 1970-02-17 Long Mfg Co Inc Backhoe
US3514002A (en) * 1967-10-16 1970-05-26 Theodore H Allegri Antiracking container lift frame
US3606053A (en) * 1969-12-15 1971-09-20 Midland Ross Corp Grappler-spreader for cantilever-boom trucks
US3635432A (en) * 1969-10-10 1972-01-18 Tiidee Products Combination support member and hinge lock means
US3659732A (en) * 1969-09-18 1972-05-02 Hyster Co Fork frame for an industrial truck

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3514002A (en) * 1967-10-16 1970-05-26 Theodore H Allegri Antiracking container lift frame
US3495727A (en) * 1968-01-19 1970-02-17 Long Mfg Co Inc Backhoe
US3659732A (en) * 1969-09-18 1972-05-02 Hyster Co Fork frame for an industrial truck
US3635432A (en) * 1969-10-10 1972-01-18 Tiidee Products Combination support member and hinge lock means
US3606053A (en) * 1969-12-15 1971-09-20 Midland Ross Corp Grappler-spreader for cantilever-boom trucks

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978991A (en) * 1973-09-03 1976-09-07 Uwe Kochanneck Storage installation with automatic pick-up device
US4184708A (en) * 1975-05-27 1980-01-22 Modular Distribution Systems Limited Handling apparatus for goods transport containers
US4824318A (en) * 1984-04-04 1989-04-25 Glenn Warner Quick disconnect container carrier
EP0208413B1 (fr) * 1985-07-12 1991-10-09 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Dispositif de fermeture muni d'un capuchon avec une charnière à effet de ressort

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA962633A (en) 1975-02-11
FR2164601A1 (fr) 1973-08-03
FR2164601B1 (fr) 1978-05-26
GB1404475A (en) 1975-08-28
JPS4870254A (fr) 1973-09-22
BE791377A (fr) 1973-05-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3006485A (en) Vehicle unloading or loading devices
US3667632A (en) Floor crane
US2792079A (en) Material handling apparatus
US3797672A (en) Apparatus attachable to a truck body or the like for use for hoisting or lifting, or as an elevated support
US3784035A (en) Vehicle mounted loading hoist
US3486650A (en) Heavy mover apparatus
US3516706A (en) Freight vehicles
US2678746A (en) Industrial lifting truck
US3529736A (en) Devices for raising loads to permit the handling thereof
US3552557A (en) Lifting apparatus
US3521780A (en) Truck-mounted lifting device
US3881689A (en) Camper body lifting device
US4049143A (en) Trailer-type vehicle for lifting, transporting, and depositing loads
US3773201A (en) Self-storing material handling attachment for lift trucks
US2707063A (en) Portable hoists
US3484003A (en) Hydraulic loading apparatus
US3477600A (en) Hinged fork for fork-lift trucks
US1697364A (en) Elevating truck
US20160368517A1 (en) Hand-operated and rolling device for lifting and moving pallets with lifting effect by wheel camber change
US6102369A (en) Snowmobile jack stand
US3387730A (en) Container lifting frame with means to shift same laterally on a forklift truck
US3243224A (en) Lifting sling for semi-trailers and demountable containers
US3306467A (en) Collapsible truck mounted hoist
EP0906241A1 (fr) Chariot enjambeur
US3471048A (en) Device for loading a transport box on a lorry and unloading the same