Motor vehicles – Power – Battery mountings and holders
Patent
1980-10-20
1982-10-26
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Motor vehicles
Power
Battery mountings and holders
105 51, 180 69C, 296 376, 296 65R, 429 96, B60K 104
Patent
active
043556957
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to devices for securing the position of removable components of vehicles and more particularly to battery restraints for electrically powered lift trucks.
BACKGROUND ART
It is common for battery powered vehicles to be designed so as to permit simple and swift removal of their battery unit. Typically, the battery unit rests on the frame of the vehicle and is prevented from horizontal displacement by an enclosing frame. The battery unit is accessible from a vertical direction so that a hoisting device may be positioned thereover and the battery grasped for vertical removal.
Frequent removal of battery units is a necessity for those battery powered vehicles which are subject to around the clock usage. Currently available commercial battery units typically require several hours of recharging after a few hours of service. Extensive downtime for recharging can only be avoided by replacing a discharged battery unit with a charged one.
While it is necessary that the battery unit be easily removable from a vertical direction it is also important to ensure that the battery unit be restrained from unintended vertical displacement during operation of the vehicle. To decrease the possibility of such displacement of the battery unit several restraining devices have been developed. The most relevant of these are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,424 issued to Evans on Apr. 9, 1976, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,266 issued to Wojtyna on Aug. 22, 1978.
While the cited patents disclose effective battery unit restraining devices it would be advantageous were they less complex in construction. It would also be beneficial if the restraining device could not unintentionally be left in an unlocked condition.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a restraining device for a removable component of a vehicle includes an enclosure frame preventing the removable component from horizontal movement beyond preselected bounds. A cover is movably attached to the vehicle for manipulation between an operating position overlying the component and a position spaced therefrom. Positionable through apertures in the enclosure frame and overlying the removable component is a device for vertically restraining the removable component. When in a restraining position this device will permit movement of the cover to its operating position and when not in a restraining position this device will preclude such movement of the cover to its fully operational position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial diagrammatic top view of an alignment end of a restraining device in an engaged position with a cover shown in phantom outline;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional detail view of a locking end of the restraining device in the engaged position shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 2 and shows the restraining device in a first stage of removal;
FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6 and shows the restraining device in a second stage of removal; and
FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7 and shows the restraining device totally removed.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 an article restraining device 10 which is one embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted on a lift truck having a main frame 12 supporting a battery enclosure frame 14. The battery enclosure frame 14 includes a plurality of upwardly extending frame members, preferably a front wall 16 having an upper edge 18, a rear wall 20 having an upper edge 22, and side walls 24. A removable component such as a battery 26 is positione
REFERENCES:
patent: 1845418 (1932-02-01), Jantsch
patent: 3275092 (1966-09-01), Matthews
patent: 3309235 (1967-03-01), Teeple, Sr.
patent: 3367441 (1968-02-01), Schuster et al.
patent: 3787086 (1974-01-01), Cosby
patent: 3930552 (1976-01-01), Kunkle et al.
patent: 4033424 (1977-07-01), Evans
patent: 4108266 (1978-08-01), Wojtyna
patent: 4213510 (1980-07-01), Wible
patent: 4218105 (1980-08-01), Leighty
patent: 4252206 (1981-02-01), Burkholder et al.
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
Phillips Richard F.
Smith Milton L.
Towmotor Corporation
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