Material or article handling – Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor – Convertible attachment
Patent
1980-08-11
1982-10-19
Love, John J.
Material or article handling
Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor
Convertible attachment
294 81SF, B66F 906
Patent
active
043547940
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a load handling apparatus and more particularly to a pivotally side shiftable carriage assembly for a lift truck mast.
2. Background Art
Carriage assemblies are known which have the ability to move both elevationally and laterally on a lift truck mast. Such carriage assemblies are known in the art as side shifting carriages and are useful where accuracy of load manipulation is critical and vehicle maneuverability must be held to a minimum. Such a side shifting carriage assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,927, issued Aug. 17, 1976 to F. C. Schuster.
Typically, the lift mast is mounted on one end of the lift truck and a counterweight on the other. The carriage assembly includes numerous load engaging and support components which not only add weight to the load carrying end of the vehicle but cause the load supporting member to be positioned outwardly from the vehicle at a location spaced from its center of gravity to an extent adversely affecting the load carrying capacity of the vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the size and weight of the counterweight. This, however, tends to increase the length of the vehicle resulting in an increase in turning radius, which is detrimental to its maneuverability, stability, and performance. In addition to the aforementioned problems, this clutter of parts adds structural bulk to the functional end of the vehicle and reduces visibility from the operator's compartment. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,008, issued Aug. 21, 1979 to D. M. Faust et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,777 issued Jan. 11, 1972 to Murdock M. Snelling, Jr. et al.
Therefore, the prior art designs are costly, complex and are plagued with problems and deficiencies. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a lift truck mast carriage assembly is provided for elevationally movably supporting a load which is also capable of moving the load transversely to the normally upright attitude of the lift mast. The carriage assembly includes first and second load supporting arms each being pivotally connected to a frame of the carriage at spaced apart locations on the frame and means movably connecting the load supporting arms to the frame for permitting unitary movement of the load supporting arms relative to the frame only transversely of the lift mast.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a lift truck supporting the carriage assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the carriage assembly of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view through a portion of the carriage assembly taken along line III--III of FIG. 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, a lift assembly 10 for a container handling attachment 12 is mounted on one end 14 of the lift truck 16 and a counterweight 18 is mounted on an other end 20.
The lift assembly 10 includes a lift mast 22 having a pair of fixed spaced apart uprights 24 pivotally connected to the end 14 of the lift truck 16 and a pair of movable spaced apart uprights 26 mounted on and elevationally movable along the fixed uprights 24 all in a conventional manner.
A carriage assembly 28 includes a rigid frame 30 having a pair of spaced roller brackets 32, an upper tubular guide beam 34 defining an upper end portion and a lower support beam 36 defining a lower end portion. The frame 30 is mounted on the movable uprights 26 by rollers 42 connected to each of the roller brackets 32 and elevationally movable along the movable uprights. The movable uprights 26 and the frame 30 are each elevationally movable along the member upon which they are mounted in any suitable well known manner such as by a jack, sheave and chain arrangement (not shown).
An upper end portion 38 of each of the roller brackets 32 is affixed to the guide beam 34 and a lower end portion
REFERENCES:
patent: 2585095 (1952-02-01), Daniels
patent: 3599818 (1971-08-01), Stanton
patent: 3606053 (1971-09-01), Whiteman
patent: 3633777 (1972-01-01), Snelling, Jr.
patent: 3764032 (1973-10-01), Ward
patent: 3974927 (1976-08-01), Schuster
patent: 3982644 (1976-09-01), Pease
patent: 4165008 (1979-08-01), Faust
Hickman Alan J.
Love John J.
Siemens Terrance L.
Towmotor Corporation
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