Material or article handling – Load engaging structure of elevator or hoist device with...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-09-11
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Load engaging structure of elevator or hoist device with...
C414S544000, C414S608000, C414S667000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287073
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lift fork rack, comprising an upper beam, a lower beam and at least two spacer elements, which fix the upper and lower beams at a distance from and essentially parallel to each other, load-bearing fork members being mountable on the upper and lower beams, said fork members being displaceable along, the length of the beams, said spacer elements comprising attachment means which are intended to releasably attach the lift fork rack to a lift mechanism. The invention also relates to a fork intended to be mounted on a lift fork rack, comprising first and second legs, which form essentially a right angle to each other, said first leg having coupling means for coupling together with a first and a second beam of the lift fork rack, said second leg having a load surface for carrying a load.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Lift fork racks of this type are previously known and are used to fix the forks at a predetermined distance from each other. The lift fork rack comprises anchoring means making it possible to fix the lift fork rack to the lift mechanism of e.g,. a wheel loader or a fork lift truck. In order to adjust the fork members to various objects to be lifted, the fork members are laterally displaceable along the lift fork rack.
When the known lift fork rack is mounted on the lift mechanism of a wheel loader, however, the upper and lower beams of the lift fork rack block the sight of the operator making it difficult for him to aim at and then insert the fork members under the object to be lifted as well as placing the object at its intended location. If the distance set between the fork members is small, the upright sections of the fork members will also block the sight of the operator.
A lift fork rack is subjected to repeatedly varying, loads, which means that the material in the lift fork rack may be subject to metal fatigue. At the joints between the beams and the spacers the risk is greatest for fatigue cracking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a lift fork rack and a fork member of the type described by way of introduction which provides a large field vision for an operator when the lift fork rack is mounted on the lift mechanism of the vehicle.
Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a lift fork rack which has high fatigue strength.
An additional purpose of the present invention is to achieve a lift fork rack which permits loading and unloading of an object on an inclined surface.
This is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the upper beam has a web and a flange which are joined to each other at an angle &agr; differing from 90°, that the upper beam is joined to each spacer element via the web, and that the web is directed away from the lower beam.
By making the web of the first beam inclined, the flange will be displaced downwards towards the lower beam. This means that the operator will be better able to see the fork members mounted on the rack when the lift mechanism is in its lower position.
According to one embodiment, the fork members are displaceable relative to the coupling means, which connect the fork members to the lift fork rack, to permit loading and unloading on inclined surfaces.
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Back Daniel
Lindgren Gunnar
Ripell Hakan
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
Volvo Wheel Loaders AB
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