Elevator – industrial lift truck – or stationary lift for vehicle – Industrial lift truck or required component thereof – Having extensible vertical guide for load support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-17
2001-02-06
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Elevator, industrial lift truck, or stationary lift for vehicle
Industrial lift truck or required component thereof
Having extensible vertical guide for load support
C187S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182797
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a rider reach truck with improved visibility.
A typical rider reach truck includes a power unit, a pair of forks, a fork carriage assembly coupled to the forks and an upwardly extensible mast assembly coupled to the fork carriage assembly and the power unit for vertically moving the fork carriage assembly including the forks relative to the power unit. The power unit includes an operator's compartment, typically located at the right rear of the truck, a battery compartment, and first, second and third equipment compartments.
The battery compartment, located immediately behind the mast assembly and forward of the operator's compartment, has a minimum height that is determined by the capacity of the battery.
The first equipment compartment includes the space on the left rear of the truck; the second equipment compartment includes the space above the battery compartment; and the third equipment compartment includes the space behind an operator's back rest in the operator's compartment. Within the first equipment compartment are a traction motor/brake assembly, a power steering motor, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir. During operation of the truck, the fluid within the fluid reservoir, which is located adjacent to the operator's compartment, increases in temperature. Heat from the fluid reservoir is transferred to the operator's compartment which causes the temperature in the operator's compartment to increase.
A plurality of hydraulic motor/pump assemblies and an electronic controller for controlling the traction motor of the motor/brake assembly are located in the second equipment compartment above the battery compartment. The motor/pump assemblies are relatively large. Hence, they result in a limited forward view near the front of the truck because of the overall height of the truck in the area in front of the operator.
Since the forward visibility of rider reach trucks near the front of the power unit is limited by the height of the truck, it would be desirable to reduce the height of the truck above the battery compartment as much as possible. It would also be desirable to reduce heat transfer from the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the operator's compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The height of at least a portion of the power unit of each of the rider reach trucks constructed in accordance with the present invention is reduced when compared to that of prior art rider reach trucks. Further with regard to the trucks of the present invention, a hydraulic motor/pump assembly previously associated with a power steering motor has been eliminated. The function performed by the eliminated motor/pump assembly is now performed by one of two remaining hydraulic motor/pump assemblies. The two remaining hydraulic motor/pump assemblies are located below the upper level of the battery compartment. At least one low-profile controller can be positioned above the battery compartment, the overall height of the power unit is substantially reduced so as to permit improved operator visibility. Additionally, the trucks of the present invention include one or two hydraulic fluid reservoirs which are located away from the operator's compartment so as to reduce heat transfer from those reservoirs to the operator's compartment. It is also noted that fuses behind the operator's back have been reduced in dimension when compared to prior art trucks to allow the back of the operator to be placed closer to the right side of the vehicle. This is advantageous because it allows for more room in the operator's compartment and allows the operator to have improved visibility around the right hand side of the mast.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a fork lift truck is provided comprising: a power unit including an operator's compartment and at least one equipment compartment; a pair of forks; a fork carriage assembly coupled to the forks; and a mast assembly coupled to the fork carriage assembly and the power unit for vertically moving the fork carriage assembly including the forks relative to the power unit. A hydraulic pump system is also provided. It has at least one hydraulic motor/pump assembly mounted in the at least one equipment compartment and at least one fluid reservoir located laterally of the mast assembly.
In a first embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a pair of fluid reservoirs is provided. One fluid reservoir is located on each side of the mast assembly and is positioned adjacent to an outer surface of a front wall of the power unit. A first equipment compartment is located in a rear corner of the power unit opposite the front wall of the power unit. A second equipment compartment includes the space behind an operator's back rest in the operator's compartment.
In a second embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, first, second and third equipment compartments are provided. The first equipment compartment is located in a rear left comer of the power unit. It houses a traction motor/brake assembly coupled to a wheel which together effect movement of the power unit. The second equipment compartment is located on a side of the power unit and forward of the operator's compartment. The third equipment compartment includes the space behind an operator's back rest in the operator's compartment. One fluid reservoir is provided. It is located on a front corner of the power unit adjacent the second equipment compartment and laterally of the mast assembly.
A fork lift truck constructed in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention is provided. It comprises a power unit including an operator's compartment, at least one equipment compartment, and a battery compartment housing a battery located forward of the operator's compartment. The height of at least a portion of the power unit is limited to approximately the height of the battery compartment. The truck further comprises: a pair of forks; a fork carriage assembly coupled to the forks; a mast assembly coupled to the fork carriage assembly and the power unit for vertically moving the fork carriage assembly including the forks relative to the power unit; and a hydraulic pump system. The pump system comprises at least one hydraulic motor/pump assembly mounted in the at least one equipment compartment, at least one fluid reservoir, a manifold and conduits coupling the at least one motor/pump assembly and the at least one fluid reservoir to the manifold. The at least one fluid reservoir is located laterally of the mast assembly.
In a first embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a pair of fluid reservoirs is provided. One fluid reservoir is located on each side of the mast assembly and is positioned adjacent to an outer surface of a front wall of the power unit. A first equipment compartment is located in a rear comer of the power unit opposite the front wall of the power unit. A second equipment compartment includes the space behind an operator's back rest in the operator's compartment. A third equipment compartment includes the space above the battery compartment. The hydraulic pump system further includes a controller mounted above the battery compartment. The manifold is also mounted above the battery compartment, forward of the operator's compartment and positioned along a first edge of the power unit such that the height of the power unit from a second edge of the power unit opposite to the first edge to the manifold is limited to approximately the height of the battery compartment.
In a second embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, first, second, third and fourth equipment compartments are provided. The first equipment compartment is located in a left rear comer of the power unit. It houses a traction motor/brake assembly coupled to a wheel which together define a drive mechanism for effecting movement of the power unit. The second equipment compartment is located on a right hand side of the power u
Henshaw Robert J.
Magoto Daniel C.
Tebbe Patrick A.
Chin Paul T.
Crown Equipment Corporation
King & Schickli PLLC
Kramer Dean J.
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