Motor vehicles – Power – Battery mountings and holders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2002-11-05
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3627)
Motor vehicles
Power
Battery mountings and holders
C180S311000, C280S783000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06474429
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame structure for battery powered industrial vehicles.
FIG. 6
illustrates a reinforced frame structure for a battery-powered forklift, which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-254460. A front cross plate
52
and a rear cross plate
53
are coupled to the front and rear ends of a lower frame
51
, respectively. The front cross plate
52
and the rear cross plate
53
are coupled to each other by upper side bars
54
and a lower side bars
55
. Each lower side bar
55
has an L-shaped cross section.
The upper side bars
54
are welded to the plates
52
,
53
. The lower side bars
55
are fixed to the plates
52
,
53
by T-shaped joiners or by flange joiners (not shown). A battery chamber
56
is defined by the upper side bars
54
, the lower side bars
55
, the front cross plate
52
and the rear cross plate
53
. A battery (not shown) is accommodated in the battery chamber
56
.
The frame structure of
FIG. 6
may be used in a forklift. When such a forklift carries an object, great stress is applied to the welded points of the frame structure. The upper side bars
54
reinforce the frame structure to resist the stress.
When changing the battery, the battery is lifted from the battery chamber
56
. However, since the battery may be very heavy, lifting the battery is troublesome. Alternatively, the battery may be removed horizontally from the battery chamber
56
. However, in this case, one of the upper side bars
54
must be removed.
Removing one of the upper side bars
54
causes the welded points of the other side bar
54
and the welded points of the lower side bars
55
to receive greater stress. Accordingly, the life of the frame structure is shortened.
The battery may be removed horizontally over one of the upper side bars
54
, which eliminates the necessity for removing the upper side bars
54
. However, the battery must be located at a relatively high position, which raises the driving position of the operator. That is, the height of the driver's seat is raised accordingly. The head guard of the forklift must also be raised. A higher head guard of the forklift hinders indoor operation of the forklift.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a reinforced frame structure for a battery powered industrial vehicle that permits a low position of a battery in the vehicle and allows the battery to be removed horizontally.
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, an improved frame structure for an industrial vehicle is provided. The frame structure includes a lower plate, a front frame portion, a rear frame portion and a battery chamber. The front frame portion is spaced apart from the rear frame portion and the battery chamber is located between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. The battery chamber has an opening at a side of the frame structure for receiving a battery. The frame structure further includes a coupler for coupling the front frame portion with the rear frame portion. The coupler extends along the periphery of the opening.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1079709 (1913-11-01), Lloyd
patent: 1411875 (1922-04-01), Schroeder
patent: 3463542 (1969-08-01), Daniels
patent: 3497090 (1970-02-01), Daniels
patent: 4317497 (1982-03-01), Alt et al.
patent: 4362220 (1982-12-01), Baston
patent: 4991674 (1991-02-01), Fullenkamp
patent: 5114207 (1992-05-01), Nakajima et al.
patent: 5806948 (1998-09-01), Rowan, Sr. et al.
patent: 6189636 (2001-02-01), Kikukawa
patent: 5-254460 (1993-05-01), None
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
McClellan James S.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Olszewski Robert P.
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