Load responsive damping system

Land vehicles – Body elevation or tilt – Establishing riding or trim height

Patent

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Details

180290, 414634, B66F 922

Patent

active

043402356

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a damping system for a vehicle, particularly a load carrying vehicle such as a lift truck.
2. Background Art
When load lifting vehicles, such as lift trucks, traverse uneven terrain, the operators thereof are subjected to oscillating motions of the vehicle frame. Such motions are also encountered during brake application, and load drop or catch. These oscillations are made more acute by changes in moments of force of a load lifted thereupon. As a consequence, an operator is subjected to a hard, loping ride which tends to be quite uncomfortable, and may hinder maneuverability.
3. Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a damping system comprising a sensing means and a damping means is provided. The damping system is useful in a vehicle of the load carrying type including a frame and a load carrying device connected to the frame. The load carrying and frame connection define a load pivot axis. When a load is carried on the load carrying device, and a variable load is imposed on the load carrying device, the sensing means senses the variable load and the damping means moves the axle responsive to the sensed variable load.
Accordingly, the damping system acts to damp oscillating motions of a vehicle incorporating the inventive improvement, and provides a smoother, more comfortable ride for an operator thereof, and also provides for ease of maneuverability.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational phantom view of a vehicle for carrying a load which has a vehicle damping system embodiment of the present invention, illustrated partially in cross-section, included therewith;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan diagrammatic view, with a portion taken along the direction of arrows II--II of FIG. 1 partially sectioned;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, isometric view which illustrates details of another vehicle damping system embodiment; and,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3.


BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION GENERAL DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10, herein illustrated as a lift truck, for lifting and carrying a load 12. The vehicle 10 has a horizontally disposed frame 14 with a frame first end portion 16 and a frame second end portion 18. The vehicle 10 includes a pair of first ground engaging members or wheels 20 and a pair of second ground engaging members or wheels 22, such as rim-mounted standard tires.
Wheels 20 may be mounted on a conventional drive axle (not shown) whereas wheels 22 are mounted on an axle 28 (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2), or an axle 28' (illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4). The axles 28 and 28' are massive, with substantial weights, and are mounted on the frame second end portion 18. The mountings for axles 28 and 28' and the differences therebetween are further discussed hereinafter.
Returning to FIG. 1, a standard load lifting and carrying device 30 for load 12 may comprise a mast member 32, a carriage 34 slidably mounted thereupon, and a fork member 36 connected to carriage 34 for supporting the load 12 when lifted by device 30. The load carrying device 30 is normally pivotally connected to the frame first end portion 16 by various conventional means, such as a pillow block 35 on the frame first end portion 16, to permit the mast member 32 to tilt. This connection between the carrying device 30 and the frame first end portion 16 defines a substantially horizontal pivot axis 42.


DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1 AND 2 EMBODIMENT

In a vehicle, such as vehicle 10 above described, a damping system embodiment 43 includes sensing means 44 for sensing a moment of force about the pivot axis 42 of a load 12 lifted on the load lifting device 30, and a damping means 45 for responsively moving the axle 28 in directions substantially normal to the frame second

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patent: 4093259 (1978-06-01), Stedman

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