U.S. patent application number 10/521653 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-04 for device in a vehicle adapted to handle loads.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stock of Sweden AB. Invention is credited to Max Segerljung.
Application Number | 20070003395 10/521653 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20288531 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070003395 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Segerljung; Max |
January 4, 2007 |
Device in a vehicle adapted to handle loads
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for a vehicle (1) intended for
handling loads, such as an industrial truck, comprising a movable
arm (4) connected to the vehicle, to which a tool (5) intended to
carry a load (L) is connected, and an arrangement (7) to control
movements of said tool. The arm is pivotably mounted on the vehicle
about a first substantially horizontal axis (8). The device
comprises a member (9) for pivoting the arm relative to a chassis
(2) of the vehicle. The tool (5) is displaceably arranged relative
to the chassis (2) of the vehicle in the direction of the arm's (4)
main longitudinal extension. The device comprises means (17) for
displacing the tool. The control arrangement (7) is designed to
co-ordinate the pivoting member's (9) pivoting of the arm and the
displacement means' (17) displacement of the tool so as to achieve
a movement of the load carried by the tool (5) along an optionally
placed curve having an optional appearance in relation to the
vehicle in the vertical plane.
Inventors: |
Segerljung; Max; (Vannas,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DILWORTH & BARRESE, LLP
333 EARLE OVINGTON BLVD.
UNIONDALE
NY
11553
US
|
Assignee: |
Stock of Sweden AB
Industrivagen 2
SE-833 35 Stromsund
SE
|
Family ID: |
20288531 |
Appl. No.: |
10/521653 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
June 23, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE03/01074 |
371 Date: |
June 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/286 20130101;
B66F 9/07572 20130101; E02F 9/20 20130101; B66F 9/0655
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/227 |
International
Class: |
E04H 6/00 20060101
E04H006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 15, 2002 |
SE |
0202202-8 |
Claims
1. Device for a vehicle (1) intended for handling loads, such as an
industrial truck, comprising a movable arm (4) connected to the
vehicle, to which a tool (5) intended to carry a load (L) is
connected and an arrangement (7) to control movements of said tool,
wherein the arm is pivotably mounted on the vehicle about a first
substantially horizontal axis (8), the device comprises a member
(9) for pivoting the arm relative to a chassis (2) of the vehicle,
the tool (5) is displaceably arranged relative to the chassis (2)
of the vehicle in the direction of the arm's (4) main longitudinal
extension, the device comprises means (17) for displacing the tool,
and the control arrangement (7) is designed to co-ordinate the
pivoting member's (9) pivoting of the arm and the displacement
means' (17) displacement of the tool to achieve a movement of the
load carried by the tool (5) along an optionally placed curve
having an optional appearance in relation to the vehicle in the
vertical plane.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool (5) is pivotably
arranged relative to the arm (4) about a second substantially
horizontal axis (21), the device comprises means (23) for pivoting
the tool relative to the arm and the control arrangement (7) is
designed to control the pivoting means' (23) pivoting of the tool
(5) for adjustment of the tool's orientation.
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the control arrangement (7)
is designed to co-ordinate the pivoting means' (23) pivoting of the
tool (5) with the pivoting member's (9) pivoting of the arm and
with the displacement means' (17) displacement of the tool to
achieve a desired ordered orientation of the tool during its
movement.
4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the control arrangement (7)
is designed to co-ordinate said pivoting movements and
displacements to maintain a substantially constant orientation of
the load carried by the tool when moving the load.
5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes at least
two parts (14, 15, 16) that are displaceable in relation to each
other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool
is connected to a first (16) of the displaceable parts and a second
(14) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's
chassis (2), and the displacement means (17) is arranged to
displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts (16, 14) in
relation to each other for displacement of the tool (5) relative to
the vehicle's chassis (2).
6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said displaceable arm parts
(14, 15, 16) are telescopically received in each other and
displaceable relative to each other.
7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement means (17)
includes first hydraulic drive means.
8. Device according to claim 5, wherein the first hydraulic drive
means is a first hydraulic cylinder.
9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool is connected to
the arm via an arrangement (27) for replaceable attachment (27) for
replaceable attachment of tools to the arm (4).
10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool (5) is a fork
tool having two forks (22).
11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm (4) is connected
to the vehicle (1) on one longitudinal side of the vehicle in its
normal driving direction.
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the tool (5) is connected
to the arm (4) via an arrangement (27) for fixing tools in the
vicinity of the arm's (4) free end that is distant from the
vehicle's chassis (2), and this arrangement comprises a member (24)
connected to said end of the arm arranged to extend towards the
vehicle's centre seen in its normal driving direction to maintain a
fixing point (29) for the tool at the fixing arrangement
substantially centered relative to a horizontal longitudinal axis
of the vehicle in said normal driving direction through the
vehicle's centre of gravity.
13. Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means (9)
include a second hydraulic drive means.
14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the second hydraulic
drive means is a second hydraulic cylinder, that is connected to
the vehicles chassis and to the arm.
15. Device according to claim 2, wherein the pivoting means (23)
includes a third hydraulic drive means.
16. Device according to claim 15, wherein third hydraulic drive
means is a third hydraulic cylinder.
17. Device according to claim 2, wherein the arm includes at least
two parts (14, 15, 16) that are displaceable in relation to each
other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool
is connected to a first (16) of the displaceable parts and a second
(14) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's
chassis (2), and the displacement means (17) is arranged to
displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts (16, 14) in
relation to each other for displacement of the tool (5) relative to
the vehicle's chassis (2).
18. Device according to claim 3, wherein the arm includes at least
two parts (14, 15, 16) that are displaceable in relation to each
other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool
is connected to a first (16) of the displaceable parts and a second
(14) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's
chassis (2), and the displacement means (17) is arranged to
displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts (16, 14) in
relation to each other for displacement of the tool (5) relative to
the vehicle's chassis (2).
19. Device according to claim 4, wherein the arm includes at least
two parts (14, 15, 16) that are displaceable in relation to each
other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool
is connected to a first (16) of the displaceable parts and a second
(14) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's
chassis (2), and the displacement means (17) is arranged to
displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts (16, 14) in
relation to each other for displacement of the tool (5) relative to
the vehicle's chassis (2).
20. Device according to claim 19, wherein said displaceable arm
parts (14, 15, 16) are telescopically received in each other and
displaceable relative to each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0001] The invention concerns a device for a vehicle intended for
handling loads, such as an industrial truck, comprising a movable
arm connected to the vehicle, to which a tool intended to carry a
load is connected, and an arrangement to control movements of said
tool.
[0002] Vehicles intended for handling loads exist in many different
forms, including for example digging machines, tractors, so-called
front-loaders and industrial trucks. Such vehicles can either be
driver-controlled or driver-less, remote controlled. The invention
is suitable for all types of vehicles intended for handling loads,
but is particularly suitable for vehicles of the truck type, such
as an industrial truck for example, i.e. a vehicle which is used in
warehouses, at industrial sites, loading yards and such for
handling loads. For this reason the invention will subsequently
mainly be described in connection with vehicles of such truck type
without this limiting the invention to such vehicles.
[0003] It is known to provide the above-mentioned type of vehicle
with devices mentioned in the introduction for handling loads. For
example it is known to equip an industrial truck with a fork tool,
which is raisable and lowerable on a substantially vertical lifting
mast arranged on the vehicle. Such a device does not however allow
the movement of the tool in the horizontal direction relative to
the vehicle, which results in that the whole vehicle has to be
moved in the horizontal direction when such a movement of the tool
is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The aim of the invention is to develop devices of the type
mentioned in the introduction to make improved movement patterns of
the tool included in the device possible and thereby to achieve a
more flexible handling of the load.
[0005] This aim is achieved according to the invention by providing
a device of the said type, in which
[0006] the arm is pivotably mounted on the vehicle about a first
substantially horizontal axis,
[0007] the device comprises a member for pivoting the arm relative
to a chassis of the vehicle,
[0008] the tool is displaceably arranged relative to the chassis of
the vehicle in the direction of the arm's main longitudinal
extension,
[0009] the device comprises means for displacing the tool,
[0010] the control arrangement is designed to co-ordinate the
pivoting member's pivoting of the arm and the displacement means'
displacement of the tool to achieve a movement of the load carried
by the tool along an optionally placed curve having an optional
appearance in relation to the vehicle in the vertical plane.
[0011] With such a device a more flexible handling of loads is
accordingly possible, where the load can be moved along an optional
curve in the vertical plane. The term "curve" even includes
straight lines in this description and the attached claims, since a
straight line may be considered to be a curve with an infinite
radius of curvature. A load can therefore for example be moved
heightwise to an optional constant distance from the vehicle,
whereby the arm's maximum length restricts the maximum distance
from the Vehicle. Likewise it is possible to move the load in the
horizontal direction relative to the vehicle to an optional
constant height over the ground on which the vehicle is placed
using the device. The flexibility in handling the load which is
provided by the inventive device allows extensive movement of the
load while the vehicle is stationary, which for example is very
advantageous where space is relatively restricted. Furthermore the
tool's movement patterns make it possible to access loads
positioned in hard to access places. For example it is possible to
drive the tool a long way into the loading space of a railway
wagon, on a truck bed or such to collect or deliver loads
there.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the
tool is pivotably arranged relative to the arm about a second
substantially horizontal axis, where the device comprises means for
pivoting the tool relative to the arm and the control arrangement
is designed to control the pivoting means' pivoting of the tool for
adjustment of the tool's orientation. By adjusting the tool's
orientation it is accordingly possible to adjust the load's
orientation as desired.
[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention
the control arrangement is designed to co-ordinate the pivoting
means' pivoting of the tool with the pivoting member's pivoting of
the arm and with the displacement means' displacement of the tool
to achieve a desired, ordered orientation of the tool during its
movement.
[0014] In this way the tool can accordingly be adjusted to assume
such an orientation during movement, which remains constant or
varies during the movement, so that the load carried by the tool
has the desired orientation at each point in time during the
movement.
[0015] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention
the control arrangement is designed to co-ordinate said pivoting
movements and displacements to maintain a substantially constant
orientation of the load carried by the tool when moving the load.
It follows from this that it is necessary that said second
horizontal axis is parallel aligned with said first horizontal
axis. Due to the design of the control arrangement it is
accordingly possible to move the load along an optional curve in
the vertical plane while maintaining the load's orientation. This
reduces the risk of releasing the load from the tool during
movement inter alia.
[0016] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention
the tool is connected to the arm via an arrangement for replaceable
attachment of tools to the arm. It is subsequently possible to
change the tool for adaptation to the load that is to be
handled.
[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention
the arm is connected to the vehicle on one longitudinal side of the
vehicle in its normal driving direction. The arm is therefore
positioned so that it does not result in an impairment of the view
of the driver of the vehicle.
[0018] Further advantages, advantageous features and fields of use
of the invention are apparent from the other dependent claims and
the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described as
examples in the following description with reference to the
attached drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view of a device on a vehicle intended for
handling loads according to a first embodiment of the
invention,
[0021] FIGS. 2-6 are side views of the device shown in FIG. 1
schematically illustrating different movement patterns that are
possible to achieve with a device of the inventive type,
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-6
schematically illustrating the carrying of a load in a possible
position relative to the vehicle, and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a device on a vehicle
intended for handling loads according to a second embodiment of the
invention, shown diagonally from the front, partly in
cross-section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a device on a vehicle intended for
handling loads according to a first embodiment of the invention.
The vehicle 1 illustrated in all of the figures is an industrial
truck with a driver's seat F, a chassis 2 and wheels 3 connected to
the chassis in the vicinity of each corner of a rectangle in the
horizontal plane, where, for example, two are individually
controllable to drive the vehicle forward and all four wheels are,
for example, individually controllable to control the vehicle. As
already pointed out in the introductory part, this type of vehicle
is only one possible type of vehicle to which the invention can be
applied and consequently any other types of vehicle can be
used.
[0025] The device comprises a movable arm 4 connected to the
vehicle 1 to which a tool 5 intended to carry a load is connected.
The tool can be any type of tool or instrument, where the choice of
tool is suitably made on the basis of what kind of load is to be
handled. For example tools in the form of a gripping tool, holding
device, scoop or such can be used. The tool 5 illustrated in FIG. 1
is a fork tool having two forks, which, as illustrated in FIG. 1,
is well suited to handling a load L placed on a so-called loading
pallet 6.
[0026] The arm 4 is pivotably mounted on the tool about a first
substantially horizontal axis 8. According to the embodiment of the
invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, the axis 8, about which the arm
4 is pivotable, is arranged on the rear end of the vehicle in the
vehicle's normal driving direction.
[0027] The inventive device also comprises means to pivot the arm 4
relative to the vehicle's chassis 2 about axis 8. The pivoting
means can for example include different types of motors, such as
electric motors, adjusting means and such to provide said pivoting.
However the pivoting means advantageously includes hydraulic drive
means, such as a hydraulic motor or hydraulic cylinder. According
to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 this
hydraulic drive means is arranged in the form of a hydraulic
cylinder 9 that is connected to the vehicle's chassis 2 and to the
arm 4.
[0028] One end 11 of the piston rod 10 of the hydraulic cylinder 9,
is pivotably connected to the arm 4 via a fastening member 12 and
pivotably connected to the chassis 2 at a schematically indicated
fastening point at 13. By controlling the hydraulic cylinder, the
arm 4 can therefore be brought to pivot about the axis 8.
[0029] The tool 5 is displaceably arranged relative to the chassis
2 of the vehicle in the direction of the arm's 4 main longitudinal
extension and the device comprises means 17 for displacement of the
tool. Advantageously the arm 4 has an elongated beam-like
configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The displaceability of the
tool in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 is realized by the
fact that the arm includes at least two parts 14, 15, 16 that are
displaceable in relation to each other along the arm's main
longitudinal extension, where the tool is connected to a first 16
of the displaceable parts and a second 14 of the displaceable parts
is connected to the vehicle's chassis 2, and the displacement means
17 is arranged to displace the arm's first and second displaceable
parts 16, 14 in relation to each other for displacement of the tool
5 relative to the vehicle's chassis 2. According to the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 the displaceable arm parts 14, 15, 16 are
telescopically received in each other and displaceable relative to
each other. FIGS. 1-7 illustrate that the arm 4 has three
displaceable parts 14, 15, 16, but it is possible to use two parts
or more than three parts as desired.
[0030] The displacement means can for example be arranged in the
form of different types of motors which are arranged to displace
the parts 14, 15, 16 in relation to one another. However, according
to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the displacement means
includes a hydraulic drive means, preferably a hydraulic cylinder,
that is schematically indicated by point 17. One end of the
hydraulic cylinder is hereby connected to the arm part 14 and its
other end, for example one end of the hydraulic cylinder's 17
piston rod, is connected to arm part 16. By controlling the
hydraulic cylinder 17, the arm's 4 length can therefore be adjusted
by displacement of parts 14, 15, 16 relative to one another,
whereby the tool 5 connected to the arm part 16 is displaced
relative-to the vehicle's 1 chassis 2.
[0031] Furthermore the device comprises an arrangement,
schematically indicated at point 7, to control movements of the
tool 5. The control arrangement 7 is designed to co-ordinate the
pivoting member's 9 pivoting of the arm and the displacement means'
17 displacement of the tool so as to achieve a movement of the load
carried by the tool 5 along an optionally placed curve having an
optional appearance in relation to the vehicle in the vertical
plane.
[0032] The control arrangement 7 includes, for example, a
programmable computer, that can be reprogrammed if necessary. The
device in such a case even preferably comprises means to detect the
arm's 4 angle relative to the chassis 2 and means to detect the
tool's 5 displacement relative to the chassis, to send these
detected values to the control arrangement 7, that is suitably
arranged to calculate suitable control signals based on these
values and send suitable control signals to the pivoting means 9
and displacement means 17 so as to achieve the desired movement of
the tool 5 and thereby the desired movement of the load carried by
the tool 5.
[0033] Operating devices such as, for example, one or more control
levers, steering wheels, knobs or such can be arranged at the
driver's seat F of the vehicle 1 to allow the operator to feed in
desired movements of the tool 5, whereby signals corresponding to
that input are sent to the control arrangement 7 to co-ordinate the
arm's 4 pivoting and the tool's 5 displacement in accordance with
the input to achieve the desired movement of the tool 5.
[0034] In known types of devices for vehicles for handling loads it
is known to arrange operating devices to move the tool for carrying
the load in one or more directions. The power means that control
the tool's movement are thereby usually controlled by the operating
devices.
[0035] A great advantage with the inventive device as compared with
the prior art lies in the fact that the co-ordination of the
pivoting means' 9 pivoting of the arm 4 and the displacement means'
17 displacement of the tool 5 takes place at the control
arrangement 7. It is therefore possible to feed in the desired
movement of the tool 5 and the load carried thereupon via suitable
input means, such as for example the above-mentioned operating
devices, whereupon the control arrangement 7 then takes care of
said co-ordination to achieve the desired movement of the tool. The
operator of the device therefore avoids troublesome manual
co-ordination of the movements in different directions with
different pivoting means, displacement means and such to achieve
the desired movement of the tool, for example, via a large number
of operating devices.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates some of the movement patterns, which are
possible to achieve using a device of the inventive type. For
example it is possible to move the tool 5 and thereby the load
carried by the tool 5, along an arched curve such as that which is
indicated with line 18. It is even possible to move the tool 5
along different straight lines, such as for example along line 19
to move the tool in a vertical direction, i.e. to raise and lower
the tool 5 relative to the vehicle's chassis 2 and thereby relative
to the ground 20 on which the vehicle 1 is placed. This raising
movement of the tool 5 can for example be carried out above the
vehicle 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2, or at an optional distance d
horizontally from the vehicle 1, i.e. at an optional distance in
front of the vehicle in its normal driving direction, as
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0037] Furthermore a straight-line movement of the vehicle 5
horizontally at a constant height h over the ground 20 on which the
vehicle is placed is possible, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0038] Even optional combination of the movement patterns described
above is of course possible to achieve with an inventive
device.
[0039] The excellent flexibility of the movements of the tool 5 and
thus the positioning of the load L carried by the tool 5 makes it
possible, for example, to transport the load L with the vehicle 1
while the load L is positioned directly above the vehicle, which is
synonymous with above the driver's seat F in the vehicle
illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This is for
example particularly advantageous in situations where space is
limited, which is often the case in warehouses and such.
[0040] The tool 5 is advantageously pivotably arranged relative to
the arm 4 about a second substantially horizontal axis 21. The
tool's 5 pivoting movement about axis 21 is indicated with arrows I
and II in FIG. 1 and with an arrow III in FIG. 3. According to the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the axis 21 is arranged on a
member 24 that is at an angle to the arm's 4 main longitudinal
extension. Furthermore the device advantageously comprises means to
pivot the tool relative to the arm 4. The control arrangement 7 is
therefore suitably designed to control the pivoting means' pivoting
of the tool 5 to adjust the tool's orientation, i.e. the
orientation of the tool's angle relative to the horizontal plane,
which in the preceding embodiment can be equated with an adjustment
of the angle of the fork tool's 5 forks 22 relative to a horizontal
plane.
[0041] The control arrangement is preferably arranged to
co-ordinate the pivoting means' 23 pivoting of the tool 5 with the
pivoting means' 9 pivoting of the arm and with the displacement
means' 17 displacement of the tool so as to achieve a desired
ordered orientation of the tool during its movement. The
orientation of the tool can thereby for example be ordered via the
above-mentioned operating devices.
[0042] According to the embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 the control arrangement 7 is arranged to
co-ordinate said pivoting movements and displacement movements,
i.e. the pivoting means' pivoting of the tool, the pivoting means'
pivoting of the arm and the displacement means' displacement of the
tool, to maintain a substantially constant orientation of the load
carried by the tool during the movement of the load. In other words
the load carried by the tool 5 can maintain a substantially
constant angle relative to the horizontal plane, which, for
example, can be the ground 20 on which the vehicle is located as
illustrated in the diagrams, under movement, due to the pivoting
means' pivoting of the tool relative to the arm.
[0043] The pivoting means can for example comprise different types
of motors, such as electric motors, adjusting means and such to
provide said pivoting of the tool 5. However, the pivoting means
preferably includes a hydraulic drive means, such as a hydraulic
motor or a hydraulic cylinder for example. According to the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 the hydraulic
drive means is arranged in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 23. The
hydraulic cylinder 23 is connected to the arm 4 via the member 24
and is pivotably connected to a fastening element 26, by the end 25
of its piston rod, and the fastening element is pivotable about
axis 21. By controlling the hydraulic cylinder the desired pivoting
of the tool 5 relative to the arm 4 is accordingly achieved.
[0044] According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
FIGS. 1-7 the arm 4 is connected to the vehicle 1 on one
longitudinal side of the vehicle in the vehicle's normal driving
direction. The arm 4 does not hereby constitute any limitation of
the forward view of a driver of the vehicle 1 when driving the
vehicle forwards in its normal driving direction, which has
otherwise been a problem in known industrial trucks, that have a
substantially vertical lifting mast, for raising and lowering the
tool, placed in a view-impairing position directly in front of the
driver's seat.
[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates a device for a vehicle intended for
handling load according to a second embodiment of the invention.
The only thing that differentiates the embodiment according to FIG.
8 from the embodiment discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-7 is the
placement of the arm 4, which according to the embodiment in FIG. 8
is placed at the other longitudinal side of the vehicle as seen in
its normal driving direction compared with the embodiment according
to FIGS. 1-7.
[0046] With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the tool's
5 attachment to the arm 4 will now be explained, but it is to be
understood that the following description is even applicable to the
embodiment according to FIGS. 1-7.
[0047] The tool 5 is according to the embodiments of the invention
illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 connected to the arm via an arrangement 27
for attaching tools. The arrangement 27 is preferably an
arrangement for replaceable attachment of tools to the arm 4, more
particularly in the vicinity of the arm's 4 free end that is
distant from the vehicle's chassis 2 and which is freely movable by
pivoting the arm 4 about axis 8, to make replacement of the tool 5
possible with the aim of adapting the tool according to the type of
load that will be handled.
[0048] The arrangement 27 is arranged in the vicinity of the arm's
4 free end that is distant from the vehicle's chassis 2 and
comprises a member 24 connected to said end of the arm arranged to
extend towards the vehicle's centre as seen in its normal driving
direction to maintain an attaching point, schematically indicated
at point 29, for the tool at the attaching arrangement
substantially centered relative to a horizontal longitudinal axis
of the vehicle in said normal driving direction through the
vehicle's centre of gravity. In this way the handling of a load
centered in front of the vehicle relative to a horizontal
longitudinal axis of the vehicle is therefore possible, even though
arm 4 is located on a longitudinal side of the vehicle as seen in
the normal driving direction.
[0049] The invention is of course not in any way limited to the
preferred embodiments described above, but a large number of
modification possibilities thereof should be apparent for the
average person skilled in the art without departing from the basic
idea of the invention, as defined in the attached claims.
[0050] As regards the use of the words "horizontal" and "vertical"
in this document in relation to the vehicle, its structure and
control, these directions are applicable when the vehicle is
resting on horizontal ground, and axes and such are of course
differently oriented when driving on sloping ground or over
obstructions.
[0051] It is possible to arrange each of the above-described
hydraulic cylinders 9, 17, 23 with its own hydraulic system or with
a common hydraulic system to control the hydraulic cylinders and
thereby control movements of the tool 5 and thereby the carried
load related with each respective cylinder.
* * * * *