Fork Lift Load Handling Devices

Abstract

A fork-lift load handling device having in addition to its horizontal load carrying tines, a plurality of downwardly pointing substantially vertical tines disposed adjacent the free ends of the horizontal tines, the vertical tines being vertically adjustable and variable in their horizontal spacing from the free ends of the horizontal tines. The vertical tines may be supported for vertical adjustment in a carriage which is horizontally adjustable along guides connected to supporting structure for the horizontal tines.

Description

This invention relates to fork-lift load handling devices.

The object of this invention is to provide a fork-lift load handling device, whereby lengths of steel stock and the like can be more readily moved from one location to another for example from a rail vehicle to a road vehicle and vice versa and without having to use the large load handling devices normally necessary so that their horizontal tines will extend the full width of a vehicle in order to gather the load.

According to this invention, a plurality of downwardly pointing tines are disposed on the fork lift load handling device adjacent the free ends of the horizontal tines, the vertical tines being vertically adjustable and variable in their horizontal spacing from the free ends of the horizontal tines.

A horizontally movable carriage may be provided to carry said vertical tines. The movement of the carriage and the raising and lowering of the vertical tines relatively to the the carriage is conveniently effected by double-acting hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

Said vertical tines can act as a load pusher or a load puller for moving a load across a railway wagon or other vehicle floor. They can also act as a load divider enabling a part load to be drawn on to the horizontal tines.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, a side loading fork-lift truck having one form of fitting in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to he accompanying drawing, which shows a perspective view of the fork-lift truck.

Referring to the drawings, the fork lift truck has four horizontal lifting tines 1 to 4. The outer pair of tines 1 and 2 are mounted on a beam 5 which is rockable about pivot 6 relative to structure 7 supporting the inner pair of tines 3 and 4. Rocking of beam 5 is effected under the control of the operator through hydraulic piston and cylinder 8.

The structure 7 is pivoted to the base of a carriage for tilting about a horizontal axis extending at right angles to the horizontal tines 1 to 4. The pivots support the structure 7 at the bottom and a pair of hydraulic cylinders 20, only one of which is visible in the drawing, control the tilting of the structure 7 and thus of the tines 1 to 4. The carriage to which the structure is supported is arranged in conventional manner to move up and down a telescoping mast arrangement, which enables up and down movement of the tines 1 to 4. The mast arrangement 9 is movably mounted on the truck in a manner causing horizontal advancing and retracting of the tines 1 to 4.

Extending forwardly from the supporting structure 7 and rigidly connected thereto are a pair of guide beams 10 and 11 on which are mounted roller bearings (not visible) supporting the rearwardly extending limbs 12 and 13 of a carriage 14. The carriage 14 is shown in its retracted position and is forwardly extendable from this position by means of a hydraulic ram 15.

Mounted in the carriage 14 are a pair of vertically adjustable tines 16 and 17. The tines are interconnected by yoke member 18 which is connected to the piston rod of hydraulic ram 19 mounted on the carriage 14 for effecting the vertical adjustment of the tines 16 and 17. A horizontal pivot 21 is provided between the tine 17 and the yoke 18, and if desired a similar pivot could be provided between the tine 16 and yoke 18. This allows some freedom of movement should the general framework of the tines become distorted by use. The tines 16 and 17 are restrained from misalignment by wear pads in the carriage 14 through which the tines 16 and 17 pass.

When the carriage 14 is in its fully extended position the vertical tines 16 and 17 are arranged to reach the far side of a vehicle (road or rail) whilst in the fully retracted position, the tines 16 and 17 are approximately located at the forward ends of the tines 3 and 4.

A cycle operation for removing a load of steel stock from say a railway wagon and placing it on a road vehicle is as follows:

1. With the tines 16 and 17 in their uppermost vertical position and with the carriage 14 fully retracted, the truck is positioned for lifting.

2. The horizontal tines 1 to 4 are advanced beneath the load and faces of tines 16 and 17 with their lowermost tips extending slightly below the carriage are pressed against the load enabling easy removal of side stanchions from the wagon.

3. The carriage 14 is then extended with the tines 16 and 17 raised. The tines 16 and 17 are lowered while simultaneously the carriage 14 is moved backwards and forwards thereby separate the load.

4. The tines 16 and 17 are then fully lowered and a part of the load is drawn on to tines 1 to 4 by retraction of carriage 14.

5. The part of the load is then transferred to a road vehicle, being placed on the near side of the vehicle.

6. With tines 16 and 17 raised to clear the part of the load, the carriage 14 is then retracted. Tines 16 and 17 are then lowered and the carriage 14 then extended to push the part of the load to the far side of the road vehicle.

Claims

We claim:

1. A fork lift load-handling device comprising in combination,

a plurality of substantially horizontally extending load-carrying tines,

means for adjusting the vertical position of said horizontal tines,

a carriage horizontally adjustable in a plane parallel to said horizontal tines,

a plurality of substantially vertical downwardly directed tines supported on said carriage for vertical movement relative thereto,

means for both moving said carriage horizontally and for moving said vertical tines in the vertical direction relative to said carriage independently of said horizontal tines.

2. A fork-lift load handling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are four horizontal tines the two outer ones being carried on a common beam which is pivoted relatively to the two inner tines about a common horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to said horizontal tines.

3. A fork-lift load handling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertical tines are interconnected by a yoke member through which actuating means effect their vertical movement, at least one of said vertical tines being pivotally connected to said yoke member for movement relatively to the yoke member about a horizontal axis extending perpendicular to the horizontal tines.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, which further includes means for tilting said horizontal tines about a horizontal axis extending at right angles to said horizontal tines.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, which further includes a first hydraulic ram for moving said vertical tines relative to said carriage and a second hydraulic ram for moving said carriage horizontally in a plane parallel to said horizontal tines.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, which further includes a mobile supporting means for said horizontal and vertical tines, said carriage and said moving means.