Fork Lift Truck Tines

Abstract

Each of a pair of auxiliary members is pivotally mounted in a channel formed at the free end of a corresponding one of the pair of lift members of a fork lift truck for movement in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lift members. Control devices on the lift members position the auxiliary members in a selected one of a position coplanar with the lift members, a position extending above the plane of the lift members substantially perpendicularly thereto and a position extending below the plane of the lift members substantially perpendicularly thereto.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fork lift truck. More particularly, the invention relates to the tines of a fork lift truck.

The principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved tines for fork lift trucks which permit normal lifting operation, pushing and pulling, as desired, with facility.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a fork lift truck having an embodiment of the tines of the invention;

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic diagrams of the tines of the invention in different positions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of an embodiment of the tine of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken along the lines 4--4, of FIG. 3.

In the figures, the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, a fork lift truck 1 of any suitable type has a pair of spaced substantially parallel, substantially coplanarly positioned tines or lift members 2 and 3. Each of the lift members or tines 2 and 3 has a free end 4 and 5, respectively, (FIGS. 1 to 3).

The free end 4 of the tine 2 has a longitudinally extending channel 6 formed therein and opening on said free end (FIG. 1). The free end 5 of the tine 3 has a longitudinally extending channel 7 formed therein and opening on said free end (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4).

An auxiliary member is pivotally mounted in the channel of each of the lift members or tines 2 and 3, although only the tine 3 is described hereinafter. Both tines 2 and 3 are substantially identical. An auxiliary member 8 is pivotally mounted in the channel 7 of the lift member 3 (FIGS. 2b, 2c, 3 and 4) for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lift members 2 and 3.

Each of the tines 2 and 3 has a control device thereon for positioning the corresponding auxiliary member, although only that of the tine 3 is described herein. The tine 3 has a control device 9 thereon (FIG. 3) for positioning the auxiliary member 8 in a selected desired position. The control device 9 may comprise any suitable driving device such as, for example, hydraulic, electromagnetic, mechanical, or the like, means.

The control device 9 positions the auxiliary member 8 in a position coplanar with the lift members 2 and 3, as shown in FIGS. 2a, 3 and 4. The control device 9 rotates the auxiliary member 8 in a clockwise direction to a position extending above the plane of the lift members 2 and 3 substantially perpendicularly thereto, as shown in FIG. 2b. In this position of the auxiliary members, the fork lift truck may pull a pallet load.

The control device 9 rotates the auxiliary member 8 in a counterclockwise direction to a position extending below the plane of the lift members 2 and 3 substantially perpendicular thereto, as shown in FIG. 2c. In this position of the auxiliary members, the fork lift truck may push a load. Each time the control device 9 moves the auxiliary member 8, the control device of the tine 2 moves the auxiliary member 8 said tine to the same position.

Claims

I claim:

1. The tines of a fork lift truck, comprising

a pair of spaced substantially parallel, substantially coplanarly positioned lift members, each having a free end having a longitudinally extending channel formed therein and opening on the free end;

a pair of auxiliary members each member being pivotally mounted at one end in the channel of a corresponding one of the lift members for movement in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lift members; and

control means on the lift members for positioning the auxiliary members in a selected one of a position coplanar with the lift members, a position extending above the plane of the lift members substantially perpendicularly thereto and a position extending below the plane of the lift members substantially perpendicularly thereto.

2. Tines as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means rotates the auxiliary members in a selected one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.