Patent Application
20050034929
The present invention relates to lift trucks. In particular, the present invention relates to base legs and base leg assemblies used with lift trucks.
One type of fork lift truck that is well known and commonly found in warehouse and factory environments is the reach truck, such as the Reach-Fork® truck marketed by The Raymond Corporation of Greene, N.Y. In recent years, customer applications for such trucks have become more challenging, often requiring the lifting of greater loads, the lifting of loads to greater heights, and higher cycle rates. These market changes have imposed new design requirements on manufacturers of these types of fork lift trucks.
Reach trucks, as well as other types of fork lift trucks, or simply lift trucks, typically use base leg assemblies that consist of multiple parts that are welded together. As shown in
One problem inherent in the current welded design of base leg assemblies is the weakness of the weld joints. This weakness is created by two problems. First, the weld joints in these base leg assemblies inherently contain residual stresses from the welding process. The only way to relieve this stress is to heat treat the base leg assemblies, which is not practical due to the size of the assemblies and the number of weld joints. Second, these base leg assemblies have abrupt transitions at the weld joints between the various parts. These abrupt transitions create high stress concentrations at the weld joints when the base leg assemblies are placed under a compressive load.
The combination of these problems during repeated operation imposes a compressive fatigue load onto a region containing residual stress. The weld joints are under residual stress when not under load and are subjected to repeated compressive forces each time the lift truck is operated. As the compressive force is removed, the weld joint then “springs back” to its residual stressed state. Due to the repeated compressive loads concentrated at the weld joints and the repeated “springing back” to a residual stressed state, the weld joints finally break due to fatigue. Particularly, the weld joint at the toe of the gusset plate (shown at 14 in
A second problem inherent in most current welded designs is the difficulty of repair and the lack of interchangeability. With the current all welded design, when a base leg assembly or load wheel assembly is damaged, the damaged assembly must be cut away from the mast or base leg and a new assembly must be aligned and welded in its place. This type of repair requires a great deal of skill and time, is extremely expensive, and is not easily performed at remote locations. In addition, these welded base leg designs prevent the reconfiguration of the base legs for different customer applications. For example, the welded base leg assemblies cannot be adjusted to various base leg opening widths to accommodate varying pallet sizes. In addition, lift trucks that are rented cannot be configured to the requirements of the customer.
While there are some base leg assemblies that are designed to be removably secured to the mast or body of the lift truck, such as by bolts, these designs still contain various inherent problems. One such design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,796. However, this design still uses the welded construction for the base leg, which leads to the weakness problem discussed above.
Given the wide use of lift trucks throughout varying industries, the mechanical design, performance, and reliability of the trucks are vital to their marketing success. However, due to the problems discussed above, each of these characteristics is severely limited by the current welded base leg design.
It would therefore be advantageous if a base leg assembly for reach trucks could be designed that: (1) had improved strength and reliability; and (2) provided easy repair, replacement, and interchangeability. In particular, it would be advantageous if the base leg assembly allowed for the even distribution of stresses throughout the base leg, was easy to assemble and disassemble, and allowed for various application specific configurations.
One aspect of the present invention is a base leg assembly for lift trucks having a mounting plate that is fastened to the lift truck. A base leg has an integrally formed mounting portion and leg portion, wherein the mounting portion engages a mounting surface on the mounting plate and fastens to the mounting plate and the leg portion extends outward from the mounting portion and forward of the lift truck.
Integrally forming the mounting portion and leg portion of the base leg gives the base leg greater strength and reliability than those with welded design as it eliminates residual stresses and allows the distribution of stresses throughout the base leg.
Another aspect of the present invention is a base leg assembly having a mounting plate that has an internally threaded aperture and a bore. A base leg has a mounting portion that has an aperture aligned with the threaded aperture in the mounting plate and a second bore aligned with the bore in the mounting plate. The base leg is fastened to the mounting plate by inserting pins between the aligned bores, threading a threaded fastener into the internally threaded aperture in the mounting plate, inserting the threaded fastener through the aperture in the mounting portion of the base leg, and placing a nut on the threaded fastener.
Fastening the base leg to the mounting plate with pins and threaded fasteners makes the base leg easy to remove, repair, replace, or reconfigure. It also allows the easy reconfiguration of the base legs to allow for varying base leg openings and facilitates the customization of rented reach lift trucks to the requirements of customers.
Another aspect of the present invention is a base leg assembly having a base leg with an integrally formed leg portion that has a transverse bore at its distal end. A pair of load wheel plates extend forward from the distal end of the leg portion of the base leg and have a bore aligned with the transverse bore in the base leg. The load wheel plates are fastened to the base leg with a threaded fastener that extends through the bores and the transverse bore. A load wheel is mounted between the load wheel plates such that it can rotate therein.
Fastening the load wheel plates to the base leg with a threaded fastener allows for easier manufacture, easier repair or replacement of damage load wheels or load wheel plates, and facilitates the customization of the base leg assembly by easily allowing for various load wheel styles and sizes.
a is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the base leg according to the present invention.
b is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the base leg according to the present invention taken along line 8b-8b.
c is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the base leg according to the present invention taken along line 8c-8c.
d is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the base leg according to the present invention taken along line 8d-8d.
e is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the base leg according to the present invention taken along line 8e-8e.
Referring to
The base leg 20 includes an integrally formed mounting portion 22 and leg portion 32. The mounting portion 22 incorporates the means for mounting the base leg 20 to a mounting plate 40, which is discussed in more detail below, and provides the main structure from which the rest of the base leg 20 is formed. The mounting portion 22 includes an inner surface 24, which is preferably planar, but could be any shape that allows the inner surface 24 to engage a mounting surface 46 of the mounting plate 40. Apertures 26 extend completely through the mounting portion 22 and are countersunk on the outer surface 28 of the mounting portion 22. Bores 30 extend into the mounting portion 22 from the inner surface 24 and do not extend completely through the mounting portion 22.
The leg portion 32 has a proximal end at the mounting portion 22 and extends laterally outward from the outer surface 28 of the mounting portion 22 along an axis X (see
The distal end of the leg portion 32 engages load wheel plates 62, which are discussed in more detail below. The width of the distal end of the leg portion 32 transitions to a smaller width such that when the base leg 20 is assembled with the load wheel plates 62 the outer surfaces are substantially continuous, which avoids creating a location for engaging objects, such as rack support columns in a warehouse. A transverse bore 36 extends through the smaller width of the distal end of the leg portion 32. The end of the distal end of the leg portion 32, shown generally at 38, has a concave profile and is shaped such that the surface of the end 38 is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of a load wheel 90, which prevents materials from wrapping onto the load wheels 90.
Cavities 58 are formed within the base leg 20. There is no preferred location, shape, number, or size of the cavities 58 as these characteristics depend on the particular shape of the base leg 20 and will be optimized to reduce the weight of the base leg 20 and to assist in the distribution of the stresses throughout the base leg 20 so that there are no concentrated areas of high stress, which increases the flexibility and strength of the base leg 20 compared to a base leg formed of welded steel plates or tube steel.
As shown in
Referring to
To fasten the base leg 20 to the mounting plate 40 the threaded fasteners 48 are threaded into the internally threaded apertures 44 of the mounting plate 40 and the pins 52 are inserted into the bores 50 in the mounting plate 40. The base leg 20 is then placed on the mounting plate 40 such that the threaded fasteners 48 extend through the apertures 26 in the base leg 20, the pins 52 are inserted into the bores 30 in the base leg 20, and the inner surface 24 of the base leg 20 fully engages the mounting surface 46 of the mounting plate 40. The base leg 20 is then fastened by placing washers 54 and nuts 56 on the ends of the threaded fasteners 48 extending past the outer surface 28 of the base leg 20.
The threaded fasteners 48 and the pins 52 accurately locate and orient the base leg 20 relative to the mounting plate 40 and are removable from both the mounting plate 40 and the base leg 20. The threaded fasteners 48 form a uniformly loaded (bending) structural joint and the pins 52 form a uniformly loaded (torsion and shear) structural joint between the base leg 20 and the mounting plate 40. The joint formed by the pins 52 and threaded fasteners 48 provides an accurate, secure, and replaceable means of attaching the base leg 20 to the mounting plate 40 and resists the bending, shear, and torsion loading associated with the lift truck application.
Alternatively, the base leg 20 can also be welded directly to the mounting plate 40. However, welding the base leg 20 directly to the mounting plate 40 would give up some of the ease of assembly and replacement and flexibility for reconfiguring the lift truck to a customer's application.
Referring to
Each load wheel plate 62 has an inner surface 64 that engages the outer surface of the distal end of the leg portion 32 of the base leg 20. The top surface 66, outside surface 68, and bottom surface (not shown) are shaped such that the outer shape of the leg portion 32 is substantially continued from the base leg 20 through the load wheel assembly 60. Bores 70 extend transversely through the load wheel plates 62 and are aligned with the transverse bores 36 in the base leg 20. Each bore 70 is also countersunk on the outside surface 69 of each load wheel plate 62.
An elongated aperture 74 extends transversely through each load wheel plate 62 and receives the load wheels (not shown). Preferably, the elongated apertures 74 are shaped such that they will receive different numbers, sizes, and types of load wheels.
Cavities 70 are formed within each load wheel plate 62. There is no preferred location, shape, number, or size of the cavities 70 as these characteristics depend on the particular shape of each load wheel plate 62 and will be optimized to reduce the weight of the load wheel plates 62 and to assist in the distribution of the stresses throughout the load wheel plates 62 so that there are no concentrated areas of high stress, which will increase the flexibility and strength of the load wheel assembly 60 compared to a load wheel assembly formed of welded steel plates.
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cross bridge 76 extends from the inner surface 64 of each load wheel plate 62 to provide added strength and stability to the load wheel assembly 60 and to protect the load wheels 90. In addition, a bore 78 extends transversely through each load wheel plate 62 just below the cross bridge 76 and above the elongated aperture 74 and is countersunk on the outer surface 68 of each load wheel plate 62. A threaded fastener 84, such as a bolt, is inserted through the bores 78 in the load wheel plates 62 and is secured with a washer and nut (not shown), which also provides added strength and stability to the load wheel assembly 60. However, if added strength, stability, and/or protection are not needed or desired, the cross bridge 76 and the bores 78 could be removed.
Referring to
Referring to
Testing of numerous welded base leg assemblies of a type shown in
While the foregoing specification illustrates and describes the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein disclosed. The invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
