Forklift truck

Abstract

A forklift (1) for the loading and unloading of goods comprises a pallet truck (100) and an outrigger, wherein the pallet truck (100) is adapted for detachably coupling to said outrigger (200) via a tilting connection carriage (208). The tilting connection carriage (208) is raised and lowered by a lifting carriage (203) that is slidably mounted on lift masts (204) provided on outrigger (200) such that pallet truck (100) can be elevated to a desired working level from where it can detach from tilting connection carriage (208) and travel onto a raised platform such as the bed (901) of a truck (900). Motion of the outrigger (200), which is provided with a separate motive power means from pallet truck (100), is controlled by an operator seated within pallet truck (100). The forklift (1) is further provided with a means (950) of mounting and securing to a delivery vehicle (900).

Description

The invention will now hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, the main embodiment of a forklift in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 a is an isometric drawing a forklift and a trailer mounting attachment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1 b is an enlarged isometric drawing a forklift in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1 c is an enlarged exploded, isometric drawing a forklift in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 a is a side elevation of the forklift of the invention;

FIG. 2 b is a front elevation of the forklift of the invention;

FIG. 2 c is a plan view of the forklift of the invention;

FIG. 2 d is an enlarged end elevation of the forklift of the invention;

FIG. 2 e is a side elevation of the forklift of the invention shown in a tilted mode;

FIG. 3 a is a side elevation of a pallet truck of the forklift shown in a lowered mode;

FIG. 3 b is a end elevation of the pallet truck;

FIG. 3 c is a plan view of the pallet truck;

FIG. 3 d is a side elevation of the pallet truck shown in a raised mode;

FIG. 4 a is a side elevation of an outrigger of the forklift;

FIG. 4 b is a front elevation of the outrigger;

FIG. 4 c is a plan view of the outrigger;

FIG. 4 d is an end elevation of the outrigger;

FIGS. 5 a to 5g show schematically the operation of the forklift in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 h shows schematically the secure mounting of the forklift to the rear of a truck or trailer 900.

Claims

1. A forklift truck for mounting on the rear of a carrying vehicle comprising an outrigger and a ride-on pallet truck; the outrigger having: a U-shaped chassis comprising a rear support body and a pair of straddle legs which extend forwardly from opposing ends of the support body, and each being provided with a ground engaging wheel located at the terminal end thereof, and the support body having a centrally mounted steerable drive wheel,lifting means; anda lifting carriage; andthe ride-on pallet truck including: motive power means,load engaging means, andground engaging wheels;with the ride-on pallet truck being removably engageable with the lifting carriage of the outrigger.

2. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ride-on pallet truck is removably engageable with the lifting carriage of the outrigger via a connection carriage.

3. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connection carriage is provided with a means for engaging and disengaging with the ride-on pallet truck.

4. A forklift as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for engaging and disengaging with the ride-on pallet truck comprises a pallet truck alignment system that is further provided with a means for locking engagement with a locking system provided on the pallet truck.

5. A forklift as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pallet truck alignment system comprises a plurality of angled plates fixed to the tilting connection carriage and a hook receptor provided on a cross member provided on the connection carriage; and wherein the angled plates and hook receptor are adapted to guide, locate and engage with the locking system provided on the ride-on pallet truck.

6. A forklift as claimed in claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking system provided on the ride-on pallet truck comprises a hook and a plurality of locking tabs disposed on the rear of the pallet truck body.

7. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means provided on the pallet truck alignment system for locking engagement with the locking system provided on the ride-on pallet truck comprises locking pins which extend through apertures provided in locking tabs of pallet truck and into recesses provided in the angled plates.

8. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locking pins extend outwardly from an activator and are deployed by controls provided on the ride-on pallet truck.

9. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connection carriage is a tilting connection carriage.

10. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tilting connection carriage is pivotally suspended on the lifting carriage.

11. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tilting connecting carriage is provided with a means of tilting about its vertical axis.

12. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means of tilting the connection carriage about its vertical axis comprises one or more tilting rams which extend between the connection carriage and the lifting carriage.

13. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tilting connection carriage is provided with an elevated control panel whereby the lift, tilt and locking functions of tilting connection carriage are within convenient reach of an operator seated in pallet truck when coupled to the outrigger.

14. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ride-on pallet truck comprises a side-entry operator compartment.

15. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ride-on pallet truck is provided with a retractable control panel that is movably mounted to said pallet truck such that the said control panel may be moved from an in use position transverse the operator compartment to an alternate position whereby an operator can enter and exit said operator compartment.

16. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging wheels of ride-on pallet truck are each provided with a means of raising and lowering thus enabling said pallet truck to lift and deposit pallets as well as to allow coupling hook and locking tabs to enter and engage with the pallet truck alignment system provided on the connection carriage.

17. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ride-on pallet truck is positioned intermediate the straddle legs of the outrigger while in engagement with said outrigger, and wherein the load engaging means face the same forward direction of the straddle legs while in engagement with said outrigger.

18. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein ride-on pallet truck and outrigger are each provided with a communication means wherein control of the outrigger is controlled by the operator of the ride-on pallet truck 100 when said pallet truck is coupled to said outrigger.

19. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 18, wherein the communication means provided between the ride-on pallet truck and the outrigger is a CANbus communication network.

20. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 19, wherein CANbus control signals are communicated from the ride-on pallet truck to the outrigger via contacts provided on the ride-on pallet truck and the outrigger, respectively.

21. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 20, wherein contacts provided on the ride-on pallet truck and the outrigger are spring loaded contacts.

22. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spaced apart lift members each comprise a channel section member wherein the channel sections are arranged to face outwardly towards the sides at outrigger.

23. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lifting carriage is provided with side members having inwardly facing bearings that in use are disposed within channel sections spaced apart lift members.

24. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground engaging wheels located at the terminal ends of outrigger straddle legs are mounted on foldable mounts.

25. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein motive power for outrigger is provided by batteries that are located on or within straddle legs.

26. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control panel provided on the outrigger chassis enables a user standing proximate forklift 1 to control said forklift.

27. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forklift truck is provided with a means for stowing and securely mounting to the rear of a carrying vehicle, the stowing and mounting means comprising: a plurality of spaced apart elongate receptor pockets provided on the underside of the carrying vehicle; andextensible supports which can slidably deployed from guides provided on the underside of the carrying vehicle;characterised in that the elongate receptor pockets are adapted to receive the lifting forks of ride-on pallet truck and extensible supports are adapted to engaged with the underside of outrigger once raised from the ground.

28. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 in which the lifting means includes a vertical lift mast comprising two spaced apart lift members, and the lifting carriage which is slidably mountable on the spaced apart lift members.

29. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 28 in which the vertical lift mast is integrated with the chassis of the outrigger.

30. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 which is mountable on the rear of a carrying vehicle.

31. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 in which the motive power means is an internal combustion engine.

32. A forklift truck as claimed in claim 1 which has at least 3 ground engaging wheels.

33. A forklift as claimed in claim 32 which has at least 4 ground engaging wheels.