The present invention relates to a fork lift truck comprising a power unit assembly detachably connected to a main frame assembly, wherein substantially all hydraulic components are mounted on the main frame assembly.
Fork lift trucks, such as turret stockpicker trucks, comprising a power unit assembly detachably connected to a main frame assembly are known in the prior art. In such a truck, the power unit assembly comprises a power unit base, at least one wheel coupled to the base and being driven by one or more traction motors, a battery for providing power to the traction motor(s), and a traction motor control module(s) for controlling the operation of the traction motor(s). A first hydraulic motor/pump assembly and at least one manifold valve block are also mounted on the power unit base. The main frame assembly comprises a main frame base, a mast assembly comprising a fixed first mast and a second mast movable relative to the first mast, a piston/cylinder unit for effecting movement of the second mast relative to the first mast, a second hydraulic motor/pump assembly for providing pressurized fluid to the piston/cylinder unit for effecting movement of the second mast, and a carriage assembly coupled to said second mast for movement with the second mast. Further provided on the main frame base is a hydraulic fluid reservoir and at least one manifold valve block.
Because the first hydraulic motor/pump assembly and at least one manifold valve block are mounted on the power unit base and the fluid reservoir is mounted on the main frame assembly, hydraulic tubes/lines extend between the power unit and main frame assemblies. Hence, in order to separate those assemblies, such as for shipping the truck, one or more of the hydraulic tubes/lines extending between the power unit assembly and the main frame assembly must be disconnected. Such a disassembly operation is disadvantageous due to its complexity. Also, disconnecting one or more hydraulic lines/tubes increases the risk that those lines/tubes may become contaminated with moisture, dirt, air, etc. A further disadvantage to having the first hydraulic motor/pump assembly mounted on the power unit is that it is located in close proximity to many of the electronic and electrical components. As a result, there is an increased risk that those electronic and electrical components may be contaminated with hydraulic fluid or dirt accumulated on the first hydraulic motor/pump assembly mounted to the power unit base.
In accordance with the present invention, a fork lift truck, such as a turret stockpicker truck, is provided comprising a power unit assembly detachably connected to a main frame assembly, wherein substantially all hydraulic components are mounted on the main frame assembly. Consequently, when the truck is separated, such as for shipping, no hydraulic tubes/lines extending between the power unit and main frame assemblies need be disconnected. Hence, the disassembly operation is simplified. Further, risk of moisture, dirt, air, etc. contaminating open hydraulic tubes/lines is reduced. Also, the length of hydraulic tubes/lines required on the truck is reduced since tubes/lines extending between the power unit and main frame assemblies are not required. This reduces costs as well as pressure drops within the hydraulic system.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a lift truck is provided comprising: a power unit assembly comprising a power unit base, at least one wheel coupled to the base, and a system for driving the wheel; and a main frame assembly detachably connected to the power unit assembly. The main frame assembly comprises a main frame base, a mast assembly coupled to the main frame base, a carriage assembly coupled to the mast assembly, and hydraulic drive apparatus, preferably coupled to the mast and carriage assemblies. Preferably, substantially the entirety of the hydraulic drive apparatus is provided on the main frame assembly such that the main frame assembly is detachable from the power unit assembly without requiring disconnecting hydraulic connections to the power unit assembly. A control structure, such as a control module, for controlling the operation of the hydraulic drive apparatus is provided and, preferably, is located on the power unit assembly.
The hydraulic drive apparatus may comprises a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulic motor/pump assembly, and a manifold system. Preferably, the reservoir is spaced from the motor/pump assembly and the manifold system.
The main frame base may comprise front and rear portions. The mast assembly, the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the hydraulic motor/pump assembly are preferably located at the rear portion of the main frame base, with the reservoir being positioned on a first side of the mast assembly and the motor/pump assembly being positioned on a second side of the mast assembly.
The power unit system for driving the at least one wheel may comprise at least one traction motor, a battery for providing power to the motor, and a control module for controlling the operation of the traction motor.
As noted above, the main frame base may comprise front and rear portions. Similarly, the power unit base may comprise front and rear portions. The rear portion of the main frame base may be positioned adjacent to the front portion of the power unit base, and the traction motor and the traction motor control module may be located in the rear portion of the power unit base.
The power unit assembly may further comprise a steer motor for effecting steering movement of the wheel and a steer motor control module for controlling the operation of the steer motor. The steer motor and the steer motor control module are preferably located in the rear portion of the power unit base.
The mast assembly may comprise a fixed first mast, a second mast movable relative to the first mast and a mast piston/cylinder unit for effecting movement of the second mast relative to the first mast. The carriage assembly may comprise a platform assembly coupled to the second mast so as to move with the second mast. The platform assembly may be movably coupled to the second mast so as to move relative to the second mast as well as with the second mast.
The carriage assembly may further comprise a load handler assembly movably coupled to the platform assembly and a fork carriage assembly movably coupled to the load handler assembly.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a lift truck is provided comprising: a power unit assembly comprising a power unit base having front and rear portions, at least one wheel, at least one traction motor for driving the at least one wheel, a battery for providing power to the at least one traction motor, and at least one traction motor control module for controlling the operation of the at least one traction motor. The at least one wheel, traction motor and traction motor control module are preferably mounted in the rear portion of the power unit base. The lift truck further comprises a main frame assembly comprising a main frame base having front and rear portions, a mast assembly, a carriage assembly coupled to the mast assembly, and hydraulic drive apparatus coupled to the mast assembly. The front portion of the power unit base may be coupled to the rear portion of the main frame base. The power unit assembly may further comprise a hydraulic drive apparatus control module, which, preferably, is mounted in the rear portion of the power unit base for controlling the operation of the hydraulic drive apparatus.
The hydraulic drive apparatus may comprise a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulic motor/pump assembly and a manifold system. The reservoir is preferably spaced from the motor/pump assembly and the manifold system.
The mast assembly, the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the hydraulic motor/pump assembly are preferably located at the rear portion of the main frame base, with the reservoir being positioned on a first side of the mast assembly and the motor/pump assembly being positioned on a second side of the mast assembly.
The power unit assembly may further comprise at least one steer motor for effecting steering movement of the at least one wheel and a steer motor control module for controlling the operation of the steer motor. The steer motor and the steer motor control module are located in the rear of the power unit base.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a fork lift truck is provided comprising a power unit assembly detachably connected to a main frame assembly, wherein substantially all truck hydraulic components are mounted on the main frame assembly while substantially all truck electronic control modules are mounted on the power unit assembly.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to
The mast assembly 32 comprises a first mast 32a fixedly coupled to the main frame base 31, a second mast 32b movable coupled to the first mast 32a, and a main mast piston/cylinder unit 50, see
The mast piston/cylinder unit 50 is provided in the first mast 32a for effecting movement of the second mast 32b relative to the first mast 32a and the base 31, see
The load handling assembly 132 comprises a first structure 42 which is movable back and forth transversely relative to the platform assembly 130, as designated by an arrow 200 in
Coupled to the second structure 44 is the fork carriage assembly 136 comprising a pair of forks 62 and a fork support 64. The fork carriage assembly 136 is capable of moving vertically relative to the second structure 44, as designated by an arrow 201 in
A second structure or auxiliary mast piston/cylinder unit 70 is provided in the second structure 44 for effecting vertical movement of the fork carriage assembly 136 relative to the second structure 44, see
The hydraulic drive apparatus 80 supplies pressurized fluid to the mast piston/cylinder unit 50 and the second structure piston/cylinder unit 70. The hydraulic apparatus 80 may also provide pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor for effecting transverse movement of the first structure 42, the first and second piston/cylinder units for effecting rotation of the second structure 44 and the first and second piston/cylinder units for causing the sliding fork members to extend and retract. The apparatus 80 comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, a hydraulic motor/pump assembly 82, a first manifold 90, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir 84, all of which are mounted on the main frame base 31, see
As noted above, the power unit assembly 20 and the main frame assembly 30 are releasably coupled to one another. The power unit base 21 comprises a front plate member 210 provided with three openings in a first lower corner 210a, three openings in a second lower corner 210b and a pair of openings along an upper edge 210c, see
All hydraulic fluid lines extending from the reservoir 84 to the motor/pump assembly 82, from the motor/pump assembly 82 to the first and second manifolds 90 and 190 and from the first and second manifolds 90 and 190 to the mast piston/cylinder unit 50, the second structure piston/cylinder unit 70, the hydraulic motor for effecting transverse movement of the first structure 42, the first and second piston/cylinder units for effecting rotation of the second structure 44, and the first and second piston/cylinder units for causing the sliding fork members to extend and retract are contained within the main frame assembly 30. Hence, all vehicle hydraulic components including the hydraulic apparatus 80, the mast piston/cylinder unit 50 and the second structure piston/cylinder unit 70 are contained within the main frame assembly 30. This is advantageous as there is no need to disconnect any hydraulic tubes/lines extending between the power unit and main frame assemblies 20 and 30 when the vehicle 10 is to be separated. Hence, the vehicle disassembly operation is simplified. Further, risk of moisture, dirt, air, etc. contaminating open hydraulic tubes/lines is reduced. Also, the length of hydraulic tubes/lines required on the vehicle 10 is reduced since tubes/lines extending between the power unit and main frame assemblies 20 and 30 are not required. This reduces costs as well as pressure drops within the hydraulic apparatus 80.
The vehicle 10 comprises three substantial heat sources, which are: 1) the hydraulic fluid reservoir 84; 2) the motor/pump assembly 82 and the first manifold 90; and 3) the traction motor 23a, a gear box (not shown) coupled to and mounted below the motor 23a and the control modules 25, 27, 130 and 400. So as to allow the heat generated by those sources to be efficiently transferred from the vehicle 10, those elements are spaced apart from one another on the vehicle 10. In particular, the hydraulic fluid reservoir 84 is positioned to a first side 32c of the mast assembly 32 so as to be spaced from the motor/pump assembly 82 and the first manifold 90, which are positioned to a second side 38d of the mast assembly 38, see
The power unit base 21 comprises first, second and third compartments 100, 110 and 120 located in the rear section 26 of the power unit assembly 20, see
Each of the traction motor 23a, the steer motor 24 and the control modules 25, 27, 130 and 400 generate significant amounts of heat energy, which energy must be efficiently transferred from the vehicle. By placing the traction motor 23a and the steer motor 24 a spaced distance away from the control modules 25, 27, 130 and 400, efficient transfer of the heat generated by those elements from the vehicle 10 occurs. Furthermore, by locating the traction motor 23a, the steer motor 24 and the control modules 25, 27, 130 and 400 in the rear section 26 of the power unit assembly 20, those elements are spaced a substantial distance from the hydraulic fluid reservoir 84, the motor/pump assembly 82 and the first manifold 90, so as to improve thermal balance on the vehicle 10 and to facilitate dissipation of heat from those elements.
The power unit assembly 20 can be detached from the main frame assembly 30 by removing the nuts 315 from the bolts 300. Prior to separating the assemblies 20 and 30, power supply cables 405 extending from the power unit assembly 20 to the hydraulic motor/pump assembly 82 and wiring harnesses 410, three in the illustrated embodiment, extending from the power unit assembly 20 to the main frame assembly 30 need to be disconnected.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
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