Forklift

Abstract

A forklift includes a chassis, a mast hydraulically tiltable relative to the chassis in a primary tilting motion, a fork carriage for mounting forks for supporting a load, the fork carriage being hydraulically tiltable relative to the mast in a secondary tilting motion, and a hydraulic system having an operating element for a user to control the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion. The hydraulic system is configured to carry out a hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion.

Claims

1. A forklift comprising: a chassis; a mast hydraulically tiltable relative to the chassis in a primary tilting motion between a substantially upright position and an inclined position; a fork carriage for mounting forks for supporting a load, the fork carriage being hydraulically tiltable relative to the mast in a secondary tilting motion between a position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast and a position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast; and a hydraulic system having an operating element to allow a user to control the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion; wherein the hydraulic system is configured to carry out a hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion, wherein the chassis, the mast, the fork carriage, and the hydraulic system are configured such that, for picking up a load, upon actuation of one operating element, the secondary tilting motion from the position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast to the position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast is achieved before the primary tilting motion from the substantially upright position to the inclined position, and wherein the chassis, the mast, the fork carriage, and the hydraulic system are configured such that, for setting down a load, upon actuation of one operating element, the secondary tilting motion from the position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast to the position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast is achieved before the primary tilting motion from the inclined position to the substantially upright position, and the primary tilting motion from the inclined position to the substantially upright position is hydraulically locked until the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast.

2. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises a single operating element for a user to control the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion, wherein the single operating element is moveable in a first direction to pick up a load, and the single operating element is moveable in a second direction to set down a load.

3. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system is configured to carry out a hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion based on driving forces required to carry out the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion.

4. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises: a hydraulic fluid source for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid; a primary hydraulic actuator for driving the primary tilting motion with pressurized hydraulic fluid; and a secondary hydraulic actuator for driving the secondary tilting motion with pressurized hydraulic fluid; wherein to drive the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion, the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are simultaneously pressurizable with hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source upon actuation of the operating element.

5. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises: a hydraulic fluid source for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid; a primary hydraulic actuator for driving the primary tilting motion; a secondary hydraulic actuator for driving the secondary tilting motion; wherein to pick up a load, the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable or connected in parallel for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid for driving the primary tilting motion of the mast from the substantially upright position to the inclined position and the secondary tilting motion of the fork carriage from the position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast to the position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast, and/or wherein to set down a load, the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable or connected in parallel for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid for driving the primary tilting motion of the mast from the inclined position to the substantially upright position and the secondary tilting motion of the fork carriage from a position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast to the position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast.

6. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises: a hydraulic fluid source for selectively supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through a main control valve operable by the operating element; a primary tilt system configured to tilt the mast in the primary tilting motion, wherein the primary tilt system comprises a primary hydraulic actuator for driving the primary tilting motion, the primary hydraulic actuator is a double acting hydraulic cylinder with a first chamber and a second chamber, and the primary tilting motion towards the inclined position is driven by pressurizing the second chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator with hydraulic fluid and the primary tilting motion towards the substantially upright position is driven by pressurizing the first chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator with hydraulic fluid; and a secondary tilt system configured to tilt the fork carriage relative to the mast in the secondary tilting motion, the secondary tilt system comprises a secondary hydraulic actuator for driving the secondary tilting motion, the secondary hydraulic actuator is a double acting hydraulic cylinder with a first chamber and a second chamber, the secondary tilting motion towards the position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast is driven by pressurizing the first chamber of the secondary hydraulic actuator with hydraulic fluid and the secondary tilting motion towards the position in which the fork carriage is substantially aligned with the mast is driven by pressurizing the second chamber of the secondary hydraulic actuator with hydraulic fluid; wherein to perform a hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion for picking up a load: the second chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator and the first chamber of the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable or connected in parallel with each other and a first output port of the main control valve in a fluid conducting manner for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid upon actuation of said one operating element, and/or wherein to perform a hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion for setting down a load: the first chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator and the second chamber of the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable or connected with each other and a second output port of the main control valve in a fluid conducting manner for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid upon actuation of the operating element, and discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator is hydraulically locked by a pressure relief valve to enable discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator above a predetermined or predeterminable hydraulic pressure in the second chamber of the primary hydraulic actuator.

7. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein: in a primary tilting motion of the mast relative to the chassis in a direction of tilting the mast towards the inclined position, a vertical position of the fork carriage relative to the chassis is elevated, and in a secondary tilting motion of the fork carriage relative to the mast in a direction of tilting the fork carriage towards the position in which the fork carriage is inclined relative to the mast, a vertical position of the fork carriage relative to the mast is elevated.

8. The forklift according to claim 5, wherein the fork carriage is mounted to the mast by a reach system, and the fork carriage is displaceable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the mast by the reach system, the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable in parallel or disconnectable from a parallel connection depending on a substantially horizontal displacement of the fork carriage relative to the mast.

9. The forklift according to claim 8, wherein the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable in parallel or disconnectable from a parallel connection based on a switching state of a proximity switch and/or a signal from a position sensor.

10. The forklift according to claim 8, wherein: the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable in parallel in a reach position away from the substantially fully retracted position, and/or the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are disconnectable from a parallel connection in a reach position away from the substantially fully extended position.

11. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein in the primary tilting motion, the mast is tiltable in a direction towards and away from the chassis in a substantially vertical plane, and in the secondary tilting motion, the fork carriage is tiltable in a direction towards and away from the mast in a substantially vertical plane.

12. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the mast is mounted to the chassis by a reach system, and the mast is displaceable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the chassis by the reach system.

13. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the fork carriage is mounted to the mast with a side-shift system for laterally shifting the fork carriage relative to the mast, and the fork carriage is tiltable in the secondary tilting motion relative to the side- shift system.

14. The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the forklift is a truck mountable forklift.

15. The forklift according to claim 8, wherein the fork carriage is mounted to the mast by a secondary reach system.

16. The forklift according to claim 10, wherein: the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are connectable in parallel in the reach position away from the substantially fully retracted position in the substantially fully extended reach position, and/or the primary hydraulic actuator and the secondary hydraulic actuator are disconnectable from a parallel connection in the reach position away from the substantially fully extended position in the substantially fully retracted reach position.

17. The forklift according to claim 12, wherein the mast is mounted to the chassis by a primary reach system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a forklift,

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a hydraulic system,

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a forklift with a picked up a load with a fully extended primary and secondary reach system and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a forklift with a tilted fork carriage and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b show a forklift with a retracted secondary reach system and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b show a forklift with a tilted fork carriage and a tilted mast, and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(8) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a forklift with a retracted primary reach system and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(9) FIGS. 8a and 8b show a forklift with a lowered load and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(10) FIGS. 9a and 9b show a forklift with a fork carriage substantially aligned to a tilted mast and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system,

(11) FIGS. 10a and 10b show a forklift with a fork carriage aligned to a substantially upright mast and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system, and

(12) FIGS. 11a and 11b show a forklift with a picked-up load with a fully extended primary reach system and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) FIG. 1 shows a forklift 1 comprising a chassis 2 with wheels 3 and a driver's cabin 4, a mast 40 which is hydraulically tiltable relative to the chassis 2 in a primary tilting motion at least between a substantially upright position and at least one inclined position (compare FIGS. 5a and 6a), a fork carriage 50 for mounting forks 54 for supporting a load 5, the fork carriage 50 being hydraulically tiltable relative to the mast 40 in a secondary tilting motion at least between a position in which the fork carriage 50 is substantially aligned with the mast 40 and at least one position in which the fork carriage 50 is inclined relative to the mast 40 (compare FIGS. 3a and 4a), and a hydraulic system having at least one operating element 33 for a user to control the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion.

(14) The mast 40 is hydraulically tiltable about a pivot point 42 schematically shown in FIGS. 5a and 6a, and the fork carriage 50 is hydraulically tiltable about a pivot point 53 schematically shown in FIGS. 1, 3a and 4a.

(15) In this preferred embodiment, the hydraulic system comprises a single operating element 33 for a user to control the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion.

(16) The forklift 1 comprises a primary tilt system which is configured to tilt the mast 40 in the primary tilting motion, wherein the primary tilt system comprises a primary hydraulic actuator 10 for driving the primary tilting motion. Furthermore, the forklift 1 comprises a secondary tilt system which is configured to tilt the fork carriage 50 relative to the mast 40 in the secondary tilting motion, wherein the secondary tilt system comprises a secondary hydraulic actuator 20 for driving the secondary tilting motion.

(17) In this preferable embodiment, the mast 40 is mounted to the chassis 2 by way of a primary reach system 41, through which the mast 40 is displaceable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the chassis 2 by the reach system 41 (compare FIGS. 6a and 7a).

(18) Further thereto, the fork carriage 50 is mounted to the mast 40 by way of a secondary reach system 52, through which the fork carriage 50 is displaceable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the mast 40 by the reach system 52 (compare FIGS. 4a and 5a).

(19) As can be seen in FIG. 1, the fork carriage 50 is mounted to the mast 40 with a side-shift system 51 for laterally shifting the fork carriage 50 relative to the mast 40, wherein the fork carriage 50 is tiltable in the secondary tilting motion relative to the side-shift system 51.

(20) FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of the hydraulic system which comprises: a hydraulic fluid source 7, such as a hydraulic pump, for selectively supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through a main control valve 30 with a selectable first output port 31 and a second output port 32, wherein the switching state of the main control valve can be controlled by way of the at least one operating element 33, a primary tilt system which is configured to tilt the mast 40 in the primary tilting motion, wherein the primary tilt system comprises a primary hydraulic actuator 10 for driving the primary tilting motion, wherein the primary hydraulic actuator 10 is a double acting hydraulic cylinder with a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12, wherein the primary tilting motion towards the at least one inclined position (compare FIGS. 5a and 6a) is driven by pressurizing the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator with hydraulic fluid and the primary tilting motion towards the substantially upright position (compare FIGS. 6a and 5a) is driven by pressurizing the first chamber 11 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 with hydraulic fluid, and a secondary tilt system which is configured to tilt the fork carriage 50 relative to the mast 40 in the secondary tilting motion, wherein the secondary tilt system comprises a secondary hydraulic actuator 20 for driving the secondary tilting motion, wherein the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 is a double acting hydraulic cylinder with first chamber 21 and second chamber 22, wherein the secondary tilting motion towards the at least one position in which the fork carriage 50 is inclined relative to the mast 40 (compare FIGS. 3a and 4a) is driven by pressurizing the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 with hydraulic fluid and the secondary tilting motion towards the position in which the fork carriage 50 is substantially aligned with the mast 40 (compare FIGS. 4a and 3a) is driven by pressurizing the second chamber 22 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 with hydraulic fluid.

(21) A parallel connection, in particular a freely fluid conducting parallel connection, between the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 and the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 can be enabled or disabled with a first solenoid valve 23 disposed between the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 and the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10. The first solenoid valve 23 may allow pressurization of the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 without pressurizing the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20. In the embodiment shown, the first solenoid valve 23 can be switched between a freely fluid conducting position and a one-way fluid conducting position.

(22) Discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 can be hydraulically locked by a pressure relief valve 13. For the release of residual pressure in the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10, the pressure relief valve 13 can be bypassed by a second solenoid valve 14. Release of residual pressure in the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 may be of advantage when the forklift 1 is mounted to the back of truck with the forks 54, wherein the weight of the forklift 1 acting on the forks 54 used for truck-mounting may otherwise lead to a pressure buildup in the primary hydraulic actuator 10.

(23) As shown in FIG. 2, the hydraulic system may further comprise a hydraulic throttle 8, optionally bypassed in one direction of flow, which may limit the flow of hydraulic fluid for smoothing of the primary tilting motion and/or the secondary tilting motion.

(24) The various elements of the hydraulic system may be interconnected with each other by way of fluid-conducting hydraulic lines.

(25) The hydraulic fluid source may supply pressurized hydraulic fluid from a tank 70 to various elements of the hydraulic system. Discharged hydraulic fluid may be returned to the tank 70.

(26) As shown in FIG. 3a, when lifting a load 5 from the far side of the truck 6, both the primary and secondary reach systems 41, 52 are fully extended, and the truck support pads 9 rest against the side of the truck 6 to give the required stability to lift the load 5. However, once the truck pads 9 are against the truck 6, the primary tilt cannot be used as this would destabilize the forklift 1.

(27) A corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system for a hydraulic sequence control is shown in FIG. 3b.

(28) In an embodiment in which the mast 40 can be further tilted away from the chassis 2 past a substantially upright position, the primary actuator 10 may not have reached a substantially fully extended state in the substantially upright position of the mast 40 as shown in FIG. 3a. For the sake of simplicity, both the primary actor 10 and the secondary actor 20 are shown in their substantially fully retracted and extended states over the course of the depicted hydraulic sequence control.

(29) Coming from a substantially fully retracted position of the secondary reach system 52, the first solenoid valve 23 may be switched into an open position when the secondary reach system 52 is extended to allow parallel connection to secondary tilt actuator 20. In particular, the primary hydraulic actuator 10 and the at least one secondary hydraulic actuator 20 may be connectable in parallel in at least one reach position away from the substantially fully retracted position, preferably at least in the substantially fully extended reach position.

(30) A hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion for picking up a load 5 may be provided as follows:

(31) The second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 and the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 are connectable or connected in parallel with each other and a first output port 31 of the main control valve 30for instance by moving operating element 33 in a first directionin a fluid conducting manner for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid upon actuation of said one operating element 33.

(32) A hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion will be carried out based on the driving forces required to carry out the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion. The secondary hydraulic actuator 20 only has to generate momentum for tilting the fork carriage 50. The primary hydraulic actuator 10, however, would have to generate a substantially larger momentum to tilt the fork carriage which is displaced both by being mounted on the mast and by the secondary reach system 52. The flow of hydraulic fluid for carrying out the secondary tilting motion is indicated by arrows in FIG. 3b.

(33) As shown in FIG. 4a, the secondary tilting motion is therefore prioritized or the primary tilting motion upon simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid. As shown in the schematic representation of the hydraulic system in FIG. 4b, the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 has reached a substantially fully extended state after tilting the fork carriage 50 into the at least one inclined position. It may be noted that the truck support pads 9 remain in contact with the truck 6.

(34) As shown in FIG. 5a, the secondary reach system 52 may be substantially fully retracted to remove the picked-up load 5 from truck 6. As shown in FIG. 5b, the at least one primary hydraulic actuator 10 and the at least one secondary hydraulic actuator 20 are disconnect from a parallel connection in at least one reach position away from the substantially fully extended position, preferably at least in the substantially fully retracted reach position.

(35) With the first solenoid valve 23 closed, only the primary hydraulic actuator 10 may be actuated. The second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 are again connected with a first output port 31 of the main control valve 30for instance by moving operating element 33 in a first directionin a fluid conducting manner for pressurization with hydraulic fluid upon actuation of said one operating element 33. Since the secondary reach system 52 is now substantially fully retracted, the load moment is significantly reduced allowing the primary tilting motion to operate as normal, leading to a forklift 1 with a tilted fork carriage 50 and a tilted mast 40 as shown in FIG. 6a. The flow of hydraulic fluid for carrying out the primary tilting motion is indicated by arrows in FIG. 5b.

(36) As shown in the schematic representation of the hydraulic system in FIG. 6b, the primary hydraulic actuator 10 has reached a substantially fully retracted state after tilting the mast 40 into the at least one inclined position.

(37) As shown in FIG. 7a, the mast 40 may be retracted substantially fully back towards the chassis 2 by way of the primary reach system 41. The picked-up load 5 may be lowered by moving the fork carriage 50 down the mast 40 as shown in FIG. 8a.

(38) When the mast 40 is initially retracted as shown in FIG. 8a and the forklift 1 travels, the secondary tilt remains in the fully tilted back condition.

(39) A hydraulic sequence control of the primary tilting motion and the secondary tilting motion for setting down a load 5 may be provided as follows:

(40) The first chamber 11 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 and the second chamber 22 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 are connectable or connected with each other and a second output port 32 of the main control valve 30for instance by moving operating element 33 in a second directionin a fluid conducting manner for simultaneous pressurization with hydraulic fluid upon actuation of said one operating element 33, wherein discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 is hydraulically locked by a pressure relief valve 13 which enables discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10 above a predetermined or predeterminable hydraulic pressure in the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10.

(41) Therefore, the secondary tilting motion is carried out first by pressurization of the second chamber 22 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 and discharge from the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20. The flow of hydraulic fluid for carrying out the secondary tilting motion is indicated by arrows in FIG. 8b.

(42) Upon reaching the position in which the fork carriage 50 is substantially aligned with the mast 40 as shown in FIG. 9a, the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 may reach an end stop, for instance through reaching a substantially fully retracted state as shown in FIG. 9b. The pressure in the first chamber 11 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10and through force transmission in the hydraulic actuator 10 also in the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10may consequently start to increase. Above a predetermined or predeterminable hydraulic pressure, as exemplary indicated in the figures above a hydraulic pressure of 150 bar, in the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10, the primary tilting motion towards the substantially upright position of the mast 40 may be carried out by enabling discharge of hydraulic fluid from the second chamber 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10. The flow of hydraulic fluid for carrying out the primary tilting motion is indicated by arrows in FIG. 9b.

(43) FIGS. 10a and 10b consequently show a forklift 1 with a fork carriage 50 aligned to a substantially upright mast 40 and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system, with the primary hydraulic actuator 10 having reached a substantially fully extended state after tilting the mast 40 into the substantially upright position. In an embodiment in which the mast 40 can be further tilted away from the chassis 2 past a substantially upright position, the primary actuator 10 may not have reached a substantially fully extended state but may still have some travel left.

(44) An advantage of the hydraulic tilt sequence may also be seen in the fact that priority is automatically given to the secondary tilting motion tilting towards the substantially aligned position. Once in the substantially aligned position, the secondary tilting motion may not be carried again until the secondary reach system is extended. This ensures that the fork carriage 50 is always in the substantially aligned position when approaching a truck 5 to pick the next load 6.

(45) FIGS. 11a and 11b show a forklift 1 with a picked-up load 5 with a fully extended primary reach system and a corresponding schematic of a hydraulic system. The secondary reach system 52 is not being used and is therefore substantially fully retracted. The first solenoid valve 23 is in a closed position in which the first chamber 21 of the secondary hydraulic actuator 20 may not be pressurized with hydraulic fluid, the secondary tilting motion is therefore not accessible. The primary tilting motion remains accessible through pressurization of the first or second chamber 11, 12 of the primary hydraulic actuator 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(46) 1 forklift 2 chassis 3 wheel 4 driver's cabin 5 load 6 truck 7 hydraulic fluid source 8 hydraulic throttle 9 truck support pads 10 primary hydraulic actuator 11 first chamber primary hydraulic actuator 12 second chamber primary hydraulic actuator 13 pressure relief valve 14 second solenoid valve 20 secondary hydraulic actuator 21 first chamber secondary hydraulic actuator 22 second chamber secondary hydraulic actuator 23 first solenoid valve 30 main control valve 31 first output port 32 second output port 33 operating element 40 mast 41 primary reach system 42 pivot point 50 fork carriage 51 side-shift system 52 secondary reach system 53 pivot point 54 forks 70 tank