BASE FRAME FOR A REACH TRUCK

Abstract

A base frame for a reach truck comprises a wheel arm subassembly comprising two wheel arms each having a front end and an opposing rear end. A load wheel receiver is positioned on each rear end and a counterweight is positioned at the front end of the wheel arms and coupled to the wheel arm subassembly by a plurality of screw connections. The plurality of screw connections comprise a first portion of screw connections and a second portion of screw connections. The first portion of screw connections each extend in a first direction and the second portion of the screw connections each extend in a second direction which is different from the first direction.

Claims

1. A base frame for a reach truck comprising: a wheel arm subassembly comprising two wheel arms each having a front end and an opposing rear end, wherein a load wheel receiver is positioned on each rear end; and a counterweight positioned at the front end of the two wheel arms and coupled to the wheel arm subassembly by a plurality of screw connections, wherein the plurality of screw connections comprise a first portion of screw connections and a second portion of screw connections, wherein the first portion of screw connections each extend in a first direction and the second portion of the screw connections each extend in a second direction which is different from the first direction.

2. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the wheel arm subassembly comprises a transverse connection welded to the two wheel arms.

3. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is at a right angle relative to the second direction.

4. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portion of screw connections and the second portion of screw connections is configured to transmit forces transversely to at least one of the first and second direction.

5. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portion of screw connections and the second portion of screw connections is configured to permit tolerance compensation transversely to at least one of the first and second direction.

6. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the wheel arm subassembly defines at least one through-bore configured to accept a dowel pin, and wherein the dowel pin is configured to accept a screw.

7. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the screw connections comprises a disc positioned between the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight that is configured to increase a friction coefficient between the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight.

8. The base frame according to claim 2, wherein the transverse connection comprises at least one of a horizontally arranged base plate and a vertically arranged transverse member.

9. The base frame according to claim 8, wherein the first portion of the screw connections is between the counterweight and the transverse member and the second portion of the screw connections is between the counterweight and the base plate.

10. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of screw connections comprises a screw head configured to be countersunk, and wherein the wheel arm subassembly defines a through-bore with a diameter which is larger than the screw head and a welded-on disc defining a through-bore that is smaller than the screw head.

11. The base frame according to claim 10, wherein an upper face of the welded-on disc forms a contact surface for a disc positioned between the wheel arm subassembly and the counter-weight, and wherein the disc is configured to increase a coefficient of friction between the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight.

12. The base frame according to claim 11, wherein the counterweight defines a recess configured to receive the welded-on disc.

13. The base frame according to claim 12, wherein a base of the recess forms a contact surface for a disc positioned between the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight, and wherein the disc is configured to increasing the coefficient of friction between the wheel arm subassembly and the counterweight.

14. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight extends a width of the base frame.

15. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight further comprises a fastening means configured to fasten at least one of a driver's cab and a drive wheel carrier to the counterweight.

16. The base frame according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight is comprised of cast iron.

17. The base frame according to claim 14, wherein a center of gravity of the counterweight is below a center of gravity of the wheel arm subassembly.

18. The base frame according to claim 17, wherein the center of gravity of the counterweight is below an upper edge of each wheel arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Hereinafter, the invention is described in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates top perspective view of an embodiment of a base frame for a reach truck;

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the base frame of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the base frame of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the counterweight of the base frame of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of the area A of FIG. 3;

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of the area B of FIG. 2; and

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a reach truck with the base frame of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The base frame of FIG. 1 has two wheel arms 10, in each case a load wheel receiver 12 being able to be identified on the rear ends thereof. Each of the wheel arms 10 has on its inner face a guide rail 18 for the lifting mast. In the language used in this application, the end of the base frame or, respectively, of the reach truck remote from the load wheel receivers 12 is denoted as the front end.

[0035] At the front end of the wheel arms 10 is located a counterweight 14 which is made of cast iron and which extends substantially over the entire width of the base frame. The front end of the counterweight 14 forms at the same time the front end of the vehicle and has a slightly rounded shape. A fastening base 16 is arranged in each case at the lower end of the counterweight 14 on both sides for a supporting element which is also denoted as a supporting cone.

[0036] Further details are able to be identified more clearly in FIG. 2. It is identified here that a transverse connection between the two wheel arms 10 is formed by a transverse member 20 and by a base plate 22. The transverse member 20 is a vertically arranged steel plate. The transverse member is welded to the wheel arms 10 at a central position of the wheel arms 10, upstream of a space intended for the lifting mast. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the wheel arm subassembly is thus a welded subassembly with a transverse connection.

[0037] The base plate 22 is a horizontally arranged steel plate. The base plate 22 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction approximately from the position of the transverse member 20 to the front, substantially as far as the front end of the counterweight 14 or, respectively, of the vehicle. The transverse member 20 has a vertical spacing from the base plate 22.

[0038] The counterweight 14 consists of nodular graphite iron. The counterweight 14 has a rear portion which is arranged between the front ends of the wheel arms 10 and a wider portion adjacent thereto at the front, which extends over the entire width of the base frame and which forms a front end of the base frame.

[0039] FIG. 2 also illustrates the arrangement of six screw connections between the welded subassembly and the counterweight 14. A first portion of these screw connections, namely the two screw connections between the transverse member 20 and the counterweight 14, has in each case a through-bore in the transverse member 20, a dowel pin 24 inserted into this through-bore and a screw 26 inserted into the dowel pin 24. The threaded portions of the screws 26, not shown in detail, are screwed into threaded bores in the counterweight 14 which are concealed in FIG. 2.

[0040] A second portion of the screw connections, namely the four screw connections configured between the base plate 22 and the counterweight 14, in each case has a through-bore in the base plate 22, a screw 28 inserted into the through-bore and a diamond disc 30. These screws 28 are also screwed with threaded portions, not shown in detail, into threaded bores in the counterweight 14. These threaded bores in the counterweight 14 are also not visible in FIG. 2.

[0041] In the exploded view of FIG. 2, the screws 26, 28 in each case are illustrated in the longitudinal direction of the screw connections. It may be identified that the screw connections with the screws 26, i.e. the first portion of the screw connections, are oriented horizontally whilst the screw connections with the screws 28, as the second portion of the screw connections, are oriented vertically.

[0042] Moreover, FIG. 2 shows fastening means for a driver's cab in the form of two threaded domes 62 which are configured in the vicinity of the front corners of the counterweight 14 and which have a defined bearing surface for a driver's cab support structure and a threaded bore. For fastening a drive wheel carrier/a drive system, the counterweight 14 additionally has further fastening bores arranged in two rows 64.

[0043] In the view of FIG. 3 of the base frame obliquely from below is identified particularly clearly a recess 32 for a drive wheel which is open to the front edge of the base plate 22, the drive wheel carrier thereof being mounted on the counterweight 14. It is also able to be identified that the heads of the screws 28 are arranged so as to be countersunk in the base plate 22.

[0044] In FIG. 4 the counterweight 14 is shown alone. A rear surface 50 which is assigned to the transverse member 20 may be identified on the aforementioned rear portion of the counterweight 14 arranged between the wheel arms 10. Two circular recesses 52 with central threaded bores 54 are shown in the rear surface 50 for receiving the screws 26 (FIG. 3). These threaded bores 54 are designed as stepped bores. In a rear longitudinal portion these threaded bores have an enlarged diameter which receives a portion of one of the dowel pins 24. A front longitudinal portion with a smaller diameter adjoins one step, said front longitudinal portion having an inner thread for screwing in the screw 26 (FIG. 3). Further recesses 56 with central threaded bores 58 for receiving the screws 28 (FIG. 3) may be identified on the lower front edge of the counterweight 14. The counterweight 14 has an opening 60 for receiving a drive wheel and a drive wheel carrier. This opening 60 is dimensioned and arranged so as to correspond to the recess 32 in the base plate 22 (FIGS. 2-3).

[0045] The enlargement shown in FIG. 5 of the area A of FIG. 3 shows more clearly that the base plate 22 has a through-bore 34 with a diameter which is markedly larger than the diameter of the head of the screw 28. The head of the screw 28 is entirely arranged inside this through-bore 34 and does not protrude downwardly over the base plate 22.

[0046] The area B of FIG. 2 shown enlarged in FIG. 6 shows the other side of this screw connection, i.e. obliquely from above in the viewing direction. It may be identified here that above the through-bore 34 of the base plate 22 a circular disc 36 is welded onto the base plate 22, wherein the welded-on circular disc 36 in turn has a smaller through-bore 38. This through-bore 38 receives a shank portion of the screw 28. The upper face of the welded-on circular disc 36 which faces the observer in FIG. 5 forms a contact surface for the diamond disc 30. The upper face of the diamond disc 30 bears against the base of a recess 56 in the counterweight 14, shown in FIG. 4, which receives the welded-on circular disc 36.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a reach truck with the base frame of FIG. 1 in a perspective view obliquely from the front/below. The reach truck is electrically driven and has a displaceably arranged lifting frame 40, a driver's cab 42 and a driver's seat 44. It may be identified that the load wheel receivers 12 of the two wheel arms 10 in each case have received a load wheel 46 and that a steerable drive wheel 48 is arranged in the recess 32 of the base plate 22.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED:

[0048] 10 Wheel arm [0049] 12 Load wheel receiver [0050] 14 Counterweight [0051] 16 Fastening base for support element [0052] 18 Guide rail [0053] 20 Transverse member [0054] 22 Base plate [0055] 24 Dowel pin [0056] 26 Screw [0057] 28 Screw [0058] 30 Diamond disc [0059] 32 Recess [0060] 34 Through-bore [0061] 36 Welded-on disc [0062] 38 Through-bore [0063] 40 Lifting frame [0064] 42 Driver's cab [0065] 44 Driver's seat [0066] 46 Load wheel [0067] 48 Drive wheel [0068] 50 Rear surface [0069] 52 Recess [0070] 54 Threaded bore [0071] 56 Recess [0072] 58 Threaded bore [0073] 60 Opening [0074] 62 Threaded dome [0075] 64 Row of fastening bores