STANDING PLATFORM FOR AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCK

Abstract

A standing platform for an industrial truck includes a spring arrangement abutting the platform when subject to a weight. A first spring section with a soft characteristic is initially deformed under load, and after a predetermined spring path of the first spring section, a second spring section with a harder spring characteristic is deformable. A sensor detects deformation of the first spring section for generating a release signal. The platform can be folded on a horizontal shaft including a lever arm arranged on a side of the shaft opposite the platform, and abuts the spring arrangement from below which is supported on the truck frame. The first spring section is arranged between a seat for the first spring section and a spacer supported on the second spring section. The spacer acts on the second spring section when the first spring section is initially deformed under a load upon the platform.

Claims

1. A standing platform for an industrial truck comprising a spring arrangement which the platform abuts when the platform is subject to a weight, wherein a first spring section with a soft characteristic is initially deformed under a load, and after a predetermined spring path of the first spring section, a second spring section with a spring characteristic harder than that of the first spring section is deformable, and comprising a sensor that detects the deformation of the first spring section for generating a release signal for the industrial truck, wherein the platform can be folded on a horizontal shaft and has a lever arm that is arranged on the side of the shaft opposite the platform, and abuts the spring arrangement from below which in turn is supported on the frame of the industrial truck, the first spring section being arranged between a seat for the first spring section and a spacer that in turn is supported on the second spring section, wherein the spacer acts on the second spring section when the first spring section is initially deformed under a load upon the platform.

2. The standing platform according to claim 1, wherein the sensor measures a position of the lever arm.

3. The standing platform according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is integrated in the spring arrangement.

4. The standing platform according to claim 1, wherein the first spring section is a spring ring that is arranged in a recess of a spacer ring and, in an unloaded state, projects beyond the assigned surface of the spacer ring, and the spacer ring lies against the second spring section.

5. The standing platform according to claim 4, wherein the spring ring, spacer ring and part of the cylindrical second spring section are arranged in a hollow cylindrical spring seat.

6. The standing platform according claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second spring sections are formed by an elastomer.

7. The standing platform according to claim 1, wherein an electric or magnetic sensor is integrated in the spring arrangement.

8. The standing platform according to claim 1, wherein a microswitch is integrated in the spring arrangement.

9. The standing platform according to claim 8, wherein the microswitch is integrated in the spacer ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic side view of an industrial truck with a foldable standing platform.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged standing platform according to FIG. 1 with a spring arrangement according to the invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the lever arm of the platform according to FIG. 2 with a first position sensor.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a spring arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 1 schematically portrays an industrial truck 10 with a drive part 12 and a load part 14. A draw bar 16 is mounted on the drive part. In the rear end, a standing platform 18 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal shaft. In FIG. 1, it is shown folded down and can therefore enable driving operation. In walking operation, the platform is folded up against the rear wall of the industrial truck 10. In FIG. 2, the standing platform 18 is depicted schematically. The horizontal pivot shaft is indicated with 20. It can be seen that on the side of the shaft 20 opposite the platform 18, a lever arm 22 is arranged that lies against a spring arrangement 24 from below that, as can be seen at 26, is mounted on the frame of the industrial truck 10. The spring arrangement 24 dampens the jolts when an operator stands on the platform 18. In addition, the spring arrangement 24 is assigned a release sensor that emits a signal when the platform 18 is subject to a weight such as 10 kg to 15 kg, i.e., a load that lies far below to the weight of an operator.

[0021] Such a sensor is for example attached in FIG. 3 and is identified with 28. It can act electronically or magnetically or also be designed as a microswitch. It is connected to the control circuit of the industrial truck 10 that only permits the vehicle to start operating when a release signal is sent by the sensor 28.

[0022] An annular spring 32, spacer ring 34 and cylindrical buffer element 36 are accommodated in a recess 30 with a hollow cylindrical interior. In FIG. 4, these parts are depicted in an exploded view. In an installed state, the spacer ring 34 lies against a cover section 38 of the recess 30. The spring ring 32 is seated in a circular recess 40, wherein its height is however greater than the depth of the recess 40 when the spring ring 32 is in a relaxed state. The spacer ring 34 abuts the cylindrical buffer element 36. The shaft of a guide pin 42 extends through the cover section 38, spring ring 32, spacer ring 34 and buffer element 36, the head 44 of the guide pin lying against the bottom side of the buffer element 36.

[0023] The spacer ring 34 and buffer element 36 are guided vertically in the recess 30.

[0024] The spring characteristic of the spring ring 32 that for example is formed from an elastomer is relatively soft. When there is a weight load of for example 10 kg to 15 kg on the platform 18, the spring ring deforms until it disappears into the recess 40, and the spacer ring 34 abuts the cover 38. An additional load, for example from the weight load of a 120 kg operator, is directly transferred from the spacer ring 34 to the buffer element 36 which for its part consists of an elastomer. Under a small weight that leads to deformation of the spring ring 32, the deformation of the buffer element 36 is negligible.

[0025] The deformation path of the spring ring 32 is detected by a suitable sensor. This occurs as for example depicted in FIG. 3. It is, however, also possible to integrate a sensor in the spring arrangement according to FIG. 4, for example by installing an electronic or inductive sensor in the spacer ring 34, or by integrating a microswitch into the spacer ring 34.