GB2513475A

GB2513475A - Lifter truck

Info

Publication number: GB2513475A
Application number: GB1404631.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Winter
Original assignee: PACKLINE Ltd
Current assignee: PACKLINE Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2014-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-14
Also published as: GB2513475B; GB201315815D0; GB201304730D0; GB201313183D0; GB2511881A; GB201404631D0

Abstract

A lifter truck 1 comprising a carriage 2 load support 8 to support a load thereon, the load support comprising a connector 6 a lift column 11 arranged to drive the load support vertically, the lift comprising a carriage 2 arranged to receive the load support, and the truck comprising a latch pin 5 which retains the connector in the carriage, but which allows a predetermined extent of relative vehicle travel between the carriage and the load support.

Description

LIFTER TRUCK

Technical field

The invention relates to lifter trucks.

Background

A known lifter truck is shown in Figure 1. The truck comprises an electric lift and is propelled manually by a pedestrian. The truck has a carriage 52 which has a lifting attachment 58 inserted into it to support a load. A lifting attachment 58 can come in many forms depending on the load being lifted. Once secured to the carriage, the carriage is drivable up and down the lifting column 51 to lift and lower a load. The lifting attachment is not permanently fixed to the carriage. This means that a user can easily swap the lifting attachment for another lifting attachment to carry out different tasks. If the lifting attachment is not fixedly secured to the carriage it can slide out of the carriage. However if permanently retained, the lifting attachment has no way of moving. If the lifting attachment is then lowered or driven into an object 60, the lifter truck, to which the lifting attachment is attached, runs thc risk of tipping and potentially overturning the truck, causing damage to the equipment and potentially injuring personnel.

We have devised an improved lifter truck.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lifter truck comprising a load support to support a load thereon, and the load support comprising a connector, a lift arranged to drive the load support vertically, the lift comprising a carriage arranged to receive the connector of the load support, and the truck comprising a latch which retains the connector to the carriage, but which is engagcablc with the connector to allow a predetermined extent of relative vertical travel between the carriage and the load support.

In an embodiment of the invention a latch pin is incorporated into the carriage which engages with a slot incorporated into a location block 6 of the load support once inserted into the carriage 2. This creates a safety leeway in case of inadvertently hitting an object with the lifting attachment. The slot allows for the latch to be engaged and the location block to slide a given distance relative to the carriage before tipping the lifter. This advantageously provides an early warning to the operators that the lifting attachment has collided with an obstacle, hence potentially rendering the lifter potentially unstable. The maximum distance that the lifting attachment 8 may travel within the carriage is determined by the length of the slot.

The load support may comprise a platform. The platform may comprise two spaced-apart limbs.

The load support may be detachably connectable to the carriage. The carriage may be arranged to receive interchangeable load supports.

The latch may comprise a latch pin. A plurality of latches may be provided.

IS The slot preferably comprises distal end walls arranged to limit the relative travel between the connector and the latch.

The lifter truck may be a manually propelled vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a load support connector for a load support for a lifter truck, the connector engageable with a latch of a carriage of the truck which receives the connector, and the connector arranged to be retained with the carriage by way of engagement between the latch and the connector, but which engagement with the latch allows a predetermined extent of vertical travel of the load support relative to the carriage.

The lifter truck or the load support assembly may comprise one or more features described in the description and/or shown in the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Various aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which.

Figure 2 is a side view of a lifter truck, Figure 3 shows is an enlarged perspective view of a carriage of the truck, Figure 4 is a front elevation of a connector of a load support, and

D

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 4.

Detailed description

Figure 2 shows a lifter truck (or stacker truck) 1 which is manually propelled and comprises an electric lift for raising/lowering loads. The truck is arranged to use a range of different load support, or hfting attachments, 8, The load support 8 is slotted into thc lifter's carriage 2. Thc carriagc 2 can be drivcn up and down the truck lifting column 12 as shown in FiglLre 1.

IS

\Vhen the truck operator is lowering the load there is a danger that the load could be lowered inadvertently onto an underlying obstacle 60 as shown in Figure 3. As described below, this is prevented by use of a latch pin 5 incorporated into the lifter's carriage 2 as shown in Figure 2. The latch pin 5 allows the attachment to slidably travel a predetermined distance to give the operator time to realise the hazard and take corrective action.

A location block 6 which forms a connector of the load support 2 slides into the carriage 2 in either vertical orientation. The block 6 comprises slot 7 that allows for the travel when the latch pin S is engaged as shown in Figure 2. Multiple slots 7. 9. 10, 11 are located at the side portions of the block and at a raised edge to ensure that they register with the latch pin 5 once engaged. The location block 6 can be machined to different lengths with different mounting positions depending on requirements. The slot 7 comprises distal end walls 7a and intermediate space 7b (sized to receive the latch therein).

Slots 7 and 9 are mirrored on the opposing side of the location block 6 by slots 10 and 11 so that it can be inserted into the carriage 2 either way round or have multiple latch pins for additional security.

Use of the latch pin 5 and slots 7. 9. 10 and II in the location block 6 being used with the lifter's lifting carriage 2 advantageously prevents the lifter becoming unstable where the lifting attachment 8 unexpectedly hits an object.

The lifter truck may be used for materials handling such as primarily, but not restricted to, the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries.

The carriage 2 comprises a number of component parts 3 and 4 and secured together.

The column plate 4 which is driven up and down the column 12 and plate 4 is attached to side pieces 3. The column plate 4 is part of the lifting column which allows the carriage 2 and lifting attachment 8 to be manoeuvred up and down the column 12.

The carriage defines an open upper end 3c, a base 3b and sides 3a, defining a space which rcccives the location block 6.

IS The carriage 2 and location b'ock 6 (with the b'ock that sliding into the carriage) are designed to ensure that each ocation block 6, which can be fitted to any lifting attachment 8. no matter what length, can be inserted into the carriage 2. This gives the user the opportunity to only invest in one lifter truck and use multiple interchangeable lifting attachments 8 to carry out various tasks as required. This provides the user with great versatility.

The retaining slots 7, 9 10 and 11 are also incorporated into every location block to ensure that this safety feature can also be used for any hfting attachment 8. There is a minimum of, but not limited to, one slot 7 on each location block so that the attachment can be used in either vertical orientation whilst still retaining the latch pin 5 feature, Muftiple latch pins 5 can be used if required.

The latch pin may be spring-loaded to bias the same into a slot, thus requiring, the user to manually withdraw the latch in order to remove or insert a location block.

There may be different embodiments of' the carriage 2 where the atch pin 5 can be located on the opposing sides and therefore utilise slot 10 or 11, The use of a latch pin S together with the lifter carriage 2, creates additional safety leeway on the lifter's attachment 8 in case of inadvertently hitting an object with the attachment as shown in Figure 3. This allows the operator time to take corrective action if they collide with an obstacle unexpectedly. This provides an important health and safety advantage. The lifter is rendered more stable and less likely to topple over in the event of a collision.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A lifter truck comprising a load support to support a load thereon, and the load support comprising a connector, a lift arranged to drive the load support vertically, the lift comprising a carriage arranged to receive the connector of the load support, and the truck comprising a latch which retains the connector to the carriage, but which is engageable with the connector to allow a predetermined extent of relative vertical travel between the carriage and the load support.
2. A lifter truck as claimed in claim 1 in which the connector comprises a slot, and the latch is receivable in the slot.
3. A lifter truck as claimed in claim 2 in which the length of the slot determines the extent of constrained relative vertical movement between the load support.
4. A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the latch is fixedly attached to the carriage.
5. A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector is arranged to be slidably received in the carriage.
6. A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector comprises a location block.
7. A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the carriage comprises a base, side walls and an open end, and the connector arranged to be received via the open end.
8. A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the load support is detachably connectable to the carriage.
9. A lifter truck as claimed in claim 2 in which the slot is provided at a side portion of the connector.
10, A lifter truck as claimed iii claim 2 in which the connector is provided with a plurality of slots.
11 A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector is arranged for slidabic travel within the carriage.
12, A lifter truck as claimed in any preceding claim in which the predetermined extent of trave' is equal to or tess than I DOnini.
13. A load support connector for a load support for a lifter truck, the connector engageable with a latch of a carriage of the truck which receives the connector, and the connector arranged to be retained with the carriage by way of engagement between the latch and thc connector, but which engagement with the latch allows a predetermined extent of vertical travel of the load support relative to the carriage.IS

14, A lifter truck substantiafly as described in the description with reference to the drawings,