JP2005298188A - Forklift and maintenance method for internal part of forklift - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery type forklift, performing maintenance for a battery 22 without turning upward a battery cover 26 below a driver's seat. <P>SOLUTION: A base 10 of the forklift is provided with a front wheel side assembly 40F including a front wheel 18 and a rear wheel side assembly 40R including a rear wheel 19. Both assembly 40F, 40R are connected to each other to relatively move forward and backward freely through a slide mechanism 33. The front wheel side assembly 40F includes a battery cover 26 covering the battery 22. The rear wheel side assembly 40R supports the battery 22 through a frame 31. When the maintenance for the battery 22 is required, the rear wheel 10 is driven backward with the front wheel 18 braked, whereby the rear wheel side assembly 40R is moved backward as shown in the selected drawing to put the battery 22 in the exposed state, so that the maintenance work can be performed easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a forklift that includes parts to be maintained (maintenance parts) and that can be easily accessed and maintained.

  An example of this type of forklift is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This configuration relates to a battery-type reach forklift. As shown in FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1, a reach carriage is disposed on a reach rail provided on the front surface of the vehicle body so as to be movable back and forth. Is provided with a battery via a tray. The battery is normally stored in the storage section below the front protector of the machine base (for example, when handling with a reach vehicle), but when performing maintenance such as battery replacement or water replenishment, the reach carriage must be engaged with the battery. By moving the reach carriage forward, the battery is pulled out together with the tray from the storage unit to facilitate replacement and water replenishment of the battery. Note that there are generally two cases of battery replacement: a case where the battery is replaced with another battery charged by another charger and a case where the battery is replaced with a new battery depending on the life of the battery.

  As described above, the configuration of Patent Document 1 is superior in that it can improve the accessibility to the battery for battery replacement and water replenishment. However, since it uses a reach operation of the fork to pull out the battery forward, it cannot be applied to a forklift other than the reach type.

Therefore, for example, a counter-type forklift has a configuration as shown in Patent Document 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2, in the machine base, a battery is mounted directly under the seat, and a battery cover that covers the battery is configured to be rotatable rearward together with the seat seat (see FIG. 2 of FIG. 2). 2). When the battery needs to be replaced, the battery is lifted upward and removed by a wire rope suspended from a lifting device such as an overhead traveling crane. In addition, the head guard is provided with a recess in the left-right direction of the vehicle body so that the wire rope can be passed from above the machine base (reference numeral 21 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the patent document), and the wire rope is provided in the recess. The battery is lifted through.
JP 7-172790 A (0002-0005, FIG. 8, FIG. 9) JP 2002-63884 A (0005, 0007, FIG. 2, FIG. 4)

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to open a heavy battery cover when checking or replacing the battery, which is a heavy labor for the operator. For cabin-type forklifts that have enclosures on the front and rear surfaces of the machine base and on the ceiling and left and right sides, it is necessary to open the rear enclosure to rotate the battery cover backwards, which further increases the work required for battery inspection and other work. Cost.

  In addition, forklift operators often put some small items around the driver's seat (on the battery cover) for driving, but each time the battery cover is opened for checking the battery, the small items must be cleared. It is complicated.

  In addition, if the head guard is provided with a recess as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 2 and a wire rope or the like for lifting is inserted there, the strength required for the head guard even if such a recess is provided. In order to ensure this, the head guard needs a reinforcing member extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. In Patent Document 2, a crosspiece (reference numeral 22 in FIG. 4 of the document) plays a role as the reinforcing member. However, when the reinforcing member (crosspiece) is attached to the head guard in this way, the number of members in the left-right direction increases accordingly. In this case, the field of view on the front side of the operator in the driver's seat is likely to be blocked by the head guard, which is not desirable from the viewpoint of securing the field of view during cargo handling work or the like. Further, since the battery replacement work is performed by passing the wire rope through the recess of the head guard, the head guard is easily damaged at that time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to secure the compactness of the machine base by arranging the parts to be maintained such as the battery in a non-bulk place such as the inside of the machine base at normal times. In addition, an object is to provide a configuration that allows easy access to the parts when maintenance is required.

Means and effects for solving the problems

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems and the effects thereof will be described.

  ◆ (1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, a forklift having a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance target component are relatively rearward with respect to other parts. A forklift capable of exposing the part to be maintained by moving to the position is provided.

  “Exposing” includes the case where (a) the part to be maintained is not exposed to the outside at least partially exposed, and (b) the part to be maintained is maintained. Although the part has already been exposed to some extent, the case where the degree of exposure further increases is included. The same applies to the following description.

  In addition, “relatively ... moving” includes any of the case where only the support portion moves, the case where only the other portion moves, and the case where both the support portion and the other portion move. The same applies to the following description.

  With the above configuration, the maintenance target parts can be placed in a well-contained position during normal use to ensure compactness, and when maintenance is necessary, the maintenance target parts are moved to the rear side of the machine base to expose them. It becomes easy.

  (2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, a forklift having a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion for supporting the maintenance target component are located sideways relative to other parts. A forklift capable of exposing the part to be maintained by moving to the side is provided.

  According to this, during normal use, the parts to be maintained are placed in a good position to ensure compactness, and when maintenance is required, the parts to be maintained are moved to the side of the machine base to expose them. Becomes easier.

  ◆ (3) According to the third aspect of the present invention, the forklift is provided with a maintenance target component, and the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance target component approach the front side of the machine base relative to other parts. There is provided a forklift that can be switched between a first state in which the maintenance target part and the support part are separated from other parts toward the rear side of the machine base.

  Thereby, the compactness of the whole including a support part and another part is securable as a 1st state at the time of normal use. On the other hand, when the maintenance is performed, the support portion is in the second state separated from the other part to the rear side, so that the other part is less likely to become an obstacle when accessing the maintenance target part, and maintenance is easy. And can.

  (4) According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a forklift having a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance component approach one side of the left and right sides of the machine with respect to other parts There is provided a forklift that can be switched between a first state that is maintained and a second state in which the part to be maintained and the support part are separated from other parts to the left and right sides of the machine base.

  Thereby, the compactness of the whole including a support part and another part is securable as a 1st state at the time of normal use. On the other hand, when the maintenance is performed in the second state in which the support part is separated from the other part to the left and right sides of the machine base, the other part is less likely to become an obstacle when accessing the maintenance target part. Easy maintenance.

  (5) In the forklift, the maintenance target part preferably includes a battery.

  Thereby, maintenance such as inspection and replacement of the battery can be easily performed. In particular, since the battery is heavy, the effect of improving the maintainability by the above configuration is remarkable.

  (6) In the forklift, the battery is disposed directly under the driver's seat, and when the battery is exposed, the position of the battery may be off the position immediately below the driver's seat. preferable.

  As described above, even when the battery is normally arranged directly under the driver's seat, the position for maintenance of the battery is a position deviated from immediately below the driver's seat. It is not necessary to rotate the battery cover including the driver seat to expose the battery. As a result, heavy labor and complexity during maintenance work can be reduced. In addition, when the battery is replaced, the battery can be placed at a position that is removed from directly below the driver's seat (that is, a position that is removed from directly below the head guard). Accordingly, since it is not necessary to pass a wire rope or the like through the head guard for battery replacement, the head guard recess is not necessary, and the head guard reinforcing member can be omitted, and the operator's front upper view is improved. In addition, there is no worry of damaging the head guard when lifting the battery.

  (7) In the forklift, the maintenance target part preferably includes a controller that controls the forklift.

  Thereby, maintenance such as inspection and repair of the controller can be easily performed.

  (8) In the forklift, it is preferable that the support portion is guided by a slide mechanism with respect to the other portion.

  Accordingly, the relative movement direction between the support portion and the other portion is guided by the slide mechanism, so that the operation of exposing the maintenance target component is ensured.

  (9) In the forklift, the support portion has an elongated frame. The frame supports the part to be maintained, and the frame is slidable with respect to the other parts by the slide mechanism. It is preferable that it is attached.

  Thereby, a simple and rational layout for supporting the part to be maintained by the support part is realized.

  (10) In the forklift, it is preferable that the support portion supports a lower surface of the maintenance target part.

  Thereby, the compactness of the vehicle left-right direction of a support part can be made favorable.

  (11) In the forklift, it is preferable that the support part supports a side surface of the maintenance target part.

  Thereby, the compactness of the vertical direction of the support part including the part to be maintained can be made favorable. Therefore, the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle can be ensured. Alternatively, for example, in the case of a layout in which the part to be maintained is a battery and the driver's seat is directly above the battery, the height of the driver's seat can be reduced to ensure a large head clearance for the operator.

  (12) In the forklift, the support part preferably includes a rear wheel of the forklift.

  Accordingly, the weight of the maintenance target component can be supported on the rear wheel of the forklift, and the maintenance target component can be stably supported.

  (13) In the forklift, it is preferable that the support portion is provided with an electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism for driving the rear wheel.

  Thereby, a support part can be relatively moved from another part by driving a rear wheel via an electric motor and a speed-reduction mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to generate the power necessary for facilitating maintenance of the maintenance target component by the electric motor for running the forklift. In addition, since the electric motor, the speed reduction mechanism, and the rear wheel are disposed on the support portion, the power transmission configuration is simplified.

  (14) In the forklift, the other part preferably includes a front wheel of the forklift.

  As a result, the part to be maintained and the support part are supported by the rear wheel, and the other parts are supported by the front wheel. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a rational layout that can stably support any of the support portion, the other portion, and the maintenance target component. Furthermore, it is possible to easily expose the maintenance target component by driving at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel in a direction in which the front wheel and the rear wheel are separated from each other.

  ◆ (15) In the forklift, the maintenance target part and the support part are moved backward with respect to the other parts by driving the rear wheel backward while the front wheel is stopped. Is preferably possible.

  Accordingly, the maintenance target component can be easily exposed by stopping the front wheel and driving the rear wheel backward.

  (16) In the forklift, the other part preferably includes a driver's seat on which an operator sits.

  As a result, the driver's seat is stationary during the operation of exposing the part to be maintained (the operation of moving the support portion backward), so that the forklift can easily perform the operation while the operator is sitting on the driver's seat.

  (17) The forklift includes a brake mechanism for applying a braking force to the front wheel when the maintenance target part and the support part are slid backward with respect to the other part. preferable.

  Thereby, it is avoided that the rear wheel is moved rearward as the rear wheel moves rearward, and the operation of exposing the maintenance target component can be performed reliably.

  (18) In the forklift, it is preferable that the brake mechanism also serves as a parking brake mechanism.

  This eliminates the need for a special configuration for front wheel braking and simplifies the configuration.

  (19) In the forklift, it is preferable that the part to be maintained and the support part are moved relative to the other part by a hydraulic cylinder.

  Thereby, even if the maintenance target component is a heavy object (for example, a battery), the operation of exposing the maintenance target component can be easily performed by the strong hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder.

  (20) In the forklift, the lock that prevents the support part from moving when the support part is close to the other part and the support part is away from the other part. It is preferable to provide a mechanism.

  Thereby, it can prevent that a support part leaves | separates from other parts and exposes a to-be-maintained part unintentionally at the time of normal use. Further, it is possible to prevent the support portion from approaching another portion against the intention during maintenance of the maintenance target component. As a result, the work can be reliably and smoothly performed during normal use and maintenance work.

  (21) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the following maintenance method for the maintenance target component provided in the forklift. That is, it includes a step of exposing the maintenance target component by moving the maintenance target component and the support portion supporting the maintenance target component to the rear side or the side of the machine relative to the other part.

  This ensures that the parts to be maintained are well-positioned during normal use, ensuring compactness, and the parts to be maintained are exposed by relatively moving the support part to the rear side or side of the machine base during maintenance. By doing so, maintenance becomes easy.

  (22) In the above maintenance method, the following is preferable. The support part includes a rear wheel of the forklift, and the other part includes a front wheel of the forklift. In the step, by driving only one of the front wheel or the rear wheel, the support portion is relatively separated from the other portion.

  Accordingly, by driving only one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, the support portion can be relatively moved in the direction away from the other portion so as to expose the maintenance target component. That is, in order to move the support part or other part for exposing the maintenance target component, the traveling drive configuration of the forklift can be used, and the configuration can be simplified.

  (23) In the maintenance method, in the step, it is preferable to stop the front wheel and drive only the rear wheel backward.

  This makes it possible to easily expose the maintenance target component.

  (24) In the maintenance method, it is preferable to stop the front wheel in the step by applying a parking brake to the front wheel.

  Thereby, it is avoided that the rear wheel is moved rearward as the rear wheel moves rearward, and the operation of exposing the maintenance target component can be performed reliably. Further, by using the parking brake, a special configuration for front wheel braking can be eliminated, and the configuration is simplified.

  (25) In the maintenance method described above, it is preferable that the rear wheel is configured as a steering wheel, and in the step, the rear wheel is neutralized and driven rearward.

  Accordingly, the support portion can be moved straight rearward by driving the rear wheel, and the operation of exposing the maintenance target component can be performed smoothly.

  (26) In the above maintenance method, it is preferable to do as follows. The forklift includes a lock mechanism that locks in a state in which the support portion is close to the other portion. At the time of maintenance of the maintenance target part, the process is performed after the lock mechanism is unlocked.

  Thus, by locking the lock mechanism during normal use, it is possible to prevent the support part from being unintentionally separated from other parts and exposing the maintenance component. On the other hand, if the lock mechanism is unlocked, the operation of exposing the maintenance target part can be easily performed.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of a forklift according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which a battery is exposed for maintenance work from the state of FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the forklift, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a modification of the battery support structure.

  The forklift shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a counter-type battery-type forklift. A fork 11 for holding a load and a mast 12 for raising and lowering the fork 11 are provided at the front of the machine base 10. The machine base 10 is provided with a driver seat 13, and a steering handle 14 is provided in the vicinity of the driver seat 13. The machine base 10 is provided with an operation lever 15 (only one is shown in the figure) for raising / lowering the fork 11 and performing a tilting operation.

  An accelerator pedal 24 for moving the machine base 10 forward or backward is provided at the operator's foot position, and a forward / reverse switching switch 27 for switching the traveling direction of the machine base 10 and a brake pedal (not shown) are arranged. Established. The machine base 10 is provided with a parking brake lever 23 for operating a known parking brake mechanism (not shown) to brake the front wheel 18. Further, the machine base 10 is provided with a head guard 16 supported by a pillar 17 for covering the upper side of the driver seat 13 and protecting the operator from falling objects.

  The machine base 10 is provided with a front wheel 18 and a rear wheel 19. The front wheel 18 is provided on each of the left and right sides, while the rear wheel 19 is a single wheel disposed at the center of the left and right sides of the machine base (see the rear view of FIG. 3), and serves as a drive steering wheel. As shown in FIG. 1, at the rear of the machine base 10, there are a travel motor 20 that drives the rear wheel 19 and a drive unit for decelerating and transmitting the rotation of the output shaft of the travel motor 20 to the rear wheel 19. A speed reduction mechanism) 25 is provided. A steering mechanism 21 for turning the rear wheel 19 for steering is also disposed at the rear of the machine base 10.

  Electric power is supplied to the travel motor 20 from a storage battery type battery 22 disposed and supported inside the machine base 10. The battery 22 is disposed at a position immediately below the driver's seat 13 (just below the head guard 16). A battery cover 26 is disposed to cover the upper side of the battery 22, and the driver seat 13 is installed on the upper surface of the battery cover 26.

  Here, the machine base 10 is provided with an unillustrated sensor group for detecting various operations or states of the machine base 10 such as operation detection sensors for detecting forward / backward / turning and cargo handling operations. It has been. Further, the machine base 10 is equipped with an electric control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 30, and the sensor group is electrically connected to the ECU 30. With this configuration, the ECU 30 detects the operation of the accelerator pedal 24, the forward / reverse selector switch 27, the steering handle 14, the operation lever 15 and the like by the sensor group, and based on that, an electric motor (including the travel motor 20), The steering mechanism 21 and a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) are controlled so that the machine base 10 can be moved forward and backward, and the fork 11 can be raised and lowered.

  The machine base 10 is roughly divided into a front wheel side assembly 40F and a rear wheel side assembly 40R, and both 40L and 40R are slidable by the slide mechanism 33 (in other words, relatively movable back and forth). It is connected. In addition to the rear wheel 19, the rear wheel side assembly 40R includes a traveling motor 20, a drive unit 25, a steering mechanism 21, and the like that drive the rear wheel 19. The front wheel assembly 40F includes, in addition to the front wheel 18, a fork 11, a mast 12, a driver's seat 13, an operating means group such as a steering handle 14 and an operating lever 15, a pillar 17, a head guard 16, a battery cover 26, and the like.

  The rear wheel side assembly 40R includes first frames 31 and 31 elongated in the front-rear direction. The two first frames 31 and 31 are arranged in the left and right parallel to the lower part of the machine base 10 and support the lower surface side of the battery 22 (see also FIG. 3). Similarly, the front wheel side assembly 40F includes second frames 32 and 32 that have a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction and are arranged one by one on the left and right sides of the machine base.

  The first frames 31 and 31 are attached to the second frames 32 and 32 through a slide mechanism 33 so as to be slidable back and forth. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the slide mechanism 33 is configured such that rollers 34 and 34 that are rotatably supported by the second frame 32 as a pair of front and rear rollers roll while supporting the first frame 31. The slide in the front-rear direction with respect to the second frame 32 of the first frame 31 is smoothly guided. However, the configuration of the slide mechanism 33 is not limited to this, and any configuration may be used as long as the rear wheel assembly 40R and the front wheel assembly 40F can be guided so as to move relatively back and forth.

  That is, the rear wheel side assembly 40R supports the battery 22 via the first frames 31 and 31, and the rear wheel side assembly 40R corresponds to the “support portion” in the present invention. Further, the front wheel side assembly 40F corresponds to “other part”. In the present embodiment, the battery 22 and the ECU 30 correspond to “maintenance parts”.

  With the above configuration, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the forklift is in normal use. At this time, the rear wheel side assembly 40R is in a first state approaching the front wheel side assembly 40F. In this first state, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the battery 22 and the ECU 30 are covered by the battery cover 26 and the like so as not to be exposed, and cannot be accessed from the outside at all.

  Here, since the battery 22 is a large component, the layout is such that the battery 22 is arranged at a position directly below the driver's seat 13 where it is easy to secure an installation space. Thus, in the 1st state, the compactness of the machine base 10 is ensured by arrange | positioning the battery 22 grade | etc., In the position where it fits well from circumstances, such as installation space. Further, since the battery 22 and the ECU 30 are covered with the battery cover 26 so as not to be exposed in the first state, the appearance of the machine base can be made clean, and the battery 22 and the ECU 30 can be removed from external dust or mud splashes. It can be surely protected.

  The machine base 10 is provided with a lock mechanism 35, and the lock mechanism is in the first state (FIG. 1) during normal use such as when a forklift is operated to perform a cargo handling operation. The first frame 31 and the second frame 32 are coupled by a lock pin 36 to prevent the rear wheel assembly 40R from being separated from the front wheel assembly 40F in the state shown in FIG.

  Then, when maintenance is required such as replacing the battery 22 of the forklift or checking the wiring of the ECU 30, the battery 22 and the ECU 30 can be exposed as follows. That is, the operator stops the forklift at an appropriate position, operates the parking brake lever 23 at that position, and applies the braking force by the parking brake mechanism to the front wheels 18 in advance. It should be noted that the stop location of the forklift is a location where there is a slight margin space behind the machine base 10. Then, it is confirmed that the steering handle 14 is in the neutral position.

  Next, after releasing the lock state of the lock mechanism 35 described above (that is, after removing the lock pin 36), the forward / reverse selector switch 27 is set to the reverse side, and the accelerator pedal 24 is depressed a little. Then, the ECU 30 detecting this drives the traveling motor 20 and the rear wheel 19 is driven rearward, while the front wheel 18 is stopped by braking by the parking brake mechanism. As a result, the rear wheel side assembly 40R moves rearward at a moderate speed so as to be separated from the front wheel side assembly 40F (exposure operation). In addition, a regulating member (not shown) is fixed to an appropriate part of the machine base (for example, the first frame 31 or the second frame 32), and the state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained in which the slide mechanism 33 is slid by a predetermined stroke. Thereafter, further slide movement (rearward movement of the rear wheel assembly 40R) is prevented by the restriction member.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the exposure operation is completed (second state). In this state, the battery 22 and the ECU 30 supported by the rear wheel side assembly 40R via the first frame 31 are connected to the front wheel side assembly. By being positioned rearward of the battery cover 26 on the 40F side, the battery cover 26 is exposed so that it can be easily accessed from the outside. That is, in the second state, when the battery 22 and the ECU 30 are maintained, the member on the rear wheel side assembly 40R side (for example, the battery cover 26) is not easily obstructed.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2 (second state), if the lock mechanism 35 is operated and the first frame 31 and the second frame 32 are coupled by the lock pin 36, the operator's intention during the maintenance work is obtained. On the contrary, it is preferable in that the rear wheel side assembly 40R can be prevented from approaching the front wheel side assembly 40F.

  In the second state (FIG. 2) described above, the battery 22 is in a position away from the rear side from directly below the driver seat 13 (that is, directly below the battery cover 26 and directly below the head guard 16). Therefore, the battery 22 can be exposed and inspected without the heavy battery cover 26 and the driver seat 13 being rotated as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean up small items placed on the battery cover 26 in order to open the battery cover 26.

  In addition, when it is attempted to lift the battery 22 from the state of FIG. 2 with a crane or the like, there is no head guard 16 above the battery 22, so a wire rope for lifting the battery 22 is passed through the head guard 16. There is no need. Therefore, there is no need to provide the head guard 16 with a recess as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, and it is not necessary to add a left and right reinforcing member to the head guard 16. As a result, the strength required for the head guard 16 can be sufficiently ensured even if the number of members in the left-right direction of the head guard 16 is reduced, and the operator sitting on the driver's seat 13 can easily ensure the front upper view. Configuration is realized. Further, there is no worry that the head guard 16 is damaged by a wire rope or the like when the battery 22 is lifted.

  In order to return from the state of FIG. 2 to the state of FIG. 1, after the lock mechanism 35 is unlocked, the forward / reverse selector switch 27 is set to the forward side and the accelerator pedal 24 is depressed a small amount.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, since the lower surface of the battery 22 having a large size is supported by the first frame 31, the horizontal compactness of the machine base can be improved, and the heavy battery 22 is reliably supported. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right sides of the base of the battery 22 may be fixed and supported so as to be sandwiched between the pair of left and right first frames 31 and 31. In this case, the vertical compactness including the battery 22 and the first frame 31 can be improved, and the minimum ground height h of the machine base shown in FIG. Instead of securing the minimum ground clearance of the machine base, the mounting position of the battery 22 is lowered to lower the installation height of the driver seat 13, and the head clearance (distance between the head and the head guard 16) of the operator is reduced. It can also be set as the structure which can ensure large and can improve workability | operativity.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the modification of FIG. 4, the rear wheel side assembly 40 </ b> R includes the rear wheel 19. Therefore, the weight of the battery 22 can be supported by the rear wheel 19 of the forklift during the exposure operation described above or in the state shown in FIG. Since the rear wheel 19 is originally designed to stably support the weight of the machine base 10, the heavy battery 22 can be stably supported even in the state shown in FIG. 2 described above.

  Further, since the rear wheel side assembly 40R further includes the traveling motor 20 and the drive unit 25, it becomes possible to generate the power necessary for the aforementioned exposure operation by the traveling motor 20 for traveling the forklift. . Further, the trip motor 20, drive unit 25, and rear wheel 19 (exposure operation mechanism) are centrally arranged in the rear wheel assembly 40R (distributed to the front wheel assembly 40F and the rear wheel assembly 40R). Therefore, the power transmission configuration from the traveling motor 20 to the rear wheel 19 via the drive unit 25 is simplified.

  Further, since the front wheel side assembly 40F includes the front wheel 18, the weight of the front wheel side assembly 40F can be stably supported by the front wheel 18 even in the state shown in FIG. 2 (second state) described above. become. Further, by stopping the front wheel 18 and driving the rear wheel 19, the battery 22, the ECU 30, etc. can be easily exposed.

  When the above-described exposure operation (switching from the first state to the second state) is performed by stopping the front wheels 18 and driving the rear wheels 19, the driver seat 13 is placed on the front-wheel assembly 40F on the stop side. Therefore, the exposure operation can be performed while the driver's seat 13 is stopped, and the operation is easy. Further, since the front wheel 18 is stopped by applying a braking force to the front wheel 18 by a parking brake mechanism (not shown), it is avoided that the front wheel 18 is moved rearward due to the rearward movement of the rear wheel 19. The exposure operation can be performed reliably. Furthermore, by braking the front wheel 18 for the exposure operation by the parking brake mechanism, a special configuration for front wheel braking can be dispensed with, and the configuration can be simplified.

  In addition, in the first state (FIG. 1) and the second state (FIG. 2), the lock mechanism 35 that prevents the rear wheel side assembly 40R from moving relative to the front wheel side assembly 40F is provided. In the state of FIG. 1 (during normal use of a forklift), it is possible to prevent the rear wheel side assembly 40R from separating from the front wheel side assembly 40F against the intention. Further, in the state of FIG. 2 (during maintenance work), it is possible to prevent the rear wheel assembly 40R from approaching the front wheel assembly 40F against the intention. As a result, the work can be performed reliably and smoothly during both normal use (loading work) and maintenance work.

  Further, during the above-described exposure operation, the rear wheel 19 that is the steering wheel is set in a neutral state and driven rearward, whereby the rear wheel assembly 40R can be moved straight rearward, such as the battery 22 and the like. Can be smoothly performed.

  The preferred embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above, and can be implemented with the following modifications, for example.

  (1) Stopping the front wheel 18 during the above-described exposure operation can be performed by braking by the parking brake mechanism, and another brake mechanism can be used. Further, instead of braking the front wheel 18 with a brake mechanism, the front wheel 18 can be stopped by attaching a wheel stopper to the front wheel 18, for example.

  (2) The configuration of the operation means of the forklift is not limited to the above, and for example, a forward / reverse switching lever may be used instead of the forward / reverse switching switch 27.

  (3) The exposure operation described above can also be performed by stopping the rear wheel assembly 40R and moving the front wheel assembly 40F forward. For example, in the case of a forklift having a parking brake for braking the rear wheel side, if the front wheel 18 is driven forward with the rear wheel 19 stopped, the battery 22 and the like are exposed, and the state suitable for maintenance work can do. Even in this case, the battery 22 and the rear wheel assembly 40R move rearward “relatively” with respect to the front wheel assembly 40F, which is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  (4) The configuration of the present invention can also be applied to a cabin-type forklift having enclosures on the front and rear surfaces, ceiling, and left and right sides of the machine base. In the case of this cabin specification, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to rotate the battery cover 26 in order to expose the battery 22 and the like, it is not necessary to open the cabin on the rear surface of the cabin during battery maintenance. is there.

  (5) In addition to locking with the lock pin 36, other known lock mechanisms can be used for the lock mechanism 35 described above. It is desirable that the lock mechanism 35 can be operated by the operator while riding on the driver's seat 13. For example, it is conceivable that the lock pin 36 is inserted / removed by a solenoid controlled by the ECU 30 and a lock changeover switch provided on the driver's seat is electrically connected to the ECU 30. Alternatively, it is conceivable to link the lever provided on the driver's seat and the lock pin 36 via a mechanical wire mechanism or a link mechanism.

  (6) The battery 22 is not limited to the configuration in which the battery 22 is supported by the first frames 31 and 31 elongated in the front-rear direction, and various support configurations of the battery 22 are possible, such as support by a plate-like support member.

  (7) The maintenance target parts are not limited to the battery 22 or the ECU 30. For example, when the above-described traveling motor 20 is maintained, the exposed state increases in the second state (FIG. 2) rather than the first state (FIG. 1), and maintenance such as repair of the traveling motor 20 is performed. Work can be done more easily.

  (8) The driving force for switching from the first state to the second state or vice versa is not limited to the configuration obtained from the travel motor 20. For example, a hydraulic cylinder is interposed between the front wheel side assembly 40F and the rear wheel side assembly 40R, and this hydraulic cylinder is driven to extend to move the rear wheel side assembly 40R rearward to perform the aforementioned exposure operation. Conceivable. In this case, there is an advantage that the exposure operation can be performed by moving the battery 22 having a weight of several hundred kilograms together with the rear wheel side assembly 40R with a strong hydraulic pressure. However, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, when the exposure operation is performed by driving the rear wheel by the traveling motor 20, the traveling motor 20 that drives the rear wheel 19 during the cargo handling operation or the like is changed to the state shown in FIG. 1. 2 and can be used as a driving force for switching between the states of FIG. 2 and is advantageous in that the configuration can be simplified. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the switching operation between the states shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be performed by the accelerator pedal 24 and the forward / reverse selector switch 27 for traveling operation. This is also advantageous in that the control of the ECU 30 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  (9) The support portion that supports the maintenance target component such as the battery 22 may not include the rear wheel 19. For example, a structure that supports a frame that supports a battery so that the frame including the front wheels and the rear wheels can be moved back and forth through a slide mechanism, and the battery and the frame are pulled out from the machine base to expose the battery. Can be considered. In this case, the “support portion” of the present invention corresponds to the frame, and the “other portion” of the present invention corresponds to the entire machine base (including the frame and the battery) including the front wheels and the rear wheels. In order to drive the battery and the frame backward, for example, a hydraulic cylinder may be used.

  (10) In the case of the above (9), it is conceivable that the frame for supporting the battery is arranged in the left-right direction of the machine base and is slidably supported in the left-right direction with respect to the machine base. In this case, normal loading and unloading work is performed with the battery and frame (supporting part) approaching the left and right sides of the machine base (first state). During battery maintenance, the battery and frame are The battery is exposed (second state) by being pulled out to the other side and away from the machine base. Also in this case, for example, a hydraulic cylinder may be used to drive the battery and the frame in the horizontal direction of the machine base.

  (11) The present invention is not limited to a counter-type forklift, but can be applied to other types, for example, a reach-type forklift.

The side view which showed the whole structure of the forklift which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the state which exposed the battery for the maintenance operation | work from the state of FIG. The rear view of a forklift. The rear view which shows the modification of the support structure of a battery.

Explanation of symbols

10 Aircraft 18 Front wheels (part of other parts)
19 Rear wheel (part of support)
22 Battery (maintenance parts)
30 ECU (maintenance parts)
31 First frame (frame, part of support)
33 Slide mechanism 35 Lock mechanism 40F Front wheel side assembly (other parts)
40R Rear wheel side assembly (support)

Claims (26)

  A forklift having a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance target component can move to the rear side of the machine relative to other parts, thereby exposing the maintenance target component. Forklift characterized by being.   A forklift including a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance target component are moved to the side of the machine base relative to other parts to expose the maintenance target component. A forklift characterized by being capable.   A forklift including a part to be maintained, wherein the part to be maintained and a support part supporting the part to be maintained are approaching the front side of the machine with respect to other parts, and the part to be maintained and the support part A forklift characterized in that it can be switched to a second state in which is separated from the other part toward the rear side of the machine base.   A forklift having a maintenance target component, wherein the maintenance target component and a support portion supporting the maintenance target component are approaching to the left and right sides of the machine base relative to other parts, the maintenance target component and the support A forklift characterized in that it can be switched to a second state in which the part is separated from the other part to the left and right sides of the machine base.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the part to be maintained includes a battery.   6. The forklift according to claim 5, wherein the battery is disposed immediately below the driver seat, and when the battery is exposed, the position of the battery is deviated from a position immediately below the driver seat. Forklift characterized by.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the maintenance target part includes a controller for controlling the forklift.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support part is guided by a slide mechanism with respect to the other part.   9. The forklift according to claim 8, wherein the support part has an elongated frame, and the maintenance target part is supported by the frame, and the frame is slidable with respect to the other part by the slide mechanism. A forklift characterized by being attached to.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support portion supports a lower surface of the part to be maintained.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support portion supports a side surface of the maintenance target component.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the support portion includes a rear wheel of the forklift.   The forklift according to claim 12, wherein the support portion is provided with an electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism for driving the rear wheel.   The forklift according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the other part includes a front wheel of the forklift.   15. The forklift according to claim 14, wherein the maintenance target component and the support portion are moved rearward with respect to the other portion by driving the rear wheel backward while the front wheel is stopped. A forklift characterized in that it is possible.   The forklift according to claim 15, wherein the other part includes a driver's seat on which an operator sits.   The forklift according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising: a brake mechanism for applying a braking force to the front wheel when the part to be maintained and the support part are slid backward with respect to the other part. Forklift equipped.   The forklift according to claim 17, wherein the brake mechanism also serves as a parking brake mechanism.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the maintenance target component and the support part are moved relative to the other part by a hydraulic cylinder. forklift.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the support portion is close to the other portion, and the support portion is separated from the other portion. A forklift provided with a lock mechanism for preventing movement of the support portion. A maintenance method for a maintenance target part provided in a forklift,
Including the step of exposing the part to be maintained by moving the part to be maintained and the supporting part supporting the part to the rear side or the side side relative to the other part, Maintenance method. The maintenance method according to claim 21, wherein
The support portion includes a rear wheel of the forklift, and the other portion includes a front wheel of the forklift,
In the step, the maintenance method is characterized in that only one of the front wheel or the rear wheel is driven to relatively separate the support portion from the other portion.   23. The maintenance method according to claim 22, wherein in the step, the front wheel is stopped and only the rear wheel is driven rearward.   24. The maintenance method according to claim 23, wherein the stopping of the front wheel in the step is performed by applying a parking brake to the front wheel. A maintenance method according to claim 23 or claim 24,
The rear wheel is configured as a steered wheel, and in the step, the rear wheel is driven to the rear after being made neutral. A maintenance method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein
The forklift includes a lock mechanism that locks in a state in which the support portion approaches the other part,
A maintenance method comprising performing the step after the lock mechanism is unlocked during maintenance of the maintenance target part.

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