Operating machine with improved stabilizer

Abstract

The present application describes a self-propelled manipulator (1) equipped with a stabilizer comprising a front stabilizer unit (2) mounted on a chassis (100) of the manipulator (1), the chassis being movable on wheels and equipped with a cab (12) for an operator (O). The stabilizer unit (2) comprises a support frame (24) and two stabilizer arms (21, 22, 23), each of which comprises a first section (21) hinged to the support frame (24) by a pin (25) located on the lower side of the first section (21).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a manipulator equipped with an improved stabilizer. Background Art

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a stabilizer which enables improved visibility of the operator in the cab of a loading device and of the load itself.

[0003] There are prior art telescopic forklifts consisting of a vehicle equipped with a chassis movable on wheels, a cab and a telescopically extendable operating arm, the telescopic forklift being mounted on the chassis or on a revolving tower mounted on the chassis.

[0004] At the distal end of the arm there is equipment for lifting or moving the load, such as forks, cages, lateral transfer units, winches, etc.

[0005] In order to lift and move a load that is at a great height and has a significant "reach", the vehicle must be stabilized and the wheels raised above the ground.

[0006] There are prior art stabilizers for telescopic handlers of the so-called "scissor lift" type, which consist of two stabilizer units which are arranged at the front and rear of the vehicle and which are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle close to the wheels (cf. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 ).

[0007] Each stabilizing unit comprises a pair of arms which are rotatable and telescopically extendable, with one or two sliding members having respective distal and proximal ends, the distal ends being designed to rest on the ground with the aid of supporting feet and the proximal ends being hinged to the supporting frame T.

[0008] In practice, the stabilizing arms B are positioned crosswise relative to each other and, during the raising process, move like scissors.

[0009] Once the operation for moving the load has been completed, the stabilizer moves to the non-operating configuration ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), in the non-operating configuration the stabilizer has a minimum overall dimension, allowing the manipulator to be lowered until the wheels rest on the ground.

[0010] As mentioned above, these scissor stabilizers have a relative frame T or supporting structure which is part of the telehandler chassis and to which the arm B and the hydraulic cylinders C which raise and lower the arm B are articulated; other cylinders are used for extension and retraction of the arm.

[0011] In practice, each arm B is hinged to the support frame by a pin P positioned at the upper side of its first section S1, in which a "sliding member" or second section S2 is inserted in a slidable manner (see Figure 3 ), and each arm is also hinged again to one end of the cylinder C by another pin located on the upper side of the first section S1.

[0012] In other words, each arm B is rotatably coupled at separate and spaced points at the top at the same upper side of its first section S1 to the frame T and to an actuating cylinder C for lowering or lifting the arm.

[0013] This configuration is undoubtedly effective and has been the standard in the industry for many years, and it works so well that it can be said that it is currently the only known way to manufacture a scissor-type stabiliser for a telehandler.

[0014] Since the front stabilizing units of the known type constitute an obstacle located immediately in front of the vehicle chassis, they are located very close to the ground and in front of the manipulator (see Figure 2 ) which obstructs the view of the operator O who is trying to observe the equipment or load.

[0015] This limitation can be felt very greatly, for example, when the operator O has to position the forks under a pallet that rests on the ground (which carries a load) or the load has to be placed on the ground (thus in a very low arm position).

[0016] In other words, the maximum viewing angle A formed by the operator O's line of sight relative to the ground, which is defined by the nearest point on the ground that the operator can observe in the cab, is too limited to achieve the maximum use efficiency of the operating machine.

[0017] Therefore, there has been a long felt need in the market to improve visibility of loads and equipment when the loads and equipment are close to the ground. Summary of the invention

[0018] The technical aim forming the basis of the present invention is to provide a telehandler equipped with a stabilizer which enables the above-mentioned needs to be met.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a self-propelled manipulator is provided, specifically, the manipulator is a telescopic forklift, the manipulator is equipped with a stabilizer, the stabilizer comprises at least one front stabilizing unit mounted on a chassis of the manipulator, the chassis is movable on wheels and is equipped with a cab for an operator, wherein the stabilizing unit comprises a supporting frame and two stabilizing arms, each of the stabilizing arms comprises a first section, the first section is hinged to the supporting frame by a first pin located at the lower side of the first section. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the non-limiting description of a preferred but not the only embodiment of the proposed telehandler as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is a front view of a prior art telehandler with the stabilizer retracted and raised;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of a telehandler;

[0023] Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the telehandler of the aforementioned accompanying drawings with the stabilizers extended;

[0024] Figure 4 is a front view of a telehandler according to the present invention with the stabilizer retracted and raised;

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A side view of a telehandler;

[0026] Figure 6 is a front view of the telehandler of the above two figures with the stabiliser extended; and

[0027] Figure 7 is a front view of a telehandler according to the invention, with the arm retracted and wherein the operating arm is not shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a self-propelled manipulator made in accordance with the present invention.

[0029] The manipulator 1 shown in the figures is a revolving telescopic forklift equipped with a chassis 100 movable on wheels, on which a telescopic lifting arm 10 is mounted on a revolving platform 11 , which moves on wheels and also accommodates a cab 12 for the driver.

[0030] Furthermore, the arm 10 is provided with a loading device 13 at its distal end.

[0031] However, the invention can be used with different types of manipulators, which are generally equipped with moving elements, which in any case comprise a lifting arm and equipment, such as fixed or articulated telehandlers.

[0032] The term equipment 13 relates to accessories for engaging a load, such as forks, lateral transfer units, winches, clamps, etc., and accessories for lifting a person and possibly also a load, such as a cage.

[0033] Still in more detail, the arm 10 may be equipped with attachment means, also of the type commonly used in telehandlers manufactured by the Applicant, which allow replacing the device 13 and connecting it to the hydraulic and electronic equipment of the manipulator 1 .

[0034] In the following, for the sake of simplicity of description, reference will be made to a specific but non-limiting case in which the manipulator 1 according to the invention is a telehandler.

[0035] The arm 10 of the proposed telescopic forklift 1 is articulated to a rotating platform 11 so as to be able to oscillate vertically under the actuation of a hydraulic cylinder; moreover, the arm 10 is extendable and retractable under the actuation of one or more other cylinders and, more precisely, comprises a plurality of sectors which are inserted one inside the other, are coaxial with each other and are designed to translate in an axial direction.

[0036] The telehandler 1 comprises a stabilizer (front stabilizer unit) 2 which is designed to be mounted on the vehicle 1 and is equipped with a plurality of stabilizer arms 21 , 22 , 23 .

[0037] The stabilizer provided in the system according to the invention is of the so-called “scissor type” or “X type” and comprises two stabilizer units 2 located at the front and at the rear of the chassis 100 close to the wheels.

[0038] More specifically, each stabilizing unit 2 comprises two telescopic stabilizing arms 21, 22, 23 and a supporting frame 24 fixed or coupled to the chassis 100, the arms 21, 22, 23 being independently hinged to the supporting frame in a cross configuration so as to be movable in counter-rotating manner like a pair of scissors.

[0039] In practice, the frame 24 is preferably an integral part of the chassis 100 and the stabilizing arms are directly connected to the chassis; however, it is not excluded that the supporting frame is bolted to the chassis instead of being joined by welding.

[0040] In still more detail, two arms 21 , 22 , 23 connected to the same frame 24 are mounted one in front of the other so as to move in parallel planes (generally vertically).

[0041] The stabilizers of the proposed system are designed to pass from an extended operating configuration, in which they stabilize the manipulator with the wheels raised above the ground, to a retracted placement configuration, in which the wheels return to the ground, and vice versa.

[0042] In practice, the stabilizing arms 21, 22, 23 can be in a raised position and a lowered operating position (such as Figure 6 ) in which the stabilizing arms 21, 22, 23 are away from the ground in the raised position (see Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 ), and in particular, the stabilizing arms 21, 22, 23 are free to allow the vehicle 1 to be driven, and in the lowered operating position, the stabilizing arms 21, 22, 23 rest on the ground.

[0043] The arm 21 , 22 , 23 comprises a first section 21 or “sleeve” which is hollow and in which a second section 22 or “sliding member” is slidably received, the second section being equipped with a supporting element, ie a foot 23 , at the distal end.

[0044] In practice, each section 21 , 22 may comprise a rectilinear beam which is hollow and has a quadrilateral cross section.

[0045] In this case, the beams of the second section 22 are inserted so as to be able to slide in the beams of the first section 21 , which will obviously have a larger cross-section.

[0046] In detail, the first section 21 is articulated at the end of a first linear actuator 3 designed to rotate the first section 21 around a first pin 25 to allow the respective stabilizing arm 21 , 22 , 23 to be lowered or raised.

[0047] The first linear actuator is preferably a hydraulic cylinder 3 .

[0048] In detail, the first section 21 of each arm 21 , 22 , 23 is connected to the supporting frame 24 by a first hinge 25 .

[0049] In fact, in order to move the arms 21 , 22 , 23 about the first articulation 25 , use is made of the first hydraulic cylinder 3 , the thrust of which is also used for lifting during the stabilization step.

[0050] Each first cylinder 3 is connected to the supporting structure 24 by a second articulation 31 and to the first section 21 of the respective arm 21 , 22 , 23 by a third articulation 32 .

[0051] The first hinge 25 and the third hinge 32 are positioned in two different points of the length of the first section 21 , the first hinge further inside, ie closer to the proximal end of the first section 21 , and the third hinge further outside, ie closer to the distal end.

[0052] In practice, the hydraulic cylinders 3 of the same stabilizing unit 2 are actuated to move the arms 21, 22, 23 to the ground in a pushing action and to raise the vehicle 1, while when the hydraulic cylinders of the stabilizing unit are actuated by a retracting action, the vehicle 1 returns to rest on the wheels and the arms 21, 22, 23 are raised into the resting position.

[0053] Preferably, in the resting configuration, the first actuator 3 is arranged inclined relative to a plane parallel to the ground.

[0054] More precisely, in the fully raised arrangement configuration of the arms 21, 22, 23, the first hydraulic cylinder 3 (or in any case, the first actuator) is arranged in an inclined (i.e. cross) orientation relative to an ideal plane (parallel to the ground and therefore horizontal if the ground is horizontal).

[0055] The present invention includes a second actuator, for example comprising a hydraulic cylinder (not shown), designed to independently move the second section 22 between the fully closed position and the extended position.

[0056] More specifically, in order to extend the sliding member 22 to the outside of the sleeve 21 of each arm 21, 22, 23, a hydraulic cylinder is used which is inserted between the sliding member 22 and the sleeve 21 and connected to each other at opposite ends.

[0057] According to an important aspect of the present invention, Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the first section 21 of each arm 21 , 22 , 23 is hinged to the supporting frame 24 by means of a first pin 25 at the underside of the first section 21 .

[0058] In other words, the first section 21 is rotated about an axis which is located below or in any case at the underside of the first section, that is to say exactly the opposite with respect to the prior art.

[0059] In the case of a fixed telehandler this feature applies at least to the pair of arms 21, 22, 23 of the front unit, whereas for a rotating telehandler 1 an "inverted" arrangement of the axis of rotation of the first section 21 is preferably adopted in the front and rear units as shown in the figure.

[0060] Obviously, when terms such as "upper" or "lower" or other terms concerning positions are used in this description, they refer to the normal situation in which the telehandler 1 is used.

[0061] The supporting frame 24 comprises at least two main plates 241 , 242 , the outer and inner plates of which face the chassis 100 , parallel to each other and generally vertical, between which the first section 21 and (preferably) the first actuator 25 of the unit 2 are positioned.

[0062] Due to its special construction, the stabilizing unit 2 according to the invention is not as high, so that the operator O in the cab 12 is less obstructed when viewing the equipment 13 or the load close to the ground than in the prior art.

[0063] This from Figure 5 It is immediately clear from the contents shown in FIG. 1 that in this figure it can be seen that compared with the operating machine of the prior art (i.e., compared with the reference prior art Figure 2 ), when in the cab 12 of the telehandler 1 according to the invention, the operator O is able to see the device 13 better and the maximum viewing angle A is greater than that of the prior art.

[0064] Due to the articulation of the first pin 25 positioned below the first section 21, the relative position of the arms 21, 22, 23 is elevated with respect to the prior art, so that the stabilizing unit 2 is more compact in height, so that in the closed configuration of the stabilizer 2, the first hydraulic cylinder 3 according to the invention forms with the arms 21, 22, 23 an angle that is smaller than that of the cylinders of the prior art (compare Figure 1 and Figure 4 or Figure 7 ).

[0065] In detail, in the installed configuration of the stabilizer 2 , the cylinder 3 forms an angle greater than zero and less than 35 degrees with the above-mentioned plane parallel to the ground; preferably, this angle is substantially equal to 20 degrees.

[0066] Furthermore, in the resting configuration (ie the fully raised configuration), the arms 21 , 22 , 23 cross one another.

[0067] In this way, with the stabilizer 2 having the same lateral width in its fully raised and fully retracted arrangement (ie transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the manipulator 1 ), longer arms 21 , 22 , 23 can be installed compared to the prior art, in particular with respect to the first section 21 .

[0068] According to this configuration, preferably, the frame 24 includes an upper side 243 or "top" that is inclined relative to the central axis of the chassis 100 and that slopes downward in the forward direction.

[0069] The tops of two main panels (which are offset relative to each other) 241 , 242 may be connected by the inclined side defined by panel 23 in the sense that the top or upper edge of the outermost panel 241 is lower than the top or upper edge of the inner panel 242 .

[0070] A third central plate 244 may also be provided, which is interposed between the first plate 241 and the second plate 242 and separates the actuation spaces of the two stabilizing arms 21 , 22 , 23 , and is connected to the two stabilizing arms at corresponding pins.

Claims

1. A self-propelled manipulator, the manipulator being a telescopic forklift, the manipulator being equipped with a stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising at least one front stabilizer unit (2) mounted on a chassis (100) of the manipulator (1), the chassis being movable on wheels and being equipped with a cab (12) for an operator (O), wherein: The front stabilizing unit (2) comprises a support frame (24) and two stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23), each of the stabilizing arms comprising a first section (21), the first section being hinged to the support frame (24) via a first pin (25) located at the lower side of the first section (21), wherein the first section (21) is also hinged to one end of a first linear actuator (3), the first linear actuator being designed to rotate the first section (21) around the first pin (25) to allow the corresponding stabilizing arm (21, 22, 23) to be lowered or raised; wherein the first linear actuator (3) is connected to the support frame (24) via a second hinge (31) and to the corresponding stabilizing arm (21, 22, 23) via a third hinge (32). 23); wherein the first pin (25) and the third hinge (32) are positioned at two different points along the length of the first section (21), the first pin being closer to the proximal end of the first section (21) and the third hinge being closer to the distal end of the first section; wherein the stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23) are movable between a raised position and a lowered position, in which the stabilizing arms are spaced apart from the ground, and in which the stabilizing arms are placed on the ground; and characterized in that, in the raised position of the stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23), the first linear actuator (3) is arranged to be inclined relative to a plane parallel to the ground so as to form an angle with the plane that is greater than zero and less than 35 degrees.

2. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23) comprises a second section (22) which is slidably inserted into the first section (21) and is actuated by a second actuator designed to allow the stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23) to be extended and retracted.

3. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The stabilizer is of scissor type, and the front stabilizer unit (2) has two stabilizer arms (21, 22, 23) which are designed to move in parallel planes.

4. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 1, wherein: Said angle is substantially equal to 20 degrees.

5. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 1, wherein: In the raised position, the stabilizing arms (21, 22, 23) cross one another.

6. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 1, wherein: The support frame (24) comprises an upper side (243) inclined relative to the central axis of the chassis (100) of the manipulator (1), the upper side being inclined downward in a forward direction.

7. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 6, wherein: The support frame (24) comprises at least two parallel main boards (241, 242), and the first section (21) is positioned between the at least two parallel main boards.

8. The self-propelled manipulator according to claim 7, wherein: The upper side (243) is connected to the top of the main boards (241, 242).

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