Lifting height metering device for forklift and forklift

Abstract

The invention discloses a lifting height metering device for a forklift and the forklift. In the lifting height metering device for the forklift, anti-skid teeth are arranged on the circumferential surface of a meter counting wheel, and a shaft fixing hole is formed in the center of the meter counting wheel; an input shaft and a shoulder are arranged at the front end of the encoder, and the input shaft is fixedly connected with a shaft fixing hole of the meter counting wheel and used for converting the rotating angle variable quantity of the meter counting wheel into a pulse signal; a cavity for installing the encoder is formed in the supporting sleeve, a shoulder hole matched with a shoulder of the encoder is formed in the front end of the supporting sleeve, and guide holes are formed in the two sides of a sleeve body. The guide shaft is slidably arranged in the guide hole of the supporting sleeve through the guide surface, and the pressure spring is sleeved on the guide shaft; the mounting support is provided with a fixing hole used for fixing the guide shaft, and supports one end of the pressure spring, so that the pressure spring applies continuous pressing force to the meter counting wheel through the supporting sleeve to press the anti-skid teeth on the surface of the moving part to be measured. Measurement precision is high, view of a driver is not affected, and use is safe and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of forklift technology, specifically to a lifting height measuring device for a forklift and a forklift. Background Technology

[0002] In the modern logistics and warehousing industry, high-bay warehouses have become the mainstream configuration, with storage racks typically exceeding 10 meters in height. To meet the demands of this type of automated warehousing operation, forklifts, as core handling equipment, need to possess precise lifting height positioning and cargo location identification capabilities. Currently, to achieve real-time monitoring of lifting height, the industry commonly adopts a solution of installing height measuring devices on the forklift mast system.

[0003] like Figure 1 As shown, traditional height measurement methods typically use steel wire ropes ( Figure 1 As shown in Figure A) Traction encoder ( Figure 1 The structure is shown in Figure B. Specifically, this scheme involves setting up a wire rope traction mechanism between the inner and outer masts of the forklift. The winding and unwinding of the wire rope during relative mast movement drives the encoder's rotating wheel, converting linear displacement into pulse signals from the rotary encoder, thus indirectly measuring the lifting height. However, this scheme has several inherent drawbacks: First, relative slippage easily occurs between the wire rope and the rotating wheel, especially during frequent starts and stops or high-speed lifting, making slippage unavoidable and leading to cumulative errors in the measurement data, severely affecting measurement accuracy. Second, under long-term repeated stretching, bending, and pulling, the wire rope is prone to plastic elongation, relaxation, and even wear, which not only exacerbates slippage errors but may also cause device failure due to fatigue fracture, posing a safety hazard. Furthermore, the wire rope structure is sensitive to the operating environment; dust, oil, and other impurities further affect transmission reliability, increasing maintenance frequency and operating costs.

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of wire rope solutions, the industry has proposed improved solutions in recent years using synchronous belts combined with encoders. This solution utilizes the meshing transmission between the teeth of the synchronous belt and the pulleys, effectively avoiding slippage and significantly improving the accuracy and stability of height measurement. However, the synchronous belt structure also has significant limitations in practical applications: due to limitations in installation space and structural layout, the synchronous belt usually needs to be placed inside the mast, occupying internal mast passage space and significantly obstructing the forklift driver's forward and side visibility, increasing blind spots and affecting operational safety, especially when retrieving or placing goods in narrow passages or at high positions, where the obstructed visibility problem is even more pronounced. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the contradictions and shortcomings of existing forklift lifting height measuring devices in terms of accuracy, reliability, and operator visibility, and to provide a forklift lifting height measuring device and forklift that has high measurement accuracy, does not affect the driver's visibility, and is safe and reliable to use.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a lifting height measuring device for forklifts, comprising a meter-counting wheel, an encoder, a support sleeve, a guide shaft, a compression spring, and a mounting bracket, wherein... The measuring wheel has anti-slip teeth on its circumference and a shaft fixing hole in its center. The encoder has an input shaft and a shoulder at its front end. The input shaft is fixed to the shaft fixing hole of the measuring wheel and is used to convert the rotation angle change of the measuring wheel into a pulse signal. The support sleeve has a cavity for mounting the encoder. The front end has a shoulder hole that matches the shoulder of the encoder. Guide holes are provided on both sides of the sleeve. The guide shaft is slidably set in the guide hole of the support sleeve through the guide surface. The compression spring is sleeved on the guide shaft. The mounting bracket has a fixing hole for fixing the guide shaft and supports one end of the compression spring so that the compression spring applies a continuous clamping force to the measuring wheel through the support sleeve, pressing the anti-slip teeth against the surface of the moving part to be measured.

[0007] Preferably, the metering wheel is made of medium-carbon steel or steel with a higher carbon content that has been treated by medium-frequency or high-frequency quenching process.

[0008] Preferably, the pitch circle circumference C of the anti-slip teeth satisfies the formula: C=L / n, where L is the maximum lifting height of the forklift and n is a positive integer.

[0009] Preferably, the encoder is a high-resolution rotary encoder, whose pulse signal and the circumference parameter of the meter wheel are configured to be multiplied in the controller to calculate the actual displacement.

[0010] Preferably, the shoulder hole and the shoulder cooperate to form a radial support structure to withstand the radial force generated by the measuring wheel when it contacts the moving parts.

[0011] Preferably, the guide shaft and the guide hole cooperate to form an axial guide structure, which is used to limit the movement direction of the support sleeve and the encoder assembly, and to bear the axial pressure generated by the compression spring.

[0012] Preferably, the mounting bracket is detachably mounted to the stationary mast of the forklift, and the compression spring is configured to press the measuring wheel firmly against the moving mast of the forklift.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention provides a forklift including a mast lifting system and a forklift lifting height measuring device as described above, mounted on the mast lifting system.

[0014] According to the above technical solution, the working method of directly pressing the measuring wheel against the surface of the moving parts (such as the mast) fundamentally eliminates the risks of wire rope slippage and breakage, as well as the risk of timing belt skipping, ensuring accurate and reliable measurement. The entire device has a compact structure and can be installed in non-core visibility areas such as the side of the mast, completely solving the problem of timing belt solutions occupying space inside the mast and obstructing the driver's view, thus making forklift operation safe and reliable. At the same time, the mechanical structure of this forklift lifting height measuring device is robust, with strong resistance to harsh working conditions such as dust and oil, greatly reducing maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in the prior art that uses a wire rope traction mechanism between the inner and outer masts of a forklift for height measurement; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the meter wheel in the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the encoder in the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support sleeve in the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the guide shaft in the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support installed in the lifting height measuring device for forklifts provided according to the present invention.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1-Meter wheel, 2-Encoder, 3-Support sleeve, 4-Guide shaft, 5-Compression spring, 6-Mounting support, 11-Anti-slip teeth, 12-Shaft fixing hole, 21-Input shaft, 22-Shoulder, 31-Shoulder hole, 32-Cavity, 33-Guide hole, 41-Guide surface, 51-Fixing hole. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0018] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "circumference," "center," "inner," "front end," and "both sides" in the terminology represent only the orientation of the term in its conventional use or are common terms understood by those skilled in the art, and should not be regarded as limitations on the terminology.

[0019] See Figure 2 This invention provides a lifting height measuring device for forklifts, comprising a measuring wheel 1, an encoder 2, a support sleeve 3, a guide shaft 4, a compression spring 5, and a mounting bracket 6. The circumferential surface of the meter wheel 1 is provided with anti-slip teeth 11, and the center is provided with a shaft fixing hole 12 (see Figure 3 ); Encoder 2 (see Figure 4 The front end of the encoder 2 is provided with an input shaft 21 and a shoulder 22. The input shaft 21 is fixedly connected to the shaft fixing hole 12 of the measuring wheel 1, and is used to convert the rotation angle change of the measuring wheel 1 into a pulse signal. The support sleeve 3 has a cavity 32 for mounting the encoder 2 inside. The front end is provided with a shoulder hole 31 that mates with the shoulder 22 of the encoder 2. Guide holes 33 are provided on both sides of the sleeve. The guide shaft 4 (see Figure 6 The spring 5 is slidably disposed within the guide hole 33 of the support sleeve 3 via the guide surface 41, and is sleeved on the guide shaft 4; the mounting support 6 (see...) Figure 7 The guide shaft 4 is provided with a fixing hole 51, and one end of the compression spring 5 is supported so that the compression spring 5 applies a continuous clamping force to the measuring wheel 1 through the support sleeve 3 to press the anti-slip teeth 11 against the surface of the moving part to be measured.

[0020] By employing the above technical solution, which uses a metering wheel 1 directly pressed against the surface of moving parts (such as the mast), the risks of wire rope slippage and breakage, as well as the risk of timing belt skipping, are fundamentally eliminated, ensuring accurate and reliable measurement. The entire device has a compact structure and can be installed in non-core visibility areas such as the side of the mast, completely solving the problem of timing belt solutions occupying space inside the mast and obstructing the driver's view, thus making forklift operation safe and reliable. Furthermore, the mechanical structure of this forklift lifting height measuring device is robust, highly resistant to harsh conditions such as dust and oil, and significantly reduces maintenance costs.

[0021] In this embodiment, preferably, the measuring wheel 1 is made of medium-carbon steel or steel with a higher carbon content that has undergone medium-frequency or high-frequency quenching. This ensures that the anti-slip teeth of the measuring wheel 1 have long-term durability when faced with repeated friction, preventing measurement errors caused by wear.

[0022] In this embodiment, in order to accurately calculate the pitch circle circumference of the anti-slip teeth and match it with the maximum lifting height of the forklift, thereby optimizing the metering resolution, preferably, the pitch circle circumference C of the anti-slip teeth of the meter wheel 1 in the lifting height metering device for the forklift satisfies the formula: C=L / n, where L is the maximum lifting height of the forklift and n is a positive integer.

[0023] In this embodiment, the encoder 2 is preferably a high-resolution rotary encoder, whose pulse signal and the circumference parameter of the counting wheel 1 are configured to be multiplied in the controller to calculate the actual displacement. In this way, the control system receives this pulse signal and, based on the preset circumference value of the counting wheel (1), can accurately calculate the real-time lifting height through a simple multiplication operation (displacement = number of pulses × wheel circumference / number of pulses per revolution).

[0024] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the shoulder hole 31 and the shoulder 22 cooperate to form a radial support structure, which is used to bear the radial force generated by the meter wheel 1 when it contacts the moving parts.

[0025] In this embodiment, in order to ensure the linearity and accuracy of the encoder 2 measurement, it is preferable to use the guide shaft 4 and the guide hole 33 to form an axial guide structure, which is used to limit the movement direction of the support sleeve 3 and the encoder 2 assembly, and to bear the axial pressure generated by the compression spring 5.

[0026] In this embodiment, in order to improve the stability of the lifting height measuring device for forklifts during use and to facilitate flexible adjustment of the specific installation position according to the needs of use, preferably, the mounting bracket 6 is detachably installed on the stationary mast of the forklift, and the compression spring 5 is configured to press the measuring wheel 1 tightly onto the moving mast of the forklift.

[0027] Specifically, when assembling and using the lifting height measuring device for the forklift, the encoder 2 is first installed into the cavity 32 of the support sleeve 3, ensuring that its front shoulder 22 fits tightly with the shoulder hole 31 at the front of the support sleeve 3, forming a radial support. Then, the measuring wheel 1 is fixedly mounted on the input shaft 21 of the encoder 2. Next, the guide shaft 4, fitted with a compression spring 5, is passed through the guide holes 33 on both sides of the support sleeve 3, and the end of the guide shaft 4 is fixed in the fixing hole 51 of the mounting bracket 6. At this time, the compression spring 5 is compressed between the mounting bracket 6 and the support sleeve 3, thereby generating a continuous axial force. This axial force is ultimately transmitted to the measuring wheel 1 through the support sleeve 3 and the encoder 2, giving it a tendency to press outwards. In practical applications, the mounting bracket 6 is fixed to the stationary outer mast of the forklift using bolts or other means. The device position is adjusted so that the measuring wheel 1, under the preload of the compression spring 5, is pressed tightly against the side of the vertically movable inner mast (or other suitable flat surface). When the forklift is lifting or lowering, the inner mast moves relative to the outer mast, driving the measuring wheel 1 to rotate via friction. The rotation of the measuring wheel 1 is detected in real time by the encoder 2 and converted into pulse signals. Compared to existing technologies that use wire ropes or synchronous belts, this forklift lifting height measuring device is not only reliable in operation and eliminates the problem of inaccurate measurement due to slippage, but it is also not limited by installation space and can be installed in confined spaces. Especially in forklift industry applications, it does not affect the forklift's visibility, ensuring high safety.

[0028] Furthermore, this invention also provides a forklift comprising a mast lifting system and a forklift lifting height measuring device, as described above, mounted on the mast lifting system. Because this forklift employs a working method where the meter wheel 1 directly presses against the surface of the moving mast, it fundamentally eliminates the risks of wire rope slippage and breakage, as well as timing belt skipping, resulting in extremely high measurement reliability. The installed forklift lifting height measuring device has a compact structure and can be installed in non-core visibility areas such as the side of the mast, completely solving the problem of timing belt solutions occupying space inside the mast and obstructing the driver's view, thus making forklift operation safe and reliable. Simultaneously, the forklift lifting height measuring device of this forklift has a robust mechanical structure, no easily damaged flexible transmission components, and strong resistance to harsh working conditions such as dust and oil, greatly reducing the maintenance frequency and cost of the forklift. Furthermore, this forklift lifting height measuring device employs a unique design that separates the radial support structure and the axial guide structure. This design distributes the radial force borne by the measuring wheel and the axial force generated by the compression spring to different components, effectively protecting the precision encoder and extending the service life of the entire device. In addition, the mounting bracket of this forklift lifting height measuring device features a detachable design, facilitating adjustments to the installation position according to different mast structures and vehicle models, thus improving its versatility.

[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Within the scope of the inventive concept, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention, including combinations of various specific technical features in any suitable manner. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the present invention will not describe the various possible combinations separately. However, these simple modifications and combinations should also be considered as the content disclosed in the present invention and are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lifting height measuring device for forklifts, characterized in that, The forklift lifting height measuring device includes a meter wheel (1), an encoder (2), a support sleeve (3), a guide shaft (4), a compression spring (5), and a mounting bracket (6), wherein, The measuring wheel (1) has anti-slip teeth (11) on its circumferential surface and a shaft fixing hole (12) at its center; the encoder (2) has an input shaft (21) and a shoulder (22) at its front end, the input shaft (21) being fixedly connected to the shaft fixing hole (12) of the measuring wheel (1) to convert the rotation angle change of the measuring wheel (1) into a pulse signal; the support sleeve (3) has a cavity (32) inside for mounting the encoder (2), and a shoulder hole (31) at its front end that matches the shoulder (22) of the encoder (2); the sleeve body Guide holes (33) are provided on both sides; the guide shaft (4) is slidably disposed in the guide hole (33) of the support sleeve (3) through the guide surface (41), and the compression spring (5) is sleeved on the guide shaft (4); the mounting bracket (6) is provided with a fixing hole (51) for fixing the guide shaft (4) and supporting one end of the compression spring (5) so that the compression spring (5) applies a continuous pressing force to the measuring wheel (1) through the support sleeve (3) to press the anti-slip tooth (11) onto the surface of the moving part to be measured.

2. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The meter wheel (1) is made of medium carbon steel or steel with higher carbon content that has been treated by medium frequency or high frequency quenching process.

3. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pitch circle circumference C of the anti-slip teeth satisfies the formula: C=L / n, where L is the maximum lifting height of the forklift and n is a positive integer.

4. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The encoder (2) is a high-resolution rotary encoder, whose pulse signal and the circumference parameter of the meter wheel (1) are configured to be multiplied in the controller to calculate the actual displacement.

5. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shoulder hole (31) and the shoulder (22) cooperate to form a radial support structure, which is used to bear the radial force generated by the meter wheel (1) when it contacts the moving part.

6. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide shaft (4) and the guide hole (33) cooperate to form an axial guide structure, which is used to limit the movement direction of the support sleeve (3) and encoder (2) assembly, and bear the axial pressure generated by the compression spring (5).

7. The forklift lifting height measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting bracket (6) is detachably mounted to the stationary mast of the forklift, and the compression spring (5) is configured to press the meter wheel (1) against the moving mast of the forklift.

8. A forklift, characterized in that, The forklift includes a mast lifting system and a forklift lifting height measuring device as described in any one of claims 1-7, mounted on the mast lifting system.

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