Forklift bracket with movable underride guard

Abstract

Forklift bracket (1), • which is designed to be attached to a vehicle and, in use, to hold a forklift against the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, • and which has a movable underride guard, with a horizontally oriented, elongated protective element (4) which ◯ is designed to be variable in length, ◯ has several sections (5, 6) along its length, ◯ wherein two outer sections (6) forming the ends of the protective element (4) are movable between a protective position and a driving position, such that - that the protective element (4) has a first length when the outer sections (6) are in their protective position, - and has a second length when the outer sections (6) are in their driving position, - and wherein the first length of the protective element (4) in the protective position is greater than the second length in the driving position, characterized in that the two outer sections (6) between the protective position and the driving position are telescopic in the longitudinal direction of the protective element (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a forklift bracket designed to be mounted on a vehicle and to hold a forklift against the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, and which has a movable underride guard with a horizontally oriented, elongated protective element which is designed to be variable in length and has several sections along its length, wherein two outer sections forming the ends of the protective element are movable between a protective position and a driving position, such that the protective element has a first length when the outer sections are in their protective position and a second length when the outer sections are in their driving position, and wherein the first length of the protective element in the protective position is greater than the second length in the driving position.The vehicle can be designed as a self-propelled truck or as a trailer without its own propulsion.

[0002] Such a forklift mounting system is known from practical use; see the YouTube video https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=YIh28UIDSWU&pp=2AYI. It serves to hold a forklift, which can be used for loading and unloading a vehicle, to the vehicle outside its cargo area, so that the forklift can be transported with the vehicle and is ready for use at the vehicle's various operating locations for loading and unloading vehicles.

[0003] The forklift bracket is typically designed as a component that can be optionally ordered when ordering a new vehicle, so that the vehicle is manufactured including the forklift bracket, or which can also be retrofitted later to an existing vehicle.

[0004] Typically, the forklift bracket is designed to be mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle width is thus maintained even with the forklift bracket installed, and the forklift, when held in the bracket, protrudes partially beyond the rear of the vehicle and partially into the space below the vehicle's loading floor, for example, by about 60 to 70 cm.

[0005] For journeys where no forklift is attached to the vehicle, the forklift bracket features an underride guard with a horizontally oriented, elongated protective element, as required in many countries. To still allow a forklift to be picked up and held without obstructing its entry into the space beneath the vehicle's loading floor, the underride guard is designed to be movable. This allows it to either assume a protective position, in which the protective element provides effective underride protection, or a driving position, in which the forklift can be picked up and held in the forklift bracket.

[0006] In the aforementioned forklift bracket, the protective element comprises a central section and two outer sections that are opposite each other and project laterally outwards, perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. The outer sections are inserted into the central section on opposite sides and can be removed from it, allowing them to be relocated and stored elsewhere as loose components. The aforementioned forklift bracket features pockets into which each outer section can be inserted and secured with a cotter pin. The outer sections are designed as profile tubes and each has a longitudinal axis.In the driving position, when the outer sections are in their receiving pockets, their longitudinal axes run parallel to each other and also parallel to the common longitudinal axis on which the two outer sections lie when they project laterally outwards from the middle section in the protective position.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of improving a generic forklift bracket in such a way that it enables particularly easy operation and a particularly high level of safety for the underride protection.

[0008] Features according to the invention are specified in claim 1. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention proposes that the two outer sections between the protective and driving positions be telescopically extendable along the longitudinal axis of the protective element. Telescopic means that they are simply moved along the longitudinal axis of the protective element to assume either their protective or driving positions. It is not necessary to disassemble the two outer sections, i.e., to separate them from the protective element and reattach them elsewhere. This significantly simplifies the handling of the outer sections and thus the operation of the forklift bracket. The two outer sections do not have to be handled as loose, freely movable elements, but are permanently and securely connected to the rest of the forklift bracket. To move them back and forth between the protective and driving positions, they simply need to be moved translationally along their longitudinal axis.

[0010] To enable telescoping, the two outer sections are displaceable relative to a guide element. Each outer section can have its own guide element, or both outer sections can interact with a common guide element of sufficient length. Depending on the respective cross-sectional dimensions of the outer sections and the guide element, the outer sections can be displaceable within the guide element, e.g., a tube, or on the guide element, e.g., a pin or rod. In any case, overlapping occurs during telescoping even when an outer section has been extended into its protective position.The overlap can be dimensioned in a structurally simple way to ensure that the outer section is very stably supported with respect to forces acting radially to the direction of telescoping movement, as can occur during an impact on the underride guard. Thus, a high load-bearing capacity of the underride guard and therefore its high level of safety in use can be guaranteed with simple structural means.

[0011] It represents a simple – and easy-to-execute – movement sequence of shifting the outer sections in the direction of the telescopic axis. This movement sequence can easily be power-assisted and also automated or remotely controlled, as can be seen from the configurations described below.

[0012] In one embodiment, the forklift bracket is characterized by the fact that the two outer sections are power-assisted. Power-assisted means that, compared to the force applied by an operator, higher forces act on the moving component, as is known, for example, from levers, pulleys, or gears, where a smaller force is applied, but over a longer distance. For example, the power assistance can be provided by means of a crank and a cooperating gear, with the gear acting on a rack that is arranged on or connected to an outer section. Each outer section can have its own crank, or a single crank and gear can act on two racks simultaneously, so that both outer sections can be moved at the same time with the same crank.The dimensions of the gear and the crank determine the degree of power assistance.

[0013] One embodiment of such a forklift bracket, in which the two outer sections are power-assisted, is characterized by the fact that the two outer sections are externally power-assisted. Externally power-assisted means that, in addition to the force applied by an operator, forces from another force source act on the moving component, e.g., electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically generated forces. The operator's required force can be limited to actuating a control element in the form of a tactile or even contactless switch, or may even be entirely eliminated, e.g., if the external force is initiated by means of a voice command.

[0014] One embodiment of such a forklift bracket, in which the two outer sections are movable with external force assistance, is characterized by the fact that the two outer sections are movable by means of pneumatic telescopic cylinders. This method of providing the aforementioned external force allows for a structurally simple design of the forklift bracket, since a high-performance pneumatic system is already available in many cases for the braking system of a truck or truck trailer, thus enabling a structurally simple installation of the pneumatic cylinders in the forklift bracket.

[0015] The outer sections can be held in their respective protective or operating positions solely by their drive elements. In the case of gear mechanisms, for example, a worm gear can be used to provide self-locking action, preventing any movement of the outer sections without external influence. Similarly, in a pneumatic brake system, the elements of a pneumatic power assist can be kept under constant pressure during operation, not only to move the outer sections but also to hold them in their respective protective or operating positions.

[0016] One embodiment of the forklift bracket is characterized by the fact that the bracket has mechanical locking elements by means of which the outer sections can be fixed in their respective protective or driving positions. Thus, even if the outer sections are not actuated by external force or if the external force fails, the outer sections are reliably held in their intended position.

[0017] One embodiment of such a forklift bracket, in which the bracket has mechanical locking elements, is characterized in that the mechanical locking elements are designed as spring-loaded locking pins. Thus, there is no need to handle and securely store loose parts such as cotter pins, screws, or the like; instead, the locking elements are mounted on the forklift bracket and remain fixed in place. For example, commercially available so-called mini-latches can be used as spring-loaded locking pins. These have a pull knob and can be manually operated to move the locking pin against the spring force from a locked position to a released position.

[0018] One embodiment of such a forklift bracket with spring-loaded locking pins is characterized in that a locking pin has a chamfer and is arranged such that the movable outer section automatically forces the locking pin from its locked position into a release position during its insertion movement. The chamfer causes automatic locking during the insertion movement of the outer section when it is telescoped from its outwardly projecting protective position into the travel position. As the movable outer section abuts the chamfer of the locking pin, it is forced from its locked position into the release position, and only when it aligns with a recess or notch in the outer section does the spring-loaded locking pin automatically return to its locked position.Manual operation of the locking bolt is only required to release it if the movable outer section is to be extended into the protective position using the extension movement.

[0019] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the purely schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 A rear view of the vehicle's longitudinal beam with a forklift bracket in the protective position Fig. 2. A view from below of the forklift bracket in the driving position, and Fig. 3 A side view of the vehicle's longitudinal beams with the forklift bracket.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows an assembly that serves as a forklift bracket 1, positioned below two longitudinal beams 2 of a vehicle frame. The vehicle's loading platform rests on these two longitudinal beams 2. The loading platform and all other vehicle components not belonging to the forklift bracket 1 are not shown in the drawings. The vehicle can be powered, e.g., a truck, or it can be unpowered, e.g., a trailer. The forklift bracket 1 includes two underride guard brackets 3, each of which supports a horizontally extending, beam-like protective element 4 at its lower ends.

[0021] The protective element 4 has a central section 5, which is designed as a square tube. At the two opposite ends, two movable outer sections 6 project significantly from the central section 5, increasing the effective length of the protective element 4. In this arrangement, with the outer sections 6 in their so-called protective position, the forklift bracket 1 forms an underride guard that extends essentially across the entire width of the vehicle. The two central sections 6 are also designed as square tubes, but have a smaller cross-section than the central section 5 and are guided longitudinally within the central section 5 so that they can be telescoped either out of the central section 5 into their protective position or into the central section 5.In the illustrated embodiment, this telescopic movement is externally assisted by pneumatic cylinders 7.

[0022] In the central section 5, locking elements 8 are arranged near both ends, each designed as a spring-loaded detent pin and commercially known as a mini-detent. The outer sections 6 each have two bores into which the detent pins extend when the outer sections 6 are either in their protective position or in their operating position.

[0023] The two pneumatic cylinders 7 are arranged offset from each other laterally and vertically. They each act on their assigned outer section 6 by connecting to an end plate 9 of the respective outer section 6, which extends beyond the cross-section of the square tube of this section 6.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows the forklift bracket 1 from below, with the two pneumatic cylinders 7 retracted and the two outer sections 6 correspondingly telescoped into the central section 5, so that they assume their so-called driving position. In this arrangement, the forklift bracket 1 enables the mounting and securing of a forklift truck whose two front wheels can extend under the loading platform of the vehicle on either side of the central section 5.

[0025] Out of Fig. Figure 3 shows that the underride guard brackets 3 each have two vertical supports arranged one behind the other, which are connected at the bottom by a horizontal tab. It is also shown that the two pneumatic cylinders 7 are arranged outside the central section 5 and one above the other. Only the area of ​​the rear end of the longitudinal beams 2, where they support the forklift bracket 1, is shown, while the longitudinal beams 2 actually extend further forward on the vehicle – in contrast to the illustration. Fig. 3. Extend further to the left.

[0026] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways. All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description, and the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list 1 forklift bracket 2 longitudinal beams 3 Underride protection console 4 protective elements 5 middle section 6 outer section 7 pneumatic cylinders 8 Locking element 9 Front plate QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=YIh28UIDSWU&pp=2AYI

[0002]

Claims

[1] Forklift bracket (1), • which is designed to be attached to a vehicle and, in use, to hold a forklift against the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, • and which has a movable underride guard, with a horizontally oriented, elongated protective element (4) which ◯ is designed to be variable in length, ◯ has several sections (5, 6) along its length, ◯ wherein two outer sections (6) forming the ends of the protective element (4) are movable between a protective position and a driving position, such that, - that the protective element (4) has a first length when the outer sections (6) are in their protective position, - and has a second length when the outer sections (6) are in their driving position, - and wherein the first length of the protective element (4) in the protective position is greater than the second length in the driving position, characterized by , that the two outer sections (6) between the protective position and the driving position are telescopic in the longitudinal direction of the protective element (4). [2] Forklift bracket according to claim 1, characterized by , that the two outer sections (6) are movable with force assistance. [3] Forklift bracket according to claim 2, characterized by , that the two outer sections (6) are movable with external force assistance. [4] Forklift bracket according to claim 3, characterized by , that the two outer sections (6) are movable by means of pneumatic telescopic cylinders (7). [5] Forklift bracket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the forklift bracket (1) has mechanical locking elements (8) by means of which the outer sections (6) can be fixed in their respective protective or driving position. [6] Forklift bracket according to claim 5, characterized by , that the mechanical locking elements (8) are designed as spring-loaded locking bolts. [7] Forklift bracket according to claim 6, characterized by , that a locking bolt has a chamfer and is arranged in such a way that the locking bolt is automatically forced from its locking position into a release position by the movable outer section (6) during its insertion movement.

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