Push stacker with a counterweight

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a reach truck with a counterweight. The reach truck has two wheel arms, between which a reach mast is arranged, a drive unit and a cast iron counterweight, which is arranged in a front area of ​​the reach truck.

[0002] Forklifts typically use counterweights to compensate for the tipping moments exerted by a load. Unlike counterbalanced forklifts, conventional reach trucks do not require a counterweight. A favorable weight distribution in electrically powered vehicles can be achieved simply by appropriately positioning the vehicle battery. This is especially true when using conventional, heavy lead-acid batteries.

[0003] A reach truck, which has the features of the preamble of claim 1, is known from the publication DE 10 2014 104687 A1.

[0004] From the publication DE 696 18 699 T2, a forklift truck not designed as a reach truck with a counterweight has become known, in which the counterweight is designed as a cast product and, in addition to its function as a counterweight, also serves as a carrier for a drive unit and a steering motor.

[0005] From the publication DE 103 12 432 A1, a forklift truck with a cast iron counterweight, which is bolted to a fixed lifting mast, has become known.

[0006] From US patent 7,967,335 B2, a picker is known that has two wheel arms, each with a load wheel at its rear end, a drive unit with a steerable drive wheel, a counterweight located in a front area of ​​the forklift, and two support elements positioned close to the ground so that they rest on the ground when the forklift reaches a certain tilt, thus preventing it from tipping over. Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a reach truck that has a particularly compact design and is easy to manufacture.

[0007] This problem is solved by the reach truck with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The reach truck has two wheel arms, each with a load wheel at its rear end, a reach mast arranged between the wheel arms, a drive unit with a steerable drive wheel, and a cast iron counterweight located in the front of the reach truck. The counterweight has two mounting devices, one on its underside and the other on opposite sides, to which a support element of the reach truck is attached. The support elements are positioned close to the ground so that, from a certain tilt of the reach truck, they bear against the ground to prevent the reach truck from tipping over.

[0009] The invention solves the aforementioned problem by providing a counterweight integrated into the reach truck with a special shape, enabling it to fulfill a function typically assigned to a vehicle frame or attachment. This represents a design simplification. At the same time, this approach allows for optimal utilization of the available installation space, which is extremely limited in reach trucks due to the consistently desired minimal vehicle length. As mentioned in the introduction, conventional reach trucks usually do not require a counterweight. However, the inventors have recognized that the use of a counterweight comprising two fastening devices—one on the underside of the counterweight and the other on opposite sides—to which a support element of the reach truck is attached, is advantageous overall.This is especially true when using newer battery technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, which, due to their lower weight, may require additional measures for optimal weight distribution. In this case, a counterweight can make a significant contribution to optimal weight distribution, even on reach trucks.

[0010] The reach truck's support elements, attached to the two mounting points on the underside of the counterweight, prevent the vehicle from tipping over by bracing themselves against the ground once the vehicle reaches a certain tilt. Due to their low-level position, these support elements, sometimes also called support mushrooms, are highly stressed components that can be subjected to extreme impact loads, especially on uneven surfaces or obstacles. They are therefore subject to wear and tear and must be extremely robustly mounted. Integrating suitable mounting points into the counterweight offers a particularly cost-effective solution.

[0011] In one embodiment, the counterweight additionally has a step which is arranged at a middle height of the counterweight on a front side of the reach truck and which has a horizontal tread surface with a front edge.

[0012] The step is positioned at a midpoint on the counterweight at the front of the reach truck. The front is the side of the vehicle facing away from the reach mast and its load-bearing element. The midpoint is located between the lower and upper ends of the counterweight, preferably approximately halfway between the floor on which the reach truck stands and the floor of an operator's cab. Preferably, the midpoint is between 15 cm and 35 cm above the floor on which the reach truck stands. The step thus allows the operator to enter the cab with particular ease. The step can be fitted with a non-slip insert, particularly made of plastic and / or with ribs. The insert can extend over the entire step surface. It can be bolted to the counterweight, particularly by means of mounting holes in the counterweight located in the step surface.

[0013] In one embodiment, the counterweight additionally has a splash guard arranged on an underside of the counterweight, which surrounds the steerable drive wheel in a ring shape and maintains a distance to a lateral edge of the counterweight.

[0014] Integrating a splash guard surrounding the drive wheel into the counterweight also represents a particularly cost-effective solution. The splash guard surrounds the drive wheel in a ring-like fashion, and the ring can be either closed or open. Positioning the splash guard at a distance from a lateral edge of the counterweight effectively protects the area outside the guard from damaging influences of the drive wheel, particularly from moisture and dirt. This allows the space within this installation area to be used, if necessary, to house even sensitive components.

[0015] In one embodiment, the counterweight is integrated into the base frame of the reach truck, wherein the base frame comprises a welded assembly with the two wheel arms, and the counterweight is connected to this welded assembly. In this embodiment, the counterweight thus forms an integral part of the vehicle's base frame and contributes in particular to its torsional rigidity. The connection between the welded assembly and the counterweight can be established, in particular, by means of bolting.

[0016] In one embodiment, the reach truck includes a horizontally arranged base plate, which is at least partially positioned below the counterweight. The base plate can be made of steel and form part of the aforementioned welded assembly. Positioning it below the counterweight enables a stable connection between the counterweight and the base plate. In particular, the base plate can be bolted to the counterweight.

[0017] In one embodiment, the reach truck has a driver's cab with a supporting structure, wherein the counterweight has a fastening device to which the supporting structure is attached. The fastening device can, for example, have a threaded bore in the counterweight, particularly within a mounting base formed on the counterweight. In this way, the driver's cab can be easily and securely attached to the counterweight, so that the counterweight fulfills a load-bearing function for the driver's cab.

[0018] In one embodiment, the counterweight forms a front end of the reach truck and / or extends across the entire width of the reach truck. In this arrangement, the counterweight can optimally fulfill the additional functions provided for in the invention.

[0019] In one embodiment, the front contour of the reach truck is formed by the counterweight at the level of the step, and the leading edge of the step follows this contour. In this case, the shape of the reach truck's front is significantly influenced by the design of the counterweight, and the step is optimally integrated in both a functional and aesthetic manner.

[0020] In one embodiment, the step surface is bounded laterally and to the rear by a counterweight surface that is essentially vertically oriented. This surface can consist of several flat elements or be curved. It follows the contour of the step's edge furthest from the front edge. "To the rear" here refers to the direction away from the step's front edge. If the front edge of the step is located at the front of the vehicle, the counterweight surface is therefore positioned further back along the vehicle's longitudinal axis than the front edge. In any case, the essentially vertical counterweight surface forms a visually appealing and robust boundary for the step, which is particularly easy to manufacture.

[0021] In one embodiment, the platform has a variable depth when measured along the vehicle's length. This depth reaches its maximum in a central section near the front edge and decreases more rapidly towards the side of the reach truck where the driver's seat is located than in the opposite direction. Specifically, the platform can have a trapezoidal or triangular shape with more or less rounded corners, increasing in depth further away from the driver's seat. This is particularly ergonomically advantageous. For example, if the driver's seat is located on the right side of the vehicle (as viewed from the load-bearing side), the driver can easily place their left foot diagonally onto the platform while in a slightly sideways position and enter the cab. The platform is sufficiently large for a secure footing without taking up unnecessary space.

[0022] In one embodiment, the fastening devices for the support elements have mounting bases that project from the underside of the counterweight. These mounting bases allow for a particularly robust attachment of the support elements. At the same time, the mounting bases can bridge part of the height difference between the underside of the counterweight and the desired ground clearance.

[0023] In one design, the mounting bases extend downwards beyond the base plate of the reach truck. This provides an optimal mounting option for the support elements.

[0024] In one embodiment, each support element has a receptacle that fits snugly onto a mounting base. This design results in particularly robust anchoring of the support elements. In particular, lateral impacts can be absorbed without damage. The support elements can also be screwed to the mounting bases.

[0025] In one embodiment, the counterweight has a skirt that is arranged on the side and / or front edge of the counterweight and extends downwards from a lower surface of the counterweight, with the splash guard also extending downwards from the lower surface of the counterweight. In this solution, the space between the splash guard and the skirt is defined in a robust yet easy-to-manufacture manner. This simplifies the arrangement of further functional elements within this space. Such a further functional element could, for example, be a sliding cylinder for mast thrust, which is arranged wholly or partially within the aforementioned space.

[0026] In one design, the splash guard and apron extend downwards to the base plate. This allows the aforementioned installation space to be robustly sealed at the bottom, providing additional protection.

[0027] In one embodiment, the splash guard has a forward-facing opening that is closed by a drive wheel cover attached to the counterweight. If a skirt is formed at the front edge of the counterweight, it can also have an opening in the area of ​​the splash guard opening. In particular, the skirt can connect to the opening in the splash guard from both sides, thus effectively extending the splash guard to both sides. The forward-facing opening allows for easy inspection and, if necessary, maintenance and / or replacement of the drive wheel. The drive wheel cover can be attached to the counterweight by means of screws. The counterweight can have one or more contact surfaces adjacent to the drive wheel cover, against which the drive wheel cover rests.In particular, two such contact surfaces can be arranged behind the drive wheel cover on both sides of the opening. These contact surfaces form a fixed stop for the drive wheel cover, which withstands the impact loads that frequently occur in this area.

[0028] In one version, the drive wheel cover is made of cast iron. This choice of material results in a particularly coherent design.

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 shows a reach truck in a perspective view from an oblique angle from the front / below, Fig. 2 shows the base frame of the reach truck made of Fig. 1 In a perspective exploded view, Fig. 3, the counterweight of the reach truck is shown. Fig. 1 in a perspective view obliquely from the front / above with some vehicle components attached to it, Fig. 4 the counterweight made of Fig. 3 in a perspective view obliquely from behind / below, Fig. 5 the counterweight made of Fig. 3 in a perspective view from an oblique angle from the back and above.

[0030] The reach truck from Fig. 1 The vehicle has two wheel arms 10, each with a load wheel 12 at its rear end. A counterweight 14 is located at the front of the vehicle, at the front end of the wheel arms 10. This counterweight extends essentially across the entire width of the vehicle and forms the front end of the reach truck. It is made of cast iron, specifically spheroidal graphite cast iron, which is particularly easy to machine.

[0031] A push mast 16 is arranged between the two radar arms 10 and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A load-bearing device with two load forks 18 is attached to the push mast 16.

[0032] The reach truck is electrically driven and has a drive unit with a steerable drive wheel 20. A steel base plate 22 is visible on the underside of the reach truck, located below the counterweight 14. Two support elements 24, arranged on either side of the counterweight 14 on its underside, project downwards beyond the base plate 22.

[0033] Above the counterweight 14 is a driver's cab 26 with a driver's protective roof 28 and a driver's seat 30 arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on one right side of the cab 26. At the front end of the vehicle, a step 32 formed in the counterweight 14 can be seen. Also clearly visible is a drive wheel cover 34 located centrally at the front of the vehicle, which, like the counterweight 14, is made of cast iron.

[0034] The construction of a base frame 36 of the reach truck, including the counterweight 14, is shown in Fig. 2 The figure shows the two wheel arms 10, each with a mounting for a load wheel 12. The wheel arms 10 are part of a welded assembly 38, which, in addition to the wheel arms 10, includes a crossbeam 40 and the horizontally arranged base plate 22. The crossbeam 40 is a vertically arranged steel plate. A guide rail 42 for the push mast 16 is shown on the inner sides of each wheel arm 10.

[0035] The counterweight 14 and the welded assembly 38 are bolted together by means of four vertically arranged bolted connections 44 between the base plate 22 and the counterweight 14, and two horizontally arranged bolted connections 46 between the crossbeam 40 and the counterweight 14. On two opposite sides of the counterweight 14 and on its underside, there are two fastening devices 48 projecting downwards beyond the base plate 22, each designed to fasten one of the support elements 24.

[0036] This is good in Fig. 3It is evident that the two support elements 24 are mounted on the counterweight 14. It is also evident that the counterweight 14 has a skirt 50 extending far downwards on its underside, which runs around the side edges and the front edge of the counterweight 14. In the middle of the front edge, it has an opening 52, at the side edges of which it connects to a splash guard 54 (see Fig. 4 ) transitions. This opening 52 is closed by the drive wheel cover 34.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be Fig. 3It can be seen that the counterweight 14 serves as a support for other vehicle components. These include a hydraulic tank 56, a hydraulic motor 58, a drive motor 60, a steering motor 62, and an electronic control unit 64. All these components are firmly connected to the counterweight 14 by means of special fastening devices, mostly in the form of threaded holes, which are formed on the counterweight 14. The drive motor 60 and the steering motor 62 are mounted on a drive unit base plate 74, which is bolted to the counterweight 14.

[0038] The in Fig. 3The dashed line illustrates a contour 66 of the front of the vehicle at the level of the step 32. This contour 66 is formed by the counterweight 14. A leading edge 68 of the step 32 follows this contour 66. A depth 70 of the step surface, measured in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and indicated by a double arrow on the step surface 32, has a maximum value approximately at the position of the double arrow, i.e., in a central section of the leading edge 68. The depth 70 decreases more rapidly from this central section towards the driver's seat 30, which is located approximately above the hydraulic tank 56, than in the opposite direction.The tread surface is therefore approximately trapezoidal, with the front edge 68 of the step 32 forming the base of the trapezoid, and the angle between the front edge 68 and the right leg 72 of the trapezoid, which points towards the driver's seat, being smaller than the angle between the front edge 68 and the left leg of the trapezoid, which is further away from the driver's seat. To the rear and on both sides, the step 32 is bounded by a substantially vertically oriented, curved surface 76, which is formed by the counterweight 14.

[0039] Furthermore, one can recognize in Fig. 3 Two mounting holes 94 are arranged in the tread surface. These are intended for screw mounting of a non-slip plastic insert with ribs (not shown).

[0040] Fig. 4Figure 1 shows the counterweight 14 in a view taken obliquely from the rear / below. This view reveals that the counterweight 14 is bounded at its rear end by a substantially flat, vertically oriented rear surface 78, which is bolted to the cross member 40 of the base frame 36. On its underside, the counterweight 14 has a substantially flat lower surface 80, which is positioned at a slightly lower height than the running surface. From this lower surface 80, the splash guard 54, which surrounds the drive wheel 20 in a ring-like fashion, extends downwards. The skirt 50 also extends downwards from the lower surface 80. The skirt 50 and the splash guard 54 terminate at the base plate 22. At both sides of the opening 52 in the skirt 50, the two sides of the skirt 50 and the splash guard 54 merge into one another.

[0041] The drive wheel cover 34 is attached to the counterweight 14 by a screw connection (not shown). More clearly visible is one of two webs 96 formed on the counterweight 14 and located behind the drive wheel cover 34, on either side of the opening 52. These webs 96 each form a stable contact surface for the drive wheel cover 34.

[0042] Four threaded holes 82 are provided in the counterweight 14 for screwing it to the base plate 22. The two fastening devices 48 for the support elements 24 are also clearly visible. These are located on both sides of the counterweight 14 and each has a vertically arranged, rectangular-section mounting base onto which a support element 24 with a corresponding receptacle is positively fitted.

[0043] Further functional elements of the reach truck can be arranged in the installation space located below the lower surface 80, which is bounded to the front by the apron 50, to the sides by the lateral edges of the apron 50 and by the adjacent inner surfaces of the wheel arms 10 and by the splash guard 54, and to the bottom by the base plate 22. Fig. 4 Figure 84 shows a mounting surface 84 with four mounting holes for attaching a thrust cylinder (not shown) for the thrust mast 16.

[0044] Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows that the counterweight 14 above the lower surface 80 has a large through-opening 86, which accommodates the drive unit with part of the drive motor 60 or an adjoining gearbox including the drive wheel carrier. On both sides of the through-opening 86, there are numerous mounting holes arranged in two rows 90 for attaching the drive unit base plate 74.

[0045] Furthermore, the counterweight 14 has two mounting bases 88 located near its front end on both sides, to which a support structure for the driver's cab 26 is attached. These mounting bases 88 are designed as cylindrical threaded bosses with a central threaded bore. Three further mounting bases 90 are provided for attaching the hydraulic motor 58. List of reference symbols:

[0046] 10 Wheel arms 12 Load wheel 14 Counterweight 16 Push mast 18 Load fork 20 Drive wheel 22 Base plate 24 Support element 26 Driver's cab 28 Driver's protective roof 30 Driver's seat 32 Step 34 Drive wheel cover 36 Base frame 38 Welded assembly 40 Crossbeam 42 Guide rail 44 Vertical bolting 46 Horizontal bolting 48 Fastening device 50 Skirt 52 Opening 54 Splash guard 56 Hydraulic tank 58 Hydraulic motor 60 Drive motor 62 Steering motor 64 Electronic control 66 Front contour 68 Leading edge 70 Depth 72 Leg 74 Drive unit base plate 76 Vertical surface 78 Rear surface 80 Bottom surface 82 Threaded hole 84 Mounting surface 86 Opening 88 Mounting base 90 Mounting base 94 Mounting hole 96 Web

Claims

1. A reach truck with two wheel arms (10) at the rear ends of which a load wheel (12) is arranged in each case, a travel drive unit with a steerable drive wheel (20), a counterweight made of cast iron (14) which is arranged in a front region of the reach truck, characterized in that the reach truck further has two support elements (24) which are arranged close to the ground, such that they are supported on the ground from a particular inclination of the reach truck in order to prevent the reach truck from tipping over, wherein the reach truck has a retractable mast (16) which is arranged between the wheel arms (12) and in that it has two fastening apparatuses (48) which are arranged on an underside of the counterweight (14) and on opposing sides of the counterweight (14) and to which one of the support elements (24) is fastened in each case.

2. The reach truck according to claim 1, characterized in that the counterweight (14) is integrated in a base frame (36) of the reach truck, wherein the base frame (36) has a welded assembly (38) with the two wheel arms (10) and the counterweight (14) is connected to the welded assembly (38).

3. The reach truck according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reach truck comprises a horizontally arranged base plate (22) which is arranged at least partially below the counterweight (14).

4. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reach truck has a driver's cab (26) with a load-bearing structure, wherein the counterweight (14) has a fastening apparatus to which the load-bearing structure is fastened.

5. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the counterweight (14) forms a front end of the reach truck and / or extends over the entire width of the reach truck.

6. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the counterweight (14) comprises a treading step which is arranged at a middle height of the counterweight on a front side of the reach truck and which has a horizontal treading surface with a front edge, wherein a contour (66) of the front side of the reach truck at the height of the treading surface is formed by the counterweight (14) and the front edge (68) of the treading surface follows this contour (66).

7. The reach truck according to claim 6, characterized in that the treading surface is delimited at the sides and rear by a substantially vertically arranged surface (76) of the counterweight (14).

8. The reach truck according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the treading surface, measured in the vehicle longitudinal direction, has a variable depth (70) which assumes a maximum value in a middle portion of the front edge (68) and from there decreases towards a side of the reach truck on which a driver's seat (30) is arranged more quickly than in the opposite direction.

9. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening apparatuses (48) have fastening bases which project from an underside of the counterweight (14).

10. The reach truck according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening base projects downwards beyond a base plate (22) of the reach truck.

11. The reach truck according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the support elements (24) each have a receiving portion which is mounted in a form-fitting manner on one of the fastening bases.

12. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the counterweight (14) comprises a splash guard which is arranged on an underside of the counterweight (14) and which surrounds the steerable drive wheel in an annular manner and maintains a distance from a lateral edge of the counterweight, wherein the counterweight (14) has an apron (50) which is arranged on the lateral and / or a front edge of the counterweight (14) and which extends downwards from a bottom surface (80) of the counterweight (14), wherein the splash guard (54) also extends downwards from the bottom surface (80) of the counterweight (14).

13. The reach truck according to claim 12, characterized in that the splash guard (54) and the apron (50) extend downwards to the base plate (22).

14. The reach truck according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the splash guard (54) has a forward-facing opening (52) which is closed by a drive wheel cover (34) fastened to the counterweight (14).

15. The reach truck according to claim 14, characterized in that the drive wheel cover (34) is manufactured from cast iron.