TREATMENT MACHINE WITH COMPRESSED GAS TANK

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of handling machines.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a handling machine, such as a forklift, which is equipped with at least one tank containing pressurized gas. Technological background

[0003] Document US7284627 relates to a forklift equipped with one or more gas tanks. This document presents, in relation to its [ Fig. 1], a state of the art in which the gas tanks are arranged transversely, horizontally, behind the driver's cab of the forklift. This arrangement of the tanks poses visibility problems for the driver, particularly when the forklift is traveling in reverse. In addition, it does not provide satisfactory protection for the gas tanks. This document US7284627 proposes to solve these problems by arranging the gas tanks in a removable housing which is housed below the driver's seat. However, this arrangement is not entirely satisfactory either. Indeed, it leads to reducing the ground clearance of the forklift and / or increasing its height. This is not possible for all types of forklifts and in particular for all-terrain forklifts which must maintain a high ground clearance and whose height must be limited as much as possible. Summary

[0004] An idea underlying the invention is to propose a handling machine equipped with at least one tank containing pressurized gas and in which the arrangement of the tank does not impair the driver's visibility and offers satisfactory protection of the tank, without reducing the ground clearance or increasing the height of the handling machine.

[0005] According to a first object, the invention proposes a handling machine comprising: a chassis; a front axle shaft and a rear axle shaft extending transversely and respectively equipped with two front wheels and two rear wheels; a load handling device which is mounted at the front of the chassis, a driver's cab fixed to the chassis and equipped with a seat; the driver's cab comprising a cab structure having two side arches, each side arch having a front pillar and a rear pillar connected to each other; and at least one tank containing pressurized gas which is fixed to the chassis and is positioned, at least partly between the rear pillar of one of the side arches and one of the rear wheels.

[0006] In other words, the tank has at least one point located on a straight line connecting a point on one of the rear wheels and a point on the rear upright of one of the side arches.

[0007] Thus, given the aforementioned arrangement of the tank, it does not impair the driver's visibility, particularly when the machine is reversing, without reducing the ground clearance or increasing the height of the handling machine. In addition, the tank is positioned outside the driver's cab, which ensures greater driver safety, particularly in the event of a gas leak or fire.

[0008] According to embodiments, such a handling machine may have one or more of the following characteristics.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the cockpit is carried by the chassis between the front wheel shaft and the rear wheel shaft.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the side arch and the rear wheel between which the tank is positioned are arranged on the same side of the handling machine.

[0011] According to one embodiment, each rear upright comprises an upper portion and a lower portion inclined relative to each other, the lower portion being inclined rearwardly towards the upper portion, the tank being positioned between the lower portion of the rear upright and the rear wheel.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the upper portion of the rear pillars runs along a rear windshield on either side thereof.

[0013] According to one embodiment, each front upright comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the front upright running along one of the side edges of a front windshield of the forklift and the lower portion of the front upright being arched so as to fit an upper portion of one of the front wheels.

[0014] According to one embodiment, each side arch comprises an upper portion and a lower portion which extend substantially horizontally and which connect the rear upright and the front upright to each other.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the upper portion of the rear pillar is inclined forwardly from the lower portion.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the tank has the shape of a cylinder of revolution around a central axis X, said central axis X being inclined, from bottom to top, towards the rear. This makes it possible to optimize the dimensions of the tank according to the geometry of the space available between the lower portion of the rear upright and the rear wheel.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the lower portion of the rear upright extends along a Y axis and, in projection in a longitudinal plane, said Y axis and the central X axis are parallel to each other or together form an angle of less than 30°, advantageously less than 15° and preferably less than 10°. This makes it possible to further optimize the dimensions of the tank.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the handling machine comprises at least two tanks containing pressurized gas and fixed to the chassis, the two tanks being respectively positioned between the rear upright of one and the other of the side arches and one of the rear wheels. Thus, at least one tank is positioned on either side of the handling machine.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the machine comprises at least two tanks containing pressurized gas and fixed to the chassis, the two tanks being positioned between the rear upright of one of the side arches and one of the rear wheels.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the two reservoirs have the shape of a cylinder of revolution respectively around a central axis X and a central axis X', said central axes X and X' being parallel to each other.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the central axes X and X' are inclined, from bottom to top towards the rear.

[0022] According to one embodiment, in projection in a longitudinal plane, the Y axis and the central axes X are parallel or the Y axis forms with each of the central axes X and X' an angle less than 30°, advantageously less than 15° and preferably less than 10°. This makes it possible to optimize the dimensions of the tanks according to the geometry of the space available between the lower portion of the rear upright and the rear wheel.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the central axis X of the tank extends substantially in a longitudinal plane passing through one of the front wheels and through one of the rear wheels, said front and rear wheels being arranged on the same side of the handling machine.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the handling machine further comprises a rear compartment fixed to the chassis behind the driver's cabin.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the handling machine further comprises a motor which is configured to ensure the movement of the forklift.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the engine is housed in the rear compartment.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the engine is coupled to at least one of the front and rear wheel shafts and, preferably, to both the front and rear wheel shafts by a transmission device.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the engine is a heat engine which is connected to the at least one tank by a supply circuit and which is intended to be supplied with the gas contained in said tank.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the tank contains hydrogen and the motor is an electric motor which is connected to an electrical power supply system, the electrical power supply system comprising a fuel cell which is connected to the at least one tank by a power supply circuit and which is intended to be supplied with the hydrogen contained in said tank.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the electrical power supply system further comprises an energy storage device comprising one or more batteries and / or one or more supercapacitors.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the fuel cell and / or the energy storage device are housed in the rear compartment.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the at least one tank contains a gas chosen from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and hydrogen.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the tank contains hydrogen and is suitable for storing hydrogen in the gaseous state at a maximum pressure of between 300 and 700 bars, for example of the order of 350 bars.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the rear compartment comprises a hood and one or more tanks containing pressurized gas which are positioned, horizontally, transversely and fixed on said hood.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the load handling device is a lifting mast.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the handling machine is a forklift.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the lifting mast comprises a load-carrying apron on which forks are fixed and which is mounted to move along the lifting mast.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the rear wheels are steered.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the rear wheels have a smaller diameter than the front wheels. This ensures better maneuverability of the handling machine. In addition, this leads to providing sufficient space between at least one of the rear wheels and the rear upright of one of the side arches to allow the positioning of a tank.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the side arches are connected to each other by crosspieces.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the ground clearance of the handling machine is greater than 160 mm and preferably greater than 250 mm. Brief description of the figures

[0042] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [ Fig. 1 ] There [ Fig. 1 ] illustrates a forklift according to a first embodiment. [ Fig.2 ] There [ Fig.2 ] illustrates a forklift according to a second embodiment. [ Fig. 3 ] There [ Fig. 3 ] illustrates a forklift according to a third embodiment. [ Fig.4 ] There [ Fig.4 ] schematically illustrates the powertrain of the forklift according to a first variant embodiment. Fig.5 ] There [ Fig.5 ] schematically illustrates the powertrain of the forklift according to a second embodiment variant. Description of the embodiments

[0043] By convention, the "longitudinal" direction of the handling machine corresponds to the front-rear orientation of the machine. Furthermore, the terms "rear" and "front", respectively designated "AR" and "AV" in the figures, are used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another in the longitudinal direction. The "transverse" direction is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0044] With reference to the [ Fig. 1 ], a handling machine, of the forklift type 1, is described according to a first embodiment.

[0045] The forklift 1 comprises a movable chassis 2. To this end, the forklift 1 comprises two wheel shafts, a front wheel shaft 3 and a rear wheel shaft 4, each of which is mounted on the chassis 2 along a transverse axis and is each equipped with two wheels, one on the left 5, 7 and the other on the right 6, 8. At least one of the front 3 and rear 4 wheel shafts is rotatably movable on the chassis 2. Preferably, both the front 3 and rear 4 wheel shafts are mounted rotatably on the chassis 2 and are coupled to a motor in order to ensure the movement of the forklift 1. In this case, the forklift 1 can thus be described as an all-terrain forklift, i.e. with four-wheel drive.

[0046] Advantageously, the rear wheels 7, 8 are steered and have a smaller diameter than the front wheels 5, 6. This makes it possible to optimize grip and provide a smaller turning radius for better maneuverability of the forklift 1.

[0047] The forklift 1 comprises a load handling device 9 which is mounted at the front of the chassis 2. The load handling device 9 is here a lifting mast which is carried at the front of the chassis 2 and which comprises a load-carrying apron on which the tool(s), such as a fork, are fixed and which is mounted to move vertically along the lifting mast between an extreme lowered position and an extreme raised position. The lifting mast can be actuated hydraulically by means of one or more hydraulic cylinders or by chains by means of a hydraulic motor.

[0048] Furthermore, the forklift 1 comprises a driver's cab 10 which is carried by the chassis 2, between the front wheel shaft 3 and the rear wheel shaft 4. This driver's cab 10 is equipped with a driver's station comprising a seat 11 on which the driver can sit to drive the forklift 1. The driver's station also comprises equipment for controlling the forklift 1, such as a steering wheel 12, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal and a control lever for the load handling device 9.

[0049] The driver's cab 10 comprises a cab structure comprising two side arches 13, 14 which in particular protect the driver in the event of the forklift 1 overturning. The side arches 13, 14 are connected to each other by crosspieces 34, 35. Each of the side arches 13, 14 extends substantially in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the forklift 1.

[0050] Each of the side arches 13, 14 comprises a rear upright 15, a front upright 16 as well as an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 18 which extend substantially horizontally. The upper portion 17 connects the upper ends of the rear upright 15 and the front upright 16 while the lower portion 18 connects the lower ends of the rear upright 15 and the front upright 16.

[0051] The front upright 16 comprises an upper portion 16a which runs along one of the lateral edges of the front windshield 19 of the forklift 1 and a lower portion 16b which is arched so as to fit an upper portion of one of the front wheels 5, 6.

[0052] Furthermore, the rear upright 15 comprises an upper portion 15a and a lower portion 15b inclined relative to each other. The upper portion 15a is inclined forward from the lower portion 15b. It runs along one of the lateral edges of the rear windshield 20 of the forklift 1. The lower portion 15b of the rear upright 15 is inclined rearward from the lower portion 18 of the side arch 13, 14 towards the upper portion 15a. The lower part 18 of the lateral arch 13, 14 is thus arranged in the longitudinal direction of the forklift 1 between one of the front wheels 5, 6 and one of the rear wheels 7, 8. The lower portion 15b of the rear upright 15 extends generally along an axis Y which, in projection in a longitudinal plane, is inclined at an angle α relative to a vertical axis of said longitudinal plane.

[0053] The forklift 1 also comprises one or more tanks 21 intended to contain pressurized gas. The tank(s) 21 may in particular contain a gas chosen from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and hydrogen. The tank 21 has a cylindrical shape of revolution around a central axis X.

[0054] In the embodiment variant in which the stored gas is hydrogen, the tank 21 is adapted to store hydrogen in the gaseous state at a maximum pressure of between 300 and 700 bars, for example of the order of 350 bars.

[0055] At the rear of the driver's cabin 10, the forklift 1 comprises a rear compartment 22 which is intended to house at least one motor configured to ensure the movement of the forklift 1.

[0056] In the embodiment illustrated in the [ Fig. 1], the tank 21 is fixed to the chassis 2 and is positioned between the rear upright 15 of one of the side arches 13, 14 and the rear wheels 7, 8 which is arranged on the same side of the forklift 1 as said side arch 13, 14. The tank 21 is more particularly positioned, at the front of the rear compartment 22, and axially between the lower portion 15b of the rear upright 15 of one of the side arches 13, 14 and the corresponding rear wheel 4. Thus, the tank 21 is positioned outside the driver's cabin 10, which ensures the safety of the driver, in particular in the event of a gas leak or fire.

[0057] The central axis X of the tank extends substantially in a longitudinal plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the forklift 1. This longitudinal plane advantageously passes through one of the front wheels 5, 6 and through one of the rear wheels 7, 8. Furthermore, in projection in said longitudinal plane, the central axis X of the tank 21 is inclined at an angle β relative to a vertical axis. The tank 21 is inclined in the same direction as the rear portion 15b of the rear upright 15 of the lateral arch 13, 14, that is to say from bottom to top, towards the rear of the forklift 1. Considered in projection in a longitudinal plane, the axes X and Y are parallel or form, with respect to each other, an angle which is less than 30°, advantageously less than 15° and preferably less than 10°. This makes it possible to optimize the dimensions of the tank 21 according to the space available between the lower portion 15b of the rear upright 15 and the rear wheel 4.

[0058] Such positioning of the tank 21 does not lead to a reduction in the ground clearance of the forklift 1, as in the prior art. Thus, the ground clearance is advantageously greater than 160 mm, preferably greater than 250 mm and for example of the order of 320 mm.

[0059] Advantageously, the forklift 1 comprises a tank 21, as described above, on each side of the forklift 1.

[0060] There [ Fig.4] schematically illustrates the powertrain of the forklift 1 according to a first embodiment variant. The powertrain comprises a motor 23 which is coupled to at least one of the wheel shafts 3, 4 and advantageously to both wheel shafts 3, 4 by a transmission device 24. According to an embodiment variant, the transmission device 24 is a mechanical device. Alternatively, the transmission device 24 is a hydraulic transmission device. In such a case, the motor 23 is coupled to a pump which drives hydraulic motors for each of the two wheel shafts 3, 4.

[0061] In this embodiment, the engine 23 is a combustion engine which is connected to the tank(s) 21 by a supply circuit 25 and which is supplied with the gas stored in the tank(s) 21.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the motor 23 is coupled to a pump allowing the hydraulic actuation of the lifting mast. According to another embodiment, the forklift 1 comprises another motor, for example electric, which is coupled to the pump allowing the hydraulic actuation of the lifting mast.

[0063] There [ Fig.5 ] schematically illustrates the powertrain of the forklift 1 according to a second variant. The motor 23 is also coupled to at least one of the wheel shafts 3, 4 and advantageously to both wheel shafts 3, 4 by a transmission device 24. In this embodiment, the motor 23 is an electric motor. It is powered by an electrical power supply system 26.

[0064] The electrical power supply system 26 notably comprises an energy storage device 27 comprising one or more batteries and / or one or more supercapacitors.

[0065] The power supply system 26 also comprises a fuel cell 28. The fuel cell 28 and the energy storage device 27 are electrically connected, on the one hand, to each other and on the other hand, in parallel to the engine 23.

[0066] The fuel cell 28 is connected to the tank(s) 21 by a supply circuit 29 and is thus intended to be supplied with the hydrogen stored in the tank(s) 21. The supply circuit 29 is in particular equipped with a pressure reducer for reducing the pressure of the hydrogen. The fuel cell 28 is, in addition, equipped with an air supply compressor for compressing the combustion air at the inlet of the cells of the fuel cell 28. The fuel cell 28 may also comprise a humidifying device for humidifying the hydrogen and the air at the inlet of the fuel cell 28.

[0067] The power supply system 26 further comprises a DC / DC voltage converter 29 which is connected, on one side, to the fuel cell 28 and on the other side to the motor 23 and to the energy storage device 27. The DC / DC voltage converter 29 makes it possible to convert the voltage level delivered by the fuel cell 28 to the voltage level required by the motor 27 and the energy storage device 27.

[0068] In a manner known per se, such a fuel cell 28 is the seat of an oxidation-reduction reaction which transforms the hydrogen coming from the pressurized gas tank 21 and the oxygen in the air into electricity, water and heat. According to one embodiment, the electrical power supply system 26 is also housed, in whole or in part, in the rear compartment 22.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the motor 23 is coupled to a pump allowing the hydraulic actuation of the lifting mast. According to another embodiment, the forklift 1 also comprises a dedicated electric motor, not illustrated, which is connected to the electrical power system 26 and is coupled to a pump allowing the hydraulic actuation of the lifting mast.

[0070] There [ Fig.2 ] illustrates a forklift 1 according to a second embodiment. This embodiment differs from that described above in relation to the [ Fig. 1] in that two tanks 30, 31 containing pressurized gas are placed between the rear upright 15 of one of the side arches 13, 14 and the corresponding rear wheel 7, 8. The central axes X and X' of the two pressurized gas tanks 30, 31 are arranged parallel to each other. The central axes X and X' extend substantially in a longitudinal plane. Furthermore, as in the embodiment of the [ Fig. 1 ], each of the tanks 30, 31 is inclined in the same direction as the rear portion 15b of the rear upright 15 of the side arch 13. In other words, the axes X and X' are parallel to Y or form an angle with respect to said axis Y which is less than 30°, advantageously less than 15° and preferably less than 10°.

[0071] Advantageously, the forklift 1 comprises two tanks 30, 31, as described above, on each side of the forklift 1.

[0072] There [ Fig. 3] illustrates a forklift 1 according to a third embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of the [ Fig. 1 ] in that it further comprises one or more tanks 32, 33 containing pressurized gas which are positioned, horizontally, transversely and fixed to the hood 34 of the rear compartment 22. This makes it possible to increase the gas storage capacity without excessively impairing the driver's visibility.

[0073] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0074] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprise" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

[0075] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1. A handling machine (1) including: - a chassis (2), - a front wheel shaft (3) and a rear wheel shaft (4) extending transversely and respectively fitted with two front wheels (5, 6) and two rear wheels (7, 8), - a load handling device (9) that is mounted on the front of the chassis (2), - a driving cab (10) fastened to the chassis (2) and fitted with a seat (11), the driving cab (10) including a cab structure including two lateral arches (13, 14), each lateral arch (13, 14) including a front upright (16) and a rear upright (15) that are connected to one another, characterised by - at least one tank (21, 30, 31) containing pressurized gas that is fastened to the chassis (2) and positioned, at least in part, between the rear upright (15) of one of the lateral arches (13, 14) and one of the rear wheels (7, 8).

2. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rear upright (15) includes an upper portion (15a) and a lower portion (15b) that are inclined in relation to one another, the lower portion (15b) being inclined rearward toward the upper portion (15a), and wherein the tank (21, 30, 31) is positioned between the lower portion (15b) of the rear upright (15) and the rear wheel (7, 8).

3. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape of the tank (21, 30, 31) is a cylinder of revolution about a central axis X, said central axis X being inclined, from bottom to top, toward the rear.

4. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claims 2 and 3 in combination, wherein the lower portion (15b) of the rear upright (15) extends along an axis Y, and wherein, in projection on a longitudinal plane, said axis Y and the central axis X are parallel to one another or together form an angle of less than 30°.

5. The handling machine (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, including at least two tanks (21, 30, 31) containing pressurized gas that are fastened to the chassis (2), the two tanks (21, 30, 31) being positioned respectively between the rear upright (15) of each of the lateral arches (13, 14) and one of the rear wheels (7, 8).

6. The handling machine (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, including at least two tanks (30, 31) containing pressurized gas that are fastened to the chassis (2), the two tanks (30, 31) being positioned between the rear upright (15) of one of the lateral arches (13, 14) and one of the rear wheels (7, 8).

7. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shape of the two tanks (30, 31) is a cylinder of revolution respectively about a central axis X and a central axis X', said central axes X and X' being parallel to one another.

8. The handling machine (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further including a rear compartment (22) fastened to the chassis (2) behind the driving cab (10).

9. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claim 8, further including a motor (23) that is designed to move the power lift truck (1) and that is housed in the rear compartment (22).

10. The handling machine (1) as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the rear compartment (22) includes a cover (34) and further includes one or more tanks (32, 33) containing pressurized gas that are positioned horizontally and transversely, and fastened to said cover (34).

11. The handling machine (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one tank (21) contains one of the following gases: liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and hydrogen.

12. The handling machine (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the load handling device (9) is a lifting mast.