Loading fork for attachment to an excavator arm

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a loading fork for attachment to an excavator or a comparable construction or work machine.

[0002] Such loading forks are used for transporting or loading loads that are stored, for example, as bulk goods in a bag or stacked on transport or Euro pallets. Loading forks are also well suited for loading hay bales.

[0003] Loading forks are typically used in warehousing and are used by industrial trucks such as forklifts, wheel loaders and tractors to transport and / or load loads.

[0004] Common loading forks consist of a fork back, which connects the fork to the industrial truck or work machine, and two fork tines that can grip the transport pallet or pick up a load. Using a lifting mechanism, which can be operated electromechanically or hydraulically, the loading fork, along with the load it holds, can be lifted from the ground and then transported. The load is then set down at the destination.

[0005] It is also known to temporarily attach such loading forks to work machines such as tractors or excavators. Lifting a load with such a loading fork shifts the center of gravity of the system, consisting of the work machine and loading fork, which can lead to instability during loading. In particular, the stability of the work machine can be compromised. In particular, a rotating movement of an excavator can quickly lead to a tipping moment, threatening the excavator to tip over or overturn.

[0006] DE 297 07 858 U1 discloses a loading fork for attachment to an excavator arm, comprising a mast in the shape of an inverted large L with two vertical beams and two angled cross beams; a fork carrier which is arranged in the region of the free end of the vertical beams and comprises a fork back and two parallel fork tines, wherein the fork tines, together with the fork back, delimit a load-bearing area and extend substantially in the same direction as the cross beams; and a head part which can be attached to the excavator arm.

[0007] The invention is based on the technical problem of designing an improved loading fork specifically for attachment to an excavator, which eliminates or at least significantly reduces the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, a loading fork with improved handling is to be created, allowing even heavier loads to be transported safely.

[0008] The solution to the problem is based on a loading fork with a mast and fork carriage, which includes a fork back and two fork tines.

[0009] This object is achieved by a loading fork with the features of claim 1. The loading fork according to the invention comprises a mast in the shape of an inverted capital L with a vertical beam and an angled cross beam. The fork carrier is arranged in the region of the free end of the vertical beam and comprises a fork back and two fork tines. The fork tines, together with the fork back, delimit a load-receiving portion and preferably extend substantially in the same direction as the cross beam. They are spaced apart from the latter. A vertical projection of the cross beam into the plane of the load-receiving portion runs parallel to the fork tines, with the cross beam enclosing an angle with the plane of the load-receiving portion, which angle is preferably in the range between 60° and 120°. The fork tines preferably extend in the same direction as the cross beam with respect to the vertical beam.According to the invention, the loading fork further comprises a head part which is arranged in the region of the free end of the cross member and can be attached to the excavator arm.

[0010] The head section is a coupling piece and can be connected in a conventional manner to a corresponding coupling piece of an excavator arm. In particular, this allows for a fixed yet detachable connection. A quick-change system can preferably be used, allowing the excavator arm to be connected directly to the head section without the need for tools. Such quick-change systems have proven effective for quickly and automatically changing excavator buckets of different sizes or other work equipment, for example, and are also excellently suited for use with a loading fork according to the invention.

[0011] The advantageous design of the loading fork with a large L-shaped mast allows the loading fork, complete with its load, to be easily attached to an excavator. The center of gravity of the system consisting of excavator, loading fork, and load is shifted closer to the excavator. This makes the system more stable and less likely to tip over. This type of system can preferably transport a heavier load than a loading fork without a crossbar with a head section, or a loading fork with a mast attached to the front of the excavator.

[0012] Advantageously, the head section can be arranged on the cross member such that the lateral distance of the head section from the vertical member corresponds to the distance from the center of the load on the load support to the vertical member. In other words, the excavator arm grips the load, including the loading fork, essentially centrally at the common center of gravity.

[0013] Centrally refers specifically to the fact that the excavator arm is connected to the loading fork at the center of gravity of the load when viewed from above. This allows for improved handling of the loading fork and load.

[0014] Preferably, the vertical beam of the loading fork and / or the angled cross beam of the loading fork are designed as hollow chamber profiles. This allows for the creation of a weight-optimized loading fork with high mechanical stability.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vertical beam is telescopic. The distance between the head section and the load support can be adjusted. This creates a loading fork that can be adapted directly to changing requirements at the site, for example. The vertical beam can preferably be extended and retracted, as well as locked, without the need for tools. Furthermore, this allows the loading fork to be stored in a space-saving manner when not in use.

[0016] Preferably, the distance between the forks can be adjusted. For this purpose, holes can be provided in the fork back, for example, to bolt the forks to the fork back at different distances. The forks can be quickly adjusted to different load geometries.

[0017] Furthermore, the distance between the forks can also be adjusted hydraulically. A fully hydraulic quick-change system is preferably used for this purpose, in which the hydraulic control of the adjustment movement is carried out via hydraulic channels of the fully hydraulic quick-change system. In particular, it is conceivable that, in addition to adjusting the distance, the forks can also optionally be used to clamp the load.

[0018] Advantageously, the fork carriage is designed to accommodate a transport pallet. A transport or Euro pallet is preferably standardized and forms a platform on which the load can be placed, allowing the forks to be inserted into designated openings in the transport pallet and grip the load underneath.

[0019] Advantageously, the vertical beam and the cross beam form an angle, particularly in the range between 60° and 120°. Particularly preferably, the angle is an obtuse angle in the range between 90° and 120°. This makes it technically easy to ensure that the head section extends into the load support in a vertical plan view, allowing the load to be lifted and transported stably. In particular, the range between 90° and 120° represents a favorable compromise between material consumption and the stability of the loading fork. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the angle is 90°.

[0020] Particularly preferred is that the head section can be positioned at different distances from the vertical beam of the mast. This allows for quick adaptation of the loading fork to different loads to be transported.

[0021] It goes without saying that the headboard can also be welded, riveted, or glued to the crossbar. A one-piece construction of the crossbar and headboard is also conceivable.

[0022] Particularly preferably, a tilter, a rotator, or a tilt-rotator is arranged between the head section and the excavator arm. This allows the loading fork to be tilted and / or rotated during operation. This flexibility of the loading fork enables loading in the tightest of spaces. In particular, the stress on the tilter, the rotator, and / or the tilt-rotator is reduced, as the aforementioned components are preferably engaged and operated at the center of gravity of the load, so that only a small lever moment acts on the tilter, the rotator, and / or the tilt-rotator when moving the load. This allows a smaller tilt-rotator to be used, or heavier loads to be transported.

[0023] Preferably, a rotation plane of the rotator or tilt rotator is parallel to a plane of the top surface of the forks. A rotation plane of the rotator or tilt rotator is parallel to a rotation plane formed by the top surface of the forks. This allows a load to be rotated on the forks without any wobble under the rotator or tilt rotator. This enables safe rotation of the load without readjusting the tilt rotator.

[0024] The designation "inverted capital L" is to be understood in this case in an abstract and broad sense; in particular, it can be understood as any shape with a first leg and an angled second leg. The term "capital L" is also not necessarily to be understood as a right angle. The angle enclosed by the legs can, in particular, range between 60° and 120°.

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1a system comprising an excavator with excavator arm and loading fork; Figure 2the loading fork according to Figure 1 , perspective; Figure 3a a loading fork with tilt rotator, perspective; and Figure 3b the loading fork with tilt rotator according to Figure 3a , from the side.

[0026] The system, designated overall by 10, comprises an excavator 12, to whose excavator arm 14 a loading fork 20 is attached by means of a quick-change system 16. The excavator arm 14 can be raised, lowered, and pivoted by a hydraulic system 18. This allows the excavator 12 to pick up and transport a load (not shown), with the loading fork 20 gripping underneath the load.

[0027] The center of gravity of the load is ideally located vertically below the excavator arm 14. This minimizes the tipping moment introduced by the load onto the excavator.

[0028] According to Figure 2 The loading fork 20 has a mast 22 shaped like an inverted capital L. The mast 22 has a vertical beam 24 and an angled cross beam 26. In the example shown, the vertical beam 24 and the cross beam 26 form an angle of 90°. A stiffener 27 is located inside the angle tip between the two beams 24 and 26.

[0029] At the bottom, at the free end of the vertical beam 24, there is a fork carriage 28. The fork carriage 28 comprises a fork back 30 and two fork tines 32. The fork tines 32 extend parallel in the direction of the cross beam 26 and span a flat surface, which forms a virtual load-bearing surface 33. The fork tines 32 extend away from the same side of the vertical beam 24 as the cross beam 26. The fork tines 32 and the cross beam 26 each form the U-legs, and the vertical beam 24 forms the base of a horizontal U.

[0030] The quick-change system 16 comprises a head section 34, which is arranged in the region of the free end of the cross member 26. The head section 34 can, for example, comprise an adapter plate or a quick-change adapter and serves to quickly and automatically attach the loading fork 20 to the excavator arm 14 or to detach it from the excavator arm after use.

[0031] In particular, the loading fork can be connected and released automatically. When connected or mounted, the loading fork 20 is firmly connected to the excavator arm 14 and, in particular, cannot swing freely.

[0032] The head part 34 is attached to the cross member 26 in such a way that, in plan view, it projects into the load receptacle 33 defined by the fork tines 32. Here, the head part 34 is positioned approximately above the geometric center 35 of the load receptacle 33 in plan view. The center of gravity of the loaded load is generally located substantially above the geometric center of the load, particularly with a homogeneous load, such as a transport pallet or Euro pallet or a hay bale.

[0033] The head part 34 is arranged here above the geometric center 35 of the load, so that a horizontal distance 37 between the head part 34 and the vertical beam 24 corresponds to a horizontal distance 37 of the center of gravity of the load to the vertical beam 24.

[0034] For clarification, the Figure 2a projection line 36 is drawn between the geometric center 35 of the load support 33 and the center of the head part 34, on which approximately the center of gravity of the load (not shown) lies.

[0035] In the embodiment shown, the vertical beam 24 and the angled cross beam 26 are made of hollow chamber profiles. The vertical beam 24 is telescopic, allowing its length to be varied. In particular, this allows the vertical distance between the head section 34 and the load support 33 to be adjusted.

[0036] The fork tines 32 are movable on the fork back 30 and can be fixed at a specific distance from each other by a locking mechanism. This allows the load support 33 to be adjusted to the dimensions of the load.

[0037] The forks 32 can in particular grip under a transport pallet as a load in order to lift it and transport it to another location.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the vertical beam 24 and the transverse beam 26 form an angle of 90°. It is understood that other angles, particularly in the range between 90° and 120°, are also conceivable.

[0039] In Figure 3 A loading fork 20 is shown, which is connected to a tilt rotator 40 by means of the head part 34. The loading fork 20 can be pivoted sideways and / or rotated by means of the tilt rotator 40. The tilt rotator 40 has a base part corresponding to the head part 34 for connecting the tilt rotator 40 to the loading fork 20.

[0040] The Tilt-Rotator 40 also has a head section on its underside, by means of which it can be attached to the excavator arm (not shown).

[0041] By rotating the load essentially close to its center of gravity, the load can be rotated with little effort. A rotation plane of the rotator or tilt rotator 40 is parallel to a rotation plane formed by the top side of the fork tines 32. The rotation plane of the rotator or tilt rotator 40 and the rotation plane of the top side of the fork tines extend at an angle of 0° to each other. This allows the load to be rotated on the fork tines 32 without any wobble under the rotator or tilt rotator 40, which is attached to the excavator arm 14. This enables safe rotation, for example, of a Euro pallet with heavy paving stones, without readjusting a tilting movement of the tilt rotator 40.

[0042] The Tilt-Rotator 40 allows, in addition to the rotary movement or rotation, a swivel movement in the drawing plane of the Figure 3bDue to the advantageous arrangement of the tilt rotator 40 and the head section 34, the pivoting movement can take place essentially close to the center of gravity of the load, so that the load can be pivoted with little effort.

[0043] The invention has been comprehensively described and explained with reference to the drawings and the description. The description and explanation are to be understood as exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments or variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon use of the present invention and upon careful analysis of the drawings, the disclosure, and the following claims.

[0044] In the claims, the words "comprising" and "having" do not exclude the presence of further elements. The undefined article "a" or "an" does not exclude the presence of a plurality. A single part, element, or unit can perform the functions of several of the units recited in the claims. The mere reciting of some measures in several different dependent claims should not be understood to mean that a combination of these measures cannot also be used advantageously. Reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting. Reference symbol

[0045] 10System 12Excavator 14Excavator arm 16Quick change system 18Hydraulics 20Loading fork 22Mast 24Vertical beam 26Cross beam 27Stiffener 28Fork carriage 30Fork back 32Fork tines 33Load support 34Head section 35Center point of 33 36Projection line (between 34 and 35) 37Distance 40Tilt rotator

Claims

1. Loading fork (20) for attachment to an excavator arm (14), comprising: a mast (22) in the shape of an inverted capital L with a vertical bar (24) and an angled transverse bar (26); a fork carrier (28), which is arranged in the region of the free end of the vertical bar (24) and comprises a fork back (30) as well as two parallel fork tines (32), wherein the fork tines (32) together with the fork back (30) delimit a load receptacle (33) and extend substantially in the same direction as the transverse bar (26); and a head part (34), which is arranged in the region of the free end of the transverse bar (26) and can be attached to the excavator arm (14).

2. Loading fork (20) according to Claim 1, wherein the head part (34) can be arranged on the transverse bar (26) in such a way that the lateral distance between the head part (34) and the vertical bar (24) corresponds to the distance between the centre (35) of the load receptacle (33) and the vertical bar (24).

3. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical bar (24) and / or the angled transverse bar (26) are designed as hollow chamber profiles.

4. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical bar (24) is telescopic.

5. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance of the fork tines (32) to one another can be adjusted.

6. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fork carrier (28) is designed to receive a transport pallet.

7. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical bar (24) and the transverse bar (26) form an obtuse angle, preferably in the range of between 90° and 120°.

8. Loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the head part (34) can be arranged at different distances from the vertical bar (24) of the mast (22).

9. System (10) comprising an excavator (12) with an excavator arm (14) and a loading fork (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading fork (20) is attached to the excavator arm (14).

10. System (10) according to Claim 9, wherein a tilting device, a rotator or a tilt rotator (40) is arranged between the excavator arm (14) and the head part (34).

11. System (10) according to Claim 10, wherein the rotational plane of the rotator or tilt rotator (40) is parallel to a plane of the upper side of the fork tines (32).