Lift truck frame

Abstract

A frame of a lift truck comprising a platform (2) designed to support a plurality of components of a lift truck, at least one side panel (3), whose face (4) facing towards the outside of the frame (1) is designed to form a respective side face of the lift truck, the frame (1) has a front section (5), designed to support at least a pair of wheels (26) of the lift truck, and a rear section (9), designed to house a ballast (27) of the lift truck, which extend along the platform (2); between the rear section (9) and the front section (5) there is a compartment (7) designed to house a battery (28) of the lift truck, delimited laterally by at least part of the side panel (3) and having a bottom wall (8) defined by at least part of the platform (2); the rear section (6) comprises a single rear wall (9) having a recess for receiving a part of the ballast (27) of the lift truck, and in that the rear wall (9) delimits part of the compartment (7) designed to house the battery (28) of the lift truck.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a frame of a lift truck.

[0002] In this specific case, but without limiting the scope of the invention, the frame according to the invention is intended for a counterbalanced lift truck.

[0003] The Applicant has felt the need to design a frame of a lift truck which can have a structure compatible with a plurality of models, for example which differ in terms of the type of battery installed, and which at the same time has a compact and functional structure, therefore maximising the use of the spaces available for housing mechanical, electrical and electronic components which are essential for the operation of the lift truck.

[0004] These needs are met by a frame of a lift truck as described in independent claim 1.

[0005] Further features of the invention are described in the accompanying dependent claims.

[0006] The advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a non-exclusive embodiment of a frame of a lift truck as illustrated by way of example only and, therefore, without limiting the scope of the invention, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a frame of a lift truck according to a first embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic top view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the frame of Figure 1 showing a plurality of functional components of a lift truck; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a frame of a lift truck according to a second embodiment of this invention; Figure 5 is a schematic top view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the frame of Figure 4 showing a plurality of functional components of a lift truck.

[0007] The reference numeral 1 denotes a frame of a lift truck according to this invention.

[0008] The frame 1 comprises a platform 2 intended to support a plurality of components of a lift truck.

[0009] The components are understood to be mechanical and / or electrical and / or electronic components.

[0010] For example, the components comprise traction motors, a motor for lifting an upright unit, distributor, tank, pedals.

[0011] The frame 1 comprises at least one side panel 3, whose face 4 facing towards the outside of the frame 1 is designed to form a respective side face of the lift truck.

[0012] The frame 1 has a front section 5, configured to support at least a pair of wheels 26, and a rear section 6 configured to house a ballast 27 of the lift truck, which extend along the platform 2.

[0013] Between the rear section 6 and the front section 5 there is a compartment 7 designed to house a battery 28 of the lift truck, delimited laterally by at least part of the side panel 3 and having a bottom wall 8 defined by at least part of the platform 2.

[0014] In order to make the frame 1 more compact, the rear section 6 comprises a single rear wall 9, having a recess 10 for receiving a part of the ballast 27, and that the rear wall 9 delimits part of the compartment 7 intended to house the battery 28 of the lift truck.

[0015] The expression "single rear wall 9" means that the rear wall is made from a single plate, that is to say, it is a single piece.

[0016] The front section 5 comprises a front wall 11 which delimits the compartment 7 designed to house the battery 28, positioned facing and parallel to the above-mentioned rear wall 6.

[0017] The front wall 11 and the rear wall 9 are positioned transversally relative to the side wall 3, in particular at right angles to it.

[0018] The distance between the front wall 11 and the rear wall 9 defines a longitudinal dimension of the compartment 7.

[0019] Advantageously, the relative positioning of the rear wall 9 with respect to the front wall 11 makes it possible to obtain different frames 1 for different battery dimensions.

[0020] According to the first embodiment, the frame 1 comprises a U-shaped crosspiece 12 for forming an opening giving access to the compartment 7, positioned facing and parallel to the side panel 3 and connected to the rear wall 9 and to the front wall 11.

[0021] The distance between the crosspiece 12 and the side panel 3 defines a transversal dimension of the compartment 7.

[0022] Preferably, the crosspiece 12 is in the form of a plate-shaped body. According to this embodiment, the extraction and the insertion of the battery 28 is lateral.

[0023] In that sense, the longitudinal dimension of the compartment 7 determines the space available for a transversal dimension of the battery 28 and the transversal dimension of the compartment 7 determines the space available for a longitudinal dimension of the battery 28.

[0024] The bottom wall 8 of the compartment 7 has an access opening 13 for moving the battery 28 entering and leaving the compartment 7.

[0025] The bottom wall 8 has a pair of lateral bands 14 and a head band 15, interposed between them, delimiting the opening 13.

[0026] Each side wall 14 is contiguous with the rear wall 9 and with the front wall 11, respectively.

[0027] The head band 15 is contiguous with the side wall 3.

[0028] The head band 15 has in a central portion a protrusion 16 designed to form means for centring forks for moving the battery 28 entering and leaving the compartment 7.

[0029] The protrusion 16 of the head band 15 forms an "M" shape of the opening 13.

[0030] In the second embodiment, the compartment 7 is delimited by a further lateral panel 17, positioned parallel to and facing the other lateral panel 3, whose face 18 facing towards the outside of the frame 1 is designed to form a respective lateral face of the lift truck.

[0031] The distance between the two side panels 3, 17 defines a transversal dimension of the compartment 7.

[0032] According to this embodiment, the extraction and the insertion of the battery 28 in the compartment 7 is vertical.

[0033] In that sense, the longitudinal dimension of the compartment 7 determines the space available for a transversal dimension of the battery 28 and the transversal dimension of the compartment 7 determines the space available for a longitudinal dimension of the battery 28.

[0034] The bottom wall 8 of the compartment 7 is a blind wall, without openings for access outwards to allow the insertion and extraction of the battery 28 from the compartment 7.

[0035] With reference to both the embodiments of the frame 1, the front section 5 has a compartment 19 intended to contain the components of the lift truck delimited at least partly by the front wall 11.

[0036] The front wall 11 has an opening 20 which puts into communication the compartment 7 designed to house the battery 28 and the compartment 19 designed to contain the components.

[0037] The compartment 19 of the front section 5 houses at least two gear motors 29, each dedicated to a respective wheel 26.

[0038] The wheels 26 are therefore drive wheels.

[0039] The compartment 19 is delimited by a pair of side walls 21 and a head crosspiece 22, connected to the side walls 21, positioned at a height from the platform 2 defining a front opening 23.

[0040] Each side wall 21 supports a respective mudguard 24.

[0041] With reference to the first embodiment, a portion of crosspiece 12 of the compartment 7, intended to house the battery 28, surmounts the front wall 11 and is connected to a side wall 21 of the above-mentioned compartment 19 intended to house the components, and to a mudguard 24.

[0042] A portion of platform 2, crosspiece 12, side wall 21 of the above-mentioned compartment 19, mudguard 24 form a recess 25 designed to house components of the lift truck.

[0043] The frame 1 according to the invention may be used for four-wheeled 26 or three-wheeled 26 lift trucks.

[0044] Advantageously, the frame 1 according to the invention allows a lift truck to be made which is more compact than the prior art lift trucks, so with a smaller spacing it is possible to have a lower steering radius.

[0045] A further advantage is due to the fact that transversal walls of the frame 1 have both a structural function and the function of housing components in such a way as to optimise the dimensions.

[0046] Their positioning is designed to house in the most compact manner possible the functional devices of the lift truck.

Claims

1. A frame of a lift truck comprising a platform (2) designed to support a plurality of components of a lift truck, at least one side panel (3), whose face (4) facing towards the outside of the frame (1) is designed to form a respective side face of the lift truck, the frame (1) has a front section (5), designed to support at least a pair of wheels (26) of the lift truck, and a rear section (9), designed to house a ballast (27) of the lift truck, which extend along the platform (2); between the rear section (9) and the front section (5) there is a compartment (7) designed to house a battery (28) of the lift truck, delimited laterally by at least part of the side panel (3) and having a bottom wall (8) defined by at least part of the platform (2); the frame is characterised in that the rear section (6) comprises a rear wall (9), made from a single plate, having a recess for receiving a part of the ballast (27) of the lift truck, and in that the rear wall (9) delimits part of the compartment (7) intended to house the battery (28) of the lift truck.

2. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the front section (5) comprises a front wall (11) which delimits the compartment (7) designed to house the battery (28), positioned facing and parallel to the above-mentioned rear wall (9); the distance between the front wall (11) and the rear wall (9) defines a longitudinal dimension of the compartment (7).

3. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a U-shaped crosspiece (12) for forming an opening giving access to the compartment (7), positioned facing and parallel to the side panel (3) and connected to the rear wall (9) and to the front wall (11).

4. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bottom wall (8) of the compartment (7) has an access opening (13) for moving the battery entering and leaving the compartment (7); the bottom wall (8) has a pair of lateral bands (14) and a head band (15), interposed between them, and delimiting the opening (13).

5. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the head band (15) has in a central portion a protrusion (16) designed to form means for centring forks for moving the battery (28) entering and leaving the compartment (7).

6. The frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the compartment (7) is delimited by a further lateral panel (17), positioned parallel to and facing the other lateral panel (3), whose face (18) facing towards the outside of the frame (1) is designed to form a respective lateral face of the lift truck.

7. The frame according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the front section (5) has a compartment (19) designed to contain the components of the lift truck delimited at least partly by the above-mentioned front wall (11).

8. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the front wall (11) has an opening (20) which puts into communication the compartment (7) designed to house the battery (28) and the compartment (19) designed to contain the components.

9. The frame according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the compartment (19) is delimited by a pair of side walls (21) and a head crosspiece (22), connected to the side walls (21), positioned at a height from the platform (2) defining a front opening (23).

10. The frame according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that each side wall (21) supports a respective mudguard (24).

11. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that a portion of crosspiece (12) of the compartment (7) designed to house the battery (28) surmounts the front wall (11) and is connected to a side wall (21) of the compartment (19) designed to house the components and is connected to a mudguard (24).

12. The frame according to the preceding claim, characterised in that a portion of platform (2), crosspiece (12), side wall (21) of the above-mentioned compartment (19), mudguard (24) form a recess (25) designed to house components of the lift truck ().

13. A lift truck comprising a frame (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it comprises four wheels (26) or three wheels (26).

14. The lift truck according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the compartment (19) of the front section (5) houses at least two gear motors (29), each dedicated to a respective wheel (26).

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