FORKLIFT MAST

Abstract

MAST OF A FORKLIFT A mast of a forklift comprising a fixed section (2) and a movable section (3), relative to the fixed section (2), which comprises a member (4) for gripping a load and means (5) for moving the gripping member (4) in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa; the moving means (5) comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder (6) and a chain (7) supported by a respective rotary member (8), rotating about its own axis of rotation (8a); a stirrup (11) for supporting the rotary member (8) is arranged on top of the hydraulic cylinder (6) and comprises a bottom part (12), connected to the hydraulic cylinder (6), a first lateral part (13) and a second lateral part (14), arranged opposite each other and parallel to each other, defining a "U" shape with the bottom part (12);the support bracket (11) has faces (15, 17) inclined such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.;

Description

Title of the invention: MAST OF A FORKLIFT Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mast of a forklift. State of the art

[0002] It is known that in a mast, visibility for the forklift driver is a factor of considerable importance.

[0003] One of the parts of the mast that requires the most attention in terms of increasing visibility is the window defined by the mast profiles, which is obstructed by the presence of certain characteristic components such as the fork carriage and the carriage lifting components.

[0004] The shape of these components therefore influences the definition of a better field of vision for the forklift driver. Statement of the invention

[0005] In this context, the need has therefore arisen to design a mast of a forklift truck comprising a fixed section and a movable section, relative to the fixed section, which comprises a member for gripping a load and means for moving the gripping member in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa; the moving means comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder and a chain supported by a respective rotating member, rotating around its own axis of rotation; a support bracket for the rotating member is arranged on top of the hydraulic cylinder and comprises a bottom part, connected to the hydraulic cylinder, a first side part and a second side part, arranged opposite each other and parallel to each other, defining a “U” shape with the bottom part; the rotating member is connected to the first lateral part and to the second lateral part of the stirrup; the first side portion and the second side portion respectively have a head surface, a front surface and a rear surface and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the front surface and the rear surface.

[0006] The mat is remarkable in that: the front surface of the first lateral part and the second lateral part respectively has a first face, contiguous respectively to the first lateral surface, and a central face; the central faces of the first lateral part and the second lateral part are parallel to each other and the first faces are inclined relative to the respective central face such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.

[0007] Preferably, the front surface of the first lateral part and of the second lateral part respectively has a second face, respectively contiguous to the second lateral surface, and each central face is interposed between the first face and the second face; the second faces are inclined relative to the respective central face such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.

[0008] Preferably, each first face defines an obtuse angle with the central face.

[0009] Preferably, the obtuse angle is within a range from 115° to 150°, preferably 135°.

[0010] Preferably, each second face defines an obtuse angle with the central face.

[0011] Preferably, the obtuse angle is within a range from 115° to 150°, preferably 135°.

[0012] Preferably, the rotating member is configured to support one or more hydraulic fluid delivery pipes.

[0013] Preferably, the mast comprises a pair of plate-shaped elements coupled to the support bracket at the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion; the plate-shaped elements respectively have a face, each of which comprises a layer of polymer material, facing each other and oriented towards the pipes supported by the rotating member.

[0014] Preferably, the mast comprises at least one idle cylinder, configured to rotate about a respective axis of rotation, coupled above each plate-shaped element.

[0015] Preferably, the mast comprises a single hydraulic cylinder.

[0016] Preferably, the mast comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders. Description of the drawings

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent by the following description, which is indicative, and therefore not limiting, of a preferred embodiment of a mast of a forklift truck as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a schematic sectional representation of a mast of a forklift according to the present invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a detail of [Fig.l] on an enlarged scale and in a view schematic in perspective;

[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detail of [Fig.l] on an enlarged scale and in a view schematic in perspective. Detailed description

[0021] Reference 1 indicates a mast of a forklift comprising a fixed section 2 and a movable section 3, relative to the fixed section 2.

[0022] The mobile section 3 comprises a member 4 for gripping a load and means 5 for moving the gripping member 4 in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa.

[0023] The gripping member 4 comprises a fork-carrying apron.

[0024] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the displacement means 5 comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder 6 and a chain 7 for lifting the gripping member 4.

[0025] A rotating member 8, rotating around its own axis of rotation 8a, supports the chain 7.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the displacement means 5 comprise a single hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0027] Alternatively, the displacement means 5 comprise a pair of hydraulic cylinders 6.

[0028] The rotating member 8 comprises a pulley 9 coupled to an axle 10.

[0029] A stirrup 11 for supporting the rotary member 8 is arranged on top of the jack hydraulic 6 and comprises a bottom part 12, connected to the hydraulic cylinder 6, a first lateral part 13 and a second lateral part 14, arranged opposite each other and parallel to each other, defining a “U” shape with the bottom part 12.

[0030] The rotary member 8 is connected to the first lateral part 13 and to the second lateral part 14 of the support bracket 11.

[0031] In particular, the axis 10 is coupled to the first lateral part 13 and to the second lateral part 14 of the support stirrup 11.

[0032] Each first side portion 13 and second side portion 14 have a respective head surface (13a, 14a), a front surface (13b, 14b) and a rear surface (13c, 14c) and a first side surface (13d, 14d) and a second side surface (13e, 14e) connecting the front surface (13b, 14b) and the rear surface (13c, 14c).

[0033] The front surface (13b, 14b) of the first lateral part 13 and of the second lateral part 14 respectively has a first face 15, contiguous to the first lateral surface (13d, 14d), and a central face 16.

[0034] The central faces 16 of the first lateral part 13 and of the second lateral part 14 are parallel to each other and the first faces 15 are inclined relative to the central face 16 such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.

[0035] The first faces 15 are oriented towards the part of the mast 1 intended to be connected to the forklift.

[0036] Advantageously, the presence of the first faces 15 inclined relative to the central face 16 increases the field of vision of the driver in the visibility window of the mast 1 compared to known solutions.

[0037] Each first face 15 defines an obtuse angle with the central face 16.

[0038] The obtuse angle is within a range of 115° to 150°.

[0039] Preferably, the obtuse angle defining the inclination of the first face 15 relative to the central face 16 is equal to 135°.

[0040] The front surface (13b, 14b) of the first lateral part 13 and of the second lateral part 14 respectively has a second face 17 contiguous to the second lateral surface (13e; 14e).

[0041] The second faces 17 are inclined relative to the respective central face 16 such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.

[0042] The second faces 17 are oriented towards the gripping member 4 of the mast 1.

[0043] Each second face 17 defines an obtuse angle with the respective central face 16.

[0044] The obtuse angle is within a range of 115° to 150°.

[0045] Preferably, the obtuse angle defining the inclination of the second face 17 relative to the central face 16 is equal to 135°.

[0046] Each central face 16 of the front surface (13b, 14b) of the first lateral part 13 and of the second lateral part 14 is interposed between the first face 15 and the second face 17.

[0047] The rotating member 8 is configured to support one or more hydraulic fluid conveying pipes 18.

[0048] A pair of plate-like elements 19 are coupled to the support bracket 11 at the first side portion 13 and the second side portion 14.

[0049] The plate-shaped elements 19 respectively have a face 20, oriented towards the pipes 18 supported by the rotating member 8, comprising a layer of polymer material.

[0050] At least one idler cylinder 21, configured to rotate about a respective rotation axis 21a, is coupled superiorly to each plate-shaped element 19.

Claims

Claims

1. Mast of a forklift truck comprising a fixed section (2) and a movable section (3), relative to the fixed section (2), which comprises a member (4) for gripping a load and means (5) for moving the gripping member (4) in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa; the moving means (5) comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder (6) and a chain (7) supported by a respective rotary member (8), rotating around its own axis of rotation (8a); a stirrup (11) for supporting the rotary member (8) is arranged on top of the hydraulic cylinder (6) and comprises a bottom part (12), connected to the hydraulic cylinder (6), a first lateral part (13) and a second lateral part (14), arranged one opposite the other and parallel to each other, defining a "U" shape with the bottom part (12);the rotating member (8) is connected to the first lateral part (13) and the second lateral part (14) of the stirrup (11); the first lateral part (13) and the second lateral part (14) respectively have a head surface (13a, 14a), a front surface (13b, 14b) and a rear surface (13c, 14c) and a first lateral surface (13d, 14d) and a second lateral surface (13e, 14e) connecting the front surface (13b, 14b) and the rear surface (13c, 14c); characterized in that the front surface (13b, 14b) of the first lateral part (13) and the second lateral part (14) respectively has a first face (15), contiguous respectively to the first lateral surface (13d, 14d), and a central face (16);the central faces (16) of the first lateral part (13) and of the second lateral part (14) are parallel to each other and the first faces (15) are inclined relative to the respective central face (16) in such a way that their respective directions of development converge with each other.;

2. Mast according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the front surface (13b, 14b) of the first lateral part (13) and of the second lateral part (14) respectively has a second face (17), respectively contiguous to the second lateral surface. (13th, 14th), and each central face (16) is interposed between the first face (15) and the second face (17); the second faces (17) are inclined relative to the respective central face (16) such that their respective directions of development converge with each other.

3. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each first face (15) defines an obtuse angle with the central face (16).

4. Mast according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the obtuse angle is within a range from 115° to 150°, preferably 135°.

5. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each second face (17) defines an obtuse angle with the central face (16).

6. Mast according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the obtuse angle is within a range from 115° to 150°, preferably 135°.

7. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating member (8) is configured to support one or more pipes (18) for conveying hydraulic fluid.

8. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pair of plate-shaped elements (19) coupled to the support bracket (11) at the first lateral part (13) and the second lateral part (14); the plate-shaped elements (19) respectively have a face (20), each of which comprises a layer of polymer material, facing each other and oriented towards the pipes (18) supported by the rotating member (8).

9. Mast according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one idle cylinder (21), configured to rotate around a respective axis of rotation (21a), coupled above each plate-shaped element (19).

10. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single hydraulic cylinder (6).

11. Mast according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders (6).

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