FORKLIFT MAST

Abstract

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

Description

Title of the invention: FORKLIFT MAST technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a forklift mast. 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 which 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. Description of the invention

[0005] In this context, the need arose to design a forklift mast comprising a fixed section and a moving section, relative to the fixed section, which includes a load-gripping device and means for moving the gripping device in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa; the means of movement include 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 part is arranged on top of the hydraulic cylinder and includes a bottom part, connected to the hydraulic cylinder, a first lateral part and a second lateral part, arranged opposite each other and parallel to each other, defining a "U" shape with the bottom part; the rotating part is connected to the first lateral part and the second lateral part of the caliper; the first lateral part and the second lateral part respectively have a head surface, a front surface and a rear surface and a first lateral surface and a second lateral 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 with respect to the respective central face in such a way that their respective development directions converge with each other.

[0007] Preferably, the front surface of the first lateral part and the second lateral part respectively have 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 with respect to the respective central face such that their respective development directions 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 of 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 part and the second lateral part; 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 free-spinning cylinder, configured to rotate about a respective axis of rotation, coupled superiorly to each plate-shaped element.

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

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

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

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

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a detail of [Fig.1] at an enlarged scale and in a view schematic perspective;

[0020] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3] is a detail of [Fig. 1] at an enlarged scale and in a view schematic perspective. Detailed description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0029] A bracket 11 for supporting the rotating member 8 is arranged on top of the cylinder hydraulic 6 and includes 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 rotating 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 bracket 11.

[0032] Each first lateral part 13 and second lateral part 14 have a respective 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).

[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 with respect to the central face 16 in such a way that their respective development directions 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 driver's field of vision 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 from 115° to 150°.

[0039] Preferably, the obtuse angle defining the inclination of the first face 15 with respect 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 with respect to the respective central face 16 in such a way that their respective development directions converge with each other.

[0042] The second faces 17 are oriented towards the gripping organ 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 from 115° to 150°.

[0045] Preferably, the obtuse angle defining the inclination of the second face 17 with respect 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 delivery pipes 18.

[0048] A pair of plate-shaped elements 19 is coupled to the support bracket 11 at the first lateral part 13 and the second lateral part 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 axis of rotation 21a, is coupled superiorly to each plate-shaped element 19.

Claims

Demands

1. Mast of a forklift comprising a fixed section (2) and a movable section (3), relative to the fixed section (2), which includes a load-gripping member (4) and means (5) for moving the gripping member (4) in a vertical direction, in lifting and lowering and vice versa; the moving means (5) include at least one hydraulic cylinder (6) and a chain (7) supported by a respective rotating member (8), rotating about its own axis of rotation (8a); a bracket (11) for supporting the rotating member (8) is disposed on top of the hydraulic cylinder (6) and includes a bottom portion (12), connected to the hydraulic cylinder (6), a first lateral portion (13) and a second lateral portion (14), disposed opposite each other and parallel to each other, defining a "U" shape with the bottom portion (12);the rotating member (8) is connected to the first lateral part (13) and the second lateral part (14) of the caliper (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 of the second lateral part (14) respectively have 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 with respect to the respective central face (16) in such a way that their respective development directions 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 have 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 with respect to the respective central face (16) in such a way that their respective development directions converge with each other.

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

8. Mast according to any 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 free-running cylinder (21), configured to rotate about a respective axis of rotation (21a), coupled superiorly to each plate-shaped element (19).

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

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

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