Loading vehicle

Abstract

To provide a loading vehicle capable of attempting to stabilize the posture of a body at the time of loading work without enlarging the body when travelling.SOLUTION: In a loading vehicle 10 comprising a body 11 provided with a pair of left and right front wheels 12, and a body stabilizing device 40 that can be accommodated in the body 11 and stabilizes the posture of the body 11, the body stabilizing device 40 has a pair of left and right arm mechanisms 41 that are connected to the body 11 and can be deformed into stabilization posture that stabilizes the posture of the body 11 and accommodation posture that is accommodated in the body 11, and a grounded part that is provided at the tip of the arm mechanisms 41 and can be grounded to the road surface when the arm mechanisms are in the stabilization posture, and when the arm mechanisms 41 are in the stabilization posture, the grounded part is grounded to the side or front of the pair of left and right front wheels 12, and when the arm mechanisms 41 are in the accommodation posture, the body stabilizing device 40 is accommodated in the body 11 so that it is not projected more outwards from the body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a loading vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional technique for a loading vehicle, for example, an industrial vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The industrial vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a counterbalance type forklift. This type of forklift is equipped with a loading device at the front of the vehicle body. In addition, driving wheels as front wheels are provided at the front of the vehicle body via a front axle (not shown). The front axle is fixed to the vehicle body. The vehicle body is provided with a travel motor that generates a driving force for traveling. The travel motor is an electric motor, and is driven by power from a battery. Meanwhile, steered wheels as rear wheels are provided at the rear of the vehicle body via a rear axle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-117365 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the forklift disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a load is lifted high with the forks, the center of gravity including the load becomes higher, which may cause the vehicle body to become unstable. In order to stabilize the vehicle body's posture, the wheelbase and tread width should be enlarged as much as possible, but enlarging the wheelbase increases the front-to-rear length of the vehicle body, and enlarging the tread width increases the width of the vehicle body. As a result, the vehicle body that is enlarged in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions restricts the available work space.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a loading vehicle that can stabilize the posture of the body during loading and unloading operations without expanding the body while traveling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a loading vehicle comprising a vehicle body having a pair of left and right front wheels, and a vehicle body stabilization device that can be stored in the vehicle body and stabilizes the posture of the vehicle body, wherein the vehicle body stabilization device has a pair of left and right arm mechanisms that are connected to the vehicle body and can be transformed into a stabilizing posture that stabilizes the posture of the vehicle body and a stored posture in which it is stored in the vehicle body, and a ground contact portion that is provided at the tip of the arm mechanism and can come into contact with the road surface when in the stabilized posture, and when the arm mechanism is in the stabilizing posture, the ground contact portion contacts at least one of the sides and front of the pair of left and right front wheels, and when the arm mechanism is in the stored posture, it is stored in the vehicle body without protruding from the vehicle body in at least one of the front and plan views.

[0007] In the present invention, when the ground contact portion is in contact with at least one of the sides and the front of the pair of left and right front wheels due to the stabilization posture of the arm mechanism, at least one of the tread width and the wheelbase is pseudo-widened, and the stabilization of the posture of the vehicle body in at least one of the left and right directions and the front and rear directions is improved. In addition, when the arm mechanism is in the stored posture, it is stored without protruding from the vehicle body in at least one of the front view and the top view of the vehicle body, so the vehicle body stabilization device does not expand the vehicle width and does not interfere with the traveling of the loading vehicle. Therefore, the posture of the vehicle body during loading work can be stabilized without expanding the vehicle body during traveling. Note that "does not protrude" does not only mean that the entire arm mechanism does not protrude from the vehicle body in at least one of the front view and the top view of the vehicle body, but also includes the case where a part of the arm mechanism protrudes from the vehicle body to an extent that does not interfere with traveling or loading work.

[0008] In addition, in the above-mentioned loading vehicle, the vehicle body may have a front fender covering the pair of left and right front wheels, and an accommodation portion may be provided at an upper portion of the front fender to accommodate the vehicle body stabilization device. In this case, since the storage section for the vehicle body stabilization device is provided on the upper part of the front fender near the front wheels, it is possible to expect that the arm mechanism can be made smaller and lighter, and the arm mechanism in the stored position does not obstruct the operator's field of vision.

[0009] In addition, in the above-mentioned loading vehicle, the arm mechanism may be configured to have a first arm connected to the vehicle body, and a second arm connected to the first arm, extendable or rotatable relative to the first arm, and having the grounding portion. In this case, since the second arm having the grounding portion is extendable or rotatable with respect to the first arm, the grounding portion can be grounded at an appropriate position for stabilizing the vehicle body by the stabilizing posture caused by the extension or rotation of the arm mechanism. Also, the arm mechanism can be stored in the vehicle body without protruding laterally from the vehicle body by the storage posture caused by the retraction or rotation of the arm mechanism.

[0010] In the above-mentioned cargo handling vehicle, the distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions may be made variable in accordance with the height of the cargo. In this case, the distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions can be changed according to the height of the load, so that the posture of the vehicle body can be reliably stabilized during loading and unloading operations even if the height of the load changes.

[0011] In the above-mentioned cargo handling vehicle, the distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions may be made variable in accordance with the weight of the cargo. In this case, the distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions can be changed according to the weight of the load, so that the posture of the vehicle body can be reliably stabilized during loading and unloading operations even if the height of the load changes.

[0012] In addition, the above-mentioned loading and unloading vehicle may be configured to have a height sensor that detects the height of a load, an actuator that transforms the arm mechanism into the stabilizing position and the stowed position, and a controller that controls the actuator, and when the height sensor detects a lift height equal to or greater than a threshold value, the controller controls the actuator so that the grounding portion is grounded and the arm mechanism is brought into the stabilizing position. In this case, when the height sensor detects a height equal to or greater than a threshold value, the controller controls the actuator to bring the grounding portion into contact with the ground and to place the arm mechanism in a stabilized position, thereby automatically placing the arm mechanism in a stabilized position.

[0013] In the above cargo handling vehicle, the controller may be configured to vary the threshold value in accordance with the weight of the load. In this case, the controller varies the threshold value in accordance with the weight of the load, so that the arm mechanism can be brought into a stabilized position at an appropriate lifting height in accordance with the weight of the load.

[0014] In the above-described cargo handling vehicle, the vehicle body may have a pair of left and right side covers covering the sides of the vehicle body, and the side covers may be provided with an accommodation portion for the vehicle body stabilization device. In this case, since the side cover is provided with a storage portion, it is possible to effectively utilize the space in the vehicle body. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, a loading vehicle can be provided that can stabilize the posture of the vehicle body during loading and unloading operations without expanding the vehicle body while traveling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a forklift according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a forklift according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forklift according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a forklift according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1A is a plan view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism housed in the housing case, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism protruding from the housing case, and FIG. 1C is a plan view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism transformed into a stabilizing posture. [Figure 6] 1A is a side view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism housed in the housing case, FIG. 1B is a side view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism protruding from the housing case in a rotating state, and FIG. 1C is a side view of the essential parts showing the arm mechanism transformed into a stabilizing posture. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the tread width and wheel base of a forklift. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a forklift according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a side view of a forklift according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a tread width of a forklift according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] (First embodiment) A forklift as a cargo handling vehicle according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The forklift of this embodiment is a battery-powered forklift equipped with a battery. The terms "front / back", "left / right" and "up / down" that specify directions are based on the state in which the forklift operator is seated in the driver's seat and facing the forward direction of the forklift.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, a forklift 10 has front wheels 12 at the front of a body 11 and rear wheels 13 at the rear of the body 11. The front wheels 12 are drive wheels and the rear wheels 13 are steered wheels. A traveling motor 14 for driving the front wheels 12 and a battery 15 are mounted on the body 11. A counterweight 16 is provided at the rear of the body 11. The counterweight 16 is provided for adjusting the vehicle weight and achieving weight balance in the body 11. A loading device 17 is provided at the front of the body 11.

[0019] The cargo handling device 17 is provided with a mast 18 having an outer mast 19 and an inner mast 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of outer masts 19 are provided with a pair of inner masts 20 that can be raised and lowered inside the outer masts 19. The cargo handling device 17 is provided with a lift bracket 21 that can be raised and lowered along the inner masts 20. A pair of forks 22 are engaged with the lift bracket 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the cargo handling device 17 is provided with a lift height sensor 23 that detects the lift height of the forks 22. The lift height sensor 23 is configured to detect the lift position (height position) of the forks 22 and continuously output a voltage corresponding to the detected lift position of the forks 22 as a lift height detection signal. The lift height sensor 23 is, for example, a reel-type lift height sensor.

[0020] A tilt cylinder 24 operated by hydraulic oil is installed between the vehicle body 11 and the loading device 17. The loading device 17 tilts in the front-rear direction with the lower end of the loading device 17 as a fulcrum (the center of the axle of the front wheels 12) by the operation of the tilt cylinder 24. The outer mast 19 is provided with a lift cylinder 25 operated by the supply and discharge of hydraulic oil (see FIG. 1). The inner mast 20 is raised and lowered inside the outer mast 19 by the operation of the lift cylinder 25, and the lift bracket 21 is also raised and lowered. The loading device 17 is provided with a load detection sensor 26 that detects the load of a load (see FIG. 4). The load detection sensor 26 detects the hydraulic pressure inside the lift cylinder 25 and outputs an electric signal according to the weight of the load. The load detection sensor 26 is, for example, a pressure sensor.

[0021] A driver's seat 27 is provided near the center of the vehicle body 11. A head guard 28 that covers an upper portion of the driver's seat 27 is provided on the vehicle body 11. The driver's seat 27 is provided with a driver's seat 29. As shown in FIG. 3, an instrument panel 30 is provided in front of the driver's seat 27. The instrument panel 30 is provided with a steering column 31 that supports a steering wheel 32. The instrument panel 30 is provided with a key cylinder (not shown) into which a key is inserted, as well as a lift lever (not shown) and a tilt lever (not shown) that serve as loading levers. The lift lever is an operating lever for raising and lowering the lift bracket 21 and the fork 22. The tilt lever is an operating lever for tilting the mast 18 forward and backward.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body 11 is provided with a controller 33 for controlling each part of the forklift 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 33 is provided with a CPU 34 and a storage unit 35 including a RAM and a ROM. The controller 33 may be provided with dedicated hardware for performing at least some of the various processes, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller 33 may be configured as a circuit including one or more processors operating according to a computer program, one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. The storage unit 35 stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU 34 to execute the processes. The storage unit 35 stores various programs for controlling each part of the forklift 10. The controller 33 is connected to the height sensor 23 and the load detection sensor 26, and receives signals from the height sensor 23 and the load detection sensor 26.

[0023] The forklift 10 of this embodiment has a vehicle body stabilization device 40 that improves the stability of the posture of the vehicle body 11 during loading and unloading work. The vehicle body 11 has front fenders 36 that cover a pair of left and right front wheels 12, and the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is provided on the front fenders 36. The vehicle body stabilization device 40 has an arm mechanism 41, a housing case 42 that houses the arm mechanism 41, a first drive motor 43, a second drive motor 44, and a rolling roller 45 as a tip provided at the tip of the arm mechanism 41. The arm mechanism 41, the housing case 42, the first drive motor 43, the second drive motor 44, and the rolling roller 45 are provided in pairs on the left and right. The first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44 correspond to actuators.

[0024] The arm mechanism 41 is capable of transforming into a stabilizing posture for stabilizing the posture of the vehicle body 11 and a storage posture for being stored in the vehicle body 11. The arm mechanism 41 has a slide member 46 that is slidable relative to the storage case 42, a first arm 47 that is rotatable relative to the slide member 46, and a second arm 48 relative to the first arm 47. The slide member 46 is stored inside the storage case 42 when the arm mechanism 41 is in the storage posture, and protrudes laterally from the storage case 42 when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stabilizing posture. The slide member 46 is moved by the drive of a first drive motor 43. The first drive motor 43 is an electric motor and is stored in the storage case 42. A conversion unit (not shown) that converts the rotational force of the first drive motor 43 into linear motion of the slide member 46 is provided in the storage case 42. The conversion unit includes, for example, a worm and a gear.

[0025] The slide member 46 is provided with a second drive motor 44. The second drive motor 44 is an electric motor that operates the first arm 47 and the second arm 48. A shaft body 49 is rotatably supported on the slide member 46, and one end of the first arm 47 is connected to the shaft body 49. The shaft center of the shaft body 49 extends in the left-right direction. The shaft center of the shaft body 49 is located near the front of the front fender 36 in the front-rear direction and forward of the rotation center of the front wheel 12. The shaft body 49 receives the rotational force of the second drive motor 44. A bevel gear 51 is provided on the rotating shaft of the second drive motor 44, and a bevel gear 52 that meshes with the bevel gear 51 is provided on the shaft body 49. The rotation of the second drive motor 44 rotates the shaft body 49 via the bevel gears 51 and 52.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 6(a), when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stored position, the first arm 47 is positioned so that the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47 is in the front-rear direction so as to be stored in the storage case 42. As shown in FIG. 6(c), when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stabilized position, the first arm 47 is rotated about the shaft body 49 so that the tip of the first arm 47 faces downward. The first arm 47 is a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a shaft body 53 is rotatably supported near the other end of the first arm 47. The shaft center of the shaft body 53 is parallel to the shaft center of the shaft body 49. The end of the second arm 48 is connected to the shaft body 53. The shaft body 53 receives the rotational force of the second drive motor 44 via a rotational force transmission mechanism (not shown).

[0027] As shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stored position, the second arm 48 is housed in the first arm 47 such that the longitudinal direction of the second arm 48 is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47. In a state in which the second arm 48 is housed in the first arm 47, the tip of the second arm 48 faces the shaft body 49. As shown in Fig. 6(c), when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stabilizing position, the second arm 48 is rotated about the shaft body 49 so that the tip of the second arm 48 faces downward. When the second arm 48 is rotated to the maximum in the stabilizing position, the second arm 48 becomes linear with the first arm 47.

[0028] The tip of the second arm 48 is provided with a rolling roller 45 as a ground contact portion capable of contacting the road surface. The axis of the rolling roller 45 is parallel to the axis of the shafts 49 and 53. The rolling roller 45 is a roller member capable of rolling back and forth. When the arm mechanism 41 is in the stored position, the rolling roller 45 is housed in the first arm 47 together with the second arm 48. When the arm mechanism 41 is in the stabilizing position, the rolling roller 45 comes into contact with the road surface in the stabilizing position.

[0029] The arm mechanism 41 assumes a stabilized posture by forward rotation of the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44. In the stabilized posture, the arm mechanism 41 protrudes laterally from the housing case 42, the first arm 47 and the second arm 48 extend so as to be in a straight line, and the rolling roller 45 contacts the road surface. In the stabilized posture, the arm mechanism 41 causes the rolling roller 45 to contact the road surface to the side and forward of the pair of left and right front wheels 12. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the tread width and wheelbase are virtually enlarged. This improves the stability of the posture of the vehicle body 11 in the left-right and front-rear directions.

[0030] The arm mechanism 41 assumes the stored position by reverse rotation of the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44. In the stored position, the arm mechanism 41 is stored in the storage case 42 with the first arm 47 and the second arm 48 folded and contracted. When the arm mechanism 41 is in the stored position, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is stored in the vehicle body 11 so as not to protrude laterally from the vehicle body 11, and therefore the vehicle body stabilization device 40 does not increase the vehicle width.

[0031] An operation switch 54 for operating the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is provided at the driver's seat 27. Specifically, the operation switch 54 is provided on the instrument panel 30. The operation switch 54 is connected to the controller 33. When the operation switch 54 is turned ON while the arm mechanism 41 is in the stowed position, the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44 are rotated forward, and the arm mechanism 41 is transformed from the stowed position to the stabilizing position. When the operation switch 54 is turned OFF while the arm mechanism 41 is in the stabilizing position, the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44 are rotated backward, and the arm mechanism 41 is transformed from the stabilizing position to the stowed position and stowed.

[0032] Next, the operation of the forklift 10 of this embodiment will be described. The operator drives the forklift 10 and also performs loading and unloading work. During normal driving when the forks 22 do not support a load, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is housed in the housing case 42 of the vehicle body 11 as shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a). Therefore, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 does not protrude from the vehicle body 11 to the side and does not interfere with driving. In other words, the entire vehicle body stabilization device 40 including the arm mechanism 41 does not protrude from the vehicle body 11 completely in at least one of the front view and the top view of the vehicle body 11. Therefore, the forklift 10 can travel through a passage wider than the width of the vehicle body 11. The left and right arm mechanisms 41 are transformed into a housing posture in which they are housed in the vehicle body 11. For convenience of explanation, the top plate of the housing case 42 is omitted in Figs. 5(a) to 5(c).

[0033] Next, when performing loading and unloading work using the forklift 10, the operator operates the operation switch 54 to the ON state. When the operation switch 54 is turned ON, the controller 33 rotates the first drive motor 43 in the forward direction, causing the slide member 46 to protrude laterally from the storage case 42, as shown in FIG. 5(b). After the slide member 46 protrudes from the storage case 42, the controller 33 rotates the second drive motor 44 in the forward direction. Due to the forward rotation of the second drive motor 44, the first arm 47 is rotated about the shaft body 49 as the center of rotation, and the second arm 48 is rotated about the shaft body 53 as the center of rotation, as shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0034] The tip of the first arm 47 moves downward from the rear of the shaft body 49 by the rotation of the first arm 47, and is positioned forward of the shaft body 49. The second arm 48 is rotated relative to the first arm 47 until it is in a straight line with the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47. When the first arm 47 and the second arm 48 are in a straight line, the rolling roller 45 comes into contact with the road surface. As shown in FIG. 5(c) and FIG. 6(c), the position where the right rolling roller 45 comes into contact with the road surface is on the side of the right front wheel 12 and in front of the center of rotation of the front wheel 12. Similarly, the position where the left rolling roller 45 comes into contact with the road surface is on the side of the left front wheel 12 and in front of the center of rotation of the front wheel 12 (see FIG. 2). By the left and right rolling rollers 45 coming into contact with the road surface, the left and right arm mechanisms 41 are transformed into a stabilized posture that stabilizes the posture of the vehicle body 11.

[0035] If the rolling rollers 45 come into contact with the ground and the ground contact areas are brought into contact with the sides and front of the pair of left and right front wheels 12, the tread width and wheelbase are artificially enlarged. In Fig. 6, the tread width of the front wheels 12 is T1, and the artificial tread width created by the rolling rollers 45 coming into contact with the ground is T2. Also, the wheelbase, which is the distance between the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 13, is H1, and the artificial wheelbase created by the rolling rollers 45 coming into contact with the ground is H2.

[0036] When the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is transformed into the stabilizing posture, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 suppresses rocking of the vehicle body 11 in the forward / backward and left / right directions even if the forks 22 supporting the load are at a high lifting height. Specifically, the rolling rollers 45 that contact the linearly extended arm mechanism 41 support the vehicle body 11 even if the vehicle body 11 tilts forward / backward or left / right, thereby stabilizing the posture of the vehicle body 11. By providing the rolling rollers 45, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 does not impede the movement of the forklift 10 during loading / unloading work. When loading / unloading work is completed, the operator operates the operation switch 54 to the OFF state.

[0037] When the operation switch 54 is in the OFF state, the second drive motor 44 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the second arm 48 is rotated relative to the first arm 47 so as to overlap the first arm 47 from a state in which the second arm 48 is linear with the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47. As a result, the second arm 48 and the rolling roller 45 are housed in the first arm 47. Furthermore, due to the rotation of the first arm 47, the tip of the first arm 47 moves from a position in front of the shaft body 49 to a position below the shaft body 49 and rearward, and the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47 becomes approximately horizontal. When the longitudinal direction of the first arm 47 becomes approximately horizontal, the first drive motor 43 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the slide member 46 is drawn into the housing case 42.

[0038] The operator can use the forklift 10 to perform cargo handling operations without activating the vehicle body stabilization device 40. In this case, the operator does not need to operate the operation switch 54 during cargo handling operations, and can simply keep the operation switch 54 in the OFF state.

[0039] The forklift 10 of the present embodiment has the following advantages. (1) When the rolling rollers 45 as ground contact portions contact the ground to the sides and forward of the pair of left and right front wheels 12 due to the stabilizing posture of the arm mechanism 41, at least one of the tread width and the wheelbase is virtually enlarged, improving the stabilization of the posture of the vehicle body 11 in the left-right and front-rear directions. Also, when the arm mechanism 41 is in the stored posture, the vehicle body stabilization device 40 is stored in the vehicle body 11 so as not to protrude laterally from the vehicle body 11, so that the vehicle body stabilization device 40 does not increase the vehicle width and does not interfere with the travel of the forklift 10. Therefore, the posture of the vehicle body 11 during loading and unloading work can be stabilized without expanding the vehicle body 11 during travel.

[0040] (2) The vehicle body 11 has a front fender 36 that covers the pair of left and right front wheels 12, and an accommodation case 42 is provided on the upper part of the front fender 36 as an accommodation section that can accommodate the vehicle body stabilization device 40. Therefore, it is expected that the arm mechanism 41 can be made smaller and lighter, and the arm mechanism 41 in the stowed position does not obstruct the operator's view during loading and unloading operations.

[0041] (3) The arm mechanism 41 has a first arm 47 to which the vehicle body 11 is connected, and a second arm 48 which is connected to the first arm 47, is rotatable relative to the first arm 47, and has a grounding portion. Therefore, the stabilizing position due to the rotation of the arm mechanism 41 allows the grounding portion to be grounded at an appropriate position for stabilizing the vehicle body 11. In addition, the stored position due to the rotation of the arm mechanism 41 allows the arm mechanism 41 to be stored in the vehicle body 11 without protruding laterally from the vehicle body 11.

[0042] (Modification) In this embodiment, an operation switch 54 is provided on the driver's seat 27, and the operator operates the operation switch 54 to activate the vehicle body stabilization device 40, but this may be modified as follows. A lift height threshold is set in advance in the controller 33, and when the lift height sensor 23 detects a lift height equal to or greater than the threshold, the controller 33 controls the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44 to bring the rolling roller 45 into contact with the ground and to place the arm mechanism 41 in a stabilizing position. Thereafter, when the lift height sensor 23 becomes less than the threshold, the arm mechanism 41 is transformed into a stored position so that the vehicle body stabilization device 40 can be stored in the vehicle body 11.

[0043] According to this modification, when the lift height sensor 23 detects a lift height equal to or greater than a threshold value, the controller 33 controls the first drive motor 43 and the second drive motor 44 so that the rolling rollers 45 are grounded and the arm mechanism 41 is placed in a stabilizing posture. Therefore, the arm mechanism 41 can be automatically transformed from the stored posture to the stabilizing posture, and also from the stabilizing posture to the stored posture.

[0044] Second embodiment Next, a forklift as a cargo handling vehicle according to a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the configuration of the vehicle body stabilization device is different from that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the first embodiment, and common reference numerals will be used.

[0045] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the forklift 60 has a vehicle body stabilization device 61 that improves the stability of the vehicle body 11 during loading and unloading operations. The vehicle body stabilization device 61 is provided between the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 13 of the vehicle body 11. The vehicle body stabilization device 61 has an arm mechanism 62, a storage case 63 that stores the arm mechanism 62, a first drive motor 64, a second drive motor 65, and a rolling roller 66 as a tip portion provided at the tip portion of the arm mechanism 62. The arm mechanism 62, the storage case 63, the first drive motor 64, the second drive motor 65, and the rolling roller 66 are provided in pairs on the left and right sides, respectively.

[0046] The arm mechanism 62 is capable of transforming into a stabilizing posture for stabilizing the posture of the vehicle body 11 and a stored posture for being stored in the vehicle body 11. The arm mechanism 62 has a first arm 67 that is rotatable relative to the storage case 63, and a second arm 68 that is extendable and contractible relative to the first arm 67. The storage case 63 is provided in a side cover 69 of the vehicle body 11. Specifically, the storage case 63 is provided between the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 13 on the side of the vehicle body 11. The storage case 63 has a space that allows the arm mechanism 62, the first drive motor 64, the second drive motor 65, and the rolling rollers 66 in the stored posture to be stored.

[0047] The first drive motor 64 is an electric motor for rotating the arm mechanism 62. When the first drive motor 64 rotates in the forward direction, the arm mechanism 62 is rotated with respect to the vehicle body 11 so as to protrude laterally from the housing case 63. When the first drive motor 64 rotates in the reverse direction, the arm mechanism 62 protruding laterally is rotated with respect to the vehicle body 11 so as to be housed in the housing case 63. A second drive motor 65 is provided at the tip of the first arm 67. The second drive motor 65 is an electric motor for expanding and contracting the second arm 68 with respect to the first arm 67. When the second drive motor 65 rotates in the forward direction, the second arm 68 is extended with respect to the first arm 67. When the second drive motor 65 rotates in the reverse direction, the second arm 68 is contracted with respect to the first arm 67. A rolling roller 66 is provided at the tip of the second arm 68 as a grounding portion capable of contacting the road surface.

[0048] When the first arm 67 protrudes laterally from the vehicle body 11 and the second arm 68 extends relative to the first arm 67, the arm mechanism 62 is transformed into a stabilizing posture. When the arm mechanism 62 is in the stabilizing posture, the first arm 67 and the second arm 68 are linear and inclined from rear to front toward the road surface, and the rolling roller 66 touches the ground. When the second arm 68 contracts relative to the first arm 67 and the first arm 67 is housed in the housing case 63 from the vehicle body 11, the arm mechanism 62 is transformed into a housing posture. When the arm mechanism 62 is in the housing posture, the first arm 67 is housed in the second arm 68, and the rolling roller 66 is separated from the road surface. The extension and contraction direction of the arm mechanism 62 is inclined relative to the road surface.

[0049] The arm mechanism 62 assumes a stabilized posture by forward rotation of the first drive motor 64 and the second drive motor 65. In the stabilized posture, the arm mechanism 62 protrudes laterally from the housing case 63, the first arm 67 and the second arm 68 extend so as to be in a straight line, and the rolling roller 66 comes into contact with the road surface. In the stabilized posture, the rolling roller 66 comes into contact with the side and front of the pair of left and right front wheels 12 due to the stabilized posture of the arm mechanism 62, and the tread width and the wheelbase are virtually enlarged. This improves the stabilization of the posture of the vehicle body 11 in at least one of the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The position where the rolling roller 66 comes into contact with the ground is the same as the position where the rolling roller 45 of the first embodiment comes into contact with the ground.

[0050] The forklift 60 of this embodiment has the same effect as the effect (1) of the first embodiment. In addition, the storage case 63 is provided by utilizing the space between the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 13 on the side of the vehicle body 11, which is not utilized in the battery-powered forklift, so that the space of the vehicle body 11 can be effectively utilized. The stable posture due to the extension and contraction of the arm mechanism 62 allows the grounding part to be grounded at an appropriate position for stabilizing the vehicle body 11. In addition, the storage posture due to the extension and contraction of the arm mechanism 41 allows the arm mechanism 62 to be stored in the vehicle body 11 without protruding laterally from the vehicle body 11.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications may be made.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the distance between the pair of left and right grounding parts when they are in contact with the ground is fixed, but this is not limiting. For example, the distance between the pair of left and right grounding parts when they are in contact with the ground may be changed according to the weight of the load. In this case, an arm mechanism is used that allows the distance between the grounding parts to be variable, a threshold value for changing the distance is set in advance in the controller, and when the load detected by the load detection sensor is equal to or greater than the threshold value for changing the distance, the distance between the grounding parts may be increased. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the load detected by the load detection sensor is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the arm mechanism is operated so that the tread width T2 of the rolling roller 45 becomes the tread width T3. In addition, the threshold value for changing the distance may be changed in advance by the controller according to the weight of the load. Alternatively, the distance between the pair of left and right grounding parts when they are in contact with the ground may be changed according to the height of the load. In this case, an arm mechanism is used that allows the distance between the grounding parts to be variable, a threshold value for changing the distance is set in advance in the controller, and when the lift sensor is equal to or greater than the threshold value for changing the distance, the distance between the grounding parts may be increased. In the above embodiment, when the arm mechanism is in the stabilized posture, the ground contact portion is in contact with the side and in front of the pair of left and right front wheels, but this is not limited to the above. That is, the ground contact portion may be in contact with the side of the pair of left and right front wheels when the arm mechanism is in the stabilized posture. Alternatively, the ground contact portion may be in contact with the front of the pair of left and right front wheels when the arm mechanism is in the stabilized posture. That is, when the arm mechanism is in the stabilized posture, the ground contact portion may be in contact with at least one of the side and the front of the pair of left and right front wheels. In the above embodiment, the arm mechanism does not entirely protrude from the vehicle body when viewed from the front or from above, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the arm mechanism may protrude from the vehicle body when viewed from the front or from above, to the extent that it does not interfere with the travel of the loading vehicle or loading / unloading operations. In the above embodiment, the rolling rollers are used as the ground contact portions, but the ground contact portions are not limited to rolling rollers. The ground contact portions may be made of any material that can come into contact with the road surface, and it is preferable to use a material that does not impede the movement of the cargo handling vehicle when the arm mechanism is in the stabilized position. In the above embodiment, a plurality of drive motors are used as actuators, but this is not limiting. For example, the actuators may be fluid pressure cylinders, and there is no particular limit to the type or format of the actuators. In the above embodiment, a forklift is exemplified as a loading vehicle driven by an operator, but this is not limiting. For example, the loading vehicle may be an unmanned forklift. In this case, a set condition for activating the vehicle body attitude stabilization device (for example, activation in a loading area excluding a travel area) may be set in advance in the controller, and the vehicle body attitude stabilization device may be activated when the set condition for activation of the vehicle body attitude stabilization device is satisfied. The loading vehicle may be a loading vehicle other than a forklift. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10, 60 Forklift 11 Body 12 Front wheel 13 Rear wheel 14. Driving motor 17 Cargo handling equipment 20 Mast 22 Fork 23 Height sensor 26 Load detection sensor 27 Driver's seat 32 Controller 35 Front fender 40, 61 Vehicle stabilization system 41, 62 Arm mechanism 42, 63 Storage Case 43, 64 First drive motor (actuator) 44, 65 Second drive motor (actuator) 45, 66 Roller (ground contact part) 46 Slide member 47 First Arm 48 Second Arm 54 Operation switch 69 Side cover H1, H2 wheelbase T1, T2, T3 tread width

Claims

1. A vehicle body having a pair of left and right front wheels; A cargo handling vehicle including a vehicle body stabilizing device that can be accommodated in the vehicle body and stabilizes the posture of the vehicle body, The vehicle body stabilization device includes: a pair of left and right arm mechanisms connected to the vehicle body and capable of transforming into a stabilizing posture for stabilizing a posture of the vehicle body and a storage posture for being stored in the vehicle body; a ground contact portion provided at a tip end of the arm mechanism and capable of contacting a road surface when in the stabilized posture; When the arm mechanism is in the stabilized posture, the ground contact portion contacts at least one of the sides and the front of the pair of left and right front wheels, A cargo handling vehicle, characterized in that, when the arm mechanism is in the stored position, it is stored without protruding from the vehicle body in at least one of a front view and a plan view of the vehicle body.

2. the vehicle body has a front fender covering the pair of left and right front wheels, 2. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an accommodation portion capable of accommodating said vehicle body stabilization device is provided in an upper portion of said front fender.

3. The arm mechanism includes: A first arm connected to the vehicle body; 3. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a second arm connected to the first arm, being extendable or rotatable relative to the first arm, and including the ground contact portion.

4. 3. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions is changeable in accordance with a height of the cargo.

5. 3. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the pair of left and right ground contact portions is variable according to a weight of a cargo.

6. A lifting height sensor that detects the height of a load; an actuator that transforms the arm mechanism into the stabilizing posture and the stowed posture; A controller for controlling the actuator, 3. A loading vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the height sensor detects a height equal to or greater than a threshold value, the controller controls the actuator so that the grounding portion is grounded and the arm mechanism is placed in the stabilized position.

7. 7. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the controller varies the threshold value in accordance with the weight of the cargo.

8. The vehicle body has a pair of left and right side covers that cover the sides of the vehicle body, 2. The cargo handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the side cover is provided with a storage portion for the vehicle body stabilization device.

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