Forklift

Abstract

To provide a forklift capable of keeping multiple electrical components warm while maintaining a compact size.SOLUTION: A forklift comprises a vehicle body, a mast installed on the vehicle body and extending vertically, a fork supported by the mast, multiple electric components, an enclosure in which the aggregate of the multiple electric components is accommodated, a heat insulating box installed in the interior of the enclosure and having the heat insulator enclosing the multiple electric components, and a heater installed in the enclosure, which heats the interior of the enclosure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to forklifts. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an autonomous forklift, which is designed to be compact. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-136684 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a forklift is used in a low-temperature environment such as inside a freezer, it is necessary to keep electrical components such as a control board that constitutes the forklift warm. However, in a small forklift truck such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, it has been difficult to secure space for arranging a mechanism for keeping electrical components warm.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a forklift that can keep a plurality of electrical components warm while maintaining a compact form. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the forklift truck according to the present disclosure includes a vehicle body, a mast attached to the vehicle body and extending in a vertical direction, forks supported by the mast, a plurality of electrical components, a housing that aggregates and houses the plurality of electrical components inside, an insulated box that is arranged on the inner surface of the housing and has insulation material that surrounds the plurality of electrical components, and a heater that is provided inside the housing and heats the inside of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the forklift truck of the present disclosure, it is possible to keep a plurality of electrical components warm while maintaining a compact size. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a low-temperature warehouse into which a forklift according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is introduced. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forklift according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of a forklift according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in a first direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulated box according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the thermal insulation box according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a housing according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in a first direction. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from a second direction. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a housing according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from above and below. [Figure 9] 1 is a front view of a door of a housing according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the front side in a first direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a midplate according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner housing according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an insulated box according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a view showing the internal structure of the thermal insulation box according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a second direction. [Figure 14]10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an insulated box according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an insulated box according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. [Figure 16] 10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an insulated box according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of an insulated box according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear side in the first direction. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) A forklift 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in Fig. 1, a forklift 1 is used in a low-temperature warehouse 2. The low-temperature warehouse 2 in this embodiment is a freezer, and includes a freezing chamber 3 and an antechamber 4. The temperature of the freezer compartment 3 is set to, for example, about -25°C to -20°C. A plurality of shelves 5 are installed in the freezer compartment 3. A plurality of cargoes M are placed on the shelves 5. A forklift 1 transports the cargoes M inside the freezer compartment 3. The forklift 1 is equipped with a traveling / loading battery 6 (see FIG. 2). The forklift 1 travels using power from the traveling / loading battery 6. The forklift 1 of this embodiment is an autonomous forklift. The configuration of the forklift 1 will be described in detail later.

[0010] A front room 4 is provided adjacent to the freezer room 3. An openable and closable compartment door 3a is provided between the freezer room 3 and the front room 4. When the compartment door 3a is open, the forklift 1 can move between the freezer room 3 and the front room 4. The temperature in the front room 4 is set to, for example, about +1°C to +2°C. A cargo storage area 4a is provided in the front room 4. Cargo M is temporarily stored in the cargo storage area 4a. In the front room 4, the forklift 1 or a worker transports the cargo M. In addition, the front room 4 is provided with an exit door 4b. The worker or the forklift 1 carries the cargo M out of the front room 4 through the exit door 4b.

[0011] (forklift) As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the following, for the forklift 1, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction Dv that coincides with the fore-and-aft direction of the forklift 1 will be referred to as the first direction D1, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 that coincides with the width direction of the forklift 1 will be referred to as the second direction D2. The forklift 1 includes a body 20, a traveling mechanism 25, a mast 26, a loading device 30, a traveling / loading battery 6, a sensor 7, an external heater 8, a thermal insulation box 40, a heater 9 (see FIG. 5), and electrical equipment 10 (see FIG. 5).

[0012] (Body) The vehicle body 20 has a vehicle body main body 21 and straddle legs 22.

[0013] (Vehicle body) The vehicle body 21 extends in the vertical direction Dv. The rear surface 21a of the vehicle body 21 is curved in an arc shape so as to protrude rearward in the first direction D1 when viewed from the vertical direction Dv. A plate 23 extending horizontally is provided inside the vehicle body 21. A plurality of plates 23 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction Dv. An insulation box 40 (described later) and the like are placed on the plate 23.

[0014] (Straddle leg) Two straddle legs 22 are provided facing each other in the second direction D2. The vehicle body 21 is placed on the two straddle legs 22. The straddle legs 22 extend in the first direction D1 and protrude further forward in the first direction D1 than the vehicle body 21.

[0015] (Traveling mechanism) The traveling mechanism 25 is provided on the lower part of the vehicle body 20. The traveling mechanism 25 supports the forklift 1 from below and allows the forklift 1 to travel horizontally. The traveling mechanism 25 has rear wheels 25a and front wheels 25b. The rear wheels 25a are provided on the lower part of the vehicle body 21. The front wheels 25b are provided on the front end parts of the straddle legs 22.

[0016] (mast) The masts 26 are attached to the front of the vehicle body 21. The masts 26 extend in the vertical direction Dv, and two masts 26 are provided between the straddle legs 22 facing each other in the second direction D2 (the width direction of the vehicle body 20). The two masts 26 are movable back and forth in the first direction D1 along the straddle legs 22. Each mast 26 has an outer mast 27 and an inner mast 28. The outer masts 27 are provided as a pair spaced apart in the second direction D2. The outer masts 27 extend in the vertical direction Dv. One inner mast 28 is provided inside each outer mast 27 in the second direction D2. The inner masts 28 are provided as a pair spaced apart in the second direction D2. The inner masts 28 are provided so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction Dv relative to the outer masts 27. The inner mast 28 can be tilted by a tilt mechanism (not shown) between a state in which it extends perpendicular to the horizontal plane along a vertical line and a state inclined relative to the vertical line.

[0017] (Load handling equipment) The cargo handling device 30 is provided on the front side of the inner mast 28. The cargo handling device 30 has a lift bracket 31 and a fork 32.

[0018] (Lift bracket) The lift bracket 31 is attached so as to bridge the two inner masts 28 in the second direction D2. The lift bracket 31 is movable along the inner masts 28 in the up-down direction Dv.

[0019] (fork) The forks 32 are attached to the front surface of the lift bracket 31 and supported by the mast 26. The forks 32 are L-shaped when viewed from the second direction D2, and two forks 32 are provided facing each other in the second direction D2. The forks 32 have a fork base 32a and fork claws 32b. The fork base 32a is fixed to the front surface of the lift bracket 31. The fork claws 32b extend forward in the first direction D1 from the lower end of the fork base 32a.

[0020] When the forklift 1 transports cargo M, the fork claws 32b are inserted into holes in a pallet (not shown) on which the cargo M is placed. In this state, when the cargo handling device 30 rises along the mast 26, the cargo M is lifted. By moving in this state, the forklift 1 can transport the cargo M to the destination.

[0021] (Traction and cargo handling battery) The traveling / load-handling battery 6 is mounted on the rear end of each straddle leg 22. The forklift 1 travels using the power of the traveling / load-handling battery 6, and operates the load-handling device 30.

[0022] (sensor) The forklift 1 is equipped with various sensors 7 that detect surrounding obstacles, cargo M, etc. The sensors 7 include a safety sensor that detects the surroundings of the forklift 1, a toe contact sensor provided at the tip of the fork claws 32b, and a pallet detection sensor that detects the pallet on which cargo M is placed. The forklift 1 obtains information about its surroundings using these sensors 7, allowing it to operate automatically while avoiding obstacles, workers, etc. FIG. 2 shows an example of a sensor 7 provided at the top end of the vehicle body 21. Each sensor 7 is equipped with an external heater 8 to keep it warm. The external heater 8 heats the sensor 7 to prevent the temperature of the sensor 7 from dropping.

[0023] (Insulated box) The thermal insulation box 40 is provided inside the vehicle body 21 and placed on the plate 23. As shown in FIG. 4, the thermal insulation box 40 is formed to be longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction. The thermal insulation box 40 is also provided rearward of the two masts 26. The thermal insulation box 40 is also disposed midway between the two masts 26 in the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 5, the thermal insulation box 40 has a housing 41, a heat insulating material 42, a middle plate 43, and an inner housing 44.

[0024] (Housing) 4 and 6 to 8, the housing 41 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction. The housing 41 accommodates a plurality of electrical components 10. The housing 41 has a housing main body 45 and a door 46.

[0025] (Main body) The housing body 45 is disposed behind the mast 26 and is formed in a box shape that is open toward the rear. A plurality of electrical components 10 are housed inside the housing body 45.

[0026] (door) The door 46 is provided to be able to open and close the opening of the housing main body 45. As shown in FIG. 9, the door 46 has a door main body 46a, an edge portion 46b, and a handle 46c (see FIG. 4). The door main body 46a is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction Dv. The edge portion 46b is provided along the outer edge of the door main body 46a on the inner surface of the door main body 46a that faces the housing main body 45. The edge portion 46b protrudes from the surface of the door main body 46a and is formed in a rectangular frame shape. When the door 46 closes the opening of the housing main body 45, the edge portion 46b comes into contact with the housing main body 45 to prevent air from leaking out of the housing 41. The handle 46c is provided on the outer surface of the door main body 46a opposite the edge portion 46b. An operator opens and closes the door 46 by gripping the handle 46c.

[0027] (Insulation material) The heat insulating material 42 is disposed on the inner surface of the housing 41. The heat insulating material 42 is disposed so as to surround the plurality of electrical components 10 inside the housing 41 from the outside. In this embodiment, the heat insulating material 42 is formed in a rectangular sheet shape. This heat insulating material 42 is attached to the entire inner surface of the housing main body 45 and the entire inner surface of the door main body 46a that faces the housing main body 45. The heat insulating material 42 disposed on the door 46 is surrounded by the edge portion 46b of the door 46. The heat insulating material 42 in this embodiment is, for example, a microporous heat insulating material. The heat insulating material 42 may also be, for example, a polyolefin foam heat insulating material or a polypropylene heat insulating material.

[0028] (middle plate) The middle plate 43 is provided further inward than the heat insulating materials 42 within the housing 41. As shown in FIG. 10, the middle plate 43 is formed in the shape of a thin rectangular plate. This middle plate 43 is attached to each heat insulating material 42. In this embodiment, the middle plate 43 is formed from, for example, paper bakelite. Therefore, the middle plate 43 has rigidity and higher heat insulating properties than metal. Furthermore, the middle plate 43 has a plurality of holes 47 formed therethrough in the plate thickness direction. These holes 47 are arranged in a lattice pattern. Each hole 47 is formed in a circular shape.

[0029] (inner housing) As shown in FIG. 5, the inner housing 44 is disposed inside the housing 41 and is entirely surrounded by the heat insulating material 42. In this embodiment, the inner housing 44 is disposed further inward than the middle plate 43 in the housing 41, with a small gap between the middle plate 43 and the inner housing 44. The inner housing 44 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction. The inner housing 44 is formed in a box shape that opens toward the rear (see FIG. 11). In this embodiment, the internal space of the inner housing 44 serves as an accommodation space S in which multiple electrical components 10 are accommodated. The accommodation space S is longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction. The inner housing 44 is formed of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as metal. The inner housing 44 is attached to the middle plate 43 by a jig (not shown).

[0030] (heater) The heater 9 is provided inside the housing 41 and heats the inside of the housing 41. As shown in FIG. 11 , the heater 9 in this embodiment is a so-called cord heater, and a plurality of heaters 9 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 44. Hereinafter, these cord heaters will be referred to as first heaters 9a. The first heaters 9a are provided so as to be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 44. In this embodiment, the first heaters 9a are disposed in the gap between the inner housing 44 and the middle plate 43, and are in contact with not only the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 44 but also the middle plate 43.

[0031] (Electrical equipment) The electrical components 10 include, for example, a radio 10a, a communication module 10b, a terminal block 10c, an unmanned operation control system 10d, a travel and cargo handling control system 10e, a power converter 10f, a connector fuse 10g, and a control battery 10h. All of these electrical components 10 are housed in the thermal insulation box 40. The unmanned operation control system 10d and the travel and cargo handling control system 10e are connected to a sensor 7 located outside the thermal insulation box 40. The unmanned operation control system 10d includes a control board for the sensor 7 and controls the automatic operation of the forklift 1 based on information obtained from the sensor 7. The travel and cargo handling control system 10e controls the travel mechanism 25 and the cargo handling device 30 based on information obtained from the sensor 7. The power converter 10f is connected to the travel and cargo handling battery 6 and the control battery 10h. The power converter 10f converts the power of the travel and cargo handling battery 6 and charges the control battery 10h. The control battery 10h supplies power to the other electrical components 10 and the heater 9 inside the thermal insulation box 40. The control battery 10h also supplies power to the external heater 8 arranged outside the thermal insulation box 40.

[0032] The radio 10a, communication module 10b, terminal block 10c, unmanned operation control system 10d, and traveling / loading control system 10e are arranged on one side of the second direction D2 within the accommodation space S, and the power converter 10f, connector fuse 10g, and control battery 10h are arranged on the other side of the second direction D2 within the accommodation space S. Furthermore, the radio 10a, communication module 10b, terminal block 10c, unmanned operation control system 10d, and traveling / loading control system 10e are arranged in this order from above in the vertical direction Dv, and the power converter 10f, connector fuse 10g, and control battery 10h are arranged in this order from above in the vertical direction Dv.

[0033] Furthermore, among the multiple electrical components 10, electrical components 10 that generate a relatively large amount of heat due to power, such as the power converter 10f and the control battery 10h, are arranged in corners 41a (corners 44a of the inner casing 44 in this embodiment) within the casing 41 where the temperature is less likely to rise. In particular, the control battery 10h supplies power to the other electrical components 10 and the heater 9 and constantly generates heat. For this reason, the control battery 10h is arranged in the lower corner 41a of the casing 41, where low-temperature air is likely to accumulate. The corners 41a of the casing 41 referred to here are predetermined ranges within the casing 41, including the corners.

[0034] (Action and effect) According to the forklift 1 of this embodiment, the following effects are achieved.

[0035] In this embodiment, the forklift 1 includes a vehicle body 20, a mast 26, forks 32, a plurality of electrical components 10, a thermal insulation box 40, and a heater 9. The mast 26 extends in the vertical direction Dv. The forks 32 are supported by the mast 26. The thermal insulation box 40 includes a housing 41 and a thermal insulator 42. The housing 41 houses the plurality of electrical components 10 together. The thermal insulator 42 is disposed on the inner surface of the housing 41 and surrounds the plurality of electrical components 10. The heater 9 is provided within the housing 41 and heats the interior of the housing 41.

[0036] According to this embodiment, heat radiation from the electrical components 10 can be suppressed by accommodating multiple electrical components 10 in a housing 41 and surrounding them with a heat insulating material 42. Furthermore, within the housing 41, a heater 9 heats the multiple electrical components 10. Furthermore, because the heater 9 is surrounded by the heat insulating material 42, the heat from the heater 9 tends to remain within the housing 41. In this way, the multiple electrical components 10 can be kept warm. Furthermore, the multiple electrical components 10, the heat insulating material 42, and the heater 9 can be housed together in the housing 41. In this embodiment, the sensor 7 that acquires surrounding information for safe autonomous driving, the external heater 8 that keeps the sensor 7 warm, the traveling / loading battery 6, etc. are installed externally, but the control board for the sensor 7 and the control battery 10h that supplies power to the external heater 8 are housed inside the housing 41. In this way, as many electrical components 10 as possible can be housed inside the housing 41 and arranged in the available space of the forklift 1. This prevents the forklift 1 from becoming larger. As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to keep a plurality of electrical components warm while maintaining a compact size.

[0037] In this embodiment, two masts 26 are provided facing each other in the width direction of the vehicle body 20. The heat insulation box 40 is formed to be longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction, and is located rearward of the two masts 26 and midway between the two masts 26 in the width direction.

[0038] This allows the thermal insulation box 40 to be placed in a position where it does not interfere with the mast 26. Even if the mast 26 is moved rearward and tilted rearward when the forklift 1 transports a load, it is possible to prevent the thermal insulation box 40 from coming into contact with the mast 26. Furthermore, layout flexibility can be improved.

[0039] In this embodiment, the heat-retaining box 40 is disposed inside the housing 41 and further includes an inner housing 44 surrounded by a heat insulating material 42. The heater 9 in this embodiment is a first heater 9a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 44.

[0040] This allows the first heater 9a to heat the entire inside of the inner housing 44. This allows the plurality of electrical components 10 to be heated efficiently. In addition, the inner housing 44 of this embodiment is made of metal, and the first heater 9a is provided so as to be wrapped around the outer surface of the inner housing 44. Therefore, the first heater 9a uniformly heats the entire inner housing 44. This allows the heat of the first heater 9a to be uniformly transferred to the multiple electrical components 10.

[0041] In this embodiment, the electrical components 10 that generate a relatively large amount of heat among the plurality of electrical components 10 are arranged in the corners 41 a inside the housing 41 .

[0042] The corners 41a of the housing 41 are less likely to heat up than the center of the housing 41. By placing electrical components 10 that generate a large amount of heat in these corners 41a, it becomes easier to heat the inside of the housing 41 uniformly. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently keep the electrical components 10 warm and reduce the power consumption of the heater 9. In this embodiment, the control battery 10h, which constantly supplies power to other devices and generates a large amount of heat, is placed in the corner 41a, thereby suppressing the temperature rise of the control battery 10h and preventing deterioration of the control battery 10h.

[0043] In this embodiment, the housing 41 has a housing main body 45 and a door 46. The housing main body 45 is disposed behind the mast 26. The housing main body 45 is formed in a box shape that opens toward the rear and accommodates a plurality of electrical components 10. The door 46 is provided so that the opening of the housing main body 45 can be opened and closed.

[0044] This makes it easier for the worker to remove the electrical equipment 10 from the housing 41. Therefore, the ease of maintenance can be improved.

[0045] (Second embodiment) A forklift 1A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Among the configurations of the second embodiment, configurations common to the above-described embodiment will be given the same names and reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0046] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the thermal insulation box 40 does not have an inner housing 44. Therefore, the internal space of the housing 41 serves as a storage space S in which multiple electrical components 10 are stored. Similar to the first embodiment, this storage space S is longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the heater 9 of this embodiment is not a cord heater as in the first embodiment, but a heater formed in a tile shape. In the following description, the heater 9 of this embodiment will be referred to as a second heater 9b. Multiple second heaters 9b are provided.

[0047] The forklift 1A further includes fans 11 disposed within the housing 41. One fan 11 is provided for each second heater 9b and is disposed near the second heater 9b. In this embodiment, the fans 11 are disposed below each second heater 9b and blow air upward.

[0048] The forklift 1A further includes a position adjustment mechanism 12 within the housing 41. The position adjustment mechanism 12 adjusts the position of the combination of the fan 11 and the second heater 9b. One position adjustment mechanism 12 is provided for each combination of the fan 11 and the second heater 9b. The position adjustment mechanism 12 of this embodiment has a rail 12a attached to the middle plate 43. The rail 12a extends in the vertical direction Dv. The combination of the fan 11 and the second heater 9b is attached to the rail 12a and is movable in the vertical direction Dv along the rail 12a. The fan 11 and the second heater 9b are each independently connected to a power source. Both the fan 11 and the second heater 9b may be connected to a control battery 10h and may receive power from the control battery 10h.

[0049] In this embodiment, the position adjustment mechanism 12, the fan 11, and the second heater 9b are disposed at a central position in the second direction D2 (the width direction of the vehicle body 20) within the housing 41. Therefore, the wireless device 10a, the communication module 10b, the terminal block 10c, the unmanned operation control system 10d, and the traveling / load handling control system 10e are disposed on one side of the position adjustment mechanism 12, the fan 11, and the second heater 9b in the second direction D2, and the power converter 10f, the connector fuse 10g, and the control battery 10h are disposed on the other side of the second direction D2.

[0050] (Action and effect) According to the forklift 1A of this embodiment, the following effects are achieved.

[0051] In this embodiment, the forklift 1A further includes a fan 11 disposed within the housing 41. The heater 9 is a second heater 9b disposed near the fan 11.

[0052] This allows the air inside the housing 41 heated by the second heater 9b to be spread throughout the entire inside of the housing 41 by the fan 11.

[0053] (Other embodiments) The above describes in detail the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like are also included within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure. In the above embodiment, the low-temperature warehouse 2 is a freezer, but the low-temperature warehouse 2 may be a refrigerator. That is, the forklift 1, 1A may be used in a refrigerator.

[0054] 14, the forklift 1 of the first embodiment may include a second heater 9b as the heater 9 in addition to the first heater 9a. That is, the heater 9 may include the first heater 9a and the second heater 9b. In this case, the position adjustment mechanism 12 is attached to the front end surface of the inner surface of the inner housing 44, and the second heater 9b and the fan 11 are housed in the housing space S within the inner housing 44.

[0055] 15, the forklift 1 may also include a temperature sensor 13 and a heater control system 14. The temperature sensor 13 is disposed inside the housing 41 and detects the temperature inside the housing 41. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 13 is disposed inside the inner housing 44, similar to the plurality of electrical components 10. The heater control system 14 operates the heater 9 when the measurement value of the temperature sensor 13 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and stops the heater 9 when the measurement value of the temperature sensor 13 is less than the predetermined threshold. With this configuration, the forklift 1 can control the ON / OFF of the heater 9, and operate the heater 9 only when the temperature inside the housing 41 drops. Conversely, when the temperature inside the housing 41 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the heater 9 is automatically stopped, so the forklift 1 can be used not only in low-temperature environments but also in normal-temperature environments.

[0056] Furthermore, although the temperature sensor 13 and the heater control system 14 have been described above using the first embodiment as an example, the temperature sensor 13 and the heater control system 14 may also be provided in the second embodiment. Although the heater control system 14 has been described as being provided inside the thermal insulation box 40, this is not limitative. The heater control system 14 may also be provided outside the thermal insulation box 40. Furthermore, either the unmanned operation control system 10d or the traveling / loading control system 10e may also have the function of the heater control system 14.

[0057] 16, the thermal insulation box 40 may have partition plates 15 that divide the storage space S in the vertical direction Dv. The storage space S is divided into multiple spaces by the partition plates 15, and each storage space S is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction Dv. This suppresses natural convection of air within the storage space S. This suppresses heat dissipation due to natural convection. Therefore, the multiple electrical components 10 can be heated efficiently. In the illustrated example, the partition plates 15 are provided in the thermal insulation box 40 of the first embodiment. The partition plates 15 extend in the second direction D2 within the inner housing 44. The partition plates 15 may also be provided in the thermal insulation box 40 of the second embodiment.

[0058] 17, the heat insulation box 40 may be placed horizontally so as to extend in the horizontal direction (in the illustrated example, the second direction D2). In this way, the storage space S can be made longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction Dv without providing a partition plate 15.

[0059] <Additional Notes> The forklifts 1 and 1A described in the respective embodiments can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0060] (1) The forklift 1, 1A according to the first embodiment comprises a vehicle body 20, a mast 26 extending in the vertical direction Dv, a fork 32 supported by the mast 26, a plurality of electrical components 10, a housing 41 that houses the plurality of electrical components 10 together, an insulated box 40 arranged on the inner surface of the housing 41 and having a heat insulating material 42 that surrounds the plurality of electrical components 10, and a heater 9 provided within the housing 41 to heat the interior of the housing 41.

[0061] According to this embodiment, the plurality of electrical components 10 are housed in the housing 41 and surrounded by the insulating material 42, thereby suppressing heat dissipation from the electrical components 10. Furthermore, within the housing 41, the heater 9 heats the plurality of electrical components 10. Furthermore, because the heater 9 is surrounded by the insulating material 42, the heat of the heater 9 tends to remain within the housing 41. In this way, the plurality of electrical components 10 can be kept warm. Furthermore, since the plurality of electrical components 10, the heat insulating material 42, and the heater 9 can be housed together in the housing 41, it is possible to prevent the forklift 1, 1A from becoming larger. Therefore, according to this aspect, it is possible to keep a plurality of electrical components warm while maintaining a compact size.

[0062] (2) The forklift 1, 1A of the second aspect is the forklift 1, 1A of (1), in which the two masts 26 are arranged opposite each other in the width direction of the vehicle body 20, and the thermal insulation box 40 is formed longer in the vertical direction Dv than in the horizontal direction, and may be positioned rearward of the two masts 26 and midway between the two masts 26 in the width direction.

[0063] This allows the thermal insulation box 40 to be placed in a position where it will not be interfered with by the mast 26.

[0064] (3) The forklift 1 of the third aspect is the forklift 1 of (1) or (2), wherein the heat-insulating box 40 is arranged inside the housing 41 and further has an inner housing 44 surrounded by the insulating material 42, and the heater 9 may include a first heater 9a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 44.

[0065] This allows the first heater 9a to heat the entire inside of the inner housing 44. This allows the plurality of electrical components 10 to be heated efficiently.

[0066] (4) The forklift 1, 1A of the fourth aspect is any one of the forklifts 1, 1A of (1) to (3), further comprising a fan 11 arranged within the housing 41, and the heater 9 may include a second heater 9b arranged near the fan 11.

[0067] This allows the air inside the housing 41 heated by the second heater 9b to be spread throughout the entire inside of the housing 41 by the fan 11.

[0068] (5) The forklift 1 of the fifth aspect may be any one of the forklifts 1 of (1) to (4), further comprising a temperature sensor 13 arranged in the housing 41 to detect the temperature inside the housing 41, and a heater control system 14 that operates the heater 9 when the measurement value of the temperature sensor 13 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and stops the heater 9 when the measurement value of the temperature sensor 13 is less than the predetermined threshold.

[0069] This allows the forklift 1 to operate the heater 9 only when the temperature inside the housing 41 drops.

[0070] (6) The forklift 1, 1A of the sixth aspect is any one of the forklifts 1, 1A of (1) to (5), and the electrical equipment 10 that generates a relatively large amount of heat among the plurality of electrical equipment 10 may be arranged at a corner 41a within the housing 41.

[0071] The corners 41a of the housing 41 are less likely to rise in temperature than the center of the housing 41. By arranging the electrical components 10 that generate a large amount of heat in the corners 41a, the inside of the housing 41 can be heated more uniformly.

[0072] (7) The forklift 1 of the seventh aspect is any one of the forklifts 1 of (1) to (6), and the storage space S in which the electrical equipment 10 is stored within the housing 41 may be longer horizontally than vertically Dv.

[0073] According to this aspect, natural convection of air is suppressed within the accommodation space S. This suppresses heat dissipation due to natural convection.

[0074] (8) The forklift 1, 1A of the eighth aspect may be any one of the forklifts 1, 1A of (1) to (7), and the housing 41 may have a box-shaped housing body 45 arranged behind the mast 26, opening toward the rear, and housing a plurality of the electrical components 10, and a door 46 that is provided to be able to open and close the opening of the housing body 45.

[0075] This makes it easier for the worker to remove the electrical equipment 10 from the housing 41. Therefore, the ease of maintenance can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...forklift, 2...low-temperature warehouse, 3...freezer, 3a...compartment door, 4...front room, 4a...cargo storage area, 4b...exit door, 5...shelf, 6...travel and cargo handling battery, 7...sensor, 8...external heater, 9...heater, 9a...first heater, 9b...second heater, 10...electrical equipment, 10a...radio, 10b...communication module, 10c...terminal block, 10d...unmanned operation control system, 10e...travel and cargo handling control system, 10f...power converter, 10g...connector fuse, 10h...control battery, 11...fan, 12...position adjustment mechanism, 12a...rail, 13...temperature sensor, 14...heater control system, 15...partition plate, 20...car body, 21...car body main body, 21a...rear surface, 22...straddle leg, 23...plate, 25...traveling mechanism, 25a...rear wheel, 25b...front wheel, 26...mast, 27...outer mast, 28...inner mast, 30...load handling device, 31...lift bracket, 32...fork, 32a...fork base, 32b...fork claw portion, 40...thermal insulation box, 41...casing, 41a...corner portion, 42...insulating material, 43...middle plate, 44...inner casing, 44a...corner portion, 45...casing main body, 46...door, 46a...door main body, 46b...edge portion, 47...hole, D1...first direction, D2...second direction, Dv...vertical direction, M...cargo, S...storage space

Claims

1. The car body and a mast attached to the vehicle body and extending in a vertical direction; a fork supported on the mast; Multiple electrical components and a housing that houses the plurality of electrical components together inside, and a heat insulation box that is disposed on an inner surface of the housing and has a heat insulating material that surrounds the plurality of electrical components; a heater provided in the housing and configured to heat the inside of the housing; Forklift equipped with:

2. The two masts are provided opposite to each other in the width direction of the vehicle body, The heat insulation box is formed to be longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, and is disposed rearward of the two masts and midway between the two masts in the width direction.

2. The forklift according to claim 1.

3. The thermal insulation box further includes an inner housing disposed inside the housing and surrounded by the thermal insulation material; the heater includes a first heater provided on an outer circumferential surface of the inner housing; 3. The forklift according to claim 1 or 2.

4. further comprising a fan disposed within the housing; the heater includes a second heater disposed near the fan; 3. The forklift according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a temperature sensor disposed within the housing and configured to detect a temperature within the housing; a heater control system that operates the heater when the measurement value of the temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and stops the heater when the measurement value of the temperature sensor is less than the predetermined threshold; The forklift according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

6. Among the plurality of electrical components, the electrical component that generates a relatively large amount of heat is disposed at a corner portion within the housing.

3. The forklift according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The forklift according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an accommodation space in the housing for accommodating the electrical components is longer in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction.

8. The housing includes: a box-shaped housing body that is disposed behind the mast, has an opening toward the rear, and accommodates the plurality of electrical components; a door provided to be able to open and close the opening of the housing body; 3. The forklift truck according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

Images