Forklift Load-Handling Guide and Lever Layout for Inclined Ramps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial trucks with load-carrying devices that require extensive construction effort and space due to multiple scissor lifting devices for navigating inclined ramps, which complicate load handling and stability.

Innovation Solution

A guide device allowing longitudinal and tilting movements of the load-carrying device with four pivotable lifting levers, secured against twisting and displacement, and an electronic control system to maintain load stability on inclined ramps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple scissor lifting devices are used to enable tilting movement on inclined ramps, then the load-handling device can maintain horizontal position, but the construction complexity and space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to maintain load horizontal position on inclined rampsVSAvoidconstruction complexity of lifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is segmented into four independent lifting levers positioned at the corners of the load-handling device, each capable of independent pivoting motion. This segmentation allows each lever to handle specific lifting and tilting requirements, replacing the complex interconnected scissor mechanism while achieving the same functional goals of vertical lifting and tilting adjustment on inclined ramps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential functions of the scissor lifting device (vertical lifting and tilting capability) and implements them through a simplified mechanism of four pivoting levers with support elements. The complex scissor linkage geometry is removed entirely, keeping only the necessary lifting and tilting functions through simpler lever arms that pivot on the vehicle chassis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If multiple scissor lifting devices are used to achieve tilting movement, then load stability on inclined ramps is improved, but the space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload stability on inclined rampsVSAvoidspace occupied by lifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is segmented into four independent lifting levers positioned at the corners of the load-handling device, each capable of independent pivoting motion. This segmentation allows each lever to handle specific lifting and tilting requirements, replacing the complex interconnected scissor mechanism while achieving the same functional goals of vertical lifting and tilting adjustment on inclined ramps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the dimensional approach from the planar scissor linkage mechanism to a three-dimensional arrangement of four levers pivoting on vertical axes. The levers extend diagonally across the vehicle chassis, utilizing the vertical dimension and corner positions to achieve tilting capability without requiring additional horizontal space that would be needed for expanded scissor mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient load handling and improved stability on inclined ramps with reduced construction effort and space requirements, allowing for precise control of load inclination and position during transport.

Implementation Method 1

the lifting device has four lifting levers (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) which are arranged in corner regions of the load-handling device (3), wherein the lifting levers (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) are each pivotably arranged on the vehicle chassis (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 2

With a support element arranged on the corresponding lifting lever, for example a roller rotatably arranged on the lifting lever, with which the load-handling device is supported on the corresponding lifting lever, a relative movement between the lifting lever arranged on the vehicle chassis and the load-handling device can be made possible in a simple manner during a tilting movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRoller: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4385934A1Industrial truck
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 LINDE MATERIAL HANDLING GMBH
  • EP4385934A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385934A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4385934A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a forklift truck (1) with a vehicle chassis (2) and a load handling device (3), wherein the load handling device (3) can be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle chassis (2) by means of a lifting device (4), wherein the lifting device (4) is designed to generate a lifting movement of the load handling device (3) in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis (z) and a tilting movement of the load handling device (3) about a vehicle transverse axis (y) and/or about a vehicle longitudinal axis (x).The load-handling device (3) is displaceably arranged on the vehicle chassis (2) in the direction of the vehicle's vertical axis (z) by means of a guide device (20), wherein the guide device (20) is designed to allow longitudinal movements of the load-handling device (3) along the vehicle's vertical axis (z) and tilting movements of the load-handling device (3) about the vehicle's transverse axis (y) and/or about the vehicle's longitudinal axis (x), and to prevent a rotational movement of the load-handling device (3) about the vehicle's vertical axis (z) as well as displacement movements of the load-handling device (3) in the direction of the vehicle's transverse axis (y) and in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis (x), wherein the lifting device (4) has four lifting levers (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) which are arranged in corner regions of the load-handling device (3), wherein the lifting levers (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) are each pivotably mounted on the vehicle chassis (2) are arranged and each is operatively connected to the load-bearing device (3) by means of a support element (39).