Lift Truck Mast Damping Wedge Elements

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lifting arrangements for fork lift trucks with damping devices only effectively dampen vertical forces, failing to address horizontal forces that cause rattling noises due to movement within tolerance ranges, which are not adequately addressed by separate horizontal and vertical dampers.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of wedge-shaped damping elements on the first mast section, which contact the second mast section on both sides, providing a damping effect in all three spatial directions (z, x, and y axes) by utilizing sloping planar contact surfaces that form angles other than 90 degrees with the horizontal and vertical axes, allowing for comprehensive damping of both axial and horizontal movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate horizontal and vertical dampers are used to dampen forces in different directions, then damping coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate horizontal and vertical damping functions into a single integrated damper assembly. The damper includes a housing with vertical damping elements and horizontal damping elements arranged at different orientations within the same structural unit, allowing one device to dampen forces in multiple directions simultaneously, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive damping coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damper assembly is designed as a multi-functional device that performs both vertical and horizontal damping operations. The housing structure serves multiple purposes: providing structural support, containing vertical damping elements for vertical force absorption, and incorporating horizontal damping elements for lateral force dampening, making a single component perform multiple damping functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If horizontal dampers are added to dampen rattling noises, then noise reduction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverattling noiseVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines noise reduction functionality with the existing damper structure by incorporating horizontal damping elements that specifically address rattling noises from lateral movements. These elements are integrated into the housing rather than added as separate external components, allowing noise control to be achieved within the existing device footprint without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution effectively dampens all directional forces, eliminating rattling noises and ensuring robustness without the need for separate horizontal and vertical dampers, providing a comprehensive damping effect in a single device configuration.

Implementation Method 1

damping devices made of elastic material on the first mast section or on the second mast section, which prevent the second mast section from striking the first mast section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

In its retracted end position, a cross-connection element of another mast section hits the damping element, which absorbs the corresponding impact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3064467B1Hub assembly of a lift truck with mast damping devices and lift truck
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP3064467B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3064467B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3064467B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Lifting arrangement of a pallet truck, in particular a forklift truck, with a lifting mast having one axle and with a first mast section (2) and a second mast section (1), wherein damping devices (3) made of elastic material are provided on the first mast section or second mast section, which prevent the second mast section from impacting the first mast section in the retracted end position of the second mast section, wherein the damping devices are designed and arranged in such a way that, in addition to damping the movement of the second mast section in the axial direction (along the z-axis), they also damp movements of the same in both directions perpendicular to it (along the x-axis and the y-axis).