CN100415631C

CN100415631C - Lift truck for tires

Info

Publication number: CN100415631C
Application number: CNB2004800041538A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·沙尔韦
Original assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland; Societe de Technologie Michelin SAS
Current assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland; Societe de Technologie Michelin SAS
Priority date: 2003-02-13
Filing date: 2004-02-09
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-09
Also published as: FR2851240A1; EP1599408A1; CA2515535A1; CN1750992A; BRPI0407313A; RU81716U1; FR2851240B1; WO2004076332A1; RU2005128498A; PL377607A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fork-lift truck (1) for the forward transport of a vertical pile (2) of tyres (3), arranged to the front of the truck, characterised in comprising gripping means (4), mounted on the frame or the mast (11) of the truck and which permit gripping of the pile and dividing the same in the vertical direction into two vertical sections called high (2H) and low (2B), such as to open a gap (E) between the two high and low sections of the pile. Said gap is arranged at a height from the ground, such that the field of vision (CV) of the driver of the truck (or fork-lift operator) passes through said gap at an angle such that said fork-lift operator can see the ground in front of the truck to a distance (D) called security and beyond that to also give a distant view.

Description

Lift truck for tires

The present invention relates to the transportation and the storing technology field of tire, relate more specifically to be suitable for the fork truck technical field of short-distance transportation tire heap, for example between two of a workshop storage areas, or between manufacturing line end and the storage area, and other similar route.

Hereinafter, tire " heap " expression: vertical stacks represent one on one group of tire be placed on another above, the roughly symmetrical concentric arrangement of axis, and directed in orthogonal direction; And horizontal stack is represented one group of tire mutually against placement, the roughly symmetrical concentric arrangement of axis, and point to horizontal direction.

In the prior art, the fork truck of transport tire heap comprises a very long arm, and this arm can pass the central authorities of horizontal tire heap at level attitude, and the arm that has horizontal tire heap subsequently can vertically rotate, and it is vertical that the tire heap is become, and is convenient to transportation.

Be appreciated that, in this configuration, the visual field that tire heap has stopped chaufeur on the lift car working direction fully forces chaufeur must to lean over or turn over (ergonomics problem) or expands his visual field by " make a circulation " action more or less, does all very dangerous like this.Often, if the width of goods is excessive, chaufeur is forced to oneself turn over (position at " towards the rear "), is falling steering vehicle.These all interim measures all danger close and/or posture have serious ergonomics problem and fatiguability.

Document DE 101 27 949 C2 disclose a kind of supporting plate fork truck, comprise two groups of two forks, and every group of two forks are all made and carried the goods supporting plate, in operating process, can provide the visual field of chaufeur between two groups of supporting plates.But this fork truck can't be used for the transport tire heap.

Therefore, fork truck there is an important and generally acknowledged demand, make fork truck to transport, load, unload to the tire heap, and other similar operation of execution, and make chaufeur be in the position of " face forward ", and make chaufeur on fork truck is advanced the certain practical standpoint in longitudinal direction and these longitudinal direction both sides, have unobstructed sight.

Certainly, this fork truck should not comprise any mechanical device that may damage tire, for example by excessive deformation, even only on tire protector or sidewall, leave a trace etc., these damages can cause the client to return tire when receiving.

In addition, the raising of these advantages and capacity rating (that is to say that the time per unit inherence is to the tire quantity of transporting on the fixed line) being connected can be very interesting.In this respect since with the relevant fatigue of the uncomfortable steering position of chaufeur, reached these restrictions usually soon.

Therefore, clearly, safety is relevant with the raising of capacity rating with fatigue problem.

Hereinafter, " vertically " heap is represented the heap of vertical or approximate vertical, and the tire heap does not need absolute vertical.As universal law, and also be that so the slight inclination several years can not influence the present invention in the reality.Bigger inclination can not have influence on use of the present invention yet, but can run into because very big the dangling and space waste problem that inclination caused of bottom tire.Except at very low workshop top ceiling in particular cases, this situation generally can not take place.Hereinafter, will only use term " vertically ", it must be emphasized that this term comprises above-mentioned option.

" safety distance " represents the distance in fork truck the place ahead here, i.e. distance on its travel direction, and beyond this distance, driver's seat must comprise the visual field, ground, if for example chaufeur has been found an obstacle, it can stop safely; And in this distance, continuous action stage-when promptly not being in starting or resetting the stage, driver's seat does not need to comprise ground when fork truck is in normal speed.Be appreciated that this simple nomenclature is shown in starting, with any restart stage, chaufeur must be examined does not have obstacle in safety distance-and this is basic, but in continuous advancement stage, this visual field makes chaufeur can " scan " distance ground and space in addition, fork truck the place ahead described " safety ".

In addition, " level " expression direction vertical with vertical direction.Certainly, term " vertically " and " level " comprise not exclusively horizontal or vertical, but enough do not influence the direction of vehicle balance near horizontal or vertical direction.

The upper part of " top " expression heap and the multiple element of fork truck, and " bottom " expression lower part.

" inside " or " inboard " expression is positioned at the space between the transportation fork truck grabbing device (particularly fork, clip, and arm), or a certain particular element is pointed to or towards the surface in " inside " space.

Any object that is positioned at fork truck the place ahead or fork truck front portion of " preceding " expression, or the surface of an element is pointed to or towards " front ".

" lower mast " expression is installed in vertical fixing or the director element on any fork truck with type of being discussed, and can receive in a kind of known mode and install on the guide frame and can be at the loading attachment lower mast of described " lower mast " adjusted height.The Reference numeral of lower mast is 11.

The present invention includes the fork truck of " face forward ", this fork truck is used to transport the vertical tire heap that is positioned at the fork truck front portion, it comprises the grabbing device that is contained on the fork truck lower mast, be suitable for picking up tire and the tire heap vertically be divided into the zone of two vertical or approximately perpendicular being called " top " and " bottoms ", thereby in the middle of two " top " and " bottom " of described heap, form a gap E, this gap is formed on the above height in ground, thereby the visual field CV of truck driver (or operator) passes this gap with certain angle, thereby described chaufeur can be seen fork truck the place ahead what is called " safety " distance D and ground in addition, and can see at a distance.

In a preferred embodiment, grabbing device comprises:

-at least two pairs of vertical clips in upper and lower, can horizontal motion, make in the middle of clip, to form and clamp and relaxing exercise, and the internal geometry G of clip is adjusted to roughly consistent with the tire protector profile in the middle of level is put in clip, and can install on lower mast or the door frame at the upward vertical upper and lower guide frame that slides of described door frame or " lower mast " (11) by being installed into respectively by the upper and lower arm respectively, and can on described door frame, slide up and down, and

-independent device, it commands and controls the described slip of described upper and lower guide frame respectively, and the upper and lower clip moves to the horizontal separation separately.

" roughly consistent " expression geometric configuration is consistent with the tire protector profile, make when clip is pressed to the tire protector that is positioned at its centre, can hold enough tightly, with vertical shifting tire heap zone, upper and lower, but this clamping can not cause tire protector distortion or " leaving a trace ".

In a kind of selection scheme, each clip all is made up of the parts that two or more are hinged, to fit closelyr with tire protector.Those skilled in the art is appreciated that this selection scheme based on geom and kinematic known rule, therefore will no longer further describe.

In another kind of selection scheme, clip is made angled and/or cross motion incessantly, promptly, guide frame also can be horizontal with respect to the fork truck lower mast, horizontal motion, thereby clip is moved to the left or to the right, and/or motion angularly, that is to say, clip comprises that by one the pivot that is positioned on vertical diad is (or when clip is mobile to the left or to the right, this axis " skew ") and the additional device of mechanical device install on the guide frame, make clip have and form angled orientation with respect to the fork truck longitudinal axis.

In a particular embodiment, described upper and lower clip is hinged around an axis rotation, to adapt to tyre contour outline better.

These rotations and/or cross motion are the tires that is stored in the ungetable position for the ease of extracting.Certainly, the amplitude of cross motion and/or rotation must be consistent with vehicle stability.

In a particular embodiment, fork truck according to the present invention comprises the device of synchronous upper and lower clip motion.In an indefiniteness scheme, a normal pin is used for these clips of mechanical synchronization, and is arranged in the gap of upper and lower guide frame.Even when clip adjusting control element such as hydraulic jack generation minor failure, this pin also can be guaranteed the interval unanimity between the clip of upper and lower.

Also may make or be capped one deck and can when fitting tightly tyre contour outline, protect the material of tire as the material of rubber or other at the inside face of clip and arm.

In a particular embodiment, by the described clamping/relaxing exercise of described upper and lower clip generation, or horizontal separation, obtain by horizontal slip upper and lower guide frame on door frame.

According to another embodiment, described motion is positioned at guide frame middle vertical axis in upper and lower by described arm element around one and horizontally rotates and obtain.

Described order and control setup dimension well known to a person skilled in the art type, comprises jack, electrical motor, hydraulic pressure or electron steering, perhaps servomotor, and different controls are controlled separately by chaufeur; In a preferred embodiment, described order and control setup also comprise, known safety device such as position transduser, with the contact pressure sensor of tire, anti-deformation system (especially in space E), fork truck antihunting, anti-rolling and similar system, when reaching a threshold value, trigger alarm, its if necessary, stop motion.Whole assembly preferably by a known type with car electronics package control, the threshold value of this device can be programmed in advance, but can regulate based on for example tire quantity and type and similar parameters by embedded red tape operation.

In a particular embodiment, the assembly of being made up of door frame or lower mast and grabbing device can be mounted to around the horizontal shaft that is arranged in fork truck and rotate, and be positioned at the fork truck front portion, thereby this assembly can be picked up horizontal tire heap, then it is risen to a upright position (separation according to the present invention forms subsequently).

The invention still further relates to method at the vertical tire heap of the anterior transportation of fork truck, truck driver is positioned at the position of " face forward ", wherein said vertical stacks is divided into two parts in upper and lower, thereby between " top " and " bottom " two parts of heap, form a gap E, this gap is formed on the above height in ground, thereby the visual field CV of truck driver (or operator) passes this gap with certain angle, thereby described chaufeur can be seen fork truck the place ahead what is called " safety " distance D and ground in addition, and can see at a distance.

Preferably, the tire of transportation heap is the tire that is used for heavy-duty vehicle, and in fact the tire of heavy-duty vehicle has enough big diameter, and the heap of 7 to 11 tires is highly stable.

Has following advantage with fork truck transportation heavy duty tire according to the present invention, promptly than using common Pallet for forklift to transport needed space much smaller (reduce in scale depends on size, is 2-2.5).Therefore can reduce the width in current aisle, warehouse, and increase the tire storage density.Thereby the storage area can increase 30%.

By reading following explanation, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, can understand other features and advantages of the present invention better, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents according to fork truck diagrammatic side view of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is made up of Fig. 2 A and 2B, schematically shows the top view of fork truck grabbing device among Fig. 1; And

Fig. 3 schematically shows the lateral plan of fork truck according to the present invention at traveling-position.

Fig. 1 represents according to fork truck diagrammatic side view of the present invention.The vertical stacks 2 that the fork truck 1 of this " face forward " is used to transport the tire 3 that is positioned at the fork truck front portion, comprise the grabbing device 4 that is contained on the fork truck " lower mast " 11, be used to pick up and described heap vertically is divided into two parts that are called " top " 2H and the vertical or approximate vertical of " bottom " 2B, thereby between " top " and " bottom " of described heap, form a gap E, this gap is formed on the above height in ground, thereby the visual field CV of truck driver (or operator) passes this gap with certain angle, thereby described chaufeur can be seen fork truck the place ahead what is called " safety " distance D and ground in addition, and can see at a distance.

Grabbing device 4 comprises:

-two couples of top 9H vertical with bottom 9B (when fork truck loads) clip, can horizontal motion, make in the middle of clip, to form and clamp and relaxing exercise, and the internal geometry G of clip is adjusted to roughly consistent with the tire protector profile in the middle of level is put in clip, and respectively by upper and

lower arm

10H, 10B installs on door frame or the lower mast 11 by (top) 6 and (bottom) 7 guide frames respectively, be mounted to and on described door frame or lower mast 11, vertically slide, and can on described door frame, slide up and down, and

The described slip of described guide frame 6 and 7 is commanded and controlled to-independent device respectively, and a pair of clip 9H and a pair of 9B horizontal separation motion between separately.

In Fig. 1, we can also see that a normal pin 8 is used for these clips of mechanical synchronization, and are arranged in the gap of guide frame 6 and 7.

In Fig. 2 A and 2B, we can schematically see a pair of top 9H (or correspondingly bottom 9B) clip, and arm 10H (or correspondingly 10B) is used for clip is fixed to top 6 (or correspondingly bottom 7) guide frame and door frame or lower mast 11.In the embodiment of this indefiniteness, we can see, guide frame 6,7 horizontal slip on door frame or lower mast 11, and from open position-Fig. 2 A, to clamped position-Fig. 2 B, vice versa.We can see, in a specific and indefiniteness embodiment, arm 10H, the internal geometry of 10B also fit with the tire protector profile, and this tire is placed between the assembly of being made up of

corresponding clip

9H and 9B and

corresponding arm

10H and 10B.

Fig. 3 schematically shows the lateral plan of fork truck according to the present invention at traveling-position.We can see that after loading the tire heap, clip/arm component clamps so that tire is fixing in position, and top can be piled 2H and be elevated to a height more than the ground, thereby form E at interval between

heap

2B and 2H, limit visual field CV, its upper limb 12 can be seen at a distance.The height of heap 2 more than ground separately, this altimeter is counted as and makes the ground distance in fork truck the place ahead that visual field lower edge 13 blocked be not more than safety distance D.

This safety distance can change based on a lot of parameters, comprises moving velocity.But the present invention can determine this safety distance, and yes in the mode of indefiniteness, for example, and apart from chaufeur 7m, or greatly about the place ahead 5m of tire heap front end.The distance of this 5m of approaching makes obstacle unlikely appear at fork truck the place ahead suddenly.This numerical value of course not limits, and this safety distance is broad view and the compromise product of vehicle stability.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that if the tire heap is placed in the fork truck rear portion, suppose that fork truck can adapt to the mode of dangling of this novelty, above illustrated will do necessary correction and can be used to retreat or retreat the operation of turning round.Therefore the scope of the invention also comprises these selection schemes.

Scope of the present invention also comprises those skilled in the art by reading existing application, by his professional skill, and might be by simple routine test, embodiment that can directly derive and application.

Claims

1. be used to transport the fork truck (1) of " face forward " of the vertical tire heap (3) that is positioned at fork truck the place ahead, it is characterized in that it comprises:

Be installed in the door frame of fork truck, (11) go up and comprise the grabbing device of straight clip of a pair of upper vertical clip and a pair of bottom, (4), described grabbing device only is suitable for grasping whole tires that tire is piled on the circumference by the whole tire protectors that described vertical clip on even keel clamped described tire heap, pick up and described tire heap vertically is divided into vertical " top ", (2H) heap and vertical " bottom ", (2B) heap, thereby between described " top " heap and " bottom " heap, form a gap, (E)

Wherein this gap is formed on the above height in ground, pass this gap with the visual field (CV) that allows forklift operator person with certain angle, thereby described operator can see fork truck the place ahead predetermined " safety " distance (D) and go up and ground in addition, and can see at a distance.

2. fork truck as claimed in claim 1, thereby but wherein said top or lower vertical clip horizontal motion form clamping and relaxing exercise in the middle of clip, the internal geometry (G) of the vertical clip in described upper and lower is adjusted to roughly the tire protector profile phase that is put in the middle of the clip with level and coincide, the vertical clip in described upper and lower is respectively by upper and lower arm (10H, 10B) being arranged on door frame (11) by door frame top (6) and bottom (7) guide frame respectively goes up and can slide up and down on described door frame (11), described guide frame is installed into and can goes up vertical the slip at described door frame (11), and

Wherein said grabbing device also comprises independent device, and it commands and control the described slip of described top (6) and bottom (7) guide frame and the horizontal separation motion between top (9H) vertical clip and bottom (9B) vertical clip respectively.

3. fork truck as claimed in claim 2, the vertical clip in wherein said upper and lower comprises two parts that are hinged, to fit closelyr with the tire protector circumference.

4. as the described fork truck in one of claim 2 and 3, the vertical clip in wherein said upper and lower is not only done angled and/or horizontal motion, promptly, guide frame also can be done the transverse horizontal motion with respect to the door frame (11) of fork truck, thereby double-type clip is moved to the left or to the right, and/or motion angularly, that is to say, clip comprises that by one the pivot that is positioned on vertical diad and the additional device of mechanical device install on the guide frame, make paired clip to carry out the angle orientation with respect to the fork truck longitudinal axis.

5. fork truck as claimed in claim 4, the vertical clip in wherein said upper and lower (9H, 9B) arm by separately (10H, 10B) hinged around vertical axis rotation, to adapt to the circumference of tire protector better.

6. fork truck as claimed in claim 2; the inside face of vertical clip in wherein said upper and lower and arm is made into or is capped the elastomeric material of one deck rubber, this material can be when fitting tightly the tire protector circumference protection level place tire between the vertical clip in upper and lower.

7. fork truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein (9H, 9B) the described clamping of Chan Shenging or relaxing exercise or horizontal separation are by going up horizontal slip guide frame (6,7) at door frame (11) and obtaining by described clip.

8. fork truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamping or relaxing exercise are horizontally rotated around a vertical axis by guide frame (6,7) by described arm element and obtain.

9. as any described fork truck in claim 1 or 2, also comprise the device of the synchronized movement that makes the vertical clip in double-type upper and lower, it can be controlled with the car electronics package by a programmable.

10. fork truck as claimed in claim 9 comprises that also this normal pin of normal pin (8) (8) is used as the device of the vertical clip in mechanical synchronization upper and lower, and is housed inside in the space that upper and lower guide frame (6,7) provided.

11. fork truck as claimed in claim 1 or 2 also comprises the device with assembly of being made up of door frame (11) and grabbing device (4), it rotates around a horizontal shaft, thereby a upright position can be picked up and rise to horizontal tire heap.

12. fork truck as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein grabbing device (4) is suitable for transporting the heavy duty tire vertical stacks.

13. be positioned at the method for the vertical tire heap at fork truck the place ahead or rear with the fork truck transportation, forklift operator person is positioned at the position of " face forward ", it is characterized in that this method may further comprise the steps: only by becoming a pair of upper vertical clip and a pair of lower vertical clip level to step up to grasp on the tyre surface circumference of all tire in tire heap all tire of tire in piling;

On fork truck, tire heap is divided into top (2H) heap and bottom (2B) heap, thereby forms gap (E) between piling in " top " of described heap heap and " bottom ", and

This gap is formed on height more than the ground, pass this gap with the visual field (CV) that allows forklift operator person with certain angle, thereby described operator can see fork truck the place ahead predetermined " safety " distance (D) and go up and ground in addition, and can see at a distance.