Abstract: This invention relates to an improved visibility free lift mast (10) which eliminates the problems of reduced lift height, upright strength and excessive guide bearing loading. The lift mast assembly (10) has a fixed upright (42) and a movable upright (52) mounted on the fixed upright and elevationally movable relative thereto. A lower guide bearing (80) is mounted on a lower end portion (78) of the movable upright (52) and an upper (88) and intermediate (98) guide bearing is mounted on an upper end portion (92) of the fixed upright (42). The intermediate guide bearing (98) is positioned between the upper and lower guide bearings (88,80) a preselected distance (D) spaced from the upper guide bearing (88).

Abstract: A load lifting carriage (12) has horizontal rails (24, 26), vertical side members (28, 30), forks (16, 18) slidably supported on the rails (24, 26), cylinders (32, 34) having outer jackets (36, 40) connected to the vertical members (16, 18) and cylinder rods (38, 42), and couplers (44, 46) which couple the rods (38, 42) to the forks (16, 18) to permit the forks (16, 18) to be simultaneously positioned at one side or the other side of the centerline of the carriage (12) or at their full out position. The carriage overcomes problems, such as on a fork lift truck, relating to laterally shifting the forks to certain positions on the carriage, the use of heavy sub-carriages which support and laterally shift the forks, and damage to the cylinders, which are rigidly connected to the forks, due to excessive impact.

Abstract: It is desirable to have relatively clear forward and downward vision for the operator of a lift truck which has a side shiftable carriage. Herein, a structure (52) mounts a top end portion (40) of a vertical leg (38) of a tine (36) to transfer substantially only horizontal forces to an upper bar (26) of a side shifter (24). A structure (64) serves for mounting a bottom end portion (42) of the vertical leg (38) to transfer vertical forces to a lower bar (28) of the side shifter (24). Since vertical forces are taken up by the lower bar (28), the upper portion of the carriage assembly (16) can be relatively light and small, thus allowing clear forward and downward vision for the vehicle operator. This also results in a total carriage structure which is lighter in weight.

Abstract: Disc brakes have heretofore not received wide utilization on fork lift trucks because of the problems of space and lubrication. A lift truck has a very small, central hub area which greatly limits the size and type of brake and the ways of lubricating the brake. The disc brake actuator (7) of the present invention meets the problem of incorporating disc brakes (10) into the limited space of the wheel drive assembly (22) of a fork lift truck by mechanically applying the disc brakes (10) through axial rotation of the actuator (37,50) about the jack shafts (18). The difficulty of lubricating the disc brakes (10) is overcome either by utilizing the brake actuator (37) as a conduit for lube oil from the differential (11) or sealing off the lube oil from the differential (11) with a seal (58) in the brake actuator (50) so that the disc brakes (10) can be independently lubricated.

Abstract: An impacting apparatus (10) for fracturing material includes a housing (14) and a fracturing shank (12) which is mounted adjacent the housing (14) so as to reciprocate about a pivot axis (24). The fracturing shank (12) has an impact receiving portion (28) and a sealing portion (26). The sealing portion (26) has a cylindrical sealing surface (26a) which is arranged about a longitudinal axis (26b). Such longitudinal axis (26b) is perpendicular to a radial line (33) extending from the pivot axis (24) and is inclined at a predetermined angle to a longitudinal axis (28b) extending through the impact receiving portion (28). An annular seal (16) is connected to the sealing surface (26a) and the housing (14) to obstruct the passage of material into and out of the housing (14). The seal (16) has a flexible portion (40) whose inner margin (46) lies along the radial line (33 ).

Abstract: Lift trucks (12) having two laterally spaced apart motors (56,58) for lifting a load (16) on a carriage (14) provide excellent forward visability for operators thereof. When the load (16) is unevenly disposed upon the carriage (14), or the lift truck (12) encounters uneven terrain, the lifting components of the lift truck (12) are subjected to unequal stresses. Such unequal stresses, if uncorrected, reduce the useful life of the lifting components, particularly a pair of chain assemblies (70,72) associated with the carriage (14). A load equalizing system (91) maintains substantially equal tension in the pair of chain assemblies (70,72) when off-center loading is encountered. The load equalizing system (91) permits one motor (56 or 58) to move a predetermined distance relative the other (58 or 56) in response to off-center loading, which equalizes tension of the chain assemblies (70,72) and which thus extends the useful operational life of the lifting components.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for lifting or moving loads require high operator visibility and simplicity of construction. For example, in a mast assembly (10) such as can be used on a fork lift truck or other cargo handler it is desirable to maximize visibility through spaced-apart uprights (16,18,24,26). Also, free lift of a carriage (14) which engages the load will maximize visibility in that the movable uprights (16,18) will not be elevated above the fixed uprights (24,26) when raising the carriage (14) to move the load. In the apparatus (10), first and second lifting elements (32,34) or jacks (36,38) are mounted adjacent the uprights (16,24;18,26) for visibility. The lifting elements (32,34) are interconnected by a load sharing member (48) for free lift and to distribute the forces encountered in raising the load more equally between the lifting elements (32,34) and the chains (52', 52").

Abstract: A control pedal apparatus (10) including a frame member (12), a Hall effect device (52) for generating a control signal responsive to an applied magnetic field, a pedal (14) having a magnet (16) and movable between first and second positions at which a magnetic pathway is opened and closed, respectively, and a movable pedal support (18) for conducting the field between the magnet (16) and the device (52) when the pedal (14) is at the second position.Prior pedal apparatus have wires, connected between the device and an electrical control circuit, to control vehicle direction and which can fail due to flexing, together with a linkage connected to an accelerator portion to control vehicle speed. The pedal support of this invention conducts the magnetic field to a fixed Hall effect device, whereby the wires are eliminated, and the pedal support is movable to generate pulses to control vehicle speed whereby the linkage is eliminated.

Abstract: Electrical terminal assemblies for providing a conductive path through a wall of a motor housing frequently work loose making connection and disconnection of lead wires difficult and resulting in poor electrical contact between the terminal and the leads. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a terminal assembly (10) including a terminal (12) extending through a motor housing (16) and secured thereto in a manner such that terminal (12) can not work loose or rotate in the housing.

Abstract: An electrically operated dual motor drive system of the type having differentially variable left and right traction motor circuits (10,12) including left and right variable duty cycle power switches (20,22) connecting the motors (14,16) independently to a power source (18), left and right auxiliary switches (28,36) in series with the traction motor circuits for complemental operation of same and a selectively operated shunt switch (64) which connects the power transistors (20,22) in parallel for high torque, low speed operating conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (40,122) for actuating an electrical switch (42,124) which eliminates the problems of over stressing and inadvertent cyclical actuation of the switch (42,124) and flexing of electrical connecting wires (66,168). The apparatus (40,122) has an actuator spring (44,126) movable in response to a load applied to a seat assembly (10,110) for applying an actuating force to the switch (42,124) of a magnitude less than the load applied to the seat assembly (10,110) and a bracket (56,140) for limiting the magnitude of force applied to the switch (42,124) to a preselected maximum value. The apparatus (40,122) eliminates premature switch failure, inadvertent cyclical switch actuation and electrical wire breakage. The actuating apparatus (40,122) is particularly useful on a vehicle such as a lift truck.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder mount assembly (50) for a cylinder (42) having first and second ends (52,64) includes a spherical load bearing surface (96) located at one of said first and second ends (52,64), which has a diameter (98) which is less than the diameter of the cylinder housing (100). Accordingly, the mount assembly (50) is smaller and more compact than prior art mounts and the cylindrical load bearing surface (96) allows the hydraulic cylinder (42) to pivot with three degrees of freedom so as to avoid any bending moments or other stresses. The mount can be used to mount hydraulic cylinders for a carriage (14) of a lift truck (10) so as to afford an overall compact design.

Abstract: A carriage and mast assembly (10) including a mast (16) having outer sides (R, L) and a first pair (36, 38) of movable inner uprights and a second pair (20, 22) of fixed outer uprights, a load lifting carriage (12), a pair (48, 50) of free lift cylinders being directly connected to the first pair (36, 38) of uprights and to the load lifting carriage (12), a pair (52, 54) of mast lift cylinders being connected to the first pair (36, 38) of uprights and to the second pair (20, 22) of uprights, each pair (48, 50) (52, 54) of cylinders being disposed at the outer sides (R, L), and a pair of (98) of means for communicating fluid between one (50) of the free lift cylinders (48, 50) and one (54) of the mast lift cylinders (52, 54), respectively.The invention relates to load lifting carriage and mast assemblies (10) having a free lift carriage (12).

Abstract: A restraining device for removable components of vehicles, such as the battery unit (26) of an electrically powered lift truck. The vehicle has an enclosure frame (14) having opposite sides (16,20) each of which has an aperture (30,28) through which passes in a longitudinally slidable fashion a restraining bar (34) positionable to a locked position preventing dislocation of the removable component (26). The restraining bar (34) may be fixed against longitudinal movement by affixing it to the enclosure frame (14) with a locking means (42). If the restraining bar (34) is not in its locked position a pivotably positional cover (52) overlying both the removable component (26) and the restraining bar (34) cannot be placed in an operating position owing to contact between the restraining bar (34) and a downwardly extending edge portion (58) of the cover (52).

Abstract: A standard hook-type carriage assembly designed for lift truck use in the handling of palletized cargo is converted for use in the handling of concrete blocks by hooking block-handling forks on the carriage plate and positioning such forks on the carriage plate with predetermined lateral spacings between the forks by a removable elongated spacer bar to which all of the forks are attached. Lost-motion connections are made between the forks and the spacer bar and limited lengthwise movement of the spacer bar relative to the carriage plate is permitted so that the forks can float, relative to each other and in unison, laterally along the carriage plate. The forks can also move independently of each other through a limited vertical distance relative to the carriage plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a carriage assembly (28) for a lift mast (22). The carriage assembly has a frame (30), a pair of load supporting arms (64) pivotally connected to the frame at spaced locations on a lower portion (36) of the frame and pivotally connected to a guide bar (52) slidably connected to an upper portion (34) of the frame for permitting unitary movement of the load supporting arms relative to the frame transversely of the lift mast. The carriage assembly (28) is compact, lightweight and requires fewer parts. Thus, capacity, visibility, component life and performance are improved. The carriage assembly (10) is particularly useful on a vehicle (20) such as a lift truck.

Abstract: Backing plates are normally bolted to wheel gear housings and brake shoes are normally biased against such backing plates. Hydraulic or pneumatic lines normally proceed externally of the housing and over the backing plate to connect with a wheel cylinder which motivates the brake shoes. Such hydraulic lines can be easily damaged. A wheel brake arrangement (10) is disclosed which eliminates external hydraulic or pneumatic lines and eliminates such a backing plate. At least one conduit (33) is formed within a housing (12). The conduit (33) is connected directly to a wheel cylinder (28). The wheel cylinder (28) is mounted to one end (24) of the housing (12). A biasing structure (50) can serve for biasing a brake shoe (26) into contacting relation with one end (24) of the housing (12). A piloting arrangement (49) can serve for properly aligning the wheel cylinder (28) to motivate the brake shoe (26) and to receive pressurized fluid from the conduit (33).

Abstract: A muffler mounting (26) for a muffler (21) which is connected to an internal combustion engine (11) by a rigid exhaust pipe (16). Previous mountings for such mufflers have either been of the rigid type, which subjects the muffler to undesired stresses resulting from shock, vibration or thermal expansion, or have utilized flexible rubber belting hangers which deteriorate rapidly when subjected to high temperatures. The present invention provides a relatively thin, flexible, generally-vertical metal hanger (52) comprised of a plurality of thin, stainless steel, strips (53) overlaid on one another, to flexibly connect and support the muffler (21) to the engine (11) or frame (12). The present invention is particularly useful in vehicles wherein the engine (11) is resiliently mounted on the frame (12) and wherein the muffler mounting (26) is subject to high temperatures, corrosion, and oxidation.

Abstract: A damping system (43) for use in a lift truck (10) to damp oscillating motions of the vehicle frame (14). The system includes a pair of hydraulic tilt cylinders (46a, 46b) which sense moments of force of a carried load (12). A pair of second hydraulic cylinders (72a, 72b) are in communication to a rear axle (28) of the vehicle. The rear axle is resiliently mounted from a second end portion (18) of the vehicle frame (14), and is moved by the second cylinders in directions substantially normal to the vehicle frame. Such movement is responsive to sensed moments of force of the lifted load.

Abstract: A seal (16) has a body (38), a leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44). The seal (16) is used in a seal assembly (10) having first and second members (12,14), such as, for example, a frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) of a work vehicle. Apparatus (28) such as bearing (30) supports the knuckle (27) in rotation relative to a king pin (24) of the frame portion (20). Foreign matter can enter between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) and interfere with vehicle steering. In the assembly (10), the sealing surfaces (42,44) contact substantially perpendicular surfaces (32,34) of the frame portion (20) to block passage of foreign matter to the bearing (30). A second end portion (54) of the seal leg (40) can be controllably deflectable in order to permit overfill of lubricant to pass from the bearing cavity between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27).