Abstract: A bearing mounting arrangement for a lift mast assembly has a retaining device which maintains a bearing member from movement relative to a first member of a lift mast assembly and directs a flow of lubricant past a second surface of the bearing member and into a groove opening at a first surface in the bearing member. The retaining device includes an elongated retaining member disposed in an aperture in the bearing member and the first member. The retaining device forcibly engages the bearing member and aligns the apertures in the bearing and first members. The bearing mounting arrangement is particularly useful for mounting a lift mast assembly on a material handling vehicle and a thrust bearing member on a side shaft carriage.

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: The invention relates to an anchoring arrangement which includes a lock clip fitting about the anchor arrangement and being in longitudinally slidable relative thereto. The lock clip includes a lock tab extending from a portion of the periphery thereof in a direction generally parallel to the anchoring arrangement. A tab retainer is defined by a relatively stationary support member for preventing the lock tab from rotating.

Abstract: An adjustable lock arrangement for a lift truck mast hanger pin to retain it within an upwardly opening slot, such as formed by a J-hook member provided on the front of a lift truck frame, comprises a bore provided in the J-hook member above the slot and a vertical locking plate having a pilot pin provided intermediate upper and lower portions and adapted to fit rotatably within the bore, an arcuate surface on the lower portion adapted to engage a mast pin disposed within the slot and having a center adjacent the pilot pin axis, an arcuate slot provided in the upper portion having a center at the center axis of the pilot pin, and a bolt disposed in the arcuate slot and threaded into the J-hook member for securing of the locking plate against rotation.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for the mast of a lift truck includes a pair of spaced apart hanger bracket members secured to the truck and including upwardly opening pivot pin receiving slots. A pair of pivot pins are rotatably supported in a pair of brackets on the mast frame and are received within the upwardly opening slots. Means are provided on the pins to prevent axial and rotational movement thereof relative to the hanger brackets. Retainer means for retaining the pins within the slots comprises a block disposed above the pin and secured to the hanger bracket by a screw accessible solely from above the pin and between the mast and truck.

Abstract: A mast and carriage assembly for a lift truck of the type having a stationary mast section fixed to the truck, a movable inner mast section reciprocable within the stationary mast, a fork carriage movably associated with the inner mast section, a hydraulic jack having an extensible and retractable rod, means operatively connected to the rod for moving the inner mast section relative to the stationary mast section and having a sheave rotatably mounted thereon, a flexible chain trained over the sheave and having one end attached to the carriage, and an elongated chain rod having one end attached to the other end of the chain and its other end loosely fastened to the stationary mast, with the improvement including a bracket attached to the hydraulic jack adjacent its upper end and a resilient link having one end fastened to the bracket and its other end fastened to the chain rod for normally positioning the end of the chain rod relative to the lift jack while permitting limited relative movement therebetween.