Abstract: A retention assembly is disclosed for use with an elongated flexible member (22) such as the lift chain used in a lift truck (10). This assembly consists of a first member (30) affixed to the carriage (28) and having an irregular surface (32) corresponding to the irregular surface (26) of the chain. A second clamping member (34) also has an irregular surface (36) for gripping the lift chain (32) with the first member (30). Fastening members (42 and 44) fix the second member (34) to the first member (30) with the lift chain (22) therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to a retention device (30) for releasably maintaining a load engaging member (24) at a transport position (28) which eliminates the problems of supporting and simultaneously locking the load engaging member (24) at the transport position (28), failure of the lock device due to the weight of the load engaging member acting thereon, and alignment of the load engaging member (24) with the locking device. The retention device (30) has a stop (66) connected to the load engaging member (24) and a flange (40) engageable by the stop (66) at the transport portion of the load engaging member (24), to support the load engaging member (24) and the weight thereof at the transport position (28). The retention device (30) also has an engaging device (74) which engages the stop (66) and prevents pivotal movement of the load engaging member (24) from the transport position (28) to a load carrying position (26).

Abstract: A lift truck carriage (12) is provided with a cylindrical bar (34) upon which the forks (16,18) may be mounted. The forks (16,18) are each retained in any desired position along the bar (34) by a clamp (42) located between a pair of mounting sleeves (28,30), and may be rotated about the axis of the bar (34) into a stowed position without having to unlock the clamping member (40).

Abstract: The invention provides several embodiments of support assemblies (26,30,32) suitable for use in a lift mast (10). Each support assembly (26,30,32) has two slider bearings (36) for symetrically loading the main loading surface (37) and the inboard and outboard flange edge (38,40) of the corresponding I-beams (19) used in an upright assembly (16) incorporated in the lift mast (10). The support assemblies (26,30,32) include positioning screws (68) for adjusting the slider bearings (36) against the flange edges (38,40). The need for shims is thereby avoided. These positioning screws (68) permit the slider bearings (36) to pivot so as to ensure they remain in full face contact with the corresponding flange edge (38,40). The slider bearings (36) each accept two, mutually perpendicular loadings simplifying the construction of these support assemblies (26,30,32).

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: 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).