Pallet Truck Type Patents (Class 280/43.12)
  • Patent number: 11840271
    Abstract: A pallet sled includes a pair of tines extending forward from a base. A load wheel supports each of the pair of tines. The load wheels are each configured to move away from the respective tine to lift the respective tine upward relative to a support surface on which the load wheel is supported. A processor on the pallet sled records usage of the sled, such as lift cycles, location over time, battery condition, lift height, weight lifted, distance traveled, and the like. A communication circuit may be configured to send data from the pallet sled to a remote server. An identification reader may be configured to read an identification tag of an object supported on the pair of tines, such as an rfid tag on a pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Robert Lee Martin, Jr., Jason Crawford Miller, Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 11597639
    Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a body; a fork having one portion supported by the body and another portion protruded from the body; a lifting unit; a control unit; a primary rotatable member mounted at a front end portion of the fork; an auxiliary rotatable member mounted at a rotatable-member-attaching position of the fork closer to a front end portion or a rear end portion of the fork compared to the primary rotatable member; and a step detection unit, disposed at a detection-unit-attaching position of the fork closer to the front end portion or closer to the rear end portion of the fork compared to the auxiliary rotatable member, and the step detection unit configured to detect a step member of a carriage base. The control unit lowers the fork using the lifting unit in response to a detection of the step member by the step detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kurita, Kazunori Bannai, Daisuke Maeda, Satoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 11565924
    Abstract: A system for a pallet truck load wheel mechanism comprises a logic device and first and second sensor arrangements. The first and second sensor arrangements include first and second sensing fields that define first and second edges of an operability window, respectively. The logic device has an operable state indicating that the load wheel mechanism can raise a pallet lifting device and an inoperable state indicating that the load wheel mechanism should not raise the pallet lifting device. The logic device is initialized in the operable state and is configured to change to the inoperable state in response to each time the first sensor arrangement detects an edge of a board intersecting, the first edge of the operability window and to change to the operable state in response to each time the second sensor arrangement detects an edge of a board intersecting the second edge of the operability window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Long
  • Patent number: 11365103
    Abstract: A modular fork assembly for a pallet truck includes a discrete elongate body, a discrete load wheel module, and a discrete fork tip that may be detachably connected by the same or different types of interlocking mechanisms that are adapted to inhibit sheer forces. The load wheel module includes a frame and a load wheel assembly that includes a load wheel that is operatively connected to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Dunigan
  • Patent number: 11345382
    Abstract: A pallet truck according to the present application includes a front frame, a rear frame, a lifting component, two fork bodies, a guide bar, a transmission device, and a load-bearing wheel assembly. The distance between the fork bodies can be adjusted by using the side-shifting driving component, thereby providing different fork distances and significantly improving the adaptability. During the adjusting process, the transmission device can switch the load-bearing wheel assembly from the longitudinal rolling state to the lateral rolling state, thereby avoiding wear of the wheels, which is beneficial to improving the overall life of the device and reducing the maintenance cost. In addition, the transmission device is pushed out as the rear frame is lifted, and thus the operation process is simple and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HANGCHA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhongnan Xia, Hao Kuang, Pengfei Pan, Xing Luo, Le Shang, Jianchen Sun, Jingxuan Ruan
  • Patent number: 11260890
    Abstract: A pallet jack includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. The pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine. A load wheel supports an outer end of each of the pair of tines. Each load wheel is configured to move toward and away from the respective tine to raise the tine off a floor on which the load wheel is supported. The first tine including a support surface configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the first tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10988155
    Abstract: A pallet jack includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. The pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine. A load wheel supports an outer end of each of the pair of tines. Each load wheel is configured to move toward and away from the respective tine to raise the tine off a floor on which the load wheel is supported. The first tine including a support surface configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the first tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10899172
    Abstract: A wheel set assembly having a plurality of sinusoidal channeled wheels. The sinusoidal channeled wheels having a sinusoidal channel disposed around a circular exterior surface of each of the sinusoidal channeled wheels. The wheel set assembly allows for better maneuverability and longevity in comparison to other materials handling equipment wheels because of the sinusoidal channels. The sinusoidal channels also provide heat dissipation along with the ability to push debris out of the way of the materials handling equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: David Patrick, Robert Patrick
  • Patent number: 10793173
    Abstract: A pallet sled includes a sled base having wheels. A fork tine assembly extends from the sled base and includes a pair of fork tines. At least one of the pair of fork tines is configured to be secured to a base of a hand cart, such as with a slot or recess. The hand cart can be carried by the fork tine while the fork tines are supporting a pallet loaded with goods thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski, Travis James Englert
  • Patent number: 10549972
    Abstract: A battery box and fork system for a vehicle having a first fork and a second fork configured to support one or more pallets positioned along a length of the first fork and the second fork. The first fork and the second fork are each independently lockable at their heel ends to a battery box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Dunigan, Kenneth Williams
  • Patent number: 10245885
    Abstract: A pallet moving system includes a pallet dolly puller, and a pallet dolly with a guiding structure thereon permitting and facilitating the blind engagement and disengagement of the dolly puller to the pallet. The dolly puller includes caster wheels, a handle, and at least one projecting portion configured to mateably couple with recessed portions on the underside of the pallet dolly in order that the pallet dolly may be moved and readily re-positioned even in confined spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Inventor: Raymond E. Davis
  • Patent number: 9783217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-operated device for lifting and moving pallets. The device comprises a framework including a first and a second fork (1, 2) projecting forwardly from the framework, each fork having a top surface (6) adapted to be in contact with the pallet, a handle (7) connected to the framework for applying manual force to the framework, support members (8a-d) connected to the framework for supporting the framework from the ground, and a first leg (3) having an upper end operatively connected to the handle and a lower end connected to the first fork to form a first frame element (10), and a second leg (4) having an upper end operatively connected to the handle and a lower end connected to the second fork to form a second frame element (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Pallea AB
    Inventor: Mikael Swartling
  • Patent number: 9434189
    Abstract: A mounted apparatus includes a base portion and a caster provided to the base portion. The caster moves along an installation surface, whereby the mounted apparatus is detachably attached to a mounting apparatus; in a state where the mounted apparatus is attached to the mounting apparatus, the base portion is disposed in a region where the base portion overlaps with a base portion of the mounting apparatus with respect to an mounting direction; and the base portion of the mounted apparatus is disposed at a position that does not interfere with the base portion of the mounting apparatus in a height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiki Anayama, Tetsuo Kikuchi, Masakazu Nagashima, Ryo Harigae
  • Patent number: 9254540
    Abstract: Mounting structure to allow a production line made up of movable manufacturing devices to be rearranged quickly, safely, and reliably. The mounting structure according to the present invention includes a fixing structure installed on a floor and a leg portion installed on a bottom plate of the movable manufacturing device. The fixing structure comprises a floor side positioning member and a floor side coupling member while the leg portion comprises a leg side positioning member and a leg side coupling member. The floor side positioning member and the leg side positioning member positions the movable manufacturing device accurately by fitting each other when the device is placed at the specified location of the fixing structure. The floor side coupling member and the leg side coupling member fixes the movable manufacturing device located on the fixing structure by coupling each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN NETWORK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiro Hara, Shizuka Nakano, Hitoshi Maekawa, Shinji Futagawa, Takahiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9110102
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of electrical test switches. According to one embodiment, a test switch may include a switch lever, a test port configured to directly couple to a standard connector, a relay port, a field port, and an insulated frame configured to electrically insulate at least some electrically conductive portions of the test port, the relay connector, and the field connector from contact by a user. A user may actuate the switch lever in order to reconfigure the electrical test switch from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the first configuration, the test port contact is electrically isolated from the relay connector and the field connector is electrically connected to the relay connector. In the second configuration, the test port contact is electrically connected to the relay connector and the relay connector is electrically isolated from the field connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: James R Kesler
  • Patent number: 9102346
    Abstract: A lifting hydraulic pallet truck has a forked rack, a lever, a hydraulic assembly and a control rod. The forked rack has a mounting bracket and an abutting surface. The lever is mounted pivotally under the mounting bracket and has an abutting segment selectively abutting the abutting surface of the forked rack. The hydraulic assembly has a hydraulic seat, an active hydraulic cylinder and a quick reflowing device. The control rod is mounted pivotally above the hydraulic seat and is connected to the active hydraulic cylinder. Therefore, the user steps on the lever to quickly lift the forked rack to a certain height. The pre-lifted height allows the user to reduce the pivoting times for pivoting the control rod to a desired height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 9051161
    Abstract: A description is given of a transpallet for handling goods stored on a support platform, at ground level, comprising a load supporting frame fitted with a pair of front arms for gripping and lifting the platform, a hydraulic or pneumatic unit for lifting the frame and a tiller arm for maneuvering the truck directionally and lifting or lowering the frame, characterized by the fact a least the support frame is made of composite polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: PR INDUSTRIAL S. R. L.
    Inventors: Alessio Luschi, Giorgio De Castro
  • Patent number: 8979099
    Abstract: A foldable and portable pallet jack for transporting pallets comprises width-adjustable and folding forks. The skid forks adjust to different sized pallets or materials. The skid forks also fold upright against the handle section of the pallet jack allowing it to be compactly transported and stored. With the forks in a horizontal and locked position, the pallet jack provides normal lifting and transporting of heavy pallets or material in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce G. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8950759
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle comprises a body, a steerable drive wheel attached to the body, and a load platform connected to the body that is movable between a lowered position and a lifted position. A load wheel is connected to the load platform and an intermediate load wheel is connected to the vehicle and positioned between the drive wheel and the load wheel. The load wheel is configured to facilitate moving the load platform between the lowered position and the lifted position and the intermediate load wheel is configured to cooperate with the load wheel to facilitate moving the load platform between the lowered position and the lifted position. The intermediate load wheel is also configured to form a pivot about which the vehicle turns throughout a range of motion of the load platform between and including the lowered position and the lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Thorsen, Roger J. Baywol, Edward J. Mowczan
  • Publication number: 20150014948
    Abstract: A powered pallet truck with a selectable effective reduced turning radius, and an intermediate roller assembly for mounting on the powered pallet truck, are provided. The intermediate roller assembly can include a base, a linear actuator pivotably connected at a base end to the base, a linkage pivotably connected to the base, and at least one roller having an axis pivotably connected to an actuating end of the linear actuator and to the linkage, the at least one roller thus being movable between a retracted and an engagement position. The assembly can be mounted to the underside of a pallet truck fork having a load wheel. A turning radius effectively defined by a drive wheel of the pallet truck and the intermediate roller, or a turning radius effectively defined by the drive wheel and the load wheel, can be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: J. H. Ryder Machinery Limited
    Inventors: Mark Keen, Michael Novak, Thomas Ryder
  • Patent number: 8894076
    Abstract: A cart may include a frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a platform movably carried by the frame, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly may be carried at least in part by the frame and operably associated with the platform to move the platform relative to the frame. The lift assembly may include at least one hydraulic actuator having a piston rod movable under hydraulic pressure to move the platform relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Magline, Inc., Swift Water Logistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Hailston, Andrew P. Richard
  • Patent number: 8888109
    Abstract: A load carrying apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) and a roller arrangement (18, 22) to allow the apparatus to be moved along the ground. The load carrying apparatus includes a bearer arrangement (34, 36) movable relative to the body between a ground engaging condition in which the bearer arrangement can engage the ground and a retracted condition in which the bearer arrangement is retracted. The load carrying apparatus includes shielding members on the body, separate from the bearer arrangement, the shielding members (28) extending around the roller arrangement. In one embodiment, the load carrying apparatus comprises a combination dolly-pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Loadhog Limited
    Inventor: Edward John Peter Stubbs
  • Patent number: 8888110
    Abstract: A pallet-dolly device convertible between a pallet and a dolly has a generally rectangular deck to which a set of dolly wheels are attached at a fixed height below the deck. A set of movable pallet skids are moved by a skid displacement mechanism between a skid lowered position in which a ground contacting surface of the skid is lowered below a contact plane of the wheels to provide a pallet state of the pallet-dolly device, and a skid raised position in which the skid ground contacting surface is raised above the wheel contact plane to provide a dolly state of the pallet-dolly device. At least two pedals, accessible from two adjacent sides of the deck, are deployed to be operated by a user to activate the skid displacement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Polymer Logistics (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Dagan Sadeh, Haron Hacko, Nir Hadar
  • Patent number: 8850994
    Abstract: A system includes a turbomachine skid including a skid body configured to support a turbomachine and a modular transportation system. The modular transportation system includes one or more supports and one or more transportation attachments that may be removably coupled to the supports, the transportation attachments being interchangeable with one or more different transportation attachments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jordan Scott Warton, Robert Allen Baten
  • Patent number: 8752657
    Abstract: A pallet jack power assembly upgrades a manually powered pallet jack to provide a motor-driven drive wheel. In one example, the manually powered pallet jack includes left and right steering wheels separated by a narrow distance. A frame of the pallet jack power assembly may be adapted for attachment to the pallet jack. The frame supports a drive axle, which in turn supports a drive wheel. Attachment of the frame of the pallet jack power assembly locates the drive wheel between the left and right steering wheels. The drive axle and a steering axle, supporting the left and right steering wheels of the pallet jack, may be located in a same vertical plane. A biasing device, such as a spring, may be used to provide a downward force on the drive wheel, thereby increasing friction between the drive wheel and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Power Handling, Incorporated
    Inventor: Greg Newell
  • Patent number: 8752846
    Abstract: A roller load support, for mounting on a load carrying vehicle such as a lift truck, has an elongate frame with a forwardly tapering vertical thickness and an upper surface for insertion beneath the underside of a load. Different longitudinally spaced pluralities of transverse upper rollers are movable upwardly to protrude through the frame's upper surface to engage the underside of the load during the insertion process. During the insertion process, the upper rollers are pushed upward by corresponding different pluralities of transverse lower rollers which rotatably engage the floor or other surface beneath the frame and frictionally counter-rotate the upper rollers. The lower rollers are spaced nonuniformly relative to each other along the length of the frame, with such spacings increasing progressively in size, within each plurality of lower rollers, in a forward direction toward the front end of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cascade Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Sinclair White
  • Patent number: 8696014
    Abstract: A push cart having an expansion unit for expanding load-carrying surface includes a movable cart frame, a load-carrying plate, an expansion unit and a coupling mechanism. The load-carrying plate is installed on the cart frame. The expansion unit includes at least one expansion plate. The coupling mechanism includes at least one coupling unit for detachably coupling the expansion plate to one side of the load-carrying plate. The coupling unit includes a female component disposed in one of the load-carrying plate and the expansion plate and a male component disposed on the other one of the load-carrying plate and the expansion plate for mating engagement with the female component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 8668208
    Abstract: Pallet truck for transporting goods that has a substantially horizontal frame on which the goods to be transported are placed. In one implementation the horizontal frame includes two substantially parallel arms with each arm having two parallel longitudinal extensions that define a space between them. Each of the two parallel longitudinal extensions has a wall that face each other and which are visible and accessible through the space. The longitudinal extensions being visible and accessible from above for their cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ulma Safe Handling Equipment
    Inventors: Igor Larringan Errasti, Aitor Telleria Echeverria, Benito Hurtado Mena, Jone Larranaga Mendibaso, Fernando Odriozola Arregui
  • Patent number: 8632082
    Abstract: A lift indicator assembly for a pallet truck includes a lift sensor assembly, and a lift status display for determining a lift condition of a load wheel of the pallet truck. The lift sensor assembly is to be carried by a fork of the pallet truck and includes a housing section, and a primary sensor assembly. The primary sensor assembly includes a first primary arm coupled to the housing section, and a first primary contact switch carried by the housing section and adjacent the first primary arm. The first primary contact switch has an engaged position and a disengaged position based on position of the first primary arm. The lift status display determines the lift condition of the load wheel based on position of the first primary contact switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Chep Technology Pty Limited
    Inventors: Dan Lantz, Jason Ertel, Christopher Lundquist
  • Patent number: 8596611
    Abstract: The motorized platform lift apparatus provides an electromechanical personally sized lift and transport device for lifting objects and people safely. The remote control provides convenience as well as personal self-lift. The platform provides a superior lifting capability over typical forks. Moving parts are shielded and covered where possible to ensure safety. Lift rack tilt further enhances function as objects may be tilted back for most secure transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Eric Fountain
  • Publication number: 20130277929
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle comprises a body, a steerable drive wheel attached to the body, and a load platform connected to the body that is movable between a lowered position and a lifted position. A load wheel is connected to the load platform and an intermediate load wheel is connected to the vehicle and positioned between the drive wheel and the load wheel. The load wheel is configured to facilitate moving the load platform between the lowered position and the lifted position and the intermediate load wheel is configured to cooperate with the load wheel to facilitate moving the load platform between the lowered position and the lifted position. The intermediate load wheel is also configured to form a pivot about which the vehicle turns throughout a range of motion of the load platform between and including the lowered position and the lifted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Thorsen, Roger J. Baywol, Edward J. Mowczan
  • Patent number: 8540253
    Abstract: An industrial truck comprising a pair of wheel arms, which at their free end in each case comprise a wheel arm end, each of which comprising a bearing body and a pair of load wheels, the load wheels in each case being rotatably mounted on a rocker, and the rocker being pivotably mounted on the bearing body in a region located between the load wheels, the bearing body comprising a bearing projection on which the rocker is mounted such that the rocker laterally defines the wheel arm end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Rath, Oliver Gƶpner, Matthias Rƶder
  • Patent number: 8528917
    Abstract: A wheel support assembly for use with a vehicle is disclosed that comprises a vehicle mount coupleable to the vehicle, a recess formed in the vehicle mount, a bearing seated at least partially within the recess, an axle engaged with the bearing and extending away from the bearing, and a wheel supported by the axle. To inhibit the transfer of heat from the bearing to the wheel the bearing is in thermal communication with the vehicle mount and the wheel is spaced apart from the bearing along a longitudinal axis of the axle. The vehicle mount is configured as a heat sink such that a larger portion of the heat generated by the bearing is transferred to the heat sink as compared to the portion transferred to the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Alan William Bartels
  • Patent number: 8454037
    Abstract: A load wheel assembly for a materials handling vehicle includes first and second spaced side members, at least one rotatable roller extending between the first and second side members. An interface structure provides a substantially rigid connection between the load wheel assembly and a mounting structure on the materials handling vehicle. The mounting structure includes a transverse bar and the interface structure includes a portion that engages and mates with the transverse bar to form a rigid connection between the interface structure and the transverse bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Ryan M. Snodgrass, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric P. Gasser, Keith G. Bornhorst, Kurt A. Hilgefort
  • Publication number: 20130127126
    Abstract: A lift indicator assembly for a pallet truck includes a lift sensor assembly, and a lift status display for determining a lift condition of a load wheel of the pallet truck. The lift sensor assembly is to be carried by a fork of the pallet truck and includes a housing section, and a primary sensor assembly. The primary sensor assembly includes a first primary arm coupled to the housing section, and a first primary contact switch carried by the housing section and adjacent the first primary arm. The first primary contact switch has an engaged position and a disengaged position based on position of the first primary arm. The lift status display determines the lift condition of the load wheel based on position of the first primary contact switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: DAN LANTZ, JASON ERTEL, CHRISTOPHER LUNDQUIST
  • Patent number: 8376089
    Abstract: A lift has two tines that project forward and are movable up-and-down to raise and lower pallets and skids. Two outriggers are pivotal between a stored position and a deployed position, and the outriggers project forward in the deployed position to stabilize the lift when the tines are elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Bishamon Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Stone
  • Patent number: 8360443
    Abstract: A pallet jack is disclosed that comprises a left tine and a right tine. The pallet jack includes a lifting mechanism that may include an electrically powered hydraulic pump to effectuate the lifting motion. The pallet jack may also include power-driven wheels that are connected by an axle, thereby facilitating translational motion of the pallet jack. The wheels may be maximally spaced by using a maximum-length axle that is slightly longer than the width of the pallet jack body, thereby optimizing load stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Coca-Cola Bottling Co., United, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Charles Ellington
  • Patent number: 8336654
    Abstract: A power device for a pallet truck comprising a main housing comprising friction wheels disposed on sides of the main housing, wherein the main housing is attached to the pallet truck so that the friction wheels contact front wheels of the pallet truck; a motor housing comprising a motor operatively connected to the friction wheels and to a power source, wherein the motor is for rotating the friction wheels; a power switch for turning on and off the device operatively connected to the motor; wherein rotation of the friction wheels translates into movement of the front wheels of the pallet truck, wherein lack of rotation of the friction wheel translates into reduction of rotation of the front wheels of the pallet truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Robert C. Licon
  • Patent number: 8336913
    Abstract: A steering device for decreasing a turning radius of a pallet jack is disclosed. The steering device comprises a first portion fixedly connected to the pallet jack between a main wheel and the extensible roller thereof. A second portion pivotally attaches to the first portion. A spring disposed within the first portion urges the second portion to remain in a selected position. A wheel disposes within the second portion. Positioning the pallet jack towards the lowered position, the wheel engages the ground causing the extensible roller to disengage the ground whereupon the main wheel and the wheel define a second turning radius which is lesser than the first turning radius. Upon the wheel contacting a lower cross member of a pallet, the second portion is urged against the biasing force of the spring to pivot relatively upwards and over the lower cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Grand Steer Inc.
    Inventors: Allen C. Aaseby, Fred O. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8282111
    Abstract: A cart may include a frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a platform movably carried by the frame, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly may be carried at least in part by the frame and operably associated with the platform to move the platform relative to the frame. The lift assembly may include at least one hydraulic actuator having a piston rod movable under hydraulic pressure to move the platform relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Magline, Inc., Swift Water Logistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Hailston, Andrew P. Richard
  • Publication number: 20120080858
    Abstract: Pallet truck for transporting goods that has a substantially horizontal frame on which the goods to be transported are placed. In one implementation the horizontal frame includes two substantially parallel arms with each arm having two parallel longitudinal extensions that define a space between them. Each of the two parallel longitudinal extensions has a wall that face each other and which are visible and accessible through the space. The longitudinal extensions being visible and accessible from above for their cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: ULMA SAFE HANDLING EQUIPMENT S. COOP.
    Inventors: Igor Larringan Errasti, Aitor Telleria Echeverria, Benito Hurtado Mena, Jone LarraƱaga Mendibaso, Fernando Odriozola Arregui
  • Patent number: 8075244
    Abstract: A motorized pallet jack comprises one or more motors that can propel the pallet jack and lift each of the tines. The pallet jack has three tines, and the center tine can be about 2 times the width of each of the left and right tines, though other widths of the center tine can also be implemented. Because the center tine is about twice the width of the left and right tines, two pallets, side-by-side, can be carried simultaneously with only three tines. A portion of the center tine (a right-most portion) and the right tine can have raised areas that enable an operator of the pallet jack to lift a right pallet that sits on the raised areas higher than the left pallet. The left pallet sits on the left tine and center tine without the raised areas (at a lower height). The operator of the pallet jack can place the left pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the right pallet, or without lowering the right pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Charles Ellington
  • Patent number: 8052120
    Abstract: A vertical lift mechanism (100, 100a, 100b) including: a lift support assembly (102) comprising an upper frame member (104), a lower frame member (106), the upper frame member is movable between a lowered position and a lifted position. The lift support assembly additionally includes a support mechanism (150) that holds and maintains the alignment between the upper frame member and a lower frame member as well as a powering unit to cause movement of the upper frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Herkules Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Todd J Bacon
  • Patent number: 8011677
    Abstract: A system and method for delivery of packaged goods on a pallet with a pallet jack is described. The pallet jack enables substantially easy navigation over rough terrain through the configuration and placement of the left and right rear wheels and the configuration and placement of the left and right front wheels, as well as the design and implementation of handle bars. Other useful features include a basket for holding personal items, and jacks for retaining hand held devices that can be used to track and update deliveries and orders for goods. Accordingly, the pallet jack is preferably used to deliver consumer soft drink beverages but can be used to deliver any type of packaged product, goods and/or raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Charles Ellington, John P. Barry
  • Patent number: 7988405
    Abstract: A pallet jack is disclosed that comprises a left tine, center tine, and a right tine. The center tine is about 2 times the width of each of the left and right tines, though other widths of the center tine can also be implemented. Because the center tine is about twice the width of the left and right tines, two pallets, side-by-side, can be carried simultaneously with only three tines. According to another embodiment of the pallet jack, a portion of the center tine (a right-most portion) and the right tine can have raised areas that enable an operator of the pallet jack to lift a right pallet that sits on the raised areas higher than the left pallet. The left pallet sits on the left tine and center tine without the raised areas (at a lower height). Thus, the operator of the pallet jack can place the left pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the right pallet, or without lowering the right pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Stanley Charles Ellington
  • Patent number: 7976032
    Abstract: The pallet jack apparatus provides lateral fork adjustment between the two forks, each having a forwardly disposed pivoted wheel for added fork support. The lateral fork adjustment is controlled by the horizontal control lever on the stem. The lateral fork adjustment is via a motor with pinion gear which directly drives the first and second fork gears. The apparatus further provides height adjustment for the forks via the vertical control lever on the stem. The control levers are positioned within the handle interior of the oblong circular handle which guards against inadvertent control movements while providing superior leverage for positioning the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Diangelo S. Dockins, Stephanie Dockins
  • Patent number: 7901175
    Abstract: A load arm for a fork of a low lift industrial truck, with an arm frame which is approximately U- or C-shaped in cross section with upward pointing bridge and downward pointing legs and an arm tip, which is connected to the arm frame via a welding connection, wherein the arm tip, tapered towards the free end, has bearing openings for the bearing of a load roller and introduction and withdrawal surfaces on the lower side, which ascend or fall off, respectively, towards the free end of the arm tip with respect to the lower edges or brims of the arm frame, and wherein the arm tip has an abutting surface at the rear end, which abuts against the blunt end of the arm frame, wherein the arm tip is formed by an integral piece of cast material, the arm tip has arm sections on the end facing the arm frame, which extend below the associated edges or brims of the arm frame and sit snugly on the lower edges or brims of the arm frame when arm frame and arm tip cling together, and the withdrawal surfaces are provided on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Huther
  • Patent number: 7891675
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting products including a body having ground wheels (22, 122) and support structure (30, 130) for one or more crates or other containers holding products to be carried by the apparatus. At least one ground engageable member (40, 140) fixed to said support structure forms an assembly with the support structure that is mounted to the body for relative movement between a retracted position in which the apparatus is freely moveable on a ground surface by means of the ground wheels and a relatively downwardly extended position in which the ground engageable member engages an underlying ground surface at a predetermined location to stabilize the apparatus against movement from that location on the ground wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Checkmate International Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Boris Dobra, John Clifton Leahy
  • Patent number: 7854280
    Abstract: A preassembly unit for the drive of an industrial truck, with a fifth wheel on which the driving wheel is rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis and which on its part is rotatably mounted in a bearing member around a vertical axis, a drive motor arranged on the fifth wheel, which is coupled with a driving shaft of the driving wheel via a gearbox, optionally a steering motor on the bearing member in order to turn the fifth wheel in the bearing member around the vertical axis, a parallel rod assembly between the bearing member and a frame of the industrial truck, which permits an essentially vertical movement of the preassembly unit in relation to the frame, and a spring arrangement between the bearing member and a frame-fixed section, wherein at least one upper drag rod of the parallel rod assembly is articulated on the lower end of a separate attachment section, which forms an interface with a counter-attachment position on the frame by attachment positions, and that at least one spring acts between a sho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcel Krenzin, Helmut Lohmann, Ulf Schipper
  • Patent number: 7845657
    Abstract: A load wheel assembly for a materials handling vehicle includes first and second spaced side members, at least one rotatable roller extending between the first and second side members and a retainer for holding the roller in the side members. An interface structure provides a substantially rigid connection between the load wheel assembly and a mounting structure on the materials handling vehicle. The load wheel assembly can be moved vertically or horizontally into a mounted position within the outrigger and at least a portion of the interface structure mates with the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Ryan M. Snodgrass, Kevin A. Gilliland, Eric P. Gasser