Abstract: A side shiftable carriage assembly has a carriage frame and a side shift frame. A bracket arrangement connects the side shift frame to the carriage frame for slidable movement in directions transverse uprights of a lift mast. The bracket arrangement has spaced apart first and second support and stop portions which position and axially align first and second jacks at a location closely adjacent first elongated guide and support rail members of the carriage and side shift frames. A fastening device removably connects the first and second jacks to the first and second stop portions, respectively. A restraining member maintains the first and second jacks on the first and second support portions. Rods of the first and second jacks abuttingly engageable with a force reaction device connected to the carriage frame moves the side shift frame transversely along the carriage frame. The side shiftable carriage assembly is particularly suited for use on a lift mast of a material handling vehicle.

Abstract: The lift system for the mast assembly of a lift truck normally includes at least one hydraulic cylinder and a pair of lift chains for selectively raising and lowering a movable assembly (upright or carriage assembly) on a fixed upright assembly. The tensions in the lift chains must be precisely set and periodically adjusted by use of an adjustable anchor, including a bolt threadably mounted on the fixed upright assembly and connected to the chain. Space limitations in present day mast assemblies have dictated the need for an adjustable chain anchor that is compact and is designed to be conveniently mounted on an upper end of the fixed upright assembly for ready access. The adjustable chain anchor (19) of this invention solves this problem by providing a cam member (26) adapted to be rotated to adjust chain tension in response to selective rotation of an end of the chain (17) about a fixed pivot axis (A).

Abstract: A lift mask carriage mounting arrangement is disclosed including a support assembly having an upright pair of laterally spaced and inwardly facing channular beams forming rail surfaces and interconnecting web surfaces at substantially right angles thereto, and a carriage assembly having an upright pair of elongated legs disposed between the channular beams for movement longitudinally along them, an upper pair of guide rollers and a lower pair of guide rollers mounted on the legs for in use rolling engagement with the rail surfaces of their respectively associated channular beams in planes substantially perpendicular thereto, and a pair of canted guide rollers mounted on the legs elevationally intermediate the upper and lower guide rollers for in use rolling engagement with the rail surfaces and with the web surfaces of their respectively associated channular beams in planes angularly related to the perpendicular planes of the upper and lower guide rollers for corneringly transmitting loads from the carriage a

Abstract: A self-aligning wheel mounting structure is disclosed of the type including a supporting axle shaft, an annular tread portion, and a bearing assembly mounted on the axle shaft for permitting the tread portion to make rolling engagement against a load bearing surface. Advantageously, the bearing assembly is limitedly permitted to rock on the axle shaft for improved self-aligning force transmission between the axle shaft, the bearing assembly, the tread portion, and the load bearing surface.

Abstract: A side thrust roller assembly particularly adapted for use in a lift truck mast unit to laterally position its carriage relative to an upright element while providing environmental protection for a thrust bearing within the assembly, the side thrust roller assembly including a roller engaging a lateral surface of the upright element, the roller and carriage having bores of different size, an adjusting spacer having an irregular bore being arranged between the roller and the carriage, a thrust bearing being disposed between the roller and adjusting spacer with a shaft having segments along its length for mating with the bores in the roller, adjusting spacer and carriage, the shaft segments for the roller bore and carriage bore being radially offset from each other to permit rotation of the shaft by the adjusting spacer for radially aligning the roller relative to the carriage, the adjusting spacer having a counterbore for receiving the thrust washer and a portion of the roller in order to prevent or minimize t