Abstract: Slide-bearing assemblies capable of enabling sliding of a load-carrying implement relative to a load-supporting structure, having first and second load-carrying surfaces, respectively, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the slide-bearing assembly includes substantially nonmetallic first and second elongate bearing elements extending in parallel to support the first load-carrying surface of the load-carrying implement slidably upon the load-supporting structure. One of the bearing elements being composed of multiple elongate pieces each shorter in length than a length of the other of the bearing elements. The slide-bearing assembly additionally includes a post that extends from a surface of each of the multiple elongate pieces, which is a surface that is opposed to the second load-carrying surface, each post is sized to fit in a respective recess of the second load-carrying surface.

Abstract: A guide-roll arrangement for guiding movement of a second mast segment relative a first mast segment of a lift-truck, comprising a roll pin having opposing first and second ends, wherein the first end comprises a recess, and a roll supported on the roll pin; and a sliding element arranged in the recess, said sliding element comprising opposing contact and sliding surfaces, wherein a support piece is arranged in the recess and comprising a contact surface for supporting the sliding element, wherein the contact surface of the sliding element is supported on the contact surface of the support piece and wherein one of the contact surfaces of the support piece and the sliding element is concave and the other is convex.

Abstract: A guide-roll arrangement for guiding movement of a first member relative a second member of a lift-truck, comprising a roll pin having opposing first and second ends, wherein the first end comprises a recess; and a roll supported on the roll pin; and a sliding element arranged in the recess, said sliding element comprising opposing contact and sliding surfaces, wherein a support piece is arranged in the recess and comprising a contact surface for supporting the sliding element, wherein the contact surface of the sliding element is supported on the contact surface of the support piece and wherein one of the contact surfaces of the support piece and the sliding element is concave and the other is convex.

Abstract: A system and method reduce lateral movement of a car in an elevator system by detecting vibration of the car as a vibration signal. A damping coefficient for a feedback signal is determined according to the vibration signal and a state of the elevator system. A semi-active actuator is arranged between the car and a roller guide assembly. The semi-active actuator includes a rheological fluid, and flow characteristics of the rheological fluid are actuated according to the feedback signal to reduce the lateral movement of the car.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for lift chain rollers in a multiple lift mast for high-lift fork trucks which mast has a fixed mast, a middle mast, and an inner telescoping mast, each of which has two parallel-distanced mast profiles, wherein at an upper end of each the mast profiles of the middle mast, a lift chain roller is mounted for each of at least one lift chain for lifting the inner mast, wherein the lift chain roller is disposed in front of the inner mast crosswise to a web of the middle mast profile, wherein a separate bearing component for the lift chain roller is placed onto the mast profile or onto a cross-beam joining the tops of the mast profiles from top, and welded thereto.

Abstract: A 3-point suspension forklift scale adapted for quick and easy attachment/detachment to/from a forklift—without the need for leveling or other pre-operation setup procedures. Further, due to the single lower reaction point of the forklift scale, there is no concern that the initially installed position of the forklift scale will change during use as a result of a loose adjuster, repositioning due to impact, etc. The forklift scale is designed to accurately determine the weight of a load placed on the forks or other lifting elements of the forklift, regardless of the position of the load thereon. Preferably, a forklift scale of the present invention includes a central viewing window that allows an operator see through the forklift scale when operating an associated forklift.

Abstract: A load weight measuring device for a multi-stage mast forklift truck has a mast assembly, an oil passage, a flow regulator valve, a pressure sensor, a detecting device, a memory, a selector, and a calculator. The mast assembly has a lift bracket for receiving a load weight, a multi-stage mast unit having masts, and a multi-stage lift cylinder unit having lift cylinders each having an oil chamber for raising the lift bracket along the masts. Hydraulic oil flows in the oil passage. The pressure sensor detects a pressure of hydraulic oil and outputs a pressure signal. The detecting device detects a state which stage of the lift cylinder raises the lift bracket and outputs a detection signal. The memory stores predetermined parameters from which the selector selects the parameter based on the detection signal. The calculator calculates the load weight based on the selected parameter and the pressure signal.

Abstract: The powered hand truck has a chassis supported at one end by a single axle with two independently operable drive wheels. A prime mover is provided generally medially on the chassis, driving the drive wheels and powering the forklift mechanism. There is no operator console housing for the powered hand truck, as it is intended to be remotely controlled. A transmitter provides for specific and precise control of each drive wheel independently of the other, by using two drive wheel control switches. The powered hand truck has a caster wheel actuation strut housing over the caster wheel end of the chassis. A storage rack and dolly may be installed upon a suitable transport vehicle for transporting the powered hand truck. The hand truck forks engage the storage rack dolly, with the dolly translating along the rack to allow the truck to be deployed from, or loaded onto, the transport vehicle.

Abstract: A fork lift truck (10) has a truck body (12), a lift mechanism (14) connected to the truck body (12) by means of a vertically extending pivot (52) and means (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14) relative to the truck body (12) about said pivot (52) to steer the truck (10), the truck body (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism (14) having a single ground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel (40) having independent drive means (44, 46).

Abstract: A fork lift truck (10) has a truck body (12), a lift mechanism (14) connected to the truck body (12) by way of a vertically extending pivot (52) and mechanism (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14) relative to the truck body (12) about the pivot (52) to steer the truck (10), the truck body (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism (14) having a single ground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel (40) having independent drive mechanism (44, 46).

Abstract: A pallet jack with a pallet engaging fork having separate and independently movable first and second fork arms connected to independently controlled and operable first and second fork arm elevating means, for lifting a pallet loaded with a stack of items so that when the stack of items leans and is out of balance one fork arm can be elevated higher than the other to compensate and restore balance to the stack of items.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a column (42) normally generally vertical when a device (30) of which the column (42) is a part is in an operating position; and a platform (62) operatively connected at one end to the column (42) and normally generally horizontal when the device (30) is in an operating position, the platform (62) being selectively raised or lowered to raise or lower a load placed on the platform (62).

Abstract: A 3-point suspension forklift scale adapted for quick and easy attachment/detachment to/from a forklift—without the need for leveling or other pre-operation setup procedures. Further, due to the single lower reaction point of the forklift scale, there is no concern that the initially installed position of the forklift scale will change during use as a result of a loose adjuster, repositioning due to impact, etc. The forklift scale is designed to accurately determine the weight of a load placed on the forks or other lifting elements of the forklift, regardless of the position of the load thereon. Preferably, a forklift scale of the present invention includes a central viewing window that allows an operator see through the forklift scale when operating an associated forklift.

Abstract: An extendable frame work vehicle offering enhanced versatility, safety and effectiveness. The vehicle includes an adjustable frame with front and rear portions that extend or retract with respect to each other. The front portion is supported by a first pair of wheels and said rear portion is supported by a second pair of wheels. Each wheel is independently driven and steered. The vehicle also includes an engine mounted on the rear portion of the frame. Incorporated into the vehicle is an electro-hydraulic assembly which enables extension and retraction of the adjustable frame. The assembly includes a sensor-responsive microprocessor controller, at least one hydraulic pump, at least one hydraulic drive motor and at least one valve network.

Abstract: An industrial truck (1) has a lifting device (9) including a movable load bearing implement (11) having a fork-shaped load handling attachment (14) and a towing device (20). The load handling attachment (14) has at least one load segment (14b) which is mounted so that it can be pivoted around an essentially horizontal pivoting axis (15). In one embodiment of the invention, the towing device (20) is located in the vicinity of the lifting device (9).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tine-mounted antenna for reading RFID tags in a warehouse environment using RFID technology operating at ultra-high frequencies (UHF) or microwave frequencies and backscatter coupling techniques. At least one ruggedized antenna is mounted on the tine (or other base-level platform) of a lift truck (e.g., a forklift). The antenna can be configured to read RFID tags on pallets that are loaded on the lift truck and communicate the tag information to a warehouse management system.

Abstract: A forklift truck (10) comprising a truck body, a fork mechanism at one end of the body, and at least one wheel (18) at an opposite end of the body, said at least one wheel (18) being mounted on the body for translational movement relative to the body between a working position and a storage position.

Abstract: A mast assembly of a forklift truck has outer and inner masts, a lift cylinder, a rearward projection and a cylinder support. The outer mast is supported by the truck body at the front thereof. The inner mast is movable upward and downward relative to the outer mast. The lift cylinder moves the inner mast relative to the outer mast. The rearward projection extending toward the truck body is mounted to the outer mast. The cylinder support is mounted to the rearward projection for supporting the lift cylinder at the bottom end thereof.

Abstract: A forklift may include (a) a mast; (b) forks which are substantially perpendicular to the mast; (c) a load backrest adjacent to the mast, the load backrest and the forks are coupled and moveable along a longitudinal direction of the mast; and (d) a height measuring component determining a location of the forks relative to the mast.

Abstract: An apparatus and method directed to modifying conventional forklift trucks to reduce or eliminate damage to pallets. A strike plate of sufficient width is secured to the upper and lower carriage rails of a forklift between the two forks of the forklift, positioned on the carriage rails such that the strike plate engages a structural member of the pallet. Damage from overtravel of the forks into the pallet is prevented because the protective strike plate will cause the whole pallet to move before the forks have the chance to rip up the first couple of deck boards on the top of the pallet. The strike plate is attached to forklifts having an upper carriage rail and a lower carriage rail. A permanently affixed latch is located near the top of the strike plate to engage the upper carriage bar, and a latch piece separable from the strike plate is provided to affix the bottom of the strike plate to the lower carriage rail.

Abstract: A fork lift truck (10) has a truck body (12), a lift mechanism (14) connected to the truck body (12) by way of a vertically extending pivot (52) and mechanism (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14) relative to the truck body (12) about the pivot (52) to steer the truck (10), the truck body (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism (14) having a single ground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel (40) having independent drive mechanism (44, 46).

Abstract: The invention relates to the mast-hydraulic cylinder construction (4, 5) of a two or multiple-stage forklift mast. The substantially vertical beams (4, 5) and cylinder liners (6) of the solid mast structure form an integrated structure (4, 5), in which the cylinder liners (6) consist of ducts integrated within the beams (4, 5), with the mass centre of the cross-section of the integrated structures being at the centre of the cylinder liner (6) or in its immediate vicinity so that the integrated structure (4, 5) can be manufactured by heat extrusion or cold drawing, and in that the integrated structure (4, 5) comprises a first protrusion (14), whose surface is a bearing surface (17) for a roller bearing (16), and a second protrusion (15) for providing a mass centre at the centre of the cylinder liner (6), and a support surface (18, 19) substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the forklift. The invention also relates to a method for producing an integrated structure (4, 5).

Abstract: A lift attachment for a tractor provided with a three-point hitch. A slide assembly is provided for slidable movement in the vertical direction within channel guides. A double acting hydraulic cylinder is connected to the slide assembly for moving the slide assembly either upwardly or downwardly. Lifting tines are connected to the slide assembly. A cam mechanism is provided on the lifting tines to tilt the outer ends of the tines upwardly when the tines are raised and allows the tines to tilt downwardly to a level position when the lifting tines are lowered.

Abstract: A lifting framework for an industrial truck has an extendible mast guided on a guide mast by rollers. Means are provided for bracing the extendible mast with the guide mast so as to prevent the extendible mast from inclining in the lateral direction of the lifting framework relative to the guide mast. The bracing means are configured such that, when the extendible mast is located in the top end position, a vertical movement of the extendible mast relative to the guide mast is prevented in the region of each of the two columns. A hydraulic lifting cylinder and a stop for the top end position of the extendible mast are arranged here in the region of each column.

Abstract: In an industrial truck, in particular a fork-lift truck, having a vehicle frame and a load pickup means (16), which can be displaced in relation to the vehicle frame, at least one wheel which is closer to the load pickup means and, at a distance from this, at least one wheel (20) which is further away from the load pickup means being provided on the vehicle frame, the wheel axle (18) of at least one wheel (20) being capable of moving in relation to the vehicle frame along a movement trajectory with a movement component which is orthogonal with respect to the standing area of the industrial truck, in addition a loading force (B), which is caused by the tare weight of the industrial truck and a load (L) which may have been picked up by said industrial truck, acting on the at least one moveable wheel axle (18), which loading force changes operationally, the at least one moveable wheel axle (18) in addition has or can have an arbitrarily variable additional force applied to it.

Abstract: A lifting frame has a stationary vertical mast (outer mast 1), at least one telescoping lifting mast (inner mast 3), and a lifting carriage (4) movable on the lifting mast. At least one hydraulic line (5) installed on the lifting frame discharges at the lifting carriage (4). When the lifting frame is in the retracted position, the hydraulic line (5) forms a loop (S) which is open on top. The hydraulic line (5) is guided in the vicinity of the loop (S) by a tensioning pulley (6) that dips from above into the loop (S). The tensioning pulley (6) is fastened to a pulley carrier (7). The weight of the pulley carrier can be used to generate a bias force that is exerted on the hydraulic line (5), or drive means connected with the pulley carrier (7) can be provided.

Abstract: Device for holding a load on a load support of an industrial truck with the following characteristics: a support construction, adjustable in its height by a lifting drive, is mounted above the load support the support construction has several vertical guidances, distributed across a plane, in each of which one plunger (8) is vertically guided a clamping device is attached on the support construction, by means of which the plungers are fixable in the guidances in an arbitrary height position, and an actuation device for the clamping device for optional clamping or releasing the plungers in their guidances.

Abstract: A lift truck includes a guide member secured to a mast of the lift truck and a guided member secured to a carriage vertically movable along the mast. The guided member engages with the guide member to resist twisting moments acting on the carriage and enable the carriage to move smoothly along the mast. A clamping apparatus for use with the lift truck is engageable with the forks of the lift truck so that the weight of the clamping apparatus can be supported by the forks. A bracket mounted on the lift truck can be detachably connected to the clamping apparatus to prevent movement of the clamping apparatus in the fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.

Abstract: An extractable mast structure for a fork-lift truck, including an outer mast fixed to the carriage, the spaced columns being interconnected via upper and lower traverses, an extractable inner mast guided by said outer mast on which a load-carrying means is guided to be movable up and down and the columns of which are interconnected via upper or lower traverses or a cross-beam, one mast lift cylinder for each column of said inner mast supported on said outer mast, piston rods of which are adapted to be connected to said cross-beam, and setting means between said piston rods and cross-beam for an equalization of the lift, wherein a male-threaded setting component is attached to the upper end of said piston rod of one of said two mast lift cylinders and a female-threaded bushing is screwed onto the male thread of said setting component and has supporting surfaces for said cross-beam.

Abstract: An industrial truck has a chassis (1), a lifting frame (5), a load holding device (10) that can move vertically along the lifting frame (5), and at least one movement device to move the lifting frame (5) relative to the chassis (1). The acceleration and/or the speed of movement of the lifting frame (5) that can be achieved by the movement device can be controlled as a function of at least one operating parameter of the industrial truck. The operating parameter is measured at least approximately continuously. One operating parameter is the current lifting height of the load holding device (10). An additional operating parameter is the weight of a load that is being held by the load holding device (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a two- or multi-stage mast-hydraulic cylinder construction (4, 5) for a truck mast. The fixed mast assembly has its substantially vertical beams (4, 5) and its cylinder liners (29) provide an integrated structure (4, 5), wherein the cylinder liners (29) are constituted by channels integrated inside the beams (4, 5), said integrated structures having their centre of mass at the centre of the cylinder liner (29) or in the immediate vicinity thereof, that the integrated structure (4, 5) is capable of being manufactured by hot extrusion or cold drawing, and that the integrated structure (4, 5) is provided with one flange (13), one side of which comprises a bearing surface (16) and the opposite side comprises a support surface (17), said surfaces (16, 17) lying in a plane transverse to the operating direction of a truck, and with at least one second flange (19) for locating the centre of mass at the centre of the cylinder liner (29) or in the immediate vicinity thereof.

Abstract: A carrier (21) for carrying a load-handling attachment (27) is lifted along a guide mast (1, 11) by a lift drive (19, 29) including a lift chain (19) connected to the carrier (21), and a swing restrictor (31) is provided on the guide mast (1, 11) to restrict a swing motion of the lift chain (19).

Abstract: A lift truck, especially for use in air cargo handling, includes a drive part having at least one driving wheel and a load part guided at the drive part and having at least one roller. Two lifting devices are operable in sequence. The lifting devices each set a height of the load part relative to the drive part in a respective lifting stage.

Abstract: A lifting carriage for use on an industrial truck is connected to a lifting frame which moves vertically along a lift mast. The lifting carriage includes a rotatable guide roller arrangement for adjusting the position of the lifting carriage. The guide roller arrangement includes a first pair of horizontally spaced guide rollers and a second pair of horizontally spaced guide rollers which are vertically spaced from the first pair of horizontally spaced guide rollers. The position of guide rollers of the first pair of guide rollers is not movable relative to the lifting carriage and the position of the guide rollers of the second pair of guide rollers is movable relative to the lifting carriage in a direction having a horizontal component.

Abstract: A lift truck having a mast structure for supporting a liftable implement, a pair of lift cylinders for lifting the implement, and a mast support for supporting the mast structure on a front axle of a vehicle body. The mast structure includes a pair of masts extending substantially vertically and a cross beam for connecting the lower ends of the masts. The mast support includes a pair of support bodies fixed to one of the masts and the cross beam at a first fastened section. The mast support further includes a pair of brackets, each bracket being fixed to one of the support bodies at a second fastened section and connected to the front axle. Each cylinder is located adjacent to a corresponding one of the brackets and is located behind the corresponding one of the masts. The structure allows for simplified manufacture.

Abstract: A robotic shelf handling apparatus usable with a power lifting device such as a swingreach or forklift which can be used to remove and replace large capacity conventional storage shelves. The shelf handling apparatus defines or pockets or slots for receiving a power lifting device fixedly secured thereinto and is positioned between vertically extending corner stanchions of shelving immediately below its shelf to be removed. The apparatus includes a frame with a shelf deck positioning device vertically movable upwardly therefrom to remove a shelf deck. Further the design includes a lateral stabilization means including a plurality of wheels and guide rollers adapted to engage the vertically extending stanchions of the shelving for maintaining lateral stability of the handling apparatus. Also a support bar positioning device is included which is adapted to hold the support bars used for supporting of the deck plates and removing them from engagement with the vertical stanchions as desired.

Abstract: A reinforced column for a lifting apparatus which includes an elongated outer shell member having a rectilinear cross-section. One side of the outer shell member has an elongated aperture therethrough, allowing access to an interior portion of the column. Interior of the outer shell, a pair of opposed elongated guide rails are positioned adjacent the elongated aperture. An elongated inner shell is simultaneously attached to selected portions of the guide rails and held at predetermined spaced relationships to the interior surfaces of the outer shell. The elongated inner shell is arrayed for providing a pathway for a carriage member of said lifting apparatus to travel therein.