WO2010053432A1

WO2010053432A1 - Device for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2010053432A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/051243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif Svensson
Original assignee: Leif Svensson
Priority date: 2008-11-06
Filing date: 2009-11-03
Publication date: 2010-05-14
Also published as: SE533149C2; SE0802351A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for a manually operated hand pallet truck (2) or pallet lifter that is provided with wheels (3, 4) and a chassis (5) and arranged to be transportable on the platform (7) of a lorry (8) or another driveable load-carrying vehicle. According to the invention, between the hand pallet truck (2) and a said platform (7), a stopping element (9) carryable by the hand pallet truck (2) is arranged to act and that is actuatable to be brought between an active stop position (S) and a drive position, in which said stopping element (9) is held on an elevated level (11) without contacting the platform.

Description

Device for a vehicle

The present invention relates to a device for a manually operated hand pallet truck or pallet lifter that is provided with wheels and a chassis and arranged to be transportable on the platform of a lorry or another driveable load-carrying vehicle. Lorries that transport goods carried on pallets often conveys their own pallet lifter in order to quickly be able to load and unload, respectively, such cargo by driving pallets using the pallet lifter manually between desired loading and unloading spaces to and from, respectively, the vehicles in question. When the vehicles in question are driven, the pallet lifter runs the risk of moving and roll around in the vehicle.

Known means for preventing pallet lifters from moving unintentionally on a hard support that is being moving, in order to avoid damage to the fittings in the vehicle and to goods therein, e.g., on a lorry platform and thereby bringing the pallet lifter to stand absolutely still also in curves and upon sudden brakings, comprises miscellaneous more or less simple and well working means. The pallet lifter may, for instance, be tied up in the handle, it may be lifted up on a piece of wood, or it may be turned on the side or upside down. Most common is, however, to have a holder made of angle- iron and into which the two steering wheels are pulled up.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Tied up in the handle :

* Advantages: The piece of rope is inexpensive * Disadvantages: Requires that there is something to tie the piece of rope clamping the pallet lifter to. Modern lorries are usually entirely smooth inside. Should it be possible to tie it up, it is still fairly movable since the handle of the same is jointed in the lower part in order to simultaneously constitute a lever for the elevating device.

Lifted up on a piece of wood:

* Advantages: The piece of wood is inexpensive. * Disadvantages: Doubtful function. The pallet lifter can slip off. The friction is too small but above all everything that lies loosely on the platform tends always to be in the wrong place, i.e., be in the way when working on the platform, and be vanished without a trace when the pallet lifter is to be anchored. Furthermore, it may fall down from the platform, be forgotten or stolen.

Turned over

* Advantages: Absolutely none, but is an temporary solution * Disadvantages: Does not lie still, takes up a lot of space, the paint is worn out, etc.

Angle-iron holder:

* Advantages: Acceptable function when the holder is where it should be.

* Disadvantages: The same as the piece of wood, disturbs the work by being in the way, is vanished without a trace when it is needed, may disappear. To sum up, it can be said that it is a source of uncertainty and irritation that what you have to have for doing your work is in the wrong place.

US 2796150 A comprises a brake for a load lifting device in the form of double links in pairs having cog engagement at mutually meeting pairs of links (10, 12; 25, 26) . Thereby, a brake shoe (35) is carried actuatably to act against a support for the braking. Springs (36, 38) pull together the pairs of links into braking. Such a brake occupies a significant room under the load lifting device, almost half the space also in a raised rest position. A pallet lifter runs normally very close to the support that it is carried on, and to utilize such an unknown brake mechanism that is so bulky on such a pallet lifter is not easily done. US 3216531 A comprises a brake mechanism on a cart that can be run on a lorry or the like. The brake 50, 51 is formed of beams in pairs that are hoistable between a storage position (Fig 6) and a braking position (Fig 7) and are actuatable by means of a mechanism that comprises many different parts. Also this brake mechanism occupies fairly much room under the chassis of the carriage, and such a brake requires flat floor or another support for reliable braking and is neither so suitable for pallet lifters that operate close to the support they run on. US 3307658 A comprises a brake mechanism (47) that is formed of a bar (5) mounted pivotably transversely to the driving direction of a loading carriage (13) . The carriage is raised upon braking of the brake mechanism at one end of the carriage. The brake comprises controls (21, 35) for actuation and it becomes a bulky construction, not under the carriage, but at one end of the carriage, which would not work well in pallet lifters.

US 3710895 A comprises a brake mechanism (90, 92, 94, 96) of a food trolley (20) of the type that is utilized on board in aeroplanes. The brake mechanism is actuatable via wire systems and is formed of brake shoes (102, 104, 106, 108) in the ends of pivoting arms. The entire underframe of the trolley becomes cluttered up with such a brake mechanism and becomes cumbersome to mount. Such a known brake mechanism would neither be suitable for a pallet lifter.

The main object of the present invention is therefore primarily to solve, by simple means, among other things, the problems mentioned above in a reliable and efficient way.

Said object is attained by means of a device according to the type mentioned above and that essentially is characterized in that, between the hand pallet truck and a said platform, a stopping element carryable by the hand pallet truck is arranged to act, that the stopping element, which is formed of a turnably mounted strip element, which is turnably mounted around the longitudinal axis thereof, or of pointed ratchet shoes that are carryable, pivotably mounted and vertically movable in a holder, is actuatable to be brought between an active stop position, in which said stopping element is in gripping co-operation with the platform, and a drive position, in which said stopping element is held on an elevated level without contacting the platform, a spring being arranged to cause the stopping element to automatically be brought to the stop position after manual actuation of a control and that an additional spring is arranged to actuate the control, e.g., to push out a locking bar.

The invention is described in the following as a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figs. 1 and 2 show a pallet lifter in a raised position and in a turned-over position, respectively, and that is provided with a holding device according to the present invention,

Fig. 3 shows examples of a first embodiment of a pallet lifter stop provided with a shown turned-down stopping element as seen from the underside of a hand pallet truck, Figs. 4-5 show the stopping element in a turned-up drive position and in a turned-down grip position, respectively, as seen from the side,

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a hand pallet truck as seen obliquely from below with the stopping element in the turned-up drive position,

Fig. 7 shows examples of a coupling part of an actuation control,

Figs. 8-9 show a second example of a pallet lifter stop in the form of smooth soft friction-increasing strips in the turned-up drive position and in the turned-down grip position, respectively,

Figs. 10-11 show examples of a third pallet lifter stop separately, in the chocked-up grip position and in the turned-up drive position, respectively,

Figs. 12-15 show examples of the pallet lifter stop in different positions and from different directions, and

Figs. 16 and 17 show a ratchet according to the invention and where Fig. 16 shows the ratchet in an activated blocked position while

Fig. 17 shows the ratchet in a disengaged position and carried on the handle of a pallet lifter.

SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

With a simple mechanical brake mechanism fixedly mounted on the pallet lift that is operated by, e.g., the foot. No projecting parts except the operating device that protrudes a small bit at, e.g., the rear edge of the pallet lifter where it, however, not obstructs the work. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

* Advantages: The brake is always there and is always ready to be used, never obstructs the work, does not disappear, does not fall down from the platform, and cannot be forgotten or stolen. The pallet lifter stands stably. Simple operation by, e.g., the foot. Can be manufactured adaptable to all pallet lifters, both for the aftermarket and as a factory-made accessory.

* Disadvantages: None in new manufacturing, except for a somewhat higher price, but simultaneously the market is offered an additional added value that one can make a profit on. For existing pallet lifters, mounting is required. Among other things, approx. five holes are to be drilled, and in addition, the cost of the brake is added. Comment: A fixedly mounted pallet lift stop facilitates the work of any lorry drivers in such a high degree that a small non-recurrent charge is considered as well-spent money.

A device 1 for a manually operated hand pallet truck 2 or pallet lifter 2 that is provided with wheels 3, 4, a chassis 5 and a drawbar 6 and arranged to be transportable on the platform 7 of a lorry 8 or some other driveable load- carrying vehicle, comprises a stopping element 9 carried by the hand pallet truck 2. More precisely, between the hand pallet truck 2 and a said platform 7, a stopping element 9 carryable by the hand pallet truck 2 is arranged to act. Said stopping element is actuatable to be brought between an active stop position S, in which position said stopping element 9 is arranged to be held in a gripping co-operating position with the platform 7, and in a drive position K, in which said stopping element 9 is held on an elevated level 11, without contacting the platform 7.

In that connection, a movably mounted holder 10, which is arranged to carry said stopping element 9, is arranged to be operated manually to turn between an active stop position S and a passive drive position K, respectively.

Said holder 10 comprises a pivot 12 having an actuation control 13 connected thereto and lockable in desired positions, which control can be formed of a hooked bar having a screw joint 14 for disconnectable connection with a drawbar 15 connectable to the holder 10.

The stopping element 9 can be formed of a turnably mounted strip element, which is shown as examples in Figs. 3-9, and which is turnably mounted around the longitudinal axis 16 thereof. For instance, pair-wise toothed strip elements 18 formed with cog teeth 17 or smooth strip elements 19, provided with friction- increasing material 20, e.g., rubber cloth, may be formed of a holder 10 having a V- or U-shaped cross-section.

It is suitable that said friction- increasing, e.g., rubber strip elements 19 and also the cog-toothed strip elements 18 diverge from the frame 21 of the holder to increase the stop effect against the platform 7. The top surface 7A of the platform 7 may have varying patterns and consist of different materials, e.g., wood that is flat and relatively soft and into which material locking teeth 17 engage well. The platform top surface 7A may also consist of metal, e.g., aluminium having different patterns 23. For particularly such a patterned aluminium platform 7, it is suitable with stopping element 24 of the type that is shown in the embodiment in the drawings in Figs. 10-15, i.e., that the stopping elements 24 are formed of a plurality of pointed 25 ratchet shoes 26 that are pivotably mounted, vertically 27 movable and carryable in a holder 10. Said ratchet shoes 26 are formed of metal discs that are provided with mutually interspaced V-shaped teeth 27 and that are suspended in the holder 10 in long-holes. Preferably, pair-wise ratchet shoes 26 are arranged to be carried jointly by a respective mounting shaft 28 on a mutual distance A from each other in the respective ends 1OA, 1OB of the holder in surrounding casings 29. The design of the invention has now been described and shown, and the function of the same should be clear from what has been said and the examples shown in the figures .

The embodiment according to Figs. 1-7 and 8-9, respectively, simply functions as a storage support for the hand pallet truck 2 in question. By actuating the lowly placed bar 30 of the actuation control 13 by the hand or foot, existing recesses 31 in the bar 30 can come out of position from and into position with, respectively, with mating ratchet part 32 of the chassis 5 of the hand pallet truck 2.

Via a drawbar 15 that is interconnectable and length adjustable by means of the screw joint 14, the holder 10 of the stop element 9 is arranged to be actuated to be turned around an appurtenant mounting 33 therefor between a stop position S with the stopping element 9 activated, refer to

Figs. 3, 5 and 9, and a non-braking drive position K with the stopping element 9 turned up, refer to Figs. 4 and 8, respectively .

Thereby, effective function of the invention is allowed to be attained when the lowered teeth 17 or the friction material 20 co-operates with the top surface 7A of the platform.

The embodiment according to Figs. 10-15 may have an actuation control according to the above mentioned. Only the design of the holder having detached holder frames 21 and stopping elements 24 differs from previously said embodiment examples. In the stop position S, according to what has been mentioned above, the stopping elements 24 will be able, by the respective points thereof 25, to engage existing grooves 23A and elevations 23B in patterns 23 present on the top surface 7A of the platform. Depending on which direction the hand pallet truck 2 on the lorry platform 7 is actuated to move. Because of the swaying of the vehicle or braking, said pair-wise locking teeth 22 can be turned automatically around the appurtenant mounting shaft 28, which, e.g., is in the form of a screw or bolt, and actively prevent the hand pallet truck 2 from moving in an undesired way on the platform 7. Disengagement of said stopping element 24 from the co-operation with the platform 7 is easily attained by switch-over by the control according to the above mentioned into the intended turned-up drive position K, where the stopping elements 24 are kept in the turned-up position approx. 90° from the platform 7. In order to not need to bring said stopping element 9, 24 to the stop position S thereof manually, there is arranged a spring 50 that is arranged to turn or in another way actuate said stopping element 9, 24 to automatically be brought to the stop position S after manual actuation of a control 13. Resetting of the stopping element 9, 24 to a drive position K of the hand pallet truck 2 can be effected by actuating a control lever 30 by the foot or hand. Disconnection of the ratchet is effected by, e.g., lifting the bar 30 by the foot so that the ratchet engagement thereof is disconnected. In that connection, an additional spring 51 may be arranged to pull in the bar 30 toward the chassis 5. Turning down of said holder 10 with the stopping elements 9 is, in turn, provided by means of the spring 50. Extension of the control lever 30 and folding up of said holder 10 with the stopping elements 9 is effected by the foot or hand against the action of said springs 50, 51.

Accordingly, the spring 50 may be arranged to turn down the stopping element 9, 24 toward the support 7 into a stop and braking position S so that said hand pallet truck 2 is braked against the support. The spring 51 may be arranged to push out the bar 30 and simultaneously pull down it toward the chassis so that it locks by the intended notch 31 in the intended position against the chassis 5 and the ratchet part 32.

Easy mounting of the device 1 is allowed both in new manufacturing of the hand pallet truck 2 and upon retrofitting of already built hand pallet trucks 2 by only needing to drill some mounting holes in the chassis 5 and fasten the device 1 with screws.

A control 100 in the form of, e.g., a turnable lever on the handle 6 of a pallet lifter, etc., 2 in question can by a ratchet 500 in question be locked in the adjusted desired arrested position when the pallet lifter is stored in a vehicle on the floor thereof in the cargo space and that prevents the cargo lifter from being affected by irregularities on the ground that the vehicle dirives on and raised, and in that connection be able to roll around freely in the vehicle and then be able to damage both cargo and the fitting up of the vehicle. The ratchet 500 is easy to activate and deactivate, respectively, by being turned to the desired position for arresting the control 100 and disengaging the same, respectively.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an equivalent technology, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Device (1) for a manually operated hand pallet truck (2) or pallet lifter that is provided with wheels (3, 4) and a chassis (5) and arranged to be transportable on the platform (7) of a lorry (8) or another driveable load-carrying vehicle, characterized in that, between the hand pallet truck (2) and a said platform (7), a stopping element (9; 24) carryable by the hand pallet truck (2) is arranged to act, that the stopping element, which is formed of a turnably mounted strip element, which is turnably mounted around the longitudinal axis (16) thereof, or of pointed (25) ratchet shoes (26) that are carryable, pivotably mounted and vertically (27) movable in a holder (10) , is actuatable to be brought between an active stop position (S) , in which said stopping element (9) is in gripping co-operation with the platform (7), and a drive position (K) , in which said stopping element (9) is held on an elevated level (11) without contacting the platform

(7) , a spring (50) being arranged to cause the stopping element (9) to automatically be brought to the stop position (S) after manual actuation of a control (13) and that an additional spring (51) is arranged to actuate the control (13), e.g., to push out a locking bar (30) .

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a movably mounted holder (10) , which is arranged to carry said stopping element (9) , is arranged to be operated manually to be turned between the active stop position (S) and the passive drive position (K) , respectively.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the holder (10) comprises a pivot (12) having a lockable actuation control (13) connected thereto.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuation control (13) is formed of a hooked bar having a screw joint for connection with a drawbar (15) connectable to the holder (10) .

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pair-wise toothed strip elements (18) or strip elements (19) provided with friction- increasing material (20), e.g., rubber cloth, is formed of a holder (10) having a V- or U-shaped cross-section.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said strip elements (18) diverge from the frame (21) of the holder.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratchet shoes (26) are formed of metal discs provided with mutually interspaced V-shaped teeth (27) and suspended in the holder (10) in long-holes, preferably pair-wise ratchet shoes (26) being carried jointly by a mounting shaft (28) on a mutual distance (A) from each other in the respective ends (1OA, 10B) of the holder in surrounding casings (29) .

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a said hand pallet truck or pallet lifter has an actuating control (100) for adjustment of the same into a raised load drive position and into a lowered position, respectively, in which lowered position the same is arranged to, among other things, be transported, and that a ratchet (500) that is arranged brought to an activated arrested position is arranged to lock the control (100) in the adjusted lowered position to prevent said stopping element (9) from acting because of unintentional raising of the pallet lifter, etc., when, e.g., driving the vehicle on an uneven ground.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the ratchet (500) is pivotably mounted and comprises means for allowing disconnectable fastening of the same to the handle (6) of the pallet lifter, etc.