Forklift attachment

A forklift attachment for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle for permitting the lifting of loads. The forklift attachment includes a ground engaging support carriage having an towing tongue designed for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle. A pair of lifting arms are pivotally mounted to the support carriage. A pair of lifting devices are provided for raising and lowering the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage and a pair of tilting devices are provided for tilting the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to rail bogie lifting devices and more 
particularly pertains to a new forklift attachment for attachment to a 
fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle for permitting the lifting of 
loads. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of rail bogie lifting devices is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, rail bogie lifting devices heretofore devised and utilized 
are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,516; U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,264; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,454; U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,501; U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,629; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,963; U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,516; U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,315; 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 245,606; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 246,845; PCT Patent No. WO 
94/13509 (inventors: Hull et al); and PCT Patent No. 84/01752 (inventor: 
Silva). 
Dual mode articulated rail-highway vehicle system which employ separable 
rail bogies have been developed. In this type of system, semi-trailer 
bodies with retractable highway wheel assemblies are attached to 
detachable rail bogies and the semi-trailer bodies are then coupled end to 
end to form trains. No conventional rail cars are used thereby reducing 
weight, cost, and maintenance. The rail bogies are left behind on the rail 
when the semi-trailer bodies are taken by normal tractors to their 
destinations over highways. This has developed a need for devices for 
lifting and transporting these types of rail bogies around a railway yard. 
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, rail bogies include end rail bogies 3 and 
intermediate rail bogies 2 such as the type manufactured by Wabash 
National Corporation, P.O. Box 6129 Lafayette, Ind. 47903 under the trade 
names CouplerMate Rail Bogie (for end rail bogies 3) and Intermediate Rail 
Bogie (for intermediate rail bogies 2. Rail bogies 2,3 are built so that 
the main body of either of the rail bogies 2,3 is set onto the axle 
journals or bearing mounted on the axles 4,5, being separated by a spring 
suspension system. The axles 4,5 are designed to accept the load from the 
top only, and are not designed to have any loading from the bottom. The 
axles 4,5 are kept in place by a retainer or ear bolted under each end of 
each axle. These ears can be easily broken off if the rail bogies are 
handled improperly. Also, if improperly handled, the coil spring 
suspension mounted between the main body of the bogie and journal housing 
can be cocked out of position, causing broken coil springs. The bogies 
have a pan 6 that is mounted between the two axles, several inches lower 
than the axles. Since this pan 6 is part of the main body of the bogie, 
lifting on it will also result in improper lifting on the suspension and 
axles of the bogie which can break the retainer ears or cock the springs. 
Therefore, proper lifting must be done on the axle/wheel assemblies 4,5 
only. 
Another problem is that the cost of a forklift that has the size necessary 
to move the bogies is very large. The forklift must be able to pick up and 
carry 19,000 pounds (the typical weight of an end rail bogie 3) at a 
distance of 50 inches out away from the mast of the forklift. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of rail 
bogie lifting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new forklift attachment construction wherein the same can be 
utilized for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle for 
permitting the lifting of loads. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new forklift attachment 
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the rail bogie 
lifting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result 
in a new forklift attachment which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art rail bogie lifting 
devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a ground engaging 
support carriage having an towing tongue designed for attachment to a 
fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle. A pair of lifting arms are 
pivotally mounted to the support carriage. A pair of lifting devices are 
provided for raising and lowering the lifting arms with respect to the 
support carriage and a pair of tilting devices are provided for tilting 
the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
forklift attachment apparatus and method which has many of the advantages 
of the rail bogie lifting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel 
features that result in a new forklift attachment which is not 
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the 
prior art rail bogie lifting devices, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new forklift 
attachment which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new forklift 
attachment which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
forklift attachment which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with 
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such forklift attachment economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
forklift attachment which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new forklift 
attachment for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle for 
permitting the lifting of loads. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new forklift 
attachment which includes a ground engaging support carriage having an 
towing tongue designed for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a 
vehicle. A pair of lifting arms are pivotally mounted to the support 
carriage. A pair of lifting devices are provided for raising and lowering 
the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage and a pair of 
tilting devices are provided for tilting the lifting arms with respect to 
the support carriage. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
forklift attachment that allows standard and commonly available vehicles 
to transport rail bogies instead of using an expensive specialized 
forklift for the task. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
forklift attachment that lifts the rail bogies from under their axles so 
that damage and malfunctions to the rail bogies is minimized. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 11 
thereof, a new forklift attachment embodying the principles and concepts 
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 
10 will be described. 
The forklift attachment 10 is designed for attachment to a fifth-wheel 
19,20 hitch assembly of a vehicle 1 for permitting the lifting of loads 
such as rail bogies 2,3 by the forklift attachment 10. As best illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 through 11, the forklift attachment 10 generally comprises a 
ground engaging support carriage 11 having a towing tongue 23 designed for 
attachment to a fifth-wheel 19,20 hitch assembly of a vehicle 1. A pair of 
lifting arms 26,27 are pivotally mounted to the support carriage 11. A 
pair of lifting devices 38,39 are provided for raising and lowering the 
lifting arms 26,27 with respect to the support carriage 11 and a pair of 
tilting devices 40,41 are provided for tilting the lifting arms 26,27 with 
respect to the support carriage 11. 
Specifically, the support carriage 11 has a cross member 12 and a pair of 
spaced apart arm members 13,14 outwardly extending in a first direction 
from the cross member 12 of the support carriage 11. The arm members 13,14 
are preferably spaced apart a predetermined distance to permit positioning 
of a rail bogie 2,3 therebetween. The cross member 12 and the arm members 
13,14 of the support carriage 11 each have a longitudinal axis. 
Preferably, the longitudinal axes of the arm members 13,14 are extended 
generally parallel to one another. Also preferably, the longitudinal axis 
of the cross member 12 is extending generally perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axes of the arm members 13,14. Ideally, the longitudinal axes 
of the cross member 12 and the arm members 13,14 of the support carriage 
11 generally lie in a common plane. 
In a preferred embodiment, the cross member 12 has a pair of separable end 
portions 15,16 with one end portion of the cross member located adjacent 
one of the arm members and another of the end portions of the cross member 
located adjacent another of the arm members. The end portions 15,16 of the 
cross member 12 are detachable from a remainder middle portion of the 
cross member 12 such that the width of the support carriage 11 can be 
reduced for easier transport of the forklift attachment 10 without 
dismantling the electrical and hydraulic systems. 
Each of the arm members 13,14 terminates at a terminal end 17,18 distal the 
cross member 12. Each of the arm members 13,14 has a ground engaging wheel 
19,20 rotatably mounted to the terminal end 17,18 of the respective arm 
member 13,14. Preferably the wheels 19,20 have solid rubber tires and are 
designed for carrying a large portion of a load lifted by the forklift 
attachment 10. In an ideal embodiment, each arm member 13,14 has a wheel 
mounting plate 21,22 rotatably mounting the associated wheel 19,20 to the 
respective arm member 13,14. The wheel mounting plates 21,22 are coupled 
to the insides of the arm members 13,14. In use, the wheel mounting plates 
21,22 are designed for providing a bumper for protect the wheels 19,20 
from damage and for properly aligning the forklift attachment 10 while 
backing into a rail bogie 2,3. Optionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 
10, the wheels 19,20 may be mounted to a non-protective mounting plate 49 
that is attached to the outside of the associated arm member. This 
optional embodiment is satisfactory for mounting the wheels to the support 
carriage but does not protect the wheels from contact with a rail bogie 
between the arm members. 
The support carriage 11 has a towing tongue 23 designed for attachment to a 
fifth-wheel 19,20 hitch assembly of a vehicle 1. The towing tongue 23 is 
outwardly extended from the cross member 12 of the support carriage 11 in 
a second direction opposite the first direction away from the arm members 
13,14. The towing tongue 23 has a longitudinal axis and terminates at a 
free end 24. The free end 24 of the towing tongue 23 has a king pin 50 
designed for mounting to the fifth wheel 19,20 hitch assembly of the 
vehicle 1. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the towing tongue 23 is 
extended generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cross 
member 12 and generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the arm 
members 13,14. Even more preferably, the towing tongue 23 is 
telescopically extendable along the longitudinal axis of the towing tongue 
23 to permit lengthening and shortening of the towing tongue 23 such that 
it may be hitched to any type of yard truck or any road tractor 1. An 
elongate cable carrier 25 may preferably be upwardly extended from the 
towing tongue 23 adjacent the free end 24 of the towing tongue 23. In use, 
the cable carrier 25 is designed for holding cables extending between the 
forklift attachment 10 and the towing vehicle 1. 
A spaced apart pair of lifting arms 26,27 are pivotally mounted to the 
cross member 12 of the support carriage 11. The lifting arms 26,27 are 
located between the arm members 13,14 of the support carriage 11. In use, 
the lifting arms 26,27 are designed for supporting a load thereon such as 
a rail bogie 2,3. Each of the lifting arms 26,27 has a length extending 
generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the cross 
member 12 of the support carriage 11. Each of the lifting arms 26,27 has 
adjacent elongate first and second portions 28,29,30,31. The second 
portion 30,31 of each lifting arm 26,27 is positioned between the cross 
member 12 and the first portion 28,29 of the respective lifting arm 26,27. 
Each of the first and second portions 28,29,30,31 of each of the lifting 
arms 26,27 has a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the first 
portion 28,29 of each lifting arm 26,27 is extended at an acute angle from 
the longitudinal axis of the second portion 30,31 of the respective 
lifting arm 26,27 to form a bend in each lifting arm 26,27. Preferably, 
the acute angle is between about 10 degrees and about 25 degrees. Even 
more preferably, the acute angle is between about 15 degrees and about 20 
degrees. Ideally, the acute angle is about 16.845 degrees. Each of the 
lifting arms 26,27 terminates in a generally flat distal end 30,31 located 
adjacent the first portion 28,29 of the respective lifting arm 26,27. The 
distal end 30,31 of each lifting end lies in a plane generally parallel to 
the longitudinal axis of the second portion 30,31 of the respective 
lifting arm 26,27. Ideally, the distal ends 30,31 of the lifting arms 
26,27 are positioned along line extending between the axles of the wheels 
19,20 of the support carriage 11. In use, the lifting arms 26,27 are 
designed with the bend in them to allow them to be slid and rotated under 
the pan 6 of the rail bogie 2,3. Upon reaching proper placement, the fork 
will be in position to lift on the front and rear axles 4,5 of the rail 
bogie 2,3 without coming into contact with the pan 6. The flat distal ends 
30,31 allow proper placement under the outer bogie axle 5. 
Each lifting arm 26,27 has a pair of holding ramps 34,35 coupled to the 
second portion 30,31 of the respective lifting arm 26,27. The holding 
ramps 34,35 preferably lie in generally parallel planes extending 
generally vertical from the respective lifting arm 26,27. Each of the 
ramps 34,35 has a notched portion 36 and an angled portion 37 extending 
between the notched portion 36 and the second portion 30,31 of the 
respective lifting arm 26,27. The angled portions 37 of the ramps 34,35 
extend at an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the respective 
second portion 30,31. In use, the notched portions 36 are designed for 
cradling the inner axle 4 of the rail bogie 2,3. The angled portion 37 is 
designed for aiding sliding of the lifting arms 26,27 underneath the inner 
axle 4 of the rail bogie 2,3 and to guide the inner axle 4 of the rail 
bogie into the notched portions 36. 
A pair of lifting devices 38,39 are provided for raising and lowering the 
lifting arms 26,27 with respect to the plane of the cross member 12 and 
arm members 13,14 of the support carriage 11. Preferably, each of the 
lifting devices 38,39 comprises a fluidic piston-cylinder actuator. A 
first lifting device of the pair of lifting devices is pivotally connected 
to the cross member of the support carriage and one of the lifting arms 
and a second lifting device of the pair of lifting devices is pivotally 
connected to the cross member of the support carriage and another of the 
lifting arms. A pair of tilting devices 40,41 are also provided for 
tilting the lifting arms 26,27 with respect to the plane of the cross 
member 12 and arm members 13,14 of the support carriage 11. Preferably, 
each of the tilting devices 40,41 comprises a fluidic piston-cylinder 
actuator. A first tilting device of the pair of tilting devices 40,41 is 
pivotally connected to the cross member of the support carriage and 
slidably connected to the ramp of one of the lifting arms by a pin and 
slot coupling 42 and a second tilting device of the pair of tilting 
devices is pivotally connected to the cross member of the support carriage 
and slidably connected to the ramp of another of the lifting arms by a 
similar pin and slot coupling 42. The pin and slot coupling 42 allows the 
fork tip to float over the ground as it is being slid under or pulled out 
from a rail bogie. 
With particular reference to FIG. 6, a hydraulic pump 43 is in fluid 
communication with the lifting and tilting devices 40,41 for pumping fluid 
to the lifting and tilting devices 40,41 to permit actuating of the 
fluidic piston-cylinder actuators. The hydraulic pump 43 is preferably 
mounted to the support carriage 11. A battery 44 is preferably 
electrically connected to the hydraulic pump 43 for powering the hydraulic 
pump 43. The battery 44 is also preferably mounted to the support carriage 
11. Ideally, power cables may also be used to electrically connect the 
hydraulic pump 43 to the power plant of the towing vehicle 1. The battery 
44 is preferably connected to the yard tractor's electrical system for 
recharging. The hydraulic pump may also be powered directly from the yard 
tractor's battery 44. The hydraulic system is preferably controlled by a 
wireless radio system, backed up by a remote control cable with push 
button pendant. 
First and second directional control valves 45,46 are provided for 
directing hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 43 to the lifting and 
tilting devices 40,41. The first directional control valve 45 is fluidly 
connected between the hydraulic pump 43 and the lifting devices 38,39. The 
second directional control valve 46 is fluidly connected between the 
hydraulic pump 43 and the tilting devices 40,41. Because there is no 
mechanical link between the two lifting arms, first and second flow 
dividers 47,48 are provided for forming a parallel link between the 
lifting arms 26,27 when lifting and tilting the lifting arms 26,27 so that 
the lifting arms 26,27 are kept together in a common plane as they are 
lifted and tilted. The first flow divider 47 is fluidly connected between 
the first directional control valve 45 and the lifting devices 38,39. The 
second flow divider 48 is fluidly connected between the second directional 
control valve 46 and the tilting devices 40,41. The flow dividers 47,48 
are preferably of the type similar to the model GD05EE00-GV Flow Divider 
manufactured by Viking Pump, 406 State Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. 
This type of flow divider is a turning gear divider that divides the oil 
flow into two equally metered parts. It also has a relief valve built into 
it so the two fluidic piston-cylinder actuator can be "sequenced" at the 
end of the stroke. 
In use, the forklift attachment 10 is designed to enable a yard truck or 
any vehicle 1 with a 5th wheel plate the capability to pick up and move 
rail bogies including end rail bogies 3 and intermediate rail bogies 2 
such as the type manufactured by Wabash National Corporation, P.O. Box 
6129 Lafayette, Ind. 47903 under the trade names CouplerMate Rail Bogie 
(for end rail bogies 3) and Intermediate Rail Bogie (for intermediate rail 
bogies 2). The forklift attachment 10 can be used to pick a rail bogie 2,3 
off the railroad track or yard and can place the rail bogie 2,3 back on 
the tracks or in the yard. An advantage of the forklift attachment 10 is 
that it allows a terminal operator the convenience of using one main 
vehicle 1 to move the trailers or the bogies. The cost of a forklift that 
has the size necessary to move the bogies is very large. The forklift must 
be able to pick up and carry 19,000 pounds (the typical weight of an end 
rail bogie 3) at a distance of 50 inches out away from the mast of the 
forklift. Furthermore, some type of tractor is always necessary to move 
the trailers onto and off the track line, normally a yard or hostler 
tractor. Therefore, it is cost effective to use the vehicle 1 to move the 
bogies as well as the trailers. The forklift attachment 10 is designed to 
couple to the yard tractors fifth wheel plate. The forklift attachment 10 
is designed so the lifting arms 26,27 can be lowered to the ground, using 
them for a "parking stand" when the yard truck is separated from it. A 
counter weight is preferably included inside the terminal ends 17,18 of 
the arm members 13,14 so that the forklift attachment 10 will not 
"nosedive" when parked on the lifting arms 26,27. The trailing ability, 
and the load suspension of the forklift attachment 10 gives the operator a 
much greater moving speed, especially on the longer distant moves between 
tracks and/or yards. The load is centered between the wheels 19,20 of the 
forklift attachment 10, and the yard truck 1 giving a much more stable 
ride than when the rail bogie is being overhung on the fork of a forklift. 
To explain the design of the lifting arms 26,27 of the forklift attachment 
10, it is necessary to know how rail bogies 2,3 are built regarding the 
relationship of its main body to the axles and suspension. With particular 
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body of either of the rail bogies 2,3 
is set onto the axle journals or bearing mounted on the axles 4,5, being 
separated by a spring suspension system. The axles 4,5 are designed to 
accept the load from the top only, and are not designed to have any 
loading from the bottom. The axles 4,5 are kept in place by a retainer or 
ear bolted under each end of each axle. These ears can be easily broken 
off if the rail bogies are handled improperly. Also, if improperly 
handled, the coil spring suspension mounted between the main body of the 
bogie and journal housing can be cocked out of position, causing broken 
coil springs. The bogies have a pan 6 that is mounted between the two 
axles, several inches lower than the axles. Since this pan 6 is part of 
the main body of the bogie, lifting on it will also result in improper 
lifting on the suspension and axles of the bogie which can break the 
retainer ears or cock the springs. Therefore, proper lifting must be done 
on the axle/wheel assemblies 4,5 only. 
With particular reference to FIGS. 11a-g, the lifting arms are designed 
with the bend in them to allow the lifting arms to be slid and rotated 
under the above mentioned pan 6 section of the bogie. Upon reaching proper 
placement, the fork will be in position to lift on the front and rear 
axles 4,5 of the bogie, without coming into contact with the above 
mentioned pan 6 section. The distal ends of the lifting arms are designed 
to allow proper placement under the rail bogie outer axle 5. The notched 
portions 36 are designed to cradle the inner axle 4 of the rail bogie. The 
angled portions are formed on the ramps so the lifting arms 26,27 can be 
slid easily under the axle 4. The lifting devices control the lifting of 
the lifting arms while the tilting devices control the tilt of the lifting 
arms (as illustrated in sequence in FIGS. 11d-g where second portions of 
the lifting arms are tilted from a horizontal position in FIG. 11d to a 
tilted position in FIG. 11g) 
The end rail bogie 3 has a large counterweight that protrudes out from the 
end of the end rail bogie 3, which is picked up by the forklift attachment 
10. Because of the clearance issue and position of the counterweight, the 
two fork assemblies cannot have a mechanical link between them. For this 
reason the lifting arms 26,27 are protruded out away from the main frame 
of the forklift attachment 10 by the lower arm and upper cylinder. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.