Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150368081A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-07-16 18:00:25
Document Index: 233796221

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 33', 'art 35', 'art 34', 'arts 34', 'art 34', 'art 34', 'art 35', 'art 35', 'art.\n6', 'art.\n7', 'art.\n8']

US20150368081A1 - Lift truck and lifting member - Google Patents
US20150368081A1
US20150368081A1 US14765406 US201414765406A US2015368081A1 US 20150368081 A1 US20150368081 A1 US 20150368081A1 US 14765406 US14765406 US 14765406 US 201414765406 A US201414765406 A US 201414765406A US 2015368081 A1 US2015368081 A1 US 2015368081A1
US9845228B2 (en )
FIGS. 4A-D show respectively a top, perspective, side and bottom view of a separate body with weakened portion applicable in a lifting member according to the invention; and
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B in a first exemplary embodiment of a lifting member according to the invention, lifting member 1 comprises a relatively solid base part 2 having in a lying part 3 two open spaces in which two load cells 10,20 are provided as force sensor. At a proximal outer end the lifting member comprises on an upright part 4 a set of fastening hooks 5 with which the lifting member can be attached to lifting means of a lift truck, such as to a lifting board of a fork-lift truck. Load cell 10 on a distal outer end of base part 2 is coupled with a proximal outer end to the base part and supports thereon, while a distal outer end of load cell 10 protrudes from the base part and is coupled to a separate body 30. Separate body 30 comprises a deformation zone in the form of a set of recesses, as shown in detail in FIGS. 4A-4D. The separate body is fixed to a shell part by means of fixing means, for instance a number of fixing bolts, and via a further body 40.
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show in more detail a separate body 30 with deformation zone which is particularly suitable for application in a lifting member with force sensors for the purpose of thereby realizing an accurate measurement result. Separate body 30 comprises a deformation zone in the form of a set of grooves 31,32 which are parallel but run in opposite directions and which enable a displacement of a part of body 34 distally of the deformation zone relative to a part of body 35 proximally of the deformation zone in the longitudinal direction. The grooves extend here beyond a centre line in the longitudinal direction of the body so that a bridging part 33 between proximal part 35 and distal part 34 of the body forms only a vertical connection between parts 34,35. In the case of loads other than a purely vertical load on distal part 34, the deformation zone will deform from a rest state to a deformed state and here absorb the other than purely vertical force. Distal part 34 will here diverge relative to proximal part 35 on a side with groove 31 and be compressed relative to proximal part 35 on a side with groove 32. Because grooves 31,32 extend in body 30 in a width direction, transversely of the longitudinal direction of the lifting member, separate body 30 is relatively rigid in width direction. Body 30 is hereby well able to withstand lateral forces unexpectedly exerted on the lifting member, such as when the lifting member strikes an obstacle. Because of the grooves the separate body is nevertheless able and configured to deform in the longitudinal direction in order to prevent the occurrence of possible tensile and shear forces in the load cells. The separate body is manufactured from metal, for instance steel, and is therefore wear-resistant. Despite the usually great forces associated with the lifting of a cargo, for instance in the case of a fork-lift truck or pallet truck, the lifting member can thus be utilized in reliable manner for a long period of time to perform an accurate weight measurement of cargo.
1. Lift truck with a lifting device comprising at least one lifting member provided with lifting means for adjusting the lifting member in height direction, wherein the lifting member comprises a shell part lying over a base part and having a surface for receiving a cargo thereon, and wherein the shell part supports from a pressure point on the base part via an electronic force sensor, this force sensor being able and configured to determine a vertical load on the shell part and to generate an electronic signal as measure thereof, and comprising for this purpose pressure and/or strain-sensitive sensor means, wherein in a longitudinal direction of the lifting member directed transversely of the vertical load there is provided between the sensor means and the pressure point a mechanical deformation zone which is able and configured to deform in at least substantially wholly elastic manner, under the influence of a force effect exerted thereon in the longitudinal direction, from a rest state to a state deformed in the longitudinal direction.
2. Lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting member comprises a body part distally of the sensor means, between the shell part and the base part, which is coupled functionally to the sensor means and the shell part and comprises the deformation zone.
3. Lift truck as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body part comprises as deformation zone a weakened portion over at least substantially a full width which allows an at least partial displacement in the longitudinal direction of a portion of the body part coupled to the shell part distally of the weakened portion relative to a portion of the body part coupled to the sensor means proximally of the weakened portion.
4. Lift truck as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weakened portion comprises a recess in the body part which extends from a side of the body part directed toward the shell part in a height direction of the vertical load.
5. Lift truck as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weakened portion comprises adjacently of the recess a further recess in opposite direction in the body part which extends in height direction from a side of the body part directed toward the base part.
6. Lift truck as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recess and the further recess extend beyond a centre line in the longitudinal direction of the body part.
7. Lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the body part distally of the deformation zone is fixed with fixing means to the shell part.
8. Lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprise a strain gauge which is provided in the force sensor and determines a mechanical deformation in the force sensor.
9. Lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body part is a part of a separate body which is coupled to the force sensor.
10. Lift truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body part with the weakened portion is integral with the force sensor.
11. Lifting member, in particular a lift fork or tine, as applied in a lift truck as claimed in claim 1.
US20150368081A1 true true US20150368081A1 (en) 2015-12-24
US9845228B2 US9845228B2 (en) 2017-12-19
DE9203796U1 (en) 1991-04-30 1992-05-21 Mettler-Toledo Ag, Greifensee, Ch
FR2727394B1 (en) * 1994-11-30 1997-02-14
FR2790463B1 (en) * 1999-03-02 2001-05-11 Balea Fork weigher for handling equipment
EP1666853A3 (en) 2001-07-11 2008-05-07 PM On Board Ltd. Device for weighing a load
US9845228B2 (en) 2017-12-19 grant
US7528329B2 (en) 2009-05-05 Weighing device with lift-and put down function