Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~06704~
This invention relates generally to the pallet truck art, and
more particularly, to a pallet truck which may be used in conjunction
with a fork lift truck for moving palleted loads safely and methodically
from one work level to another, and then can move cargo about on that
work level, whereas a fork lift truck alone can only reach the first three
or four foot edge of any elevated work level.
Most large business establishments have truck docks or
truck wells to permit the movement of fork lift trucks and pallet trucks
directly into a truck or van trailer for loading and unloading palleted
loads. However, there are thousands of small business establishments
which ship and receive palletized material which do not have a truck dock
or truck well. The last mentioned small businesses are at a disadvan-
tage in that~they cannot drive fork trucks or move pallet trucks into
trucks or van trailers to load or unload the same, whereby the cost of
such loading or unloading operations is increased for such bu~iness es-
tablishments. Under the last mentioned circumstances in order to un-
load~palleted loads it is necessary to employ some means for dragging
the palleted loads to the rear end of the truck or van trailer, as by
means of a pull chain apparatus or the like, so that the load can be reach-
20 ed and picked up on the fork tines of a fork lift truck. The last mentioned
unloading system is time-consuming, costly and hazardous. When a truck
dock or truck well is not available, a loading operation is usually carried
out by using a fork lift truck to move a first loaded pallet into a truck or
van trailer by pushing a second loaded pallet against the first loaded
pallet, and so forth. This me thod of loading a pallet is unsafe, and
usually only works for loading approximately the rear 12 to 15 feet of a
long van trailer. Another unsafe method involves the use of long timbers
to push a loaded pallei into a truck or van trailer.
1967044
Heretofore, pallet trucks have been used to load and un-
load trucks or long van trailers, but the use of a pallet truck in a truck
or van trailer has proven dangerous, because of the necessary
"jockeying" of the pallets inwardly from the back edge of the truck or
van trailer so that they can be picked up by the prior art type pallet
trucks. Heretofore, the prior art type pallet trucks have been used to
unload palleted loads from the front end of the trucks and van trailers,
but this type of operation is hazardous, especially when inching the
palleted loads to the proper position at the rear edge of the truck or
van trailer to permit a fork lift truck to pick up the palleted load. If
palleted loads were too wide to turn around in the width of a van, the
prior art trucks were practically no help at all. In the past, under
such circumstances, many injuries to personnel have occurred due to
pallet trucks (and/or palleted loads) falling off trucks or van trailers.
In view of the foregoing, it is an important object of the
present invention to provide a novel and improved pallet truck which
overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of loading and unloading
trucks and van trailers with the prior art pallet trucks, and where no
truck docks or truck wells are provided, and still does all conventional
20 pallet-moving work as wellO
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
novel and improved pallet truck which can be used in conjunction with a
fork truck for quickly, economically and safely loading and unloading
palleted loads from a truck or van trailer without the use of a truck
dock or truck well.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved pallet truck which is constructed and arranged to
allow the insertion of the fork tines of a fork lift truck into the forks of
3Lo67(~44
the pallet truck, whereby the pallet truck with a palleted load thereon
may be lifted from one work level to another, without the aid or use of
ramp or elevator.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved pallet truck which is provided with hollow forks,
and retainer loop means at the rear end of each of the hollow forks to
prevent the pallet truck and load from tipping off the forks if the fork
tines are short or not fully insertedl whereby the fork tines of a fork
liM truck may be inserted through the retainer loop means and into the
10 hollow pallet truck forks, and the pallet truck may be lifted with or with-
out a 1 oad thereon ald quickly and safely moved from one work level to
another, as, for example, from the ground level up into a truck or van
trailer~ The last mentioned action may be reversed for unloading pallet-
ed loads from a truck or van trailer,
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved pallet truck in which the forks are each provided
on their lower side with a channel member for the reception of the fork
tines of a fork lift truck to permit lifting of the pallet truck by the fork
lift truck, either with or without a palleted load, and to move the pallet
20 truck between various work levels in a quick, efficient and economical
manner, and with the channel member being provided with retainer means
for retaining the fork lift truck fork tines in the channel members.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel
and improved pallet truck which has two forks constructed and arranged
to permit the insertion from the front end thereof of the fork tines of a
fork li~ truclc for ]ifting Oe the pallet truck, for moving the same between
different work levels and between different work areas.
~067044
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a novel and improved pallet truck which is provided with fork tines on
the forks thereof for raising a non-palletiæed load, for the insertion of
timbers and the like thereunder, to permit the subsequent insertion of
the pallet forks under the load for raising and moving the same.
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims,
and the accompanying drawings,.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a pallet truck illuS-
trating a first embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is the same view as Fig. 1, but showing the pallet
truck wheels moved to the down position to permit movement of the truck
with pallet,
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of the
pallet truck structure shown in Fig. ~, taken substantially along the
line 3-3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the a~rows.
Fig. 4 is an elevational section view of the pallet truck
structure ill,ustrated in Fig, 2, taken substantially along the line 4-4
20 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig, 4A is an elevational section view of a modified pallet
truck fork that may be employed in the first embodiment illustrated in
Fig. 1, taken along the line 4A-4A of Fig~ 1, and looking in the direc-
tion of the arrows,
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, rear end elevational view,
l)artly in section, of the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig. 2,
taken along the line 5-5 thereof, and looking in the direction of the
arrow s .
10~i7Q44
Fig. SA is a view similar to Fig. 5, and showing a
modified loop structure for retaining a set of fork lift truck tines
in position under a pallet truck,
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, front end elevational view s~f
the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig, 2, taken along the line
6-6 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows,
Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a pallet truck
illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 8 is the same view as Fig. 7, but showing the pallet
truck wheels moved to the down position, thus raising a pallet off the
floor, to permit movement of the truck,
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of the
pallet truck structure shown in Fig. 8, taken substantially along the
line 9-9 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. lD is an elevational section view of the pallet truck
structure illustrated in Fig" 8, taken substantially along the line
10-10 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, rear end elevational view,
partly in section, of the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig. 8,
taken along the line 11-11 thereof, and looking in the direction of the
arrows.
Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, front end elevational view of
the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig, 8, taken along the line
12-12 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 13 is a bottom perspective view of a pallet truck
illustrating a third embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 14 is the same view as Fig. 13, l~ut sl~owing the
pallet truck wheels moved to the down position thus raising a pallet
~067(}~4
off the floor to permit movement of the truck.
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of a
pallet truck structure shown in Fig. 14, taken substantially along the
line 15-15 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 16 is an elevational section view of the pallet
truck structure shown in Fig. 14, taken substantially along the line
16-16 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 17 is afragmentary, rear end elevational view,
partly in section, of the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig. 14,
taken along the line 17~17 thereof, and looking in the direction of the
arrows.
Fig. 18 is a fragmentary, front end elevational view of
the pallet truck structure illustrated in Fig. 14, taken along the line
18-18 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
Fig. 19 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of the
pallet fork structure shown in Fig~ 3, and provided with a first type
of loose add-on type fork tine.
Fig, 2 0 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a pallet truck
fork provided with a second type of fork tine.
Fig. 21 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the
pallet truck fork and fork tine structure illustrated in Fig. 20, taken
along the line 21-21 thereof, and looking in thedirection of the arrows.
Fig, 22 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pallet truck
fork provided with a third type of fork tine.
Fig. 23 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the
pallet truck fork and fork tine structure illustrated in Fig, 22, taken
along the line 23~23 thereof, and looking iZI tlle directivn ol` the arrows.
-6--
~10~7044
Fig. 24 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the rear
end of a pallet truck fork of the type shown in Figs~ 13 through 18, and
showing a modified fork tine retainer means.
Fig. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pallet
truck structure of Figs. 13 through 18, and showing a modified fork
tine retainer means.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Fig, 1,
wherein is illustrated a first embodiment of the invention, the nun~erals
10 and 11 generally designate the pallet truck forks, The pallet truck
forks 10 and 11 are laterally spaced apart and they are not inter -
connected at their front ends, but they are interconnected at their rear
ends by a transverse, formed section frame member 12. A yoke or
frame, generally indicated by the numeral 13, is fixedly mounted
across the rear end of the forks 10 and 11, The forks 10 and 11 are
identically constructed, and fork 10 will be described in detail and the
same reference numeral will be applied to fork 11.
As shown in Fig. 3, the pallet truck fork 10 comprises an
elongated flat top wall or plate 14 which has an integral front end or
nose portion 15 that tapers downwardly. As shown in Fig. 1, the fork
10 further includes an integral inner side vertical wall 16 and an in-
tegral outer side vertical side ~all 17. As shown in Fig. 4, the side-
walls 16 and 17 are integrally form~d with the top wall 14 so as to form
an elongated fork having an inverted channel shape cross section, The
sidewalls 16 and 17 extend forwardly along the sides of the front taper-
ed end. As shown in Fig. 3, the fork tapered front end is enclosed with
a front wall 19 and fitted with a skid ramp consisting of a tapered
bottom wall 18 and a rear wall 20. The front end enclosure walls 1~;,
19 and 20 may be fixedly secured in place by any suitable means, as
-7 -
~o67()44
welding,
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the fork 10 is rollably suppo~ted
at its forward end by a load roller 23. The load roller 23 is rotatably
mounted on a suitable shaft 24 between a pair of carrier arms 25 and
26. One end of the shaft 24 is operatively mounted on the lower end of
the carrier arm 25, and the other end is operatively mounted on the lower
end of the carrier arm 26. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the carrier
arms 25 and 26 are fixedly interconnected by a transverse, angular,
carrier bracket 27. As shown in Figs, 3 and 4, the front ends of the
carrier arms 25 and 26 are pivotally mounted on a suitable pivot pin 28
which has its ends operatively mounted on the front sidewalls 16 and 17,
The load roller 23 is adapted to be moved between the position shown
in Fig, 1 with the fork 10 in a lowered position, and the position shown
in Figs. 3 and 4 where the fork 10 is in a raised position for moving a
load.
As best seen in Fig, 3, the load roller 23 is moved between
the two positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by an elongated push rod 29.
As shown in Fig. 3, the front end of the push rod 29 is pivotally con-
nected to the upper ends of the carrier levers 25 and 26 by a suitable
push rod shaft 30, The rear end of the push rod 29 is pivotally mounted
by an eccentric pin 31 between the lower ends of a pair (Fig, 5) of push
rod operating levers 32. As shown in Fig. 3, the levers 32 extend up-
wardly through an opening 33 formed in the rear end of the fork top
plate 14. The push rod operating levers 32 are integrally attached at
their upper ends to a tubular shaft 34 which is pivotally mounted on a
horizontal lever shaft 35.
The yoke or frame member 13 includes a pair of laterally
spaced apart, upwardly extended side members 38 which have their
~067~44
lower ends secured by any suitable means, as by welding, to the forks
10 and 11. The lever shaft 35 has its ends operatively suppoxted by
the laterally spaced apart frame members 38. As shown in Figs, 1
and 3, a first intermediate lever 39 has one end thereof fixedly attached
by any suitable means, as by welding, to the tubular shaft 34. The
other end of the intermediate lever 39 is pivotally secured by a suit~
able trunnion pivot pin 40 to one side of a trunnion support member 41.
As illustrated in Fig~ 1, a second intermediate lever 39 is laterally
spaced apart from the first mentioned lever 39, and it is fastened, in
the same manner as the first lever 39, to the tubular shaft 34 and to the
other side of the trunnion support member 41.
The trunnion support member 41 is fixedly secured to a
pump mounted shaft 37 (Fig. 3) which carries a hydraulic pump, gener~
ally indicated by the numeral 43. A transverse wheel axle 44 is oper-
atively mounted on the lower end of the shaft 37 at a position below the
trunnion support member 41, A pair of laterally spaced apart steering
wheels 45 are operatively mounted on the wheel axle 44, The steering
wheels 45 may have tires made of any suitable material, as for example,
steel, rubber, polyurethane, and the like.
As shown in Fig. 1, a U-shaped guard member 46 is mount-
ed around the steering wheels 45 and/or pump 43, The legs of the U-
shaped guard member 46 are fixedly connected, as by welding" to the
transverse frame member 12, or they may be located higher onto the
yoke member 13 as shown in Fig. 24. The rear ends of the forks 10
and 11 are enclosed by a rear end wall 47.
As shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the pump cylinder rod
42 is operatively mounted in a suitable molmting brac~et 48. The
bracket 48 is attached, as by welding, to the frame members 38 and to
_g_
~067~
a pair of yoke reinforcements 21. The pallet truck is provided with
a suitable handle 49 which has its lower end operatively attached to
the pump operating lever 50. A three-position foot control pedal 53
controls the pump for up, down, and neutral operating conditions of the
pump 43.
As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, each of the forks 10 and 11
is provided with a fork truck fork tine loop shaped retainer member,
generally indicated by the numeral 54. As best seen in Fig. 5, each
of the fork tine retainer members 54 includes a transverse rod portion
55, to each of the outer ends of which is integrally formed an upwardly
extended carrier arm or rod portion 56. A mounting shaft 57 is in-
tegrally formed on the upper end of each of the carrier arms 56. The
mounting shafts 57 are fixedly mounted in suitable openings in the push
rod levers 32, as by welding, in a position above the push rod pins 31.
It will be seen that when the push rods 29 are in the position shown in
Fig. 1, the fork tine retainer members 54 are in a raised position,
as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and when the load rollers 23 are moved to
a position to raise the forks 10 and 11 to raise a load from the ground,
the fork tine r~ainer members 54 are moved downwardly to a posi-
20 tion to permit insertion therethrough of a fork truck fork tine,
Fig. 4A is an elevational, section view of a modified pallet
truck structure which may be employed in the structure of the first
embodiment described hereinbefore in Figs, 1 through 6. In the modi-
fied structure shown in Fig. 4A, a longitudinally extended angle bar 60
is fixedly mounted inside the fork lOa, on each side of the push rod 29.
The longitudinal angle bars 60 provide strength to the fork lOa and pro-
vide ledges or rests for a fork truck fork tine so that it does not touch
the push rod 29. The longitudinal angle bars 60 may be fixed in place
-10-
~)67~44
by any suitable means, as by welding. It will be understood that both
of the forks lOa and lla on a pallet truck would be provided with the
modified angle bar structure of Fig. 4A.
Fig. 5A is a view similar to Fig. 5 and it shows a modified
loop retainer structure for retaining a set of fork lift truck fork tines
in position under the forks lOa and lla. In the embodiment of Fig. 5A,
the retainer loop mounting shafts 57a are attached directly to the top
of tubular shaft 34. The inner mounting shafts 57a are attached, as by
welding, to tubular shaft 34a. The outer mounting shafts 57a are in-
tegrally connected by an elongated shaft 57a' which is attached to the
tubular shaft 34 by any suitable means, as by welding. The loop re-
tainers 54a would function in the same manner as the previously
described loop retainer members 54 of Fig. 5.
Figs. 1 through 6 illustrate the invention as being applied
to a manually operated hydraulic pallet jack, but it will be understood
that the invention is also applicable to electric-battery powered pallet
jacks or pallet movers, The hydraulic pump 43, the steering wheels
45, the load rollers 23 and the interconnecting structure for raising and
lowering the forks 10 and 11 are conventional pallet truck structures.
In use, assuming that the load rollers 23 are in the re-
tracted positlon shown in Fig. 1, the pallet truck may be moved so
as to insert the forks 1~ and 11 into a pallet. Pallets are normally of
a standard height/ although they may be made of various materials.
Wood pallets, for example, are usually constructed of cross boards
nailed to a 2 x 4 frame so as to provide an opening or cavity of about
3~5/8" for the insertion therein of the forks of a pallet truck or the
fork tines of a fork lift truck. After the pallet truck's Loïlss 10 all(l 11
are inserted into a pallet and control pedal 53 is actuated, the pressure
l067a44
in the hydraulic jaclc 43is raised by moving the handle 49 upwardly
and downwardly in a pumplike action. As the pressure in the pump 43
is built up, the pump cylinder rod 42 is moved upwardly out of the pump
cylinder and the rear end of the f rame 13 is lifted upwardly.
As the pump cylinder rod 42 raises the rear end of the
frame 13, the intermediate levers 39 are pivoted upwardly about the
trunnion pivot pins 40 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in
Fig. 3. The counterclockwise, upward rotatitin of the intermediate
levers 39 causes the tubular shaft 34 to be rotated also in a counter-
clockwis-e direction, which in turn rotates the push rod levers 32 in a
counterclockwise direction so as to move the lower ends thereof for-
wardly, as viewed in Fig, 3. The forward movement of the lower
ends of the levers 32 moves the push rods 29 forwardly which results
in the load rollers 23 being moved downwardly. As shown in Fig. 3,
the forward ends of the push rods 29 rotate the carrier levers 25 and
26 clockwise about the pivot shafts 28, so as to move the load rollers
23 downwardly from their respective fork,
The last described action elevates the forks 10 and 11 up-
wardly for a distance of approximately 4-l/2'1 to 5-1/2't. It can be
seen that the direct pump action working with the last described levers
and push rods causes the entire frame 13 and the forks 10 and 11 of
the pallet jack to rise upwardly in an even manner. When the force on
the push rods 29 is relieved, gravity causes the load rollers 23 to
pivot back upwardly, to thus lower the forks 10 and 11. Normally, the
lowered forks 10 and 11 are 2-1/4" to a maximum height of about
3-3/~3" from the groul-d surracc, so th~t most truclc -rorlcs c~n p~ss
freely into a conventional pallet" It will be understood that when the
pallet truck frame 13 and forks 10 and 11 are in the raised position shown
- 1 2
1067C~44
in Fig. 3, that a pallet load on the forks lû and 11 may be moved
about on the tricycle type wheel roller structure of the pallet truck,
As shown in Fig. 1, when the pump pressure is off, l;he
bar loops or fork tine retainers 54 are raised to a position above the
bottom clearance of the frame and forks of the pallet truck, The bar
loops 54 are disposed on each side of the two pump or steering wheels
45, and in a position slightly ahead thereof, The pump wheels 45 are
normally about 7" in diameter, As the pump's cylinder pressure is
increased, the ends of the intermediate levers 39 that are attached to
shaft 34 are swung upwardly, the carrier levers 25 and 26 are swung
about shafts 28, causing shafts 30 to be moved forwardly, as viewed
in Fig, 3, thus forcing the carrier levers 25 and 26 and wheels 23
downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. The bar loops 54 are also
pivoted downwardly so that each of the loop openings swings beneath
and directly behind the forks 10 and 11, thus creating a pair of open-
ings for the insertion of a pair of fork lift tines. Accordingly, it will
be seen that the loop bar retaining means 54 surrounds a fork lift tine
and prevents movement of the same in any direction. The bottoms of
the pallet jack forks 10 and 11 prevent upward fork tine pivoting action~
After the pallet truck has had its forks 10 and 11 moved
into a pallet and thèload wheels 23 lowered, foot pedal 53 is moved
to the neutral position, and the palleted load can be moved to a new
position. The handle 49 is moved to the vertical position so as to per-
mit a fork lift truck to be engaged with the forks 10 and 11. If the
pallet truck is provided with a conventional hand brake system, then
the steering wheels 45 are locked with the hand brake system. The
fork lift truck is positioned in alignment with the pallet truck, and with
its fork tines laterally disposed and vertically disposed so that they can
-13-
1067Q44
be moved forward through the loop bars 54 and underneath the hollow
forks 10 and 11, The pallet truck with its palleted load thereon can
then be lifted upwardly by the fork liIt truck and moved to any desired
new position, The pallet truck with its palleted load can be lifted from
ground level upwardly and disposed in a truck or van trailer, The fork
lift truck can then back away from the pallet truck and the operator
can move the pallet truck for~ardly and the palleted load thereon into
a desired position in the truck or van trailer.
A pallet jack normally is able to raise about 5" about its
normal road or Eloor clearance of approximately 1~ to l-lt2ll~ and the
bar loops 45 swing down 2" to 2-1/2". Accordingly, there is still ample
road clearance for passing over rough or uneven surface areas with the
frame and forks 10 and 11 moved upwardly in a raised position.
The side bars 61 and 62 shown in Fig. 1 can be employed
to maintain the tips of the fork lift tines directly under the pallet
forks 10 and 11, Additional vertical bars or fences could be added to
the fork edges, directly behind the front wheel pivot shafts 28 pro-
vided they do not interfere with the road clearance of the forks 10 and
11 when the pallet truck is moved about in a lowered positiQn.
Figs. 7 through 12 illustrate a second embodiment of the
invention, and the parts of this embodiment which are the same as
parts of the first embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6 have been marked
with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter "b".
In the embodiment of Figs. 7 through 12, the push rod 29 has been
changed to an elongated channel, generally designated by the reference
numeral 29b. As illustrated in Fig. 10, each of the push rod channels
29b includes an upper horizontal wall 65 and a pair of spaced apart
-14-
1067C14~
depending side walls 66. The push rod channels 29b thus comprise
a pair of inverted elongated channel members.
As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the front ends of the channel
walls 66b of a push rod channel 29b are converged inwardly, as indicated
by the numerals 66b, so as to be disp~sed inside of the load roller car-
rier levers 25b and 26b. The push rod channel wall converged portions
66b are hingedly connected to the adjacent carrier levers 25b and 26b
by a suitable pivot shaft 30b, as illustrated in Fig. 9.
As shown in Fig. 11, each push channel 29b is provided
10 at its rear end with a pair of upwardly extended support brackets 67
which are secured in place by any suitable means, as by welding. The
support brackets 67 are each pivot~lly secured by a suitable pivot pin
68 to the lower end of one of the push rod actuating levers 32b. As
shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9J each of the push channel members 29b is
provided at the rear end thereof with an upwardly extended portion, gen-
erally indicated by the numeral 69, to provide easy access by a fork
lift tine into each of the push rod channels 29b. As shown in Figs. 7
through 9, each of the push rod channels 29b is provided at the rear
end thereof with a fork lift tine retainer means, in the form of a cross
20 bracket, generally indicated by the numeral 70. The retainer bracket
70 comprises a short length of channel which is fixed to its respective
push rod channel 29b by any suitable means as by welding.
The embodiment of Figs. 7 through 12 functions in the same
manner as first described in the first embodiment. When the pump
43b is operated, the pump cylinder rod 42b elevates the rear end of
the pallet truck frame, and operates the leve~3; 39b and 32b, in the
same manner as described for the first embodiment. The push rod
channel 29b is then moved forwardly to pivot the load rollers 23b from
-15-
~067(~44
the raised position shown in Fig. 7 to the lowered position ghown in
I?ig. 8. The upwardly angled channel portion 69 permits easy in-
sertion of a pair of fork lift tines into the push rod channels 29b, and
the retainer cross member 70 prevents a loaded pallet jack from
tipping off of the front end of a pair of fork lift tines~ The advantage
of the embodiment of Figs. 7 through 12 is that a pair of fork lift
tines can be inserted into the push rod channels 29b when the pallet
forks lOb and llb are either in an "up" position, or a "down" position.
This last mentioned feature is important in situations where it is
10 necessary to move tall loaded pallets into limited openings, such as
truck vans or van trailers with double decking equipment in place.
Figs. 13 through 18 illustrate a third embodiment of the
invention, and the parts of this embodiment which are the same as the
parts of the first embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6, and the parts of the
second embodiment of Figs. 7 through 12, have been marked with the
same reference numerals followed by the small letter "c". The em-
bodiment of Figs. 13 through 18 is substantially the same as the
second embodiment, with one difference being that the front end of the
channel type push rod member 29c does not have its front walls conver-
20 ging, so that the fork tines of a fork lift truck may be inserted into thefront end of the push rod channels 29c. As shown in Figs, 15 and 18,
the front end of each of forks lOc and llc have been left open to pro-
vide an opening 71 through which a pair of fork lift tines may be in-
serted. The fork lift tines would pass through the openings 71 and
above the pivot shafts 28 and into the elongated push rod channels 29c
when the load rollers 23c are in the ~owered position of Fig. 8,
Another difference between the embodiment of Figs, 7
through 12 and the third embodiment of Figs, 13 th~ough 18 is that the
-16-
l067a44
retainer cross bracket means 70 has been replaced by a spring
mounted retainer means generally indicated by the numeral 72, As
best seen in Figs. 14 and 17, the fork lift tine retainer means 72 is
U-shaped, and it ismadefrom a rod material. It has a bight portion
73 and two integral and upwardly extended side leg portions 74. The
side leg portions 74 of the retainer means 72 are slidably mounted
through suitable openings in retainer lugs 75 fixedly mounted on the
outer side of the push rod channel side walls 66c. A compression
spring 76 is mounted iover the upper end of each of the side leg por-
tions 74 and it is retained in place on the lug 75 by a suitable lock nut
77. It will be seen that the retainer means 72 functions in the same
manner as the retainer means 70 of the second embodiment, and the
retainer means 54 of the first embodiment, when a lift fork tine is
inserted into a push rod channel 29c from the rear end thereof. The
fork lift tine retainer member means 72 are constructed so as to be
moved downwardly during the insertion of a pair of fork lift tines into
the forks lOc and llc, and then to be spring biased upwardly with the
bight portion 73 against the lower side of the fork lift tines when they
are in position in the forks lOc and llc,
The embodiment of Figs. 13 through 18 functions in the
same manner as the first described embodiments of Figs. 1 through
7, and Figs. 8 through 12. The push rod channel members 29c would
function in the same manner as the push rod channel members 29b of
the second embodiment for moving the load rollers 23c between the
raised position of Fig. 13 and the lowered position of Fig. 14. A pair
o forlc lift tines may be passed through the openings 71 in the front
ends of the forks lOc and llc when the load rollers 23c are moved to
the lowered position shown in Fig. 14. To accommodate the fork tines
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entering through the front openings 71, and to permit the fork tines
to pass sufficiently inside channels 29c to prevent tipping of the pallet
truck, the one-piece pivot pin 30 is replaced by two short pins 30c
in each, of the forks lOc and llc. A pair of fork lift tines may be
entered into the forks lOc and llc from the rear ends thereof~ regard-
less of whether the load rollers 23c are in the raised position of Fig,
13 or the lowered position of Fig. 14.
~ ig. 19 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein
a detachable fork tine is shown mounted on a pallet truck fork lOd. The
parts of the structure of Fig. 19 which are the same as the previously
described en1bodiments have been marked with the same reference
numerals followed by the small letter "d'l.
As shown in Fig. 19, an opening 80 has been formed in the
upper wall 14d A detachably mounted tine, generally indicated by the
numeral 78, is shown as having an elongated flat plate or body member
81 that is disposed on the front end of the fork lOd. An integrally
formed L-shaped retainer lug 82 is formed on the rear end of the plate
81 and it is extended down into the opening 80, and it has a portion
thereof extended under the fork plate 14d for retaining the fork tine on
20 the fork 14d and to limit rearward movement of tine 78, A second lug
79 is fixed, as by welding, on the body member 81 and it extends into
the hole 80 to limit forward and side shifting movement of tine 78.
IntegraIly formed on the front end of the plate 81, and at right angles
thereto, is a downwardly extended attachment arm 83 which has integ-
rally formed on the lower end thereof a forwardly extended fork lift
tine 84.
It will be seen that a pallet truck provided with a fork tine
78 on each of its forks may be moved forwardly so as to ram the fork
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tine 84 under an unpalletized cargo stack sitting on the floor or other
surface. After the fork tines 84 have been moved under the cargo
stack, the pallet truck can be pumped ~so~3tomove the load rollers
23d to the position shown in Fig. 19, to raise the cargo stack so that a
timber or the like may be put under the stack, to permit the subsequent
insertion of the pallet truck forks per se under the cargo stack for
ràiSing and moving the same,
Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate a second type of fork lift tine
which may be added to the forks of a pallet truck of the present inven-
ion. The parts of the structure of Figs. 20 and 21 which are the same
as the previously described embodiments have been marked with the
same reference numerals followed by the small letter ~e". The num-
eral 85 generally indicates a pivotally mounted fork tine, which in-
cludes a fork tine member 86 that is carried on a pair of side lever
arms 87 which are rotatably mounted on a suitable shaft 88 carried on
a pallet fork lOe. The fork tine member 86 is a plate-like member
having a fork-like edge, as shown in Fig. 21. The side lever arms 87
are 'IL'! shaped, and they have one end thereof fixed, as by welding,
to the outer sides of the plate-like fork tine member 86. The other
ends of the side lever arms 87 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 88
which is carried by the fork lOe. As shown in Fig. 20, the side lever
arms 87 are disposed on the outer sides of the front ends of the fork side
walls 16e and 17e, which are disposed sideward inwardly relative to the
rear end portions thereof. The numeral 83 indicates an opening through
the fork top wall 14e. The fork tine 85 is shown in solid lines in the
inoperative l)ositiorl so th.lt ll~e rork tine member 8fi is foldecl lnack
on the lowered portion 14e of the top wall of the fork lOe. The fork tine
85 can be swung from the inoperative, solid line position shown in
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Figs. 20 and 21, to the broken line operative position, indicated by the
numerals 86e. As shown in Fig. 20, the pallet truck fork lOe has the
lower, front end wall 18e extended laterally outward, on either side
thereof, tb provide a support platform on which the side lever arms 87
are seated when the fork tine 85 is swung to the operative, broken
line position indicated by the numeral 86e. The added fork tine shown
in Figs. 20 and 21 would function in the same manner as the added fork
tine of Fig. 19. An advantage of the fork tine illustrated in Figs. 20 and
21 is that it is self-storing.
Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate still another fork tine which may
be employed on the fork of a pallet truck of the present invention. The
parts of the structure of Figs. 22 and 23 which are the same as the
previously described embodiments have been marked with the same r ef-
erence numerals followed by the small letter "f"~ The numeral 89 gen-
erally indicates a fork tine which can be swung from the self-storing,
inoperative, solid-line position, to an operative position indicated by the
numeral 89e and shown in broken lines. As best seen in Fig, 23, the
pallet truck fork is indicated by the numeral lOf, and it is provided with
an opening 90 through the top wall 14f, adjacent the front end thereof.
20 The opening 90 communicates with a recess 91 that extends longitudin-
ally and axially through the fork lOf to the front end of the fork. The
fork tine 89 is adapted to be rotatably mounted within the slot 91 on a
suitable pivot shaft 92 that is carried by the fork lOf. The fork tine 89
includes a body portion 93 and a tine portion 94. The fork tine 89 is
shown in an inoperative position by the solid lines in Figs. 22 and 23,
and in the operative position by the broken-lines indicated by the numeral
89f. The fork tine illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23 is of a narrower con-
struction than the fork tine embodiment of Figs. 20 and 21, but it
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functions in the same manner as the previously described embodiment
of Figs. 20 and 21.
Fig. 24 illustrates a slight modification of the embodiment
of Figs. 13 through 18. The parts of the structure of Fig. 24 which are
the same as the previously described embodiments have been marked
with the same reference numerals followed by the small letter "g".
Fig. 24 shows the fork tine retainer means 72g repositioned in a differ~
ent place on the push rod channel member. As shown in Fig. 24 the
upper end, of the push rod channel upwardly tapered rear end portion
69g, is enclosed by a horizontal plate 95 through which the retainer side
leg portions 74g are slidably mounted. The retainer side leg portions
74g have -Imounted on the upper ends thereof the coil springs 76g which
are held in place by suitable lock nuts 77g. It will be understood that
when a fork lift tine is passed through the retainer means 72g, that the
retainer means 72g would be moved downwardly to the broken line posi~
tion, After the fork lift tines are fully inserted into the forks of a
pallet truckJ the springs 76g function to bias the retainer means 72g
upwardly into engagement with the bottom of the fork lift tines.
Fig. 25 shows a further minor modification of the embodi~
ment of Figs. 13 through 1~. In the structure shown in Fig, 25, the
fork lift tine retainer members are swingably mounted, instead of be-
ing spring biased in an upward direction. The fork lift tine retainer
members shown in Fig. 25 are generally indicated by the numeral 96,
and they are U-shaped in an elevation view. Each of the fork lift tine re-
tainer means 96 includes a bight portion 97, and two upwardly extended
side leg portions 98 which are provided on their upper ends with turned-
in mounting shafts 99. The shafts 9'J are pivotally mounted in suital~le
holes in the side walls of the push rod channels 29h. It will be seen that
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the retainer means 96 are each swingably mounted so that they will
automatically swing away to a position to clear the ground or other
surface when the pallet truck is in the lowered position shown in
Fig. 13, and yet will swing downwardly to permit a fork lift tine to
pass therethrough, when the pallet truck is in the raised position of
Fig. 14, The retainer means 96 could be spring biased to have them
held rearward (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 25), until needed.
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments
of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the
~1) objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is sus-
ceptible to modification, variation and change.
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