US3667564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transporting apparatus
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
•
Filing: 1970-11-04
•
Granted: 1972-06-06
•
Expires: 1990-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle from one of whose longitudinally spaced ends a lifting fork projects which is movable between a raised and a lowered position. A ground-engaging steering wheel is provided in the region of the other end of the vehicle and pivotable about an upright axis, and supporting wheels turnably mounted in the region of the fork and displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position. Auxiliary steering wheels are also provided in the region of the fork and displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position as well as pivotable about auxiliary upright axes. Means is provided for effecting displacement of the support wheels to, and at the same time of the auxiliary steering wheels from the respective ground-engaging position when the fork moves to raised position, and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Schnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:14
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B3/00; B62B3/04; B62B3/06; B62B3/0612; B62B3/001; B62B5/00; B62B5/0026; B62B5/0063; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0265; B62B3/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a transporting apparatus, in combination, a vehicle having longitudinally spaced ends; a load-supporting unit on said vehicle movable between a raised and a lowered position and projecting substantially horizontally from one of said ends, said unit having a terminal portion remote from said vehicle; a ground-engaging steering wheel provided in the region of the other of said ends and pivotable about an upright axis; supporting wheels turnably mounted in the region of said terminal portion and displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position; auxiliary steering wheels in the region of said one end also displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position and pivotable about respective auxiliary upright axes; and means for effecting displacement of said support wheels to, and of said auxiliary steering wheels from the respective ground-engaging position in responSe to movement of said unit to said raised position, and vice versa.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a transporting apparatus, in combination, a vehicle having longitudinally spaced ends; a load-supporting unit on said vehicle movable between a raised and a lowered position and projecting substantially horizontally from one of said ends, said unit having a terminal portion remote from said vehicle; a ground-engaging steering wheel provided in the region of the other of said ends and pivotable about an upright axis; supporting wheels turnably mounted in the region of said terminal portion and displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position; auxiliary steering wheels in the region of said one end also displaceable to and from a ground-engaging position and pivotable about respective auxiliary upright axes; and means for effecting displacement of said support wheels to, and of said auxiliary steering wheels from the respective ground-engaging position in responSe to movement of said unit to said raised position, and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising first prime mover means for driving said steering wheel in rotation; and second prime mover means for pivoting said steering wheel about said upright axis in a sense effecting steering of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 1, said vehicle having a longitudinal axis coincident with its direction of travel; and further comprising blocking means for blocking pivotal movement of said steering wheel about said upright axis and for maintaining said steering wheel in a position in which its axis of rotation extends transversely to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle, when said unit is in said lowered position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising first motor means for driving said steering wheel in rotation; and second motor means for pivoting said steering wheel about said axis when said unit is in said raised position whereby said vehicle is steered by said steering wheel, and for pivoting said auxiliary steering wheels about said auxiliary axes when said unit is in said lowered position whereby said vehicle is steered by said auxiliary steering wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 4, said second motor means comprising one steering motor operatively associated with said steering wheel, and an other steering motor operatively associated with said auxiliary steering wheels; and steering control means for controlling operation of said one motor when said unit is in said raised position, and for controlling operation of said other motor when said unit is in said lowered position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 4, said second motor means comprising a single steering motor; and further comprising coupling means for coupling said steering motor with said steering wheel and said auxiliary steering wheels, respectively, in dependence upon the position assumed by said unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising an elongated electrical conductor extending along and defining a predetermined path for said vehicle to follow; a source of alternate current connected with said conductor; and sensing means on said vehicle for sensing a magnetic field in said conductor, said sensing means being operative for controlling pivoting of the respective steering wheels in a sense causing said vehicle to follow said predetermined path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 7, said unit being a lifting fork having tines; and wherein said sensing means comprises a first sensing device in the region of said other end and operative for controlling pivoting of said steering wheel, and a second sensing device intermediate said tines and operative for controlling pivoting of said auxiliary steering wheels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 8, said sensing devices comprising sensing coils for sensing said magnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said load-supporting unit is a lifting fork having tines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 10, comprising an elongated support on said fork extending transversely thereto, pivot pins mounting said auxiliary steering wheels on said support longitudinally spaced thereon and for pivoting movement about said auxiliary upright axes, and linkage means linking said pivot pins and operative for effecting their simultaneous angular displacement in identical directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 11, said linkage means comprising a pair of levers each having one end rigid with one of said pivot pins, and an other end; and a cross-bar connecting said other ends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising steering motor means having a turnable shaft, and a linkage rod connected with said cross-bar And with said shaft for displacing the former in a sense effecting pivoting of said auxiliary steering wheels in response to turning of said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a transporting apparatus as defined in claim 13; further comprising a disk-shaped member carried by and turnable with said shaft, and a connecting pin projecting from said disk-shaped member; and wherein said linkage rod is connected with said connecting pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |