Abstract The invention concerns a vehicle for the transport of heavy objects or loads and combines in itself the properties of the known U-frame trucks and the straddle carriers. The vehicle has a frame comprising two vertical frame sides connnected at their upper forward ends by a transverse frame member, preferably supporting the driver''s cabin. A lifting frame capable of being hoisted and lowered parallel with itself and to be tilted about its rear ends is formed of two longitudinal parallel lifting beams supporting the load, which lifting beams are pivotally mounted in a vertical guide of the frame at their rear ends and connected with each other at their forward ends by a yoke having a transverse portion at about the same level as the transverse frame member when the lifting frame is in its lowermost position. Loads projecting outside the forward and rear ends of the vehicle can be picked up by the lifting beams as well as other loads like bins, which can be locked onto the lifting beams and tipped rearwards for dumping.
A straddle vehicle for the transport of heavy load carriers and elongated articles characterized in that the vehicle frame consists of two frame sides which at their forward ends only are rigidly connected with each other by a transverse frame portion supporting a driver''s cabin and situated at a level above the ground which preferably is approximately equal to the space between the frame sides to define an open front end capable of receiving elongated articles greater in length than the vehicle and that a U-shaped lifting frame is mounted between the frame sides and is operable by lifting means such as hydraulic cylinders for hoisting and lowering and for swinging about its rear end, the legs of the U-shaped lifting frame forming a lifting beam including opposed shelves for supporting the loaded object and having at their forward ends essentially vertical side standards rigidly connected together at their upper ends by a transverse intermediate member at about the same level as the transverse portion of the vehicle frame when the lifting frame is in its lowermost position, said vehicle being adapted to be driven by a driving motor placed in one of the vehicle''s frame sides and said vehicle further including a pair of opposed steering wheels and a pair of opposed supporting wheels, said steering wheels being individually adjustable to positions tangential to a circle drawn from a point midway between said support wheels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A straddle vehicle for the transport of heavy load carriers and elongated articles characterized in that the vehicle frame consists of two frame sides which at their forward ends only are rigidly connected with each other by a transverse frame portion supporting a driver''s cabin and situated at a level above the ground which preferably is approximately equal to the space between the frame sides to define an open front end capable of receiving elongated articles greater in length than the vehicle and that a U-shaped lifting frame is mounted between the frame sides and is operable by lifting means such as hydraulic cylinders for hoisting and lowering and for swinging about its rear end, the legs of the U-shaped lifting frame forming a lifting beam including opposed shelves for supporting the loaded object and having at their forward ends essentially vertical side standards rigidly connected together at their upper ends by a transverse intermediate member at about the same level as the transverse portion of the vehicle frame when the lifting frame is in its lowermost position, said vehicle being adapted to be driven by a driving motor placed in one of the vehicle''s frame sides and said vehicle further including a pair of opposed steering wheels and a pair of opposed supporting wheels, said steering wheels being individually adjustable to positions tangential to a circle drawn from a point midway between said support wheels.