US3704800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic load carrier
Assignee: Acme Steel Co
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Filing: 1970-04-21
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic load carrier having a hydraulic powered lift platform, forks and horizontal drive includes variable proportional flow valves to variably control the flow of hydraulic power fluid to the lift platform, forks and drive to selectively and independently control the speed of each of these components. Velocity and acceleration means may be provided in one or more of the hydraulic circuits to limit the maximum velocity and acceleration, respectively, of the components and to prevent uncontrolled free fall of the lift platform.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Redelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B65G1/0421; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/07; F; F15; F15B; F15B11/00; F15B11/16; F15B2211/00; F15B2211/20; F15B2211/205; F15B2211/20507; F15B2211/20515; F15B2211/20523; F15B2211/30; F15B2211/305; F15B2211/30505; F15B2211/32; F15B2211/327; F15B2211/40; F15B2211/405; F15B2211/40515; F15B2211/415; F15B2211/41509; F15B2211/41527; F15B2211/455; F15B2211/46; F15B2211/50; F15B2211/505; F15B2211/50509; F15B2211/50518; F15B2211/50527; F15B2211/515; F15B2211/5153; F15B2211/60; F15B2211/665; F15B2211/6651; F15B2211/70; F15B2211/705; F15B2211/7051; F15B2211/7052; F15B2211/7058; F15B2211/75; F15B2211/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
In a load carrier for storing and retrieving articles in a storage installation, which includes a lift platform for effecting movement of the articles vertically, conveying means for effecting movement of the articles transverse of the load carrier and drive means for driving the load carrier in the horizontal, a fluid control arrangement comprising in combination therewith; a fluid pressure source, first, second and third fluid control circuits communicating with said fluid pressure source, said first fluid control circuit including first fluid motor means driving said lift platform for elevating the articles in the vertical and first proportional valve means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said first fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said first fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, said second fluid control circuit including second fluid motor means driving said conveying means for moving the articles transverse of the load carrier and second proportional valve means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said second fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said second fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, said third fluid control circuit including third motor means driving said drive means for moving the articles in the horizontal direction and third proportional valve means for variably controlling the Amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said third fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said third fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds velocity limiting means in at least some of said circuits independent of said proportional valve means of said some of said circuits for limiting the maximum velocity of at least some of said fluid motor means by restricting the flow of fluid between said motor means and said pressure source to an amount less than the maximum of said amount of flow of fluid otherwise permitted by said some of said circuits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
In a load carrier for storing and retrieving articles in a storage installation, which includes a lift platform for effecting movement of the articles vertically, conveying means for effecting movement of the articles transverse of the load carrier and drive means for driving the load carrier in the horizontal, a fluid control arrangement comprising in combination therewith; a fluid pressure source, first, second and third fluid control circuits communicating with said fluid pressure source, said first fluid control circuit including first fluid motor means driving said lift platform for elevating the articles in the vertical and first proportional valve means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said first fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said first fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, said second fluid control circuit including second fluid motor means driving said conveying means for moving the articles transverse of the load carrier and second proportional valve means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said second fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said second fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, said third fluid control circuit including third motor means driving said drive means for moving the articles in the horizontal direction and third proportional valve means for variably controlling the Amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said third fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said third fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds velocity limiting means in at least some of said circuits independent of said proportional valve means of said some of said circuits for limiting the maximum velocity of at least some of said fluid motor means by restricting the flow of fluid between said motor means and said pressure source to an amount less than the maximum of said amount of flow of fluid otherwise permitted by said some of said circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid is hydraulic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 including acceleration limiting means in at least some of said circuits for limiting the maximum acceleration of at least some of said fluid motor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said velocity limiting means comprises a variable orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said first fluid motor means comprises a fluid cylinder and piston therein operatively mounted to the article carrying lift platform of the load carrier to elevate said platform, a conduit communicating between one side of said piston and said first proportional valve means, said proportional valve means being selectively operable to deliver pressurized fluid from said fluid source to said conduit and said one side of said piston for elevating said lift platform and to return fluid from said conduit and said one side of said piston to said fluid source by the weight of said lift platform to lower the platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 5 including velocity limiting means in said conduit for limiting the maximum velocity at which said piston moves, said velocity limiting means being positioned between said piston and said proportional valve means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said second and third circuits each comprise first and second conduits communicating between said second and third fluid motor means and said second and third proportional valve means, check means in each of said conduits permitting flow only from said proportional valve means to said motor means, first and second bypass means in each of said first and second conduits bypassing their respective check means, said second and third proportional valve means being selectively operable to deliver fluid from said pressure source to said first conduits through said check means in said first conduits and return fluid to said pressure source from said second conduits through said bypass means in said second conduits to drive said second and third fluid motor means in one direction and also to deliver fluid from said pressure source to said second conduits through said check means in said second conduits and return fluid to said pressure source from said first conduits through said bypass means in said first conduits to drive said second and third motor means in the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 7 including acceleration limiting means in each of the bypass means of said first and second conduits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 7 including velocity limiting means between said second and third proportional valve means and said pressure source for limiting the maximum velocity of said second and third fluid motor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the combination of claim 1 including velocity limiting means in each of said circuits limiting the maximum velocity of said first, second and third fluid motor means, respectively, said velocity limiting means in said first control circuit restricting the flow of fluid from said first fluid motor means in the event said first circuit fails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the combination of claim 1 wherein said first fluid control circuit is operable to raise and lower said lift platform when said third fluid motor means is driving said drive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
194 words
A load carrier for manipulating articles in a storage installation, said load carrier incLuding at least one drive means for effecting movement of at least one of the following: the articles in a vertical direction, the articles in a horizontal direction and the load carrier in a horizontal direction, the improvement in said load carrier comprising: a fluid pressure source, fluid control circuit means communicating with said fluid pressure source, said drive means including fluid motor means in said fluid control circuit means for effecting said movement, proportional valve means in said fluid control circuit means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, and velocity limiting means in said fluid control circuit means independent of said proportional valve means for limiting the maximum velocity of said fluid motor means by restricting the flow of fluid between said motor means and said pressure source to an amount less than the maximum of said amount of flow of fluid otherwise permitted by said fluid control circuit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
194 words
A load carrier for manipulating articles in a storage installation, said load carrier incLuding at least one drive means for effecting movement of at least one of the following: the articles in a vertical direction, the articles in a horizontal direction and the load carrier in a horizontal direction, the improvement in said load carrier comprising: a fluid pressure source, fluid control circuit means communicating with said fluid pressure source, said drive means including fluid motor means in said fluid control circuit means for effecting said movement, proportional valve means in said fluid control circuit means for variably controlling the amount of flow of fluid between said fluid pressure source and said fluid motor means to controllably vary the speed of said fluid motor means over a wide range of predetermined speeds, and velocity limiting means in said fluid control circuit means independent of said proportional valve means for limiting the maximum velocity of said fluid motor means by restricting the flow of fluid between said motor means and said pressure source to an amount less than the maximum of said amount of flow of fluid otherwise permitted by said fluid control circuit means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The load carrier of claim 12 wherein said velocity limiting means comprises a variable orifice.
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) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |