Abstract An overhead guard for the operator of an electric, counterbalanced, narrow aisle, stand-up rider lift truck which includes a pair of support legs pivotally connected to a pair of upstanding hydraulic tanks integrally formed with the truck main frame between a battery compartment and a mast. The guard may be tilted forwardly about its transverse pivot axis to a position wherein the battery of the lift truck may be lifted from the battery compartment without interference with the guard. Cooperating abutments on the upstanding part of the frame and the guard legs determine the forwardmost tilted position of the guard, in which position the center of mass of the guard lies in a vertical line forward of the transverse pivot axis. Also in the forwardly tilted position of the guard, the top portions of the legs of the guard are in overlapping relation to the mast when the latter is in its vertical position. The pivot connection between the legs of the guard and the hydraulic tanks is adjacent the top front portion of the tanks and abutments on the legs rearward of the transverse axis cooperate with abutments at the top rear portion of the tanks to support the guard in its position of operator protection.
In combination with an electric powered, counterbalanced lift truck of the type having a frame, a tiltable vertical mast at the front end of said frame, an operator''s station at the rear end of said frame and a battery compartment on the frame intermediate the mast and the operator''s station: a pair of transversely spaced upstanding hydraulic tanks disposed between said mast and said battery compartment and constituting an integral part of said frame with top portions disposed at the approximate height of said battery compartment, an overhead guard including an overhead grill, and a pair of downwardly extending and transversely spaced legs rigidly secured to said grill, pivot means pivotally connecting the lower front portions of said legs to upper front portions of said tanks, respectively, on a transverse pivot axis permitting said guard to be pivoted forwardly from a protective position in which said grill is above said operator''s station to a forwardly tilted position in which its center of gravity is forward of said pivot axis, abutment surfaces on the lower rear portions of said legs and on the top of said tanks engageable to support said guard in said protective position, and abutment surfaces on said lower front portions of said legs and on said upper front portions of said tanks engageable to support said guard in said forwardly tilted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
In combination with an electric powered, counterbalanced lift truck of the type having a frame, a tiltable vertical mast at the front end of said frame, an operator''s station at the rear end of said frame and a battery compartment on the frame intermediate the mast and the operator''s station: a pair of transversely spaced upstanding hydraulic tanks disposed between said mast and said battery compartment and constituting an integral part of said frame with top portions disposed at the approximate height of said battery compartment, an overhead guard including an overhead grill, and a pair of downwardly extending and transversely spaced legs rigidly secured to said grill, pivot means pivotally connecting the lower front portions of said legs to upper front portions of said tanks, respectively, on a transverse pivot axis permitting said guard to be pivoted forwardly from a protective position in which said grill is above said operator''s station to a forwardly tilted position in which its center of gravity is forward of said pivot axis, abutment surfaces on the lower rear portions of said legs and on the top of said tanks engageable to support said guard in said protective position, and abutment surfaces on said lower front portions of said legs and on said upper front portions of said tanks engageable to support said guard in said forwardly tilted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said legs are spaced transversely a distance greater than the transverse width of said mast whereby said upper end of said legs are in overlapping relation to the upper end of said mast when said guard is in its forwardly tilted position and said mast is in a vertical position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the rear end of said guard is disposed at least as far forwardly as the front portion of said battery compartment when said guard is in said forwardly tilted position whereby a battery can be lifted from said battery compartment by an overhead hoist without interfering with said guard.