Abstract The invention is concerned with an improvement in a carriage-fork assembly. The assembly includes a carriage attachable to a lift truck, the carriage including a plurality of notches along an upper edge thereof. The assembly also includes a plurality of forks, the forks each including a first arm extending generally perpendicularly forwardly from the carriage, a second arm extending upwardly from an end of the first arm adjacent and parallel to the carriage to adjacent the upper edge thereof and a member extending from the first arm over the upper edge and downwardly behind the carriage, the member including a guide sleeve extending upwardly over the upper edge and a bore coaxial with the guide sleeve and extending through the member. Also part of the assembly is a lock rod slidably fitting within the guide sleeve and the bore. A spring is provided for biasing the lock rod downwardly to impel a lower end thereof into the notches. The structure is such that the lock rod can be maintained in a fixed position against the spring with the lower end removed from the notches. The improvement includes a cap affixed over an upper end of the lock rod, the cap has a top and a skirt extending downwardly about the lock rod, an inner surface of the skirt fitting slidingly about an outer surface of the upwardly extending portion of the guide sleeve.
In a liftable assembly comprising a carriage liftably attachable to mast means, the carriage including a notch along an upper edge thereof; a lifter which extends generally perpendicularly forwardly from and generally upwardly and generally parallel to said carriage to adjacent an upper edge of said carriage and a member extending from said lifter over said upper edge and downwardly behind said carriage, said member including a guide sleeve extending upwardly over said upper edge and a bore coaxial with said guide sleeve and extending through said member; a lock rod slidably fitting within said guide sleeve and said bore; means for biasing said lock rod downwardly to impel a lower end thereof into said notch and means for fastening said lock rod in a fixed position against said biasing means with said lower end removed from said notch; and improvement comprising: a cap affixed over an upper end of said lock rod to move therewith, said cap having a generally disc-like top with a skirt extending downwardly thereabout, an inner surface of said skirt fitting slidingly about an outer surface of said upwardly extending portion of said guide sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a liftable assembly comprising a carriage liftably attachable to mast means, the carriage including a notch along an upper edge thereof; a lifter which extends generally perpendicularly forwardly from and generally upwardly and generally parallel to said carriage to adjacent an upper edge of said carriage and a member extending from said lifter over said upper edge and downwardly behind said carriage, said member including a guide sleeve extending upwardly over said upper edge and a bore coaxial with said guide sleeve and extending through said member; a lock rod slidably fitting within said guide sleeve and said bore; means for biasing said lock rod downwardly to impel a lower end thereof into said notch and means for fastening said lock rod in a fixed position against said biasing means with said lower end removed from said notch; and improvement comprising: a cap affixed over an upper end of said lock rod to move therewith, said cap having a generally disc-like top with a skirt extending downwardly thereabout, an inner surface of said skirt fitting slidingly about an outer surface of said upwardly extending portion of said guide sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
An improvement in a liftable assembly as in claim 1, wherein said lock rod includes a hole therethrough adjacent the upper end thereof perpendicular to the axis thereof, said skirt includes a pair of apertures opposite each other and in alignment with said hole and said fastening means comprises a pin affixed through said apertures and said hole and extending laterally from said skirt, and said guide sleeve includes an upraised portion for receiving thereupon said pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improvement in a liftable assembly as in claim 2, wherein said pin extends from each of said pair of apertures to form a handle for lifting said lock rod against said biasing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An improvement in a liftable assembly as in claim 3, including a lubricant between the inner surface of said skirt and the outer surface of said guide sleeve and between the inner surface of said guide sleeve and said lock rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improvement in a liftable assembly as in claim 4, wherein an inner surface of said cap is supportedly contacted by the upper end of said lock rod.