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US4354794A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Carriage assembly

Assignee: TOWMOTOR Corp A CORPOF OHIO
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Filing: 1980-08-11
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Granted: 1982-10-19
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Expires: 2000-08-11
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a carriage assembly (28) for a lift mast (22). The carriage assembly has a frame (30), a pair of load supporting arms (64) pivotally connected to the frame at spaced locations on a lower portion (36) of the frame and pivotally connected to a guide bar (52) slidably connected to an upper portion (34) of the frame for permitting unitary movement of the load supporting arms relative to the frame transversely of the lift mast. The carriage assembly (28) is compact, lightweight and requires fewer parts. Thus, capacity, visibility, component life and performance are improved. The carriage assembly (10) is particularly useful on a vehicle (20) such as a lift truck.

Inventors

  • 👤 John E. Macnab

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 06:10
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/12; B66F9/18; B66F9/186

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A carriage assembly (28) for a lift mast (22), comprising: a frame (30) having elevationally spaced support (36) and guide (34) beams elevationally positionably mounted on said lift mast (22) with said support beam having opposite end portions (60,62); a pair of load supporting arms (64) each individually pivotally connected to opposite end portions (60,62) of said support beam and extending therefrom in passing relation to said guide beam (34); and means (52,48,72) for movably connecting said load supporting arms (64) to said guide beam (34) and permitting unitary pivotal movement of the load supporting arms (64) about said pivotal connections and sideways relative to the lift mast (22).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A carriage assembly (28) for a lift mast (22), comprising: a frame (30) having elevationally spaced support (36) and guide (34) beams elevationally positionably mounted on said lift mast (22) with said support beam having opposite end portions (60,62); a pair of load supporting arms (64) each individually pivotally connected to opposite end portions (60,62) of said support beam and extending therefrom in passing relation to said guide beam (34); and means (52,48,72) for movably connecting said load supporting arms (64) to said guide beam (34) and permitting unitary pivotal movement of the load supporting arms (64) about said pivotal connections and sideways relative to the lift mast (22).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The carriage assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable connecting means (48,72) includes a guide bar (52) slidably disposed in a tubular opening (44,46) in said guide beam (34) and extending transversely of said lift mast (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide bar (52) has predetermined opposite end portions (56,58) pivotally connected to their respectively adjacent load supporting arms (64).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide beam (34) has an end cap (48) affixed to each of said opposite ends (44,46) thereof for slidably supporting said guide bar (52) in a direction transversely of said lift mast (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said end caps (48) has a front (54), rear (55), upper (57), and lower (59) surface defining an aperture; said guide bar being disposed in said apertures (50) and slidably bearingly supported by said front (54) and rear (55) surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide bar (52) is pivotally connected to each of the load supporting arms (64) at opposite end portions (56,58) by a spherical bearing assembly (72) having a spherical ball (74) and a mating spherical seat (76).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 1 including a jack (98) connected to said frame (30) and one of said pairs of load supporting arms (64).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The carriage assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a hydraulic jack (98) connected to said guide bar (52) and said guide beam (34).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 50 words
The carriage assembly (28) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of load supporting arms (64) are each individually pivotally connected to opposite end portions (60,62) of said support beam (36) by a spherical bearing assembly (72) having a spherical ball (74) and a mating spherical seat (76).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 124 words
In a lift assembly (10) for a container handling attachment (12) having a lift mast (22), a carriage assembly (28) including a frame (30) providing predetermined upper (34,38) and lower (36,40) end portions and elevationally positionably mounted on the lift mast (22), the improvement comprising: a pair of load supporting arms (64) each having a lower end portion (66) and being individually pivotally connected at their lower end portion (66) at spaced locations (60,62) on the lower (36) end portion of said frame (30); and means (52,34,48,72) for movably connecting said load supporting arms (64) to the upper end portion (34) of said frame (30) permitting unitary movement of said load supporting arms (64) about said pivotal connection transversely to said lift mast (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 124 words
In a lift assembly (10) for a container handling attachment (12) having a lift mast (22), a carriage assembly (28) including a frame (30) providing predetermined upper (34,38) and lower (36,40) end portions and elevationally positionably mounted on the lift mast (22), the improvement comprising: a pair of load supporting arms (64) each having a lower end portion (66) and being individually pivotally connected at their lower end portion (66) at spaced locations (60,62) on the lower (36) end portion of said frame (30); and means (52,34,48,72) for movably connecting said load supporting arms (64) to the upper end portion (34) of said frame (30) permitting unitary movement of said load supporting arms (64) about said pivotal connection transversely to said lift mast (22).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 46 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said connecting means (52,34,48,72) includes a guide bar (52) slidably connected to the upper end portion (34,38) of the frame (30) and pivotally connected to and disposed between said pair of load supporting arms (64).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said upper end portion (34,38) of said frame (30) includes a tubular guide beam (34) having opposite ends (44,46) opening transversely of said lift mast (22) and slidably supporting said guide bar (52) in telescoping relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 52 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said guide bar (52) includes opposite end portions (56,58) each being pivotally connected to a respective one of said pair of load supporting arms (64) by a spherical bearing assembly (72) having a spherical ball (74) and mating spherical seat (76).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 52 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lower end portions (36,40) of said frame (30) includes a support beam (36) extending transversely of said lift mast (22) and having opposite end portions (60,62) defining said spaced locations on the lower end portion (36,40) of said frame (30).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 48 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pair of support arms (64) are each pivotally connected to a respective end portion (60,62) of the support beam (36) by a spherical bearing assembly (72) having a spherical ball (74) and mating spherical seat (76).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 51 words
The lift assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said movable connecting means (52,34,48,72) includes a guide bar (52) having predetermined oppositely spaced end portions (56,58) pivotally connected to their respectively adjacent load supporting arms (62); said guide bar (52), support beam (36) and spaced arms (64) forming a parallelogram.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 31 words
The lift assembly (10) as set forth in claim 13 including a hydraulic jack (98) connected to said guide beam (34) and one of said pair of load supporting arms (64).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2585095A Cited
US3599818A Cited
US3606053A Cited
US3633777A Cited
US3764032A Cited
US3974927A Cited
US3982644A Cited
US4165008A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-10-18 1986-04-19 1986-10-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-10-18 1990-04-19 1990-10-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-10-18 1994-04-19 1994-10-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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