Back to results
US 12,709,529 B2Granted
Torsion bar assembly for a material handling vehicle
AssigneeThe Raymond Corporation
InventorJoseph T. Yahner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods provide a torsion bar assembly coupled to one or more casters of a material handling vehicle (MHV). The torsion bar assembly is configured to maintain contact between a travel surface of the MHV (e.g., ground) and a drive wheel of the material handling vehicle throughout the service life of the drive wheel.
Claims15
A material handling vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- a fork assembly mounted to the vehicle frame;
- a steerable drive wheel mounted to the vehicle frame;
- one or more caster assemblies, mounted to the vehicle frame, adjacent the steerable drive wheel;
- and,
- a torsion bar assembly lacking a coil or torsion spring, the torsion bar assembly including:
- a torsion bar rigidly coupled to the one or more caster assemblies;
- and,
- at least one preload member coupled to a distal end of the torsion bar;
- wherein the preload member selectively applies a torsional force on the torsion bar to adjust a static position of the one or more caster assemblies;
- wherein the preload member includes an adjustment screw threadedly engaged with the preload member;
- and
- wherein clockwise adjustment of the adjustment screw is configured to increase a contact force between the adjustment screw and an underside of the vehicle frame.
10 more elements
A material handling vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- a fork assembly mounted to the vehicle frame;
- a steerable drive wheel mounted to the vehicle frame;
- a first caster assembly and a second caster assembly mounted on laterally opposing sides of the steerable drive wheel;
- and,
- a torsion bar assembly lacking a coil or torsion spring, the torsion bar assembly including:
- a torsion bar rigidly coupled to the first and second caster assemblies;
- and,
- at least one preload member coupled to a distal end of the torsion bar;
- wherein the preload member is configured to threadedly receive an adjustment screw;
- wherein the adjustment screw bears against an underside of the vehicle frame;
- and,
- wherein the normal force applied by the vehicle frame on the adjustment screw rotates the preload member about an axis formed by the torsion bar.
10 more elements
A material handling vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- a fork assembly mounted to the vehicle frame;
- a steerable drive wheel mounted to the vehicle frame;
- one or more caster assemblies mounted to the vehicle frame, each caster assembly including:
- one or more casters;
- a base plate mounted between the one or more casters and the vehicle frame;
- and,
- a caster arm rigidly mounted to the base plate;
- and,
- a torsion bar assembly lacking a coil or torsion spring, the torsion bar assembly including:
- a torsion bar rigidly coupled to the one or more caster assemblies via the caster arm;
- and,
- at least one preload member coupled to a distal end of the torsion bar;
- wherein rotation of the preload member about the axis formed by the torsion bar adjusts the static position of the one or more caster assemblies;
- wherein the preload member is configured to threadedly receive an adjustment screw;
- and
- wherein the adjustment screw applies an increasing contact force to an underside of the vehicle frame upon clockwise rotation of the adjustment screw.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.