Fork lift apparatus and methods of lifting and positioning a load
OwnerLou Marreroinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fork lift apparatus having multiple degrees of freedom of movement and methods of positioning a load are provided. More particularly, the fork lift apparatus preferably includes a base, a fork lift frame slidably connected thereto between a retracted and an extended position and a fork lift connected to the fork lift frame and positioned to slidably move between a lowered and an elevated position. The fork lift apparatus also preferably includes an operator station connected to the fork lift to slidably extend between a retracted and an extended position to counterbalance a load positioned on the fork lift apparatus. The fork lift apparatus further preferably includes a controller to control the fork lift apparatus and a drive assembly to drive the fork lift apparatus.
Claims89
A fork lift apparatus comprising:
- a base having a front, a rear, and first and second sides extending between the front and the rear, the first side being positioned substantially opposite the second side and having a first pair of spaced-apart fork lift frame guide rails, one of the fork lift frame guide rails connected to the first side of the base and the other fork lift frame guide rail connected to the second side of the base so that the frame guide rails extend along the first and second sides between the front and the rear of the base;
- a fork lift frame having a pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members each positioned to slidably connect to one of the first pair of fork lift frame guide rails, the fork lift frame adapted to slidably move between a retracted position and an extended position and further comprising a second pair of fork lift frame guide rails positioned to extend upwardly along the respective pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members;
- a fork lift slidably connected to and extending between the second pair of fork lift frame guide rails so that the fork lift moves between a lowered position and an elevated position along the pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members;
- an operator station connected to the fork lift to slidably extend between a retracted position and an extended position, the operator station having a controller positioned to control the movement of the base, the movement of the fork lift frame between the extended and retracted positions, the movement of the fork lift between the lowered and the elevated positions, and the movement of the operator station between the extended and retracted positions;
- and
- a drive assembly connected to the base, the fork lift frame, the fork lift, the operator station and the controller to drive the fork lift frame between the extended and retracted positions, the fork lift between the elevated and lowered positions, and the operator station between the extended and retracted positions independently of one another responsive to the controller.
A fork lift apparatus comprising:
- a base having a front, a rear, and first and second sides extending between the front and the rear, the first side being positioned substantially opposite the second side and having a first pair of spaced-apart fork lift frame guide rails, one of the fork lift frame guide rails connected to the first side of the base and the other fork lift frame guide rail connected to the second side of the base;
- a fork lift frame having a pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members, each having a front and a rear and positioned to slidably connect to one of the first pair of fork lift frame guide rails, the fork lift frame adapted to slidably move between a retracted position and an extended position and further comprising a second pair of fork lift frame guide rails each positioned to extend upwardly along the respective pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members;
- a fork lift slidably connected to and extending between the second pair of fork lift frame guide rails so that the fork lift moves between a lowered position and an elevated position along the pair of spaced-apart and opposing side frame members;
- a plurality of omni-directional wheels connected to a bottom portion of the base so that the base moves in forward, rearward, lateral, and transverse directions;
- a controller connected to the base, the omni-directional wheels, the fork lift frame and the fork lift positioned to control the multi-directional movement of the plurality of omni-directional wheels, the movement of the fork lift frame between the extended and retracted positions and the movement of the fork lift between the elevated and lowered positions;
- and
- a drive assembly connected to the base, the fork lift frame, the fork lift, the plurality of omni-directional wheels, and the controller to drive the fork lift apparatus in the forward, rearward, lateral, and transverse directions, the fork lift frame between the extended and retracted positions, and the fork lift between the elevated and retracted positions, each moving independently of one another and responsive to the controller.
The fork lift apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a fork lift frame slidably connected to outer peripheries of the base and positioned to move between an extended position and a retracted position along the outer peripheries of the base;
- and
- a fork lift slidably connected to the fork lift frame and positioned to move between an elevated position and a lowered position along the fork lift frame so that the fork lift overlies the base when the fork lift frame is positioned in the retracted position.
A fork lift apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the operator station further comprises a front and a rear, and wherein the extended position of the operator station is further defined by the rear of the operator station being positioned adjacent to the front of the base and the retracted position of the operator station is further defined by the rear of the operator station being positioned adjacent the rear of the base.
A fork lift apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a fork lift connected to the base and positioned to slidably move between an elevated and a lowered position;
- and
- an operator station slidably connected to a top portion of the fork lift to slidably extend between a retracted position and an extended position so that the operator is positioned in the retracted position to counterbalance a load positioned on the fork lift.
A method of positioning a load within a predetermined area using a fork lift apparatus having a base with a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- longitudinally moving the fork lift apparatus in a first predetermined direction along a longitudinal axis of the predetermined area so that the longitudinal axis of the base is positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the predetermined area;
- extending a fork lift frame so that a fork lift connected thereto is positioned to engage and lift the load;
- and
- laterally moving the fork lift apparatus in a second predetermined direction so that the longitudinal axis of the base is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the predetermined area.
A method of positioning a load within a predetermined narrow area using a fork lift apparatus having a base with a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- diagonally moving the fork lift apparatus in a predetermined direction so that the longitudinal axis of the base is positioned transverse to a longitudinal axis of the narrow area;
- and
- extending a fork lift frame so that a fork lift connected thereto is positioned to engage and lift the load.
A method of balancing a fork lift apparatus having a base, the method comprising:
- extending a fork lift frame having a fork lift connected thereto to engage and lift a load;
- and
- counter-balancing the load positioned on the fork lift by laterally extending and retracting an operator station along the fork lift frame.
A method of moving a load using a fork lift apparatus having a base, the method comprising:
- extending a fork lift frame from a retracted position to engage a load;
- elevating a fork lift connected to the fork lift frame to lift the load;
- and
- retracting the fork lift frame to a retracted position so that the lifted load of the elevated fork lift is positioned to overlie the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.