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US 2022/0055878 A1Published application
Forks for industrial vehicles and method of making same
AssigneeHyster-Yale Group, Inc.
InventorRobert C. DUNIGAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fork for an industrial vehicle such as a forklift, and a method of making the same. The fork includes an elongate body portion, a toe portion, and, optionally, a heel portion. The elongate body portion may be formed in any length and coupled to the toe portion (and optionally, to the heel portion) to form a fork.
Claims34
A fork for a forklift truck comprising:
- a toe portion;
- and
- an elongate body portion coupled to the toe portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion;
- wherein the load portion comprises a flat surface extending longitudinally away from the toe and a stiffener rigidly connected to and extending from the flat surface;
- and
- wherein the stiffener is sized and located to inhibit longitudinal bending of the body.
3 more elements
A fork for a forklift truck comprising:
- a toe portion;
- and
- an elongate body portion coupled to the toe portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion;
- wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, and a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, and a fourth strut coupled to the third cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion.
1 more element
A method of making an elongate body portion for a fork for a forklift, the method comprising:
- using a cold-rolling process to form a steel sheet into an elongate body portion comprising:
- a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion, wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, and a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, and a fourth strut coupled to the third cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion;
- and
- applying a longitudinal weldment to couple a first longitudinal edge of the steel sheet to a portion of the steel sheet.
1 more element
A method of making an elongate body portion for a fork for a forklift, the method comprising:
- using an extrusion process to form a polymer material into an elongate body portion comprising:
- a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion, wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, and a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, and a fourth strut coupled to the third cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion.
A method of making a fork for a forklift, the method comprising:
- providing a toe portion and an elongate body portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion, wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, and a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, and a fourth strut coupled to the third cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion;
- and
- coupling the toe portion to a first end of the elongate body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.