Load lifting carriage having side shift adjustable forks

In a load lifting carriage (12) having upper and lower spaced apart substantially horizontal rails (24,26), a pair of opposite spaced apart sides (28,30) and a vertical centerline, first and second forks (18,16) each being mounted on said rails (24,26) and movable along said rails (24,26), and first and second extensibly movable independently operable cylinders (32,34) each being connected to said carriage (12);

• the improvement comprising:
• first means (44) for selectively coupling said first cylinder (32) to said first fork (18) at a first location longitudinally relative to said first cylinder (32), at which said first fork is movable in response to movement of said first cylinder along said rails (24,26) between said centerline and a location closely adjacent one of said sides (28,30), and for coupling said first cylinder (32) to said first fork (18) at a second location longitudinally relative to said first cylinder (32) and spaced from said first location, at which said first fork is movable in response to movement of said first cylinder along said rails (24,26) between a location spaced a greater distance from said one side (28,30) to a location past said centerline;
• and
• second means (46) for coupling said second cylinder (34) to said second fork (16) at a third location longitudinally relative to said second cylinder (34), at which said second fork (16) is movable in response to movement of said second cylinder (34) along said rails (24,26) between said centerline and a location closely adjacent the other of said sides, and for coupling said second cylinder (34) to said second fork (16) at a fourth location longitudinally relative to said second cylinder (34) and spaced from said third location, at which said second fork (16) is movable in response to movement of said second cylinder (34) along said rails (24,26) between a location spaced a greater distance from the other side (28) to a location past said centerline.