Quickchange fork
AssigneeKenhar Products Incorporated
InventorSteve Hornung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for removably securing forks to a forklift truck and the like includes a hook shaped upper end for engaging a support shaft mounted on the forklift truck and a freely pivotal release mechanism attached to the shank of the fork having a first surface closely adjacent to the shaft on which the fork is mounted. The pivoting release mechanism precludes disengagement of the hook from the supporting shaft when the fork is in operating position. Upon pivotal movement of the fork about this supporting shaft the pivotally mounted release mechanism pivots under the effect of gravity to present a second surface adjacent to the supporting shaft thereby permitting disengagement of the fork from the shaft.
Claims6
A quickchange fork for a forklift truck having a substantially horizontal shaft for supporting said fork on said truck, comprising;
- a fork having a tine and a shank,
- a release mechanism fixed to said shank for removably securing said fork to said shaft,
- said release mechanism having forwardly opening hook means, and
- a lock member secured for pivotal movement with respect to said shank about a substantially horizontal axis between first and second positions with respect to said shank,
- said lock member preventing disengagement of said hook means from said shaft when in said first position said lock member permitting disengagement of said hook means from said shaft when in said second position, and
- said lock member is freely pivotal under the effect of gravity when said fork is rotated about said shaft, and wherein the center of gravity of said lock member is always below said horizontal axis so that said lock member rotates about said axis when said fork is rotated about said shaft.
A quickchange fork for a forklift truck having a substantially horizontal shaft for supporting said fork on said truck, comprising
- a fork having a tine and a shank,
- a release mechanism fixed to said shank for removably securing said fork to said shaft,
- said release mechanism having forwardly opening hook means, and
- a lock member secured for pivotal movement with respect to said shank about a substantially horizontal axis between first and second positions with respect to said shank,
- said lock member preventing disengagement of said hook means from said shaft when in said first position said lock member permitting disengagement of said hook means from said shaft when in said second position,
- said lock member freely pivotal under the effect of gravity when said fork is rotated about said shaft,
- said lock member having a center of gravity below said horizontal axis, and
- said lock member having an upper surface and a rearward surface, said upper surface comprising a portion of an arc about said horizontal axis of radius "R" and said upper surface is adjacent the surface of said shaft when said lock member is in said first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.