Materials handling vehicle having an expanded operator's compartment

A materials handling vehicle having a power unit and comprising:

• an operator's compartment;
• a motor compartment, said motor compartment and said operator's compartment being positioned adjacent to one another across a width of said vehicle at the rear of said vehicle;
• and
• an extension into said motor compartment to expand said operator's compartment, said extension being located so that an operator's feet can extend into space normally required by said motor compartment, said vehicle further comprising:
• a battery compartment;
• and
• a hydraulic system, said battery compartment and said hydraulic system being positioned adjacent to one another across said width of said vehicle and entirely ahead of said operator's compartment and said motor compartment, said battery compartment and said hydraulic system being thus positioned to be clear of said operator's compartment.

A materials handling vehicle having a power unit and comprising:

• an operator's compartment:
• a motor compartment, said operator's compartment and said motor compartment being positioned adjacent to one another across a width of said vehicle;
• and
• an extension into said motor compartment to expand said operator's compartment, said extension being located so that an operator's feet can extend into space normally required by said motor compartment said extension of said operator's compartment into said motor compartment comprising two extensions adjacent to and on opposite sides of said motor support to provide space within said motor compartment for elevated pedals for controlling said vehicle.

A method of making a materials handling vehicle including an operator's compartment having a floor, a motor compartment, and a gear box mounted beneath said motor compartment, said operators compartment and said motor compartment being positioned adjacent to one another across a width of said vehicle so that an operator of said materials handling vehicle faces said motor compartment when operating said materials handling vehicle from a normal operating position, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a motor support;
• mounting said motor support within said motor compartment adjacent to said gear box;
• mounting a traction motor within said motor compartment on said motor support;
• coupling said traction motor to said gear box through said motor support which has a cross section which is smaller than a cross section of said traction motor to thereby provide space within said motor compartment for an extension of said operator's compartment into said motor compartment adjacent to said motor support;
• and
• locating said extension in a direction forward from said operator to expand said operators compartment so as to define a foot receiving cavity and a foot rest spaced above said floor of said operator's compartment and so that forward portions of said operator's feet can extend into space normally required by said motor compartment whereby a portion of said motor compartment extends above said foot receiving cavity and a portion of said motor compartment extends below said foot receiving cavity above said floor.

A method of making a materials handling vehicle including an operator's compartment, a motor compartment, a battery compartment, a hydraulic system and a gear box mounted beneath said motor compartment, said operators compartment and said motor compartment being positioned adjacent to one another across a width of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a motor support;
• mounting said motor support within said motor compartment adjacent to said gear box;
• mounting a traction motor within said motor compartment on said motor support;
• coupling said traction motor to said clear box through said motor support which has a cross section which is smaller than a cross section of said traction motor to thereby provide space within said motor compartment for an extension of said operator's compartment into said motor compartment adjacent to said motor support, locating said extension so that an operator's feet can extend into space normally required by said motor compartment;
• and
• positioning said battery compartment and said hydraulic system adjacent to one another across said width of said vehicle and entirely ahead of said operator's compartment and said motor compartment, said battery compartment and said hydraulic system being thus positioned such that they are clear of said operator's compartment.