Pallet jack system and method for the transportation of stackable packaged goods pallets

A pallet jack:

• comprising:
• a left tine having a left front wheel and a right tine having a right front wheel;
• a pallet jack body coupling the left tine and the right tine;
• a pallet lift mechanism coupled to the pallet jack body and configured to lift the left tine and the right tine;
• a rear support structure coupled to the pallet jack body and configured to rotate with respect thereto about a substantially vertical axis;
• a rear wheel axle coupled to the rear support structure;
• an electric motor coupled to the rear support structure and configured to rotate the rear wheel axle;
• a left rear wheel coupled to a left side of the rear wheel axle, and a right rear wheel coupled to a right side of the rear wheel axle;
• an operator control stand coupled to the rear support structure and configured to control both the pallet lift mechanism and the electric motor, the operator control stand being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis so that the operator control stand is configured to cause rotation of the rear support structure about the substantially vertical axis.

A pallet jack, comprising:

• a left tine and a right tine, each having a substantially similar length, the left tine having a left front wheel disposed toward a distal end thereof, and the right tine having a right front wheel disposed toward a distal end thereof;
• the left and right tines being substantially co-planar and substantially parallel with respect to each other;
• a lifting mechanism configured to lift the left and right tines;
• an electrically powered pump coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to cause the lifting mechanism to lift the left and right tines when electrical power is applied thereto;
• a pallet jack body attached to a rear-most portion of each of the left and right tines;
• a rotatable rear wheel support structure coupled to said pallet jack body and configured to rotate with respect thereto about a substantially vertical axis, the rotatable rear wheel support structure configured to support a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel such that the left rear wheel is in substantial alignment with the left front wheel, and the right rear wheel is in substantial alignment with the right front wheel, the rotatable rear wheel support structure having a rear wheel axle which is configured to support the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel adjacent respective left and right outer surfaces of the rotatable rear wheel support structure, the rotatable rear wheel support structure also comprising an electric motor coupled the rear wheel axle;
• and
• a vertically-extending operator control stand coupled to the rotatable rear wheel support structure such that rotation of the operator control stand causes rotation of the electric motor and the rear wheels with respect to the pallet jack body, the operator control stand including controls for operation of the electric motor and the hydraulic pump, the operator control stand being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis so that the operator control stand is configured to cause rotation of the rear support structure about the substantially vertical axis.