Device in a vehicle adapted to handle loads

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a vehicle ( 1 ) intended for handling loads, such as an industrial truck, comprising a movable arm ( 4 ) connected to the vehicle, to which a tool ( 5 ) intended to carry a load (L) is connected, and an arrangement ( 7 ) to control movements of said tool. The arm is pivotably mounted on the vehicle about a first substantially horizontal axis ( 8 ). The device comprises a member ( 9 ) for pivoting the arm relative to a chassis ( 2 ) of the vehicle. The tool ( 5 ) is displaceably arranged relative to the chassis ( 2 ) of the vehicle in the direction of the arm's ( 4 ) main longitudinal extension. The device comprises means ( 17 ) for displacing the tool. The control arrangement ( 7 ) is designed to co-ordinate the pivoting member's ( 9 ) pivoting of the arm and the displacement means' ( 17 ) displacement of the tool so as to achieve a movement of the load carried by the tool ( 5 ) along an optionally placed curve having an optional appearance in relation to the vehicle in the vertical plane.

1 . Device for a vehicle ( 1 ) intended for handling loads, such as an industrial truck, comprising a movable arm ( 4 ) connected to the vehicle, to which a tool ( 5 ) intended to carry a load (L) is connected and an arrangement ( 7 ) to control movements of said tool, wherein 
 the arm is pivotably mounted on the vehicle about a first substantially horizontal axis ( 8 ),    the device comprises a member ( 9 ) for pivoting the arm relative to a chassis ( 2 ) of the vehicle,    the tool ( 5 ) is displaceably arranged relative to the chassis ( 2 ) of the vehicle in the direction of the arm's ( 4 ) main longitudinal extension,    the device comprises means ( 17 ) for displacing the tool, and    the control arrangement ( 7 ) is designed to co-ordinate the pivoting member's ( 9 ) pivoting of the arm and the displacement means' ( 17 ) displacement of the tool to achieve a movement of the load carried by the tool ( 5 ) along an optionally placed curve having an optional appearance in relation to the vehicle in the vertical plane.    
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool ( 5 ) is pivotably arranged relative to the arm ( 4 ) about a second substantially horizontal axis ( 21 ), the device comprises means ( 23 ) for pivoting the tool relative to the arm and the control arrangement ( 7 ) is designed to control the pivoting means' ( 23 ) pivoting of the tool ( 5 ) for adjustment of the tool's orientation.  
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control arrangement ( 7 ) is designed to co-ordinate the pivoting means' ( 23 ) pivoting of the tool ( 5 ) with the pivoting member's ( 9 ) pivoting of the arm and with the displacement means' ( 17 ) displacement of the tool to achieve a desired ordered orientation of the tool during its movement.  
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 3 , wherein the control arrangement ( 7 ) is designed to co-ordinate said pivoting movements and displacements to maintain a substantially constant orientation of the load carried by the tool when moving the load.  
   
   
       5 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm includes at least two parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) that are displaceable in relation to each other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool is connected to a first ( 16 ) of the displaceable parts and a second ( 14 ) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ), and the displacement means ( 17 ) is arranged to displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts ( 16 ,  14 ) in relation to each other for displacement of the tool ( 5 ) relative to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ).  
   
   
       6 . Device according to  claim 5 , wherein said displaceable arm parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) are telescopically received in each other and displaceable relative to each other.  
   
   
       7 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement means ( 17 ) includes first hydraulic drive means.  
   
   
       8 . Device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first hydraulic drive means is a first hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is connected to the arm via an arrangement ( 27 ) for replaceable attachment ( 27 ) for replaceable attachment of tools to the arm ( 4 ).  
   
   
       10 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool ( 5 ) is a fork tool having two forks ( 22 ).  
   
   
       11 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm ( 4 ) is connected to the vehicle ( 1 ) on one longitudinal side of the vehicle in its normal driving direction.  
   
   
       12 . Device according to  claim 11 , wherein the tool ( 5 ) is connected to the arm ( 4 ) via an arrangement ( 27 ) for fixing tools in the vicinity of the arm's ( 4 ) free end that is distant from the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ), and this arrangement comprises a member ( 24 ) connected to said end of the arm arranged to extend towards the vehicle's centre seen in its normal driving direction to maintain a fixing point ( 29 ) for the tool at the fixing arrangement substantially centered relative to a horizontal longitudinal axis of the vehicle in said normal driving direction through the vehicle's centre of gravity.  
   
   
       13 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting means ( 9 ) include a second hydraulic drive means.  
   
   
       14 . Device according to  claim 13 , wherein the second hydraulic drive means is a second hydraulic cylinder, that is connected to the vehicles chassis and to the arm.  
   
   
       15 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein the pivoting means ( 23 ) includes a third hydraulic drive means.  
   
   
       16 . Device according to  claim 15 , wherein third hydraulic drive means is a third hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . Device according to  claim 2 , wherein the arm includes at least two parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) that are displaceable in relation to each other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool is connected to a first ( 16 ) of the displaceable parts and a second ( 14 ) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ), and the displacement means ( 17 ) is arranged to displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts ( 16 ,  14 ) in relation to each other for displacement of the tool ( 5 ) relative to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ).  
   
   
       18 . Device according to  claim 3 , wherein the arm includes at least two parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) that are displaceable in relation to each other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool is connected to a first ( 16 ) of the displaceable parts and a second ( 14 ) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ), and the displacement means ( 17 ) is arranged to displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts ( 16 ,  14 ) in relation to each other for displacement of the tool ( 5 ) relative to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ).  
   
   
       19 . Device according to  claim 4 , wherein the arm includes at least two parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) that are displaceable in relation to each other along the arm's main longitudinal extension, whereby the tool is connected to a first ( 16 ) of the displaceable parts and a second ( 14 ) of the displaceable parts is connected to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ), and the displacement means ( 17 ) is arranged to displace the arm's first and second displaceable parts ( 16 ,  14 ) in relation to each other for displacement of the tool ( 5 ) relative to the vehicle's chassis ( 2 ).  
   
   
       20 . Device according to  claim 19 , wherein said displaceable arm parts ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ) are telescopically received in each other and displaceable relative to each other.