US-12617660-B2 - Side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine

US12617660B2US 12617660 B2US12617660 B2US 12617660B2US-12617660-B2

Abstract

A side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine includes a frame; a first shuttle comprising a first fork attachment member for receiving a first fork; a first fork actuator operable to side-shift the first shuttle relative to the frame; a second shuttle comprising a second fork attachment member for receiving a second fork; and, a second fork actuator operable to side-shift the second shuttle relative to the frame, wherein the first and second fork actuators are operable in a first mode in which the position of the first and second shuttles are side-shifted to alter the lateral distance therebetween, and a second mode in which the first and second shuttles are shifted unidirectionally with the lateral distance therebetween remaining constant.

Inventors

Darryl Cottingham
Matthew Coope
Ross Taylor
Edwin Ratcliffe
Ben Rudd

Assignees

J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230303
Priority Date: 20220304

Claims (13)

1 . A side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine comprising: a frame; a first shuttle comprising a first fork attachment member for receiving a first fork; a first fork actuator operable to side-shift the first shuttle relative to the frame; a second shuttle comprising a second fork attachment member for receiving a second fork; a second fork actuator operable to side-shift the second shuttle relative to the frame, wherein the first and second fork actuators are operable in a first mode in which the position of the first and second shuttles are side-shifted to alter the lateral distance therebetween, and a second mode in which the first and second shuttles are shifted unidirectionally with the lateral distance therebetween remaining constant; and a valve block configured to selectively provide an actuating hydraulic flow to the first and second fork actuators to provide the first mode and the second mode, wherein the valve block comprises a changeover valve to switch between the first mode and the second mode, wherein the valve block comprises first input ports and second input ports, each of the first and second input ports configured to receive, respectively, a first actuating hydraulic feed and a second actuating hydraulic feed, and wherein, when connected to the first and second actuating hydraulic feeds, the valve block is configured to provide the first mode and the second mode using the first actuating hydraulic feed and the second actuating hydraulic feed without switching the changeover valve.
2 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuators are hydraulic cylinders comprising a rod end port and a cap end port, wherein either the rod end ports of the first and second actuators or the cap end ports of the first and second actuators are connected in hydraulic flow series in the second mode.
3 . The carriage of claim 2 , wherein the rod end ports are connected in hydraulic flow series such that an actuating hydraulic feed provided to the cap end port of one of the first or second fork actuators results in a return flow from the cap end port of the other first or second fork actuators in the second mode.
4 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein, when in the first mode, either both the rod end ports or both the cap end ports are configured to receive a matching actuating hydraulic flow to result in simultaneous corresponding extension or retraction of both first and second fork actuators.
5 . The carriage of claim 4 , further comprising a flow divider, wherein the actuating hydraulic flow is provided to the rod end ports or cap end ports via the flow divider.
6 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the changeover valve is manually operated.
7 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the valve block is configured to be operable in the first mode and second mode when connected to a first actuating hydraulic feed only, wherein the first mode and second mode are provided by switching the changeover valve between a first position which corresponds to the first mode and a second position which corresponds to the second mode.
8 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the valve block comprises first mode first and second hydraulic lines, wherein each of the first and second hydraulic lines comprise pilot operated check valves, wherein an actuating flow in either of the first mode first or second hydraulic lines is configured to provide pilot pressure in the other of the first and second hydraulic line pilot operated check valves, thereby providing a return flow path.
9 . The carriage of claim 8 , wherein, when in the first mode, either both the rod end ports or both the cap end ports are configured to receive a matching actuating hydraulic flow to result in simultaneous corresponding extension or retraction of both first and second fork actuators, further comprising a flow divider, wherein the actuating hydraulic flow is provided to the rod end ports or cap end ports via the flow divider, wherein either of the first mode first or second hydraulic lines comprises the flow divider.
10 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the valve block comprises second mode first and second hydraulic lines in hydraulic flow communication with the cap end ports of the first and second fork actuators respectively.
11 . The carriage of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of pressure relief valves connected in anti-parallel between the second mode first and second hydraulic lines and/or flow restrictors in the second mode first and second hydraulic lines to restrict the flow rate in the second mode relative to the first mode.
12 . The carriage of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fork actuators are arranged horizontally and in an anti-parallel orientation.
13 . The carriage of claim 12 , wherein when the first and second fork actuators are hydraulic cylinders, the cap end of each cylinder is attached to an outboard side of the frame.

Description

FIELD The present invention relates to a carriage assembly for a working machine, a working machine. The present invention to a side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine, e.g. a telehandler. BACKGROUND Material handling machines are commonplace in many commercial and industrial settings and used to transport loads of various types between locations. Material handling machines may be used with a number of different load handling attachments including forks. Side-shifting fork carriages are well known in the art and allow the position of the forks to be laterally shifted relative to the material handling machine. This can be useful for positioning loads and for engaging with loads of various sizes and configurations. FIG. 7 shows a material handling machine 701 in the form of a telehandler. Telehandlers are generally well known and comprise a vehicle with a pivoting telescopically extending working arm which allows items to be transported between different locations at varying heights with relative ease and flexibility. The material handling machine 701 comprises a body 701a, an operator cab 713, and a lifting arm 714 pivotably mounted at a first end to the body 712. The body 701a is located on a ground engaging structure 717 in the form of front and rear wheels. The machine 701 is generally elongate having a principal longitudinal axis. The operator cab 713 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 711 and defines the principal forward facing direction of travel of the working machine. The operator cab 713 comprises the necessary controls for maneuvering the material handling machine 701 and also for manipulating the lifting arm 714 and carriage 710. The hydraulic feed provided to the carriage 710 is typically referred to as an auxiliary feed as its use will vary according to the attachment provided on the lifting arm 714. Material handling machines 701 may be provided with one or more auxiliary feeds at the distal end of the lifting arm 714, each with a respective control device provided within the cab 713 for dedicated operation. The control device may comprise any suitable means such as a joystick, button, roller or lever, etc. The lifting arm 14 is configured to carry a load handling implement such as a side-shift fork carriage 810 as shown in FIG. 8. The fork carriage 810 of FIG. 8 is a side-shifting fork carriage having coupling attachments 814a, 814b for attaching to the lifting arm 714 of the material handling machine 701 and an external frame 812 which provide structural rigidity. The forks 820 are provided on side-shifting carriages 821 which are laterally movable using hydraulic cylinders 822. The forks 820 are typically moved in unison either towards each other or apart from one another with a single auxiliary hydraulic feed. A guide member 824 is located below the hydraulic actuators 822. The present disclosure seeks to provide an improved side-shifting fork carriage. SUMMARY The present invention provides a side-shift fork carriage according to the appended claims and a method for operating the same. In a first aspect the present disclosure may provide a side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine comprising: a frame comprising a coupling portion for attaching the sliding fork carrier to the material handling machine; a first shuttle comprising a first fork attachment member for receiving a first fork; a first fork actuator operable to side-shift the first shuttle relative to the frame; a second shuttle comprising a second fork attachment member for receiving a second fork; and, a second fork actuator operable to side-shift the second shuttle relative to the frame; wherein the first and second fork actuators are operable to side-shift the first and second shuttles to alter the distance therebetween; and, wherein the first and second actuators are located above the first and second fork attachment members. In a second aspect, the present disclosure may provide a side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine comprising: a frame comprising a coupling portion for attaching the sliding fork carrier to the material handling machine; a first shuttle comprising a first fork attachment member for receiving a first fork; a first fork actuator operable to side-shift the first shuttle relative to the frame; a second shuttle comprising a second fork attachment member for receiving a second fork; and, a second fork actuator operable to side-shift the second shuttle relative to the frame; wherein the first and second fork actuators are operable in a first mode in which the position of the first and second shuttles are side-shifted to alter the lateral distance therebetween, and a second mode in which the first and second shuttles are shifted in a common direction at a common speed such that the lateral distance therebetween remains constant. In a third aspect, the present disclosure may provide a side-shift fork carriage for a material handling machine comprising: a frame co