CA1196609A - Drum handling attachment for fork lift - Google Patents

Abstract

DRUM HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT
Abstract of the Disclosure A drum-handling attachment is mounted on the forks of a fork lift truck. The attachment includes a tilt frame which carries a clamp mechanism comprising a fixed clamp section and a clamp section mounted for reciprocable movement toward and away from the fixed clamp section. A tilt actuator swings the frame from a first position wherein the clamp mechanism is disposed to grip the top of a drum and a second position wherein the drum is disposed horizontally. A pair of elongate drum supports are positioned to extend beneath and support a horizontally disposed drum.

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Description

6()9 DRUM HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR FORK LIFT
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to material-handling attachments for fork lift trucks and more particularly relates to attachments for handling drums or barrels.
The day-to~day operation of any facility devoted to testing and evaluating tractors and the like requires large amounts of lubrication and transmission oils and other fluids~ These fluids are often stored in drums or barrels which are stacked in racks and require tha~ drums from one central location be moved to test or service site locations. While attachments are known for use with fork lift trucks for handling drums, none of the attachments have the ability to stack drums horizontally in a rack.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an attachment for a fork lift truck for handling drums.
An object of the invention is to provide a drum-handling attachment for a fork lift which operates for grasping a drum and moving the same from 3 standin~ to a horizontal position for stacking in a rackO
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a drum-handling attachment having a clamping mechanism for clamping a drum akout its top and being mounted on a vertically pivoted tilt frame which is hydraulically swingable so as to place the drum in a horizontal position for permitting it to be stacked and vice versa.
These and other objects will be apparent from a reading of the ensuin~ description together with the appended drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings FI~. 1 is a left side elevational view oE a fork lift truck having attached thereto a drum-handling attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in solid lines in a first position for gripping a standing drum and in dashed lines in a second position holding a drum horizontally for stacking.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the attachment shown in solid lines in FIG. 1.

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1 Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawing, therein is shown a fork lift truck 10 having a vertical mast 12 to which a pair of forks 14 are mounted for vertical movement. The forks 14 include horizontal tine portions 16.
A drum-handlin~ attachment 18 is mo~nted on the horizontal tine portions 16. Specifically, the attachment 18 comprises a main frame 20 including a rectangular baseplate 22 overlying the tines and having receptacles 24 fixed to the underside thereof and releasably receiving the tines. A tilt frame 26 includes a rectangular baseplate 28 vertically pivotally connected, as at 30, to the forward end of the baseplate 22 of the main frame 20. A hydraulic tilt actuator 32 is connected between the frames 20 and 26 and is operable for selectively pivoting the frame 26 from a first position wherein it extends horizontally, as shown in FIG. 1, to a second position wherein it extends vertically, as shown in FIG. 1.
A clamp mechanism is mounted on the tilt frame 26 and includes a first clamp section 34 in the form of a cylindrically curved rectangular plate having an upper edge fixed to a rear central location of the underside of the baseplate 28 so that the section is in a forwardly opening disposition. A pair of transversely spaced, fore~and-aft extending openings 36 and 38 are located in the baseplate 28 forwardly of the clamp section 34. A U-shaped member 40 has opposite legs received in the openings, and fixed to the lower ends of the legs is a second clamp section 42, which is also formed o~ a cylindrically bent rectangular plate and is disposed so as to open rearwardly. A
pair of hydraulic clamp actuators 44 and 46 are connected between the tilt frame 26 and the biyht of the U-shaped member 40 and are operable in unison for moving the clamp section 42 towards and away from the clamp section 34 so as to grip or release a drum top located therebetween. Fixed to the opposite ends of the fixed clamp section 34 and to the underside of the baseplate 28 are respective upper end portions of elongate drum supports 50 and 52, which extend perpendicular relative the baseplate. The drum supports 50 and 52 are separated from each other by a dis~ance which is less than the diameter of any drum i~tended to be handled by the attachment 18, and are located so as to be rearwardly of a transverse vertical plane extending 1 centrally through such a drum. The drum supports will then cooperate with the clamp sections to support a drum as it is pivoted from a standing position to a horizontal position through operation of the tilt actuator. Fixed across the front of the baseplate 28 is a pusher bar 4~ which may be engaged with the end of a horizontally stacked drum so as to push the drum rearwardly, if necessary to properly stack the latter, by driving the truck forwardly.
The operation of the drum-handling attachment is briefly as follows. Assuming that the lift truck 10 i5 adjacent a standing drum which is ~ull of fluid and that it is desired to place the drum horizontally on a storage rack, the tilt actuator 32 will be extended so as to place the tilt frame 26 in its first position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, wherein the baseplate 28 is horizontal. The forks 14 will be elevated to a height sufficient for the clamp mechanism to clear ~he top of the drum and the lift truck will be driven to position the clamp mechanism above the drum. The forks 14 are then lowered until the baseplate 28 rests on the drum top. The clamp actuators 44 and 46 are then retracted to move the clamp section 42 toward the clamp section 34 so as to grasp the drum. The forks 14 are then elevated to lift the drum, and the tilt actuator 32 is then retracted so as to pivot the drum to a horizontal position~ The lift truck is then driven to position the drum over a rack. The drum supports 50 and 52 are at this time cooperating with the clamp mechanism to support the drum. The forks are then lowered to place the drum in the rack, the actuators 44 and 46 extended to release the drum and the truck backed up to leave the drum.
If the drum is not far enough rearward in the rack, the tilt actuator is again extended so as to dispose the pusher bar 48 forwardly. The truck 10 is then driven forwardly so as to engage the pusher 48 against the drum end and shove the drum rearwardly in the rack~

Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS
CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a drum-handling attachment adapted for connection to horizontal end portions of fork lift forks and including a main frame, a tilt frame vertically pivotally connected to the main frame, a hydraulic tilt actuator connected between the main and secondary frames for swinging the secondary frame vertically, and hydraulically operable drum clamp means mounted on the secondary frame for grasping the circumference of a drum, the improvement comprising: said tilt frame including a baseplate and having a first position wherein the baseplate extends generally horizontally from the main frame; said clamp means including clamp members mounted to the baseplate for engagement with the circumference of an upper end of a drum when the tilt frame is in its first position and located over the upper end of the drum, a pair of elongate drum support members having respective end portions fixed to the tilt frame at transversely spaced locations separated by a distance less than the diametral dimension of a drum intended to be handled, with said drum support members extending vertically from said baseplate when the tilt frame is in its first position; and said tilt actuator and main and tilt frames being so arranged relative to each other such that upon actuation of said tilt actuator said tilt frame is pivoted from its first position to a second position wherein the elongate drum support members extend horizontally beneath and support a drum grasped by said clamp members, whereby a fork lift operator can then place the drum horizontally on a storage rack.

2. The drum-handling attachment set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp members comprise first and second opposed cylindrically curved members with said first member being fixed to said baseplate of said tilt frame and said second member being reciprocably mounted on said baseplate of said tilt frame for fore-and-aft movement toward and away from said first curved member.

3. The drum-handling attachment set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongate members are fixed to respective ends of said first cylindrically curved member.

4. The drum-handling attachment set forth in claim 2 wherein a pusher bar is fixed across an end of said tilt frame whereby said pusher is operable for engaging and moving a drum rearwardly on a rack.