Leveling system for lift device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858231-B2
Application number	US-201916673162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2019
Priority date	Nov 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A lift device includes a base, an arm, a drive actuator, a tractive element, and a steering actuator. The arm has a base end coupled to the base and a tractive element end. The arm includes a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm. The drive actuator is pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm. The tractive element is coupled to the drive actuator. The steering actuator has a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator. The arm includes a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm and past the steering actuator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lift device comprising:
a base;
an arm having (i) a longitudinal portion with a base end coupled to the base and (ii) a lateral portion with a tractive element end, the lateral portion extending from an end of the longitudinal portion opposite the base end, the arm including a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm;
a drive actuator pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm;
a tractive element coupled to the drive actuator; and
a steering actuator having a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator;
wherein the arm includes a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm and past the steering actuator; and
wherein the plate extends forward from the lateral portion at an upward angle.

2. The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the lateral portion has an interior surface facing the base and the exterior surface facing away from the base.

3. The lift device of claim 2 , wherein the base defines a first interface and a second interface, wherein the arm includes a pivot actuator interface positioned along the interior surface of the lateral portion, wherein the base end of the longitudinal portion includes a base interface pivotally coupled to the first interface of the base, further comprising a pivot actuator having a third end coupled to the second interface of the base and an opposing fourth end coupled to the pivot actuator interface of the lateral portion.

4. The lift device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of a bottom surface of the lateral portion is angled, and wherein the plate is continuous with the portion of the bottom surface that is angled.

5. The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the arm is a first arm, the plate is a first plate, the steering actuator is a first steering actuator, and the drive actuator is a first drive actuator, further comprising a second arm coupled to an opposing side of the base.

6. The lift device of claim 5 , wherein the first arm and the second arm have a different shape or structure, and wherein the second arm does not include at least one of a second steering actuator, a second plate, or a second drive actuator.

7. The lift device of claim 5 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are identical in shape and structure.

8. The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the drive actuator is pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm by a kingpin, further comprising a steering sensor positioned atop the kingpin.

9. A lift device comprising:
a base;
an arm including:
a longitudinal portion with a base end coupled to the base;
a lateral portion with a tractive element end, the lateral portion extending (i) from an end of the longitudinal portion opposite the base end and (ii) perpendicularly from the longitudinal portion such that the arm has a L-shaped structure;
a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm; and
a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm;

a drive actuator pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm;
a tractive element coupled to the drive actuator; and
a steering actuator having a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator, wherein the plate extends past the steering actuator.

10. A lift device comprising:
a base;
an arm including:
a longitudinal portion with a base end coupled to the base;
a lateral portion with a tractive element end, the lateral portion extending (i) from an end of the longitudinal portion opposite the base end and (ii) at an obtuse angle from the longitudinal portion;
a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm; and
a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm;

a drive actuator pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm;
a tractive element coupled to the drive actuator; and
a steering actuator having a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator, wherein the plate extends past the steering actuator.

11. A lift device comprising:
a base defining a first interface and a second interface;
an arm including:
a longitudinal portion with a base end including a base interface pivotally coupled to the first interface of the base;
a lateral portion with a tractive element end, the lateral portion extending from an end of the longitudinal portion opposite the base end, the lateral portion having an interior surface facing the base and an exterior surface facing away from the base;
a steering actuator interface positioned along the exterior surface of the arm;
a pivot actuator interface positioned along the interior surface of the lateral portion; and
a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm;

a drive actuator pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm;
a tractive element coupled to the drive actuator;
a steering actuator having a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator, wherein the plate extends past the steering actuator;
a pivot actuator having a third end coupled to the second interface of the base and an opposing fourth end coupled to the pivot actuator interface of the lateral portion; and
a pressure sensor assembly including:
a first mount positioned along the pivot actuator;
a second mount positioned along the pivot actuator and spaced from the first mount; and
a cover extending along the pivot actuator and coupled to the first mount and the second mount;
wherein at least one of the first mount or the second mount is configured to facilitate coupling a pressure sensor to the pivot actuator.

12. The lift device of claim 1 , A lift device comprising:
a base;
an arm having a base end coupled to the base and a tractive element end, the arm including (i) a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm and (ii) a plate extending forward of the exterior surface of the arm;
a drive actuator pivotally coupled to the tractive element end of the arm;
a tractive element coupled to the drive actuator; and
a steering actuator having a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the drive actuator, wherein the plate extends past the steering actuator;
wherein the base includes a first end plate, a second end plate, a first side plate extending between first ends of the first end plate and the second end plate, and a second side plate extending between opposing second ends of the first end plate and the second end plate;
wherein the first end plate, the second end plate, the first side plate, and the second side plate define an interior chamber;
wherein the base end of the arm is coupled to the first end plate; and
wherein the first end plate (i) defines an aperture that facilitates passing at least one of hosing or wiring through the first end plate and (ii) has a tab positioned at a bottom edge of the aperture and extending from the first end plate into the interior chamber, the tab facilitates securing the at least one of the hosing or the wiring thereto using a retainer.

13. The lift device of claim 12 , wherein the tab defines notches at opposing ends thereof that prevent the retainer from sliding off of the tab.

14. A lift device comprising:
a base defining a first interface and a second interface;
an arm including:
a first portion having a first end defining a third interface that is pivotally coupled to the

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Holmes Jesse
• Marinoiu Constantin B
• Smith Stephen Z
• Hackenberg Eric
• Hao Jihong
• Sivasubramanian Harish
• Amsallen Marcel

Classifications

• B60G2300/06

  Cranes · CPC title

• B62D7/142

  specially adapted for particular vehicles, e.g. tractors, carts, earth-moving vehicles, trucks · CPC title

• B60G17/005

  Suspension locking arrangements {(for retractable wheels B62D61/12)} · CPC title

• B66F11/046 Primary

  of the telescoping type · CPC title

• B66F9/07586

  Suspension or mounting of wheels on chassis · CPC title