Hyster - Yale Group, Inc.

Hyster-yale Materials Handling, Inc.

Dan Miller

Nicholas M Draayer

Ryan McDermott

Mark A Cheyne

Edmund Jerome Stilwell

John Santiago

Edmund Stilwell

Mark Cheyne

Nick Draayer

John F Santiago

Lift trucks are designed with a common chassis and can accommodate different form factors and different energy sources. According to one example, a chassis for a configurable sit-down counterbalanced forklift truck comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side. A chassis compartment is situated between the front side and the rear side and between the left side and right side of the chassis. The chassis compartment is configured to fit within the chassis compartment one of a plurality of different types of power plants for the forklift truck and one of a plurality of different types of power sources. The chassis compartment is configured to hold one of a plurality of different designs of counterweights on or in a rear portion of the chassis compartment. The chassis is configured to support one of a plurality of different operator compartment modules attached atop the chassis.

Lift truck having advantageous design elements

Lift trucks designed with a common chassis can include an ergonomically improved operator compartment, wheels, lift assembly, power plant, energy source, steering, seat, and counterweight components. Modular chassis designs can accommodate different form factors and different energy sources to accommodate different end uses of the lift truck, including lift trucks having a low floor, seatside steering, and/or a combination of operator-inaccessible compartments for high-reliability components and operator-accessible components for components that may require more frequent or convenient access. In one embodiment, the energy source is a lithium-ion battery bank in an operator-inaccessible compartment under a low, broad floor that facilitates easy entry into and exit from the operator compartment as well as ergonomic operation by the operator.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Dan Miller