GB2277869A

GB2277869A - Safety restraining device for the driver of a lift truck

Info

Publication number: GB2277869A
Application number: GB9406838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Niebuhr
Original assignee: Jungheinrich AG
Current assignee: Jungheinrich AG
Priority date: 1993-05-12
Filing date: 1994-04-07
Publication date: 1994-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-07
Also published as: GB9406838D0; ITMI940889A0; DE4315824A1; FR2705069A1; IT1271644B; ITMI940889A1; DE4315824C2; FR2705069B1; GB2277869B

Description

2277869 1 A Restraining Device for the Driver's Seat of a Lift Truck The

present invention relates to a restraining device for the driver's seat of a lift truck.

It has become known for lift trucks to use automotive vehicle restraining systems comprising pelvic, three-point and braces belts. Such restraining systems are not widely accepted by the drivers of lift trucks, however, because they are relatively complicated and time consuming to put on and restrict the freedom of movement in the driver's shoulder area. There is a reluctance to use known restraining systems even though it has become known that severe and lethal accidents can result if the driver purposely or inadvertently leaves the seat during operation of the lift truck.

EP-A-0057063 discloses a pivotable protective bracket comprising a pair of U-shaped portions connected to each other by a restraining rod. One leg of the U-shaped portions is mounted to the front portion of the driver's cabin, so as to be pivotal about a horizontal axis, while the restraining rod engages the free end of the other legs.

The structure of such a protective bracket is relatively complex and restrictive as to freedom of movement in the driver's leg area.

The problem to be solved is thus to provide a restraining device for the driver's seat of a lift truck, which restricts the freedom of movement of the driver during operation as little as possible yet nevertheless provides for effective protection from accidents.

According to the present invention, there is provided a restraining device for the driver's seat of a lift truck, wherein a restraining means is provided comprising a pair of arcuate pivoting arms, each having a rear portion pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis and 2 a front restraining portion adjustable between a rest position laterally of a driver's seat and a restraining position in front of the pelvic area of a driver when the pivoting arms are pivoted, and a releasable locking means is provided to lock the pivoting arms in the rest position.

According to a further development of the invention, each of the restraining portions preferably includes padding to be upholstered and preferably includes at least a portion which is pivotally mounted, for example intermediate its ends, so as to be adaptable to various driver body dimensions.

The pivoting arms may thus form arm rests, and the rear portions of the pivoting arms may be disposed within a housing at the rear side of a back rest of the seat and extend outwards through a transverse slot in the housing.

According to a further development of the invention the pivoting arms preferably co-operate at their rear ends with a coupling mechanism such that they are pivotal in synchronism. To this end, according to a further development of the invention, the rear portions of the pivoting arms cross each other, and each of the crossed portions includes a longitudinal slot through which a pin extends. Preferably the pin is guided so as to be adjustable perpendicularly to the back rest of the driver's seat.

As an alternative it is possible to provide a slot in one arm and a pin in the other arm or a push-pull linkage to provide for the required synchronisation.

The restraining device of the present invention may be readily put into use. When it is in the rest position laterally of the seat it provides sufficient space for the driver to enter the truck so that even drivers of substantial dimensions are not restricted as to freedom of movement. The driver may pi'vot the arms to in f ront of the pelvic area by pulling the restraining portions forwards so as to lock them in the restraining position. It is to be noted that an adjustment drive may be provided for 3 performing the described displacement of the pivoting arms. To this end there may be provided at least one release member for actuating the adjustment drive, for example buttons on the upper side or in other areas of the pivoting arms. It is possible to use the same button for unlocking the locking means so that both pivoting arms are pivoted back from the restraining position into the rest position when the button is pushed. of course, separate actuating members may be provided for the locking means and the adjustment drive. As an alternative a switch or a sensor may be included in the seat in order to automatically pivot the pivoting arms to the restraining position when the driver sits down on the seat. Release of the pivoting arms may then be performed by an actuating member.

The restraining device of the present invention retains the operator safely on the seat when there is an accident, and restriction of freedom of movement in operation is minimal.

The restraining device of the present invention may be mounted subsequently to existing vehicles or seats and requires little space.

An example of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a driver's seat with a schematically shown driver and a restraining device of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the driver's seat and the restraining device of Fig. 1 but without the driver.

As shown in Fig. 1, a lift truck includes a front seat assembly (not shown) and a seat 10 - the seat 10, which may be mounted in the lift truck so as to be adjustable for example by means of slide tracks 12, includes a seat portion 14 having a seat surface 16 and a back rest 18.

As shown in Fig. 2, the seat 10 has associated therewith a restraining device comprising a pair of 4 pivoting arms 20, 22. The arms 20, 22 each comprise an arcuate restraining portion 24, 26 provided with padding. A rear portion 28, 30 is mounted to the restraining portion 24, 26 so as to extend therefrom substantially perpendicularly, the ends of the rear portions 28, 30 being mounted at 32 to the rear side of the back rest 18 so as to be pivotal about a substantially vertical axis. The shape of the pivoting arms, their dimensions and their pivotal mountings are such that the restraining 10 portions 24, 26 can be pivoted from a rest position shown in solid lines to a restraining position shown in dotted lines. More particularly, the restraining portions 24, 26 each move in a circular arc to a location in front of the is pelvis of a driver 34. The free ends of the restraining portions 24, 26 are spaced apart by a distance A which is small enough to allow for restraining also of drivers of small body dimensions in case of an accident. When in the rest position, the free ends are spaced apart by a distance 20 B which is sufficient to allow for drivers of substantial body dimensions readily to sit down on the seat 10. As may be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 the pivoting arms 20, 22 and, respectively, the restraining portions 24, 26 are arranged so that they serve also as arm rests. The crossing rear portions 28, 30 are provided with longitudinal slots 36, 38 through which a pin 40 extends. The pin 40 is mounted so as to be displaceable transversely to the back rest 18 so as to allow for synchronous displacements of the pivoting arms 20, 22. A portion of 30 each of the rear portions 28, 30 is disposed within a housing 42 and is held in a corresponding transverse slot allowing pivotal movements of the pivoting arms 20, 22. Furthermore, the pivoting arms 20, 22 are guided by such_a slot and are supported from below. The pivoting arms 20, 22 have associated therewith a locking means (not shown) for retaining the pivoting arms in the restraining position. only when the driver arbitrarily releases the pivoting arms 20, 22 can they be pivoted back into the rest position. To this end, push buttons 44, 46 may be provided on the upper side of the restraining portions 24, 26, which push buttons can be connected to the locking means (not shown) via a linkage or a tie cable.

As may be seen the pivoting arms 20, 22 can be actuated by the driver and pivoted into the restraining position. Similarly the driver may return the arms 20, 22 to the rest position. As an alternative it would be possible to provide for semi or fully automatic operation.

For example it is possible to provide a pneumatic or electrical drive for displacing the arms 20, 22 to and from the restraining position when it is released. To this end is a release member (not shown) may be provided, which release member may be coupled to the push buttons 44, 46. The seat surface 16 may have associated therewith a sensor for detecting that the driver has sat down so as to allow for automatic displacement of the pivoting arms 20, 22 into the restraining position. The arms 20, 22 could be provided with spring means for biasing the arms 20, 22 towards either the restraining position or the rest position.

It would be possible to integrate the pivoting arms 20, 22 into a safety device for the lift truck for example, it would be possible to provide that operation of the lift truck is prevented until the pivoting arms 20, 22 are in the restraining position.

As may be appreciated the restraining device as shown may be subsequently mounted to a lift truck. Furthermore its space requirements are minimal, and it can be readily assembled. Because it is an integral part of the seat 10, the seat 10 may be adjusted within wide limits without interfering with the operation of the restraining device.

Finally, if the restraining portions 24, 26 are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends, preferably about vertical axes, in a manner similar to the pivotal mounting 6 of nose supports of glasses, an even better adaptation to the respective body dimensions of the drivers is achieved.

7

Claims

1. A restraining device for the driver's seat of a lift truck, wherein a restraining means is provided comprising a pair of arcuate pivoting arms, each having a rear portion pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis and a front restraining portion adjustable between a rest position laterally of a driver's seat and a restraining position in front of the pelvic area of a driver when the pivoting arms are pivoted, and a releasable locking means is provided to lock the pivoting arms in the rest position.

2. A restraining device according to claim 1, in which the restraining portions of the pivoting arms are upholstered.

is

3. A restraining device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each of the restraining portions is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends.

4. A restraining device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the pivoting arms have their rear ends co- operate with a coupling mechanism such that they are pivotal in synchronism.

5. A restraining device according to claim 4, in which the rear portions of the pivoting arms cross each other and each of the crossed portions includes a longitudinal slot through which a pin extends.

6. A restraining device according to any preceding claim, in which the pivoting arms form arm rests.

7. A restraining device according to any preceding claim, in which the rear portions of the pivoting arms are disposed within a housing at the rear side of a back rest of the seat and extend outwards through a transverse slot in the housing.

8. A restraining device according to any preceding claim, in which an actuating member is mounted to the restraining portions of the pivoting arms for releasing the locking means.

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9. A restraining device according to claim 8, in which the actuating member is in the f orm of at least one release button.

10. A restraining device according to any preceding claim, in which the pivoting arms have associated therewith an adjustment drive actuatable by a release member.

11. A restraining device according to claim 8 and claim 10, in which the actuating member is also the release member.

12. A restraining device substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.