Reusable Cradle System and Method for a Material Handling Vehicle
A method for rotating a material handling vehicle having a cradle system between an upright position and a horizontal position includes with the material handling vehicle in the upright position, attaching at least one sleigh of the cradle system to a base of the material handling vehicle. The method further includes rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position, such that a first portion of the sleigh contacts a ground surface and a second portion of the sleigh does not contact the ground surface, and attaching a first end of a first leg and a first end of a second leg of the cradle system to a mast of the material handling vehicle, such that the second end of the first leg and the second end of the second leg contact the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
1 . A method for rotating a material handling vehicle having a cradle system between an upright position and a horizontal position, the method comprising:
with the material handling vehicle in the upright position, attaching at least one sleigh of the cradle system to a base of the material handling vehicle, such that a second portion of the sleigh extends along a bottom side of the base and a first portion of the sleigh extends along a rear side of the base;
rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position, such that the first portion of the sleigh contacts a ground surface and the second portion of the sleigh does not contact the ground surface; and
attaching a first end of a first leg and a first end of a second leg of the cradle system to a mast of the material handling vehicle, such that a second end of the first leg and a second end of the second leg contact the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are attached to the mast of the material handling vehicle prior to the material handling vehicle reaching the horizontal position, the method further comprising:
lowering the material handling vehicle to the horizontal position after the first leg and the second leg are attached to the mast.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
securing a fork of the material handling vehicle to the at least one sleigh.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removably attaching a brace of the cradle system between the first leg and the second leg.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching at least one sleigh of the cradle system to a base of the material handling vehicle comprises attaching two sleighs to the base of the material handling vehicle, the method further comprising:
inserting a crossmember of the cradle system into an opening in each of the two sleighs.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the at least one sleigh comprises the first portion, the second portion perpendicular to the first portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion of the outer surface defining a curved shape.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the third portion of the outer surface of the at least one sleigh contacts the ground surface while rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sleigh comprises a pad disposed on the first portion of the outer surface of the sleigh, and wherein the pad contacts the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
9 . A method for rotating a material handling vehicle having a cradle system between an upright position and a horizontal position, the method comprising:
with the material handling vehicle in the upright position, attaching at least one sleigh of the cradle system to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein an outer surface of the at least one sleigh comprises a first portion, a second portion perpendicular to the first portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion defining a curved shape;
rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position along the outer surface of the at least one sleigh; and
attaching at least one leg of the cradle system to a mast of the material handling vehicle, such that the at least one leg contacts a ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third portion of the outer surface contacts the ground surface during the rotating.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the outer surface of the at least one sleigh contacts the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the upright position.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the outer surface of the at least one sleigh extends along a bottom side of the base.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the at least one sleigh contacts the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizonal position.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the at least one sleigh extends along a rear side of the base.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sleigh includes a pad disposed on the first portion of the outer surface, and wherein the pad contacts the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
attaching a brace of the cradle system to the at least one leg.
17 . A method for positioning a material handling vehicle in a horizontal position using a cradle system, the method comprising:
attaching a first sleigh of the cradle system to a first side of a base of the material handling vehicle and attaching a second sleigh of the cradle system to a second side of the base opposite the first side;
inserting a crossmember of the cradle system into an opening in each of the first sleigh and the second sleigh;
rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position along outer surfaces of the first sleigh and the second sleigh; and
attaching a first leg of the cradle system to a first side of a mast of the material handling vehicle and attaching a second leg of the cradle system to a second side of the mast opposite the first side, such that the first leg and the second leg contact a ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the first sleigh and the second sleigh is configured to receive a fork of the material handling vehicle.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the first leg and the second leg includes a roller, and wherein the rollers contact the ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.
20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
attaching a brace of the cradle system between the first leg and the second leg.