Fork-carriage apparatus for a lift truck and valve assembly therefor

1. A pivot frame assembly pivotably mountable in a fork-carriage apparatus for pivoting a fork assembly about a horizontal pivot axis, the pivot frame assembly comprising:

a) a lower cross member located below and extending perpendicular to the pivot axis;

b) an upper cross member located above and extending perpendicular to the pivot axis;

c) a pair of laterally spaced apart first and second side members connecting the upper and lower cross members, the pivot axis laterally intermediate the first and second side members;

d) a fork assembly mounting shaft supported by the first and second side members, the fork assembly mounting shaft extending along a fork shaft axis located above and perpendicular to the pivot axis; and

e) a reinforced central support member laterally intermediate the first and second side members and connecting the upper and lower cross members, the central support member including:

i) a base plate fixed atop the lower cross member,

ii) a pivot plate oriented in a pivot plate plane normal to the pivot axis, the pivot plate fixed atop the base plate,

iii) a pivot plate hole extending through the pivot plate along the pivot axis for receiving a pivot shaft of the fork-carriage apparatus for pivotably mounting the pivot frame assembly,

iv) a fork plate oriented in a fork plate plane normal to the fork shaft axis, the fork plate having a fork plate bottom portion fixed to the pivot plate and an opposed fork plate top portion fixed to the upper cross member,

v) a fork plate hole extending through the fork plate top portion along the fork shaft axis, the fork assembly mounting shaft passing through the fork plate hole and supported by the fork plate, and

vi) a pair of laterally spaced apart first and second gussets each having a gusset bottom edge fixed to the base plate, a gusset top edge above the gusset bottom edge and fixed to the fork plate bottom portion, and a gusset side edge extending between the gusset bottom and top edges and fixed to the pivot plate, wherein the pivot axis is laterally intermediate the first and second gussets and vertically intermediate the gusset bottom and top edges.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot plate includes: a laterally extending pivot plate bottom portion fixed to the base plate; a pivot plate top portion spaced above the pivot plate bottom portion and fixed to the fork plate bottom portion, the pivot plate hole extending through the pivot plate top portion; a pair of laterally spaced apart pivot plate side support portions connecting the pivot plate top and bottom portions; and a pivot plate central support portion laterally intermediate and spaced apart from the pivot plate side support portions and connecting the pivot plate top and bottom portions.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fork plate plane intersects the pivot axis and the pivot plate central support portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot plate includes a pivot plate front face oriented parallel to the pivot plate plane, and the gusset side edges are fixed to the pivot plate front face.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the pivot plate includes a pivot plate rear face axially opposite the pivot plate front face and oriented parallel to the pivot plate plane, and the lower cross member includes a lower cross member rear face oriented parallel to the pivot plate plane, and wherein the pivot plate rear face is generally flush with the lower cross member rear face.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fork plate bottom portion has a mount portion axially overlapping the pivot plate and fixed thereto, and an overhang portion projecting axially forward of the pivot plate front face, and wherein each gusset top edge is fixed to the overhang portion.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the overhang portion has laterally opposite side faces each oriented parallel to the fork plate plane, and each gusset top edge is fixed to a respective one of the side faces.

8. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the base plate has a pivot plate support portion atop which the pivot plate is fixed, and a gusset support portion axially forward of the pivot plate front face and atop which each gusset bottom edge is fixed.