SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING LIFT CYLINDER BUCKLING RESISTANCE

摘要

A lift truck can include a mast and a lift cylinder. The lift cylinder can include a piston rod and a cylinder housing. The lift truck also can include a piston rod retention mechanism that restricts movement of the lift cylinder in a direction lateral to an axial direction when the mast is in an extended position.

主权项

1. A lift truck comprising:
a mast comprising:
a first mast section having a first mast rail member;a second mast section having a second mast rail member movably coupled to the first mast rail member and movable along an axial direction relative to the first mast rail member between a retracted position and an extended position;a lift cylinder comprising a piston rod and a cylinder housing disposed concentrically about the piston rod and movably coupled to the piston rod along the axial direction, the piston rod having a piston rod bottom and an outer piston rod diameter, the cylinder housing having a cylinder housing top and an outer cylinder housing diameter that is larger than the outer piston rod diameter; anda piston rod retention mechanism affixed to the first mast rail member, the lift cylinder is operable to extend and retract the mast in the axial direction by moving the second mast section with respect to the first mast section, and the piston rod retention mechanism restricts movement of the lift cylinder in a direction lateral to the axial direction when the mast is in the extended position.