Utility Cycling - human powered fork lift?

Does anyone make one?

NO ............ Only a skid jack which is capable of raising one loaded skid a few inches of the ground. Then to roll the whole affair across the floor 2 or 200 ft.

A human powered Fork Lift would be virtually impossible to make and not at all useable. The single most important aspect of a F.L. is that it weigh several tons.
Lifting a skid 6 to 10 or more feet in the air requires that the F.L. doesn't tip.
They require HP and a great deal of mechanical advantage, gearing leverage to lift.
Skids can weigh 300lbs. to 1,100lbs. or more. Think about it.
And if you're wondering how they did it in the Olden Days... they didn't; everything was hand stacked, just like in parts of the world now. Some use a block & tackle method hoisting all up with a net.

NO ............ Only a skid jack which is capable of raising one loaded skid a few inches of the ground. Then to roll the whole affair across the floor 2 or 200 ft.

A human powered Fork Lift would be virtually impossible to make and not at all useable. The single most important aspect of a F.L. is that it weigh several tons.
Lifting a skid 6 to 10 or more feet in the air requires that the F.L. doesn't tip.
They require HP and a great deal of mechanical advantage, gearing leverage to lift.
Skids can weigh 300lbs. to 1,100lbs. or more. Think about it.
And if you're wondering how they did it in the Olden Days... they didn't; everything was hand stacked, just like in parts of the world now. Some use a block & tackle method hoisting all up with a net.

Thanks, that was very insightful.

Thanks, that was very insightful.

Just saw "On The Water Front " again recently for the fifth time. It's about the docks.
In the past 50 or less years, huge improvement have been made in materials handling.
In the movie, many man with hoist nets were needed. Go to a port now, HUGE machines.
Little manpower is used to un-laod ships. Handling merchandise in warehouse and off of
RailRoads has improve ten fold in that time. As it pertains to bicycles; one needs to
look at third world countries to see just how bikes, human power is still best exploited.

Actually, a Human pedal powered fork lift wouldn't be that difficult to design and build. As for it's usefullness, well that's a different matter. But on smooth, flat, hard surfaces, 100 kgs to 2 metres would be possible. Having worked as a Research & Development Engineer for both Caterpillar and Claas farm machinery on their Telescopic handlers and rough terrain forklift truck products, and now having just started started my own small scale manufacturering business called Cargo-Cycles, I know just a bit about the actual engineering requirements involved. Don't hold your breath though, a pedal powered fork lift truck is not on my list of priorities to either design or build.

Here you go. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/humanpowered_fo.php

Here you go. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/humanpowered_fo.php

Glorified pallet jack, NOT a forklift. Read what I and the other fellow wrote describing a forklift's criteria. That thing looks handy for sure, better than most P. jacks, couldn't be used with a typically loaded skid, not that I would allow.

Actually, a Human pedal powered fork lift wouldn't be that difficult to design and build. As for it's usefullness, well that's a different matter. But on smooth, flat, hard surfaces, 100 kgs to 2 metres would be possible. Having worked as a Research & Development Engineer for both Caterpillar and Claas farm machinery on their Telescopic handlers and rough terrain forklift truck products, and now having just started started my own small scale manufacturering business called Cargo-Cycles, I know just a bit about the actual engineering requirements involved. Don't hold your breath though, a pedal powered fork lift truck is not on my list of priorities to either design or build.

It seems like the best way to lift 100kgs 2m is just to have 2-3 guys lift it and the extra speed is probably enough to offset the extra men.

Do you have a website for your new business?

It seems like the best way to lift 100kgs 2m is just to have 2-3 guys lift it and the extra speed is probably enough to offset the extra men.

Do you have a website for your new business?

A) UK manual handling legal requirement for one person is a maximum of 25 kg to a maximum height of 1 metre.

B) Web-site for my Cargo Cycles will be up and running in February 2010, that is when the products will be released to the market place. .... .... ... The range, features, and build quality are going to take the cargo and utility bike world by storm, so keep your eyes peeled for the launch.

A) UK manual handling legal requirement for one person is a maximum of 25 kg to a maximum height of 1 metre.

That's ridiculous. This is how we do it here in America:
http://cdn.nextsmallthings.com/coolchaser.com/image-2538591.jpg

Electric forklifts use a pretty small amount of energy. The amount of extra work involved in using a man powered forklift can't be worth it. Plus the weight of a forklift is completely necesary for it to be able to lift. I work in a warehouse and our average pallet is about 1000 kgs, if I need to lift 30kgs I just pick it up with my hands.

Here you go. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/humanpowered_fo.php
I thought abut these pallet jack designs for awhile today. two warehouses that I worked in could've used these. One place had mostly a wooden floor that can't support the weight of an elect. fork lift. Dragging a conventional p. jack was awkward and difficult to negotiate corners. Unloading lighter pallets from the street presented problems driving the fork lift over bumps. One of these light ones would make be handy.
Another place I worked had a big warehouse, I didn't work in it but sold stuff upstairs. A mschine as posted would've freed-up the always busy, complaing fork lift drivers; the light stuff could be jocky'd about by just about anyone, not requiring certification to drive a F.Lift, very handy.
Anyway cman, interesting example of human powered machines having mechanical advantage , which is the point. My old friend may end-up getting one for his store, he was impressed too.

It'd be just the thing if you worked at a styrofoam plate and cup plant.......
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