A drive unit includes a support frame, a drive wheel and a prime mover. The support frame is disposed to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The drive wheel is supported by the support frame. The prime mover is supported by the support frame. The prime mover drives the drive wheel. The support frame and at least one member form a pivot unit. The at least one member pivots together with the support frame. The pivot unit has a center of gravity disposed on the opposite side of the pivot axis with respect to the drive wheel.

A system for a pallet truck load wheel mechanism comprises a logic device and first and second sensor arrangements. The first and second sensor arrangements include first and second sensing fields that define first and second edges of an operability window, respectively. The logic device has an operable state indicating that the load wheel mechanism can raise a pallet lifting device and an inoperable state indicating that the load wheel mechanism should not raise the pallet lifting device. The logic device is initialized in the operable state and is configured to change to the inoperable state in response to each time the first sensor arrangement detects an edge of a board intersecting, the first edge of the operability window and to change to the operable state in response to each time the second sensor arrangement detects an edge of a board intersecting the second edge of the operability window.

Apparatuses and systems that yield a zero torque steer for a pallet truck or similar vehicle are disclosed. In an embodiment, a motor is attached to a final drive. The final drive is equipped to a steer assembly such as a tiller that includes a drive wheel that is offset from the steering axis. The offset is determined on the basis of the drive wheel radius, divided by the ratio of the final drive. The ratio of the final drive is determined by selection of the sizes of a first and second gear. In embodiments, the first and second gears provide a right angle drive. The drive wheel creates a torque due to the offset that counteracts torque imposed by operation of the drive motor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

The present disclosure is related to an electric pallet truck. The electric pallet truck includes a frame, a lifting unit, and a walking unit. The lifting unit is configured to adjust a height of the frame. The walking unit is configured to drive the frame to move. The lifting unit includes a lifting mechanism fixedly connected to the frame and a hydraulic mechanism configured to control a lifting of the lifting mechanism. The walking unit includes a driving mechanism configured at a bottom of the lifting mechanism.

A steerable carriage for moving a wheeled object comprising at least one engagement device (3) configured to engage with and elevate a wheel (5) of the wheeled object off the ground such that the wheeled object can be moved upon displacement of the carriage by transmitting a propulsion force from the carriage to the wheeled object via the at least one engagement device, wherein the at least one engagement device comprises: a support device (12), an actuating device (13) movable with respect to the support device such as to cause the wheel to roll forward onto the support device and be held by the support device and the actuating device, wherein the support device comprises: a stopping member (18) movable between a folded position and a stopping position in which it is configured to stop forward motion of the wheel, and an activation member (23) configured to cause the stopping member to move from the folded position to the stopping position when the wheel is rolled onto the support device.

A pallet truck has a pressed and non-welded fork structure. The fork structure includes an elongate body portion and an outboard end portion integrally formed with the body portion. The body portion has a top wall and opposing sidewalls integrally formed with the top wall. The outboard end portion projects from the body portion and includes a tip sidewall defining a tip region for guiding entry of a fork assembly beneath a pallet.

Disclosed is an industrial vehicle, which includes a handle (32), a main vehicle frame (2), and a drive wheel assembly (33), a vertical column (1) being mounted on the main vehicle frame (2), the vertical column (1) comprising an upper top plate (11) and a back plate (13) connected to the upper top plate (11); the industrial vehicle also includes a controller (52), a pump station (53), and a jacking device (51) that abuts against the upper top plate (11); in the horizontal direction, the jacking device (51) is farther from the handle (32) than the drive wheel assembly (33). The foregoing industrial vehicle has high stability and stable lifting, optimizes the positional relationships of each component of the vehicle, and has a shorter vehicle body, such that a smaller turning radius is thus obtained.

Apparatus for moving different movable loads. The apparatus includes channels that can be engaged by a fork lift, pallet jack, or other powered mover. The apparatus also includes a mounting plate disposed between the channels. The mounting plate includes a receiver channel. The apparatus includes a plurality of load support tools that can selectively engage the receiver channel. The load support tools include different respective end effectors. A load can be engaged with the end effector of a selected load support tool such that the apparatus can move the load.

A transport apparatus includes a body; a fork having one portion supported by the body and another portion protruded from the body; a lifting unit; a control unit; a primary rotatable member mounted at a front end portion of the fork; an auxiliary rotatable member mounted at a rotatable-member-attaching position of the fork closer to a front end portion or a rear end portion of the fork compared to the primary rotatable member; and a step detection unit, disposed at a detection-unit-attaching position of the fork closer to the front end portion or closer to the rear end portion of the fork compared to the auxiliary rotatable member, and the step detection unit configured to detect a step member of a carriage base. The control unit lowers the fork using the lifting unit in response to a detection of the step member by the step detection unit.

A system for detachably coupling subassemblies to vehicles or other components is discussed herein. The system can include one or more driveshafts and worm drives to drive fasteners to couple the subassembly to the vehicle. The system can enable drive interfaces located in a substantially conventional location (e.g., located vertically on the bottom of the vehicle) to drive fasteners horizontally into the body or other subassembly. In this manner, fasteners can be hidden and to utilize blind holes in the body of the vehicle. The system can be partially disassembled in situ to enable parts replacement and fastener access in the event of a failure. The system can be used in conjunction with a robotic cart to enable subassemblies to be removed from the vehicle for service and repair. A portion of the system can also act as a portion of, or to reinforce, the crash structure of the vehicle.