Provided is a working vehicle capable of increasing lifting operation speed of a working device without increasing cost, even when provided with a circuit configuration that prioritizes a steering operation over a working device operation.

A wheel loader 1 comprises a priority valve 451 configured to allow hydraulic oil discharged from a hydraulic pump 41 to flow into a steering drive circuit 43 preferentially over a working device drive circuit 44, and further comprises: an electric steering lever 30; a pair of solenoid control valves 34A, 34B configured to control a steering directional control valve 33; and a controller 5. The controller 5 is configured to control the pair of solenoid control valves 34A, 34B so as to limit operation speed of a steering 3 when determining that an engine 40 is in a low idle state and a lift arm 21 is performing a lifting operation.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a first actuator coupled to the chassis, a second actuator coupled to the chassis, a third actuator coupled to the chassis, a fourth actuator coupled to the chassis, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit is configured to facilitate selectively fluidly coupling the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator, and the fourth actuator in a plurality of different configuration. In each of the plurality of different configurations, two of the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator, and the fourth actuator are fluidly coupled together while the other two of the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator, and the fourth actuator are fluidly decoupled.

A vehicle system includes a controller. The controller is configured to be communicably coupled to a plurality of actuators of a vehicle that facilitate repositioning a plurality of tractive elements coupled to a chassis of the vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) control the plurality of actuators to selectively reposition each of the plurality of tractive elements through a range of motion to attempt to maintain the chassis level and (ii) drive each of the plurality of actuators toward a mid-stroke position while continuing to attempt to maintain the chassis level and while the vehicle is moving.

A cargo handling vehicle includes a universal joint that allows an upper shaft to swing with respect to a lower shaft around a predetermined horizontal axis, a column tube that covers an outer periphery of the upper shaft, and a lockable gas spring that supports the upper shaft via the column tube. The gas spring is disposed under the column tube and connects a cowl with the column tube. The column tube has a cowl backing bracket that is disposed on a side of the universal joint and connected to the cowl, and the cowl supports the cowl backing bracket swingably around the horizontal axis.

A lift device includes a base, an arm, a tractive element, and a steering actuator. The arm has a base end coupled to the base and a tractive element end. The arm includes a steering actuator interface positioned along an exterior surface of the arm. The tractive element is coupled to the tractive element end. The steering actuator has a first end coupled to the steering actuator interface and an opposing second end coupled to the tractive element. The arm includes a plate extending from the exterior surface of the arm at an upward angle and past the steering actuator.

A transport vehicle includes two non-steered drive wheels, two non-driven steered load wheels, drive motors for driving the drive wheels, a steering target value encoder, a device for detecting the steering angle of one of the load wheels, and an electric control unit. An actuation of the steering target value encoder displaces a steering pole along a steering pole axis. The steering target value encoder steers each of the load wheels from a first position in which the load wheels' axes run parallel to the drive wheels' axes into a second position in which the load wheels' axes are oriented to the steering pole which lies between the drive wheels. The electronic control unit influences a rotational speed of the drive motors as a function of the steering angle and reverses a direction of rotation of at least one of the drive motors as a function of the steering angle.

A steering system (10) for a vehicle wheel (12) has a wheel carrier (14) for mounting a steered wheel (12), the wheel carrier (14) being rotatably mounted with respect to the vehicle about a steering axis to allow the wheel (12) to be steered. A hydraulic cylinder (20) has a piston therein and a rigid connecting rod assembly (22) extending from the piston out of the cylinder (20). The rigid connecting rod assembly (22) comprises a first section (22) adapted to reciprocate into and out of the cylinder (20) and a second section (26) rigidly extending from the first section (22) to a pivot point connection (50) where it is pivotally connected to the wheel carrier (14) at an offset from the steering axis. The hydraulic cylinder (20) is pivotally mounted on the vehicle such that it is prevented from translational movement relative to the vehicle but capable of changing its orientation with respect to the vehicle. Due to the rigid connecting rod assembly (22) and the pivot connection to the wheel carrier (14), as well as the pivotal mounting of the cylinder (20) on the vehicle, lateral strains on the seals of the hydraulic cylinder (20) are avoided.

A two-axis spherical wheel or ball-wheel is provided wherein hemispheres (or spherical caps) rotate independently about a transverse or spherical axis and rotate dependently about an axial or longitudinal axis. In this way, a ball-wheel supports a vehicle chassis and drives (e.g., translates or rotates) the vehicle in any direction. Systems of ball-wheels are also disclosed. Two, three, four, or more ball-wheels can be joined in a system to support, translate, and/or rotate a vehicle without requiring the vehicle to turn. The ball-wheels include protective features to prevent debris from entering a drive system. Protective features may include springs and/or dampers to absorb impact forces on the vehicle chassis. Orienting the ball-wheels about a center point of the vehicle chassis enhances support and control of the vehicle.

An object responsive control system for a work machine having a boom, an attachment pivotally coupled to the boom, an object sensor adapted for sensing the presence of an undesirable object located in a travel path of the work machine and delivering an object signal upon sensing the undesirable object. A controller adapted for receiving a boom position signal, an attachment position signal, and calculating an elevational position based on the boom position signal. The system activating an object response upon calculating an attachment elevation position above a predetermined threshold and receiving an object signal.

A steering axle for steering the wheels on the axle of a four-wheel forklift truck by a hydraulic or electric steering device. The steering axle has an axle beam with first and second wheel carriers. The wheel carriers are arranged pivotably on the axle beam. A steering rod is connected, in articulated fashion, to the two wheel carriers in order to transmit steering movements. A steering actuator produces the steering movement and has an actuator housing. The actuator housing has at least one guide section for the passage of the steering rod through the actuator housing. The steering actuator has at least one sliding bearing device for the radial support of the steering rod on the at least one guide section.