An apparatus for controlling a load handling device of an industrial vehicle includes a lifted height detector that detects a lifted height of the load handling device, a tilt angle detector that detects a tilt angle of the load handling device, a loading pump that pumps hydraulic oil from a hydraulic tank in the industrial vehicle and supplies the hydraulic oil to a lift cylinder and a tilt cylinder, a drive that drives the loading pump, and a controller that controls the flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the lift cylinder and the tilt cylinder. When the forward tilt angle of the load handling device is greater than a first regulation tilt angle and a lifted height of the load handling device is higher than a predetermined reference height, the controller regulates the flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the lift cylinder.

A tiller head for a pedestrian and rider forklift includes an upper cover and operating elements, which are connected to a control device to execute a desired operation command execution. The control device is a functionally ready prepared unit for all functions of the respectively desired operation command execution. The control device is arranged at a central point in the tiller head and is constructed such that the operating elements directly engage elements in the control device in a form-fitting manner during installation.

A terminal tractor includes four independently steerable wheels, each with their own dedicated drive motor and each with their own dedicated steering device. The terminal tractor includes a controller operable to provide input commands to the drive motors and to the steering devices to operate the terminal tractor. The terminal tractor also includes a fifth wheel coupling which includes a lifting mechanism capable of raising and lowering the fifth wheel coupling a in single vertical direction.

Vehicles, systems and methods for providing articulating two section vehicles with tracks, and a front body attached superstructure with telescopic forklift, for use on all terrain condition applications. The vehicle can include front and rear track assemblies that can tilt up and down while traveling over different ground surfaces. Each of the track assemblies can have rotatable articulating/oscillating track wheels which can traverse different contoured surfaces. The right and left tracks on both the front and rear track assemblies can separately extend outward and inward from underneath the vehicles to add stability to the vehicles. The cab can be raised and lowered to add greater visibility for the operator. Hydraulics can be used for raising and lowering the extendable boom and operator cab, as well as controlling the body articulating hinge, the articulating tracks and the tilting controls for the front track assembly.

A materials handling vehicle is provided having: a power unit comprising at least one wheel; a mast assembly coupled to the power unit comprising at least one mast weldment; and a platform assembly. The platform assembly comprising: a floorboard upon which an operator may stand; a support wall connected to the floorboard and positioned adjacent to the mast assembly, the floorboard and the support wall defining an operator compartment of the platform assembly; at least one operator control assembly positioned to allow for operation by an operator located within the operator compartment; and a non-horizontal viewing window provided in the support wall.

A forklift includes: an armrest that is provided at a driver's seat of a vehicle and is moved between a non-operation position and an operation position by a movable mechanism; a steering member that outputs an operation signal in response to a steering operation; a steering device that changes a steering angle of steering wheels of the vehicle; a control unit that changes the steering angle according to the operation signal; and an armrest detection unit that detects whether the armrest is at the non-operation position or at the operation position in which when the armrest detection unit detects that the armrest is at the non-operation position, the control unit controls the steering device or the steering member such that the steering device does not change the steering angle even if the steering member is operated.

A system for directing a vehicle using detected and tracked pallet pocket comprises the vehicle, a navigation system, and a command system which detect and track a pallet pocket during automated material handling using the vehicle where load positions vary and are not accurately known beforehand.

A steering method of an industrial truck. The industrial truck comprises a drive, at least three steerable wheels, at least one steering setpoint value transmitter which steers at least one of the at least three steerable wheels, a steering computer which provides angle setpoint values, and an electrical power electronics unit which supplies electrical energy to a steering motor associated with the at least one steered wheel. The method comprises steering, via the at least one steering setpoint value transmitter, the at least one steered wheel, detecting angular positions of the at least one steered wheel, providing the angle setpoint values via the steering computer, comparing the angular positions of the at least one steered wheel with the angle setpoint values provided via the steering computer so as to determine a setpoint/actual value difference, and controlling the electrical power electronics unit based on the setpoint/actual value difference.

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 steering method for an industrial truck. The industrial truck includes a pivot plate which is mounted to be rotatable about a steering axis in two steering directions, three wheels, one of the three wheels being designed as a central wheel which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation in the pivot plate, and a hydraulic cylinder which rotates the pivot plate about the steering axis. The method includes exerting steering forces of at least approximately equal magnitude on the pivot plate to provide a rotation about the steering axis in each of the two steering directions.