A control valve assembly for a load handling vehicle such as forklift comprises a valve body having a bore and a spool located within the bore that is axially movable along the bore between at least two operating configurations. The valve body includes a service port connected to a hydraulic actuator, a pressure port connected to a pump, and a tank port connected to a hydraulic tank reservoir. The valve is reconfigurable between first and second operating configurations. In the first operating configuration the spool defines a fluid pathway connecting the pump port, the service port and the tank port such that in a first flow direction fluid is able to flow from the pressure port to the service port and the tank port, and in a second flow direction fluid is able to flow from the service port to the pressure port and the tank port. The spool is also controllable in the first operating configuration to variably restrict flow to the tank port. In the second operating configuration the spool defines a fluid pathway connecting the pressure port and the actuator port, and is controllable to variably restrict flow between the pressure port and the actuator port.

A hydraulic system (1, 50) for a load handling vehicle comprises lifting actuator (2, C1) that operates in a load lifting mode in which a load is induced on the actuator, and a load lowering mode in which the actuator provides hydraulic power PI to the hydraulic system. An auxiliary hydraulic actuator (4, 6, 8, C2) is also provided that has a hydraulic power demand P2. A hydraulic pump (10, 58) directs hydraulic power to the hydraulic lifting actuator and the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system is configured such that when the hydraulic lifting actuator is in the load lowering mode, it is required to simultaneously actuate the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator, and PI is greater than or equal to P2, hydraulic power may be channelled directly to the auxiliary hydraulic actuator from the hydraulic lifting actuator in order that the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator is actuated entirely by the hydraulic power from the hydraulic lifting actuator, and without the use of the pump.

A safety system has a valve block (10) to which at least one gas safety valve (12, 14) is connected in a detachable manner. At least one controllable valve (50, 52, 58) is in or at the valve block (10). At least one pressure accumulator (42) holds a gaseous pressure medium and is connected to the valve block (10) in a detachable manner. A gas-conveying connection routed at least partially within the valve block (10) between the connected pressure accumulator (42) and the connected gas safety valves (12, 14) can be opened or blocked by the valve (50, 52, 58).

Devices for controlling movement of aerial buckets via hydraulic systems. Each hydraulic system has valves that control movement of the aerial bucket. A control head of the device has a joystick that is moveable and encoders that detect movement of the joystick. A valve actuator manifold of the device is coupled between the control head and the hydraulic system and supports valve actuators moveably coupled to the valves. Servo drive systems supported by the valve actuator manifold are coupled to the valve actuators and are controllable to move the valve actuators. A processor module of the device is in communication with the encoders and the servo drive systems. The processor module controls the servo drive systems based on input from the encoders such that moving the joystick controls movement of the aerial bucket.

A safety system comprising a valve block (10) to which at least one gas safety valve (12, 14) is connected in a preferably detachable manner, having at least one controllable valve (50, 52, 58) in or at the valve block (10) and having at least one pressure accumulator (42) holding a gaseous pressure medium, which pressure accumulator is connected to the valve block (10) in a likewise detachable manner, is characterized in that a gas-conveying connection routed at least partially within the valve block (10) between the connected pressure accumulator (42) and the connected gas safety valves (12, 14) can be opened or blocked by means of the valve (50, 52, 58).

Devices for controlling movement of aerial buckets via hydraulic systems. Each hydraulic system has valves that control movement of the aerial bucket. A control head of the device has a joystick that is moveable and encoders that detect movement of the joystick. A valve actuator manifold of the device is coupled between the control head and the hydraulic system and supports valve actuators moveably coupled to the valves. Servo drive systems supported by the valve actuator manifold are coupled to the valve actuators and are controllable to move the valve actuators. A processor module of the device is in communication with the encoders and the servo drive systems. The processor module controls the servo drive systems based on input from the encoders such that moving the joystick controls movement of the aerial bucket.