Abstract: A material handling device such as a lift truck (10) includes a pair of material handling forks (16,18) mounted on a carriage (22) that is movable upwardly and downwardly on a mast (14) by a hydraulic lift cylinder (104). The material handling forks (16,18), which are usable to pick up, transport, and deposit articles, must be positioned properly under the article. A hydraulic system (102) is included with tracks (22,24) mounted on the carriage (20) to permit selective transverse movement of the forks (16,18) on the carriage (20) from an abutting position to a fully extended position. The hydraulic circuit (102) is pressure responsive to the pressure in the lift cylinder (104).

Abstract: In the control of two or more electrical devices powered by a common battery and each actuated by a separate controlled rectifier chopper circuit, at least one of which is an SCR chopper circuit, under high stress conditions requiring both electrical devices to be repeatedly and rapidly turned on and off it has been found that control over the SCR chopper circuit can be lost due to inherent inductive effects which prevent the charging of the commutating capacitor of the SCR chopper to at least full open circuit battery voltage. This problem is met by inhibiting the occurrence of an "off" actuation control signal to the SCR chopper circuit for a given period of time before and a given period of time after an "on" actuation control signal to the other chopper circuit.

Abstract: A number of systems exist wherein a plurality of hydraulic motors (28a, 28b, 28c) receive pressurized fluid from a single pump (14) which is itself driven by an electric motor (12). Apparatus has been available for adjusting the power supplied to the electric motor (12), and thereby adjusting the pump (14) flow rate, in response to the operator activating one or more of the hydraulic motors (28a, 28b, 28c). However, such apparatus has generally been bulky, complicated and/or difficult to install and/or service. An improvement is provided wherein a single switch (22) is placed in either an open or closed position as an elongated member (34) placed transversely to a plurality of generally parallel rod member (20a, 20b, 20c) is rotated in response to longitudinal travel in either direction from a neutral position (32) of one of the rod member (20a, 20b, 20c).

Abstract: A seat operated parking brake assembly for lift trucks and the like normally imposes an overload force on a caliper-type brake thereof, after the brake has been engaged. The present invention provides an arrangement (34 or 34') for maintaining a brake (20) of this type in its disengaged condition when a seat (11) is maintained in a first position under the weight of an operator and for isolating continued movement of the seat (11) from the brake (20), after the brake (20) has been engaged in response to initial movement of the seat (11).

Abstract: A wheel drive assembly (10) for a vehicle has a spindle (14) with a bore (24). A shaft (30) is positioned within the bore (24) and defines a cavity (44) between the shaft (30) and spindle (14). A brake (46) is positioned within the cavity (34). A planetary gear assembly (74) is positioned about the shaft (30) and contained within the spindle bore (24). With the brake (36) and planetary gear assembly (40) positioned within the spindle (14), the spindle (14) constitutes a reaction ring gear. Bearings (94,96) riding on the spindle (14) can be spaced apart substantially the entire length of the spindle (14) to reduce disproportionate or excessive loading on the bearings (94,96). Serviceability of the drive assembly (10) is simplified owing to the arrangement of its components and the overall width of the vehicle is not increased while accommodating the widely spaced bearings and spindle support for the planetary gear assembly ( 74).

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchoring arrangement which includes a lock clip fitting about the anchor arrangement and being in longitudinally slidable relative thereto. The lock clip includes a lock tab extending from a portion of the periphery thereof in a direction generally parallel to the anchoring arrangement. A tab retainer is defined by a relatively stationary support member for preventing the lock tab from rotating.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for mounting control members including tilt cylinders (12, 14), a brake pedal (16) and, optionally, a creeper pedal (88). Problems with prior devices include the space requirements and number of parts needed to mount or anchor these members. The invention solves these problems through the use of a supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76) for both the tilt cylinders (12,14) and brake pedal (16) and apparatus (90, 92, 94, 98, 104, 106) for optically installing the creeper pedal (88) on the supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76) for both the tilt cylinders (12,14) and brake pedal (16) and apparatus (90, 92, 94, 98, 104, 106) for optionally installing the creeper pedal (88) on the supporting device (18, 20, 26, 34, 38, 40, 42, 66, 76). The apparatus (10) can be used principally on fork lift trucks having either standard transmissions or an optional torque converter transmission with or without creeper control.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (10) for supporting in common loads including a brake pedal (14) and tilt cylinder (16), as well as for mounting a brake master cylinder (42). The invention overcomes problems in isolating one load from another and in conveniently mounting the master cylinder. The apparatus (10) includes a frame (12), a bifurcated bracket (20) having ears (24,26) and being coupled to the frame (12), an elongated sleeve (52 or 60 or 62) supported on the ears (24,26) and an elongated cross pin (32) rotatably supported in the ears (24,26). The brake pedal (14) is coupled to one end of the pin (32) and the cylinder (16) is coupled to the sleeve (52 or 60 or 62) between the ears (24,26), both inside an inboard side of the frame (12). The master cylinder (42) is mounted on an outboard side of the frame (12) and is coupled to the other end of the pin (32).

Abstract: Brake wear in a vehicle (11, 11a) may be reduced by an interlock (23, 23a) which blocks delivery of power to the wheels (13, 13a) or the like if an attempt is made to initiate powered travel while the parking brake (19, 19a) remains engaged. Rather than neutralizing the vehicle transmission (16, 16a), the interlock (23, 23a) responds to an engaged parking brake (19, 19a) accompanied by drive transmitting conditions in the clutch (18, 18a) and transmission (16, 16a) by suppressing power output at the engine (12, 12a). In one form the system overrides the operator's controls to limit fuel input to the engine (12) so that stalling occurs if start-up is attempted with the brake (19) engaged while in another form the system directly shuts down the engine (12a) under such conditions. Start-up of the vehicle (11, 11a) on a slope or under load is facilitated as the engine (12, 12a) may be accelerated while the transmission (16, 16a) is in gear and the brake (19, 19a) is still engaged.

Abstract: An assembly (32) for adjusting a steering wheel (30), supported on a steering column (36), in relation to an operative position of the wheel (30), includes a hinge (34) supporting the column (36), a fixed bracket (44) pivotally supporting the hinge (34) and having a seat (58) on which the hinge (34) sits in the operative position, and an actuating mechanism (62) being rotatably coupled through the hinge (34) and bracket (44) to move the hinge (34) off of and onto the seat (58). The assembly (32) can be used in a forklift truck (10) and is directed to provide, for example, for moving the wheel (30) through infinite, rather than discrete positions, and to prevent impact forces from being imparted to the actuating mechanism (62) in response to positioning the wheel (30).

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US80/00017 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 7, 1980 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 7, 1980 PCT Filed Jan. 7, 1980.This invention relates to a control system (8) for moving a frictional coupling between an engaged (15) and disengaged (17) position. A power device (40) is provided for moving the frictional coupling (18) to the engaged position (15) in response to a control device (26) being at a first position (27) and the disengaged position (17) in response to the control device (26) being at the second position (29). A switch device (70) deactivates the power device (40) at the engaged (15) and disengaged (17) position of the coupling and a maintaining device (60) releasably maintains the coupling at the engaged (15) and disengaged (17) positions. Thus the brake is held in the engaged and disengaged positions in the absence of electrical power. The control system (8) is particularly useful on a lift truck (18) parking brake system.

Abstract: In a vehicle (12, 12a) having interlock means (39, 39a) for maintaining the vehicle transmission (16, 16a) in neutral if powered travel is attempted while the parking brake (29, 29a) is engaged, interlock control means (51, 51a) are provided for inactivating the interlock once the vehicle is undergoing powered travel. If it becomes necessary to use the parking brake to stop motion of the vehicle, the retarding action of the engine (13, 13a) is effective, through the still engaged transmission, to supplement such emergency use of the parking brake.

Abstract: A brush wear indicator includes a first contactor and a second contractor movable relative to the first contactor from an open position to a closed position to connect an electrical circuit to an indicator. The second contactor is maintained in the open position against the resiliency of a leaf spring by a coil spring which urges a brush toward a commutator in response to wear to the brush. When the brush wears away to a preselected length the coil spring will have moved to a position at which the leaf spring is free to bias the second contactor to the closed position.

Abstract: Magnetic control apparatus (32) for intensifying a magnetic field to actuate a magnetic control member (34) and for preventing simultaneous actuation of a pair (34, 36) of magnetic control members. In one (32) of several embodiments a pair (38, 40) of selectively movable magnets each respectively produces a magnetic field which, when a magnet is moved into position, is directed by a pair (42, 54) of elongated bars across the pair (34, 36) of control members to actuate one of the members in response to the field. The pair (42, 54) of bars bypass the magnetic fields from the control members (34, 36) when both magnets (38, 40) are in such a position to attempt to actuate the control members (34, 36). The pair (42, 54) of elongated bars intensify the magnetic fields at the control members (34, 36), thereby permitting the use of relatively weak magnets at a substantial distance from the members (34, 36).

Abstract: A mounting support for releasably connecting a transaxle or differential housing (10) to a vehicle frame (12) has a support sleeve (13) telescopically connected to both a cylindrical portion (16) of a support member (14) connected to the frame (12) and a cylindrical protrusion (19) of the housing (10). Axial movement of the support sleeve (13) is selectively limited by a snap ring retainer (31) seated in an annular groove (24) in the annular protrusion (19). The support sleeve (13) is cylindrical so that only a minimal amount of clearance between it and adjacent components is required.

Abstract: A handle (12) is pivotally mounted on a support (11) and is connected to a potentiometer (21) by a linkage (24) for selectively varying the resistance of the potentiometer upon manipulation of the handle. The linkage includes a link (25) adjustably connected to the handle for varying the degree of relative movement between a housing (22) and rotary adjustment shaft (23) of the potentiometer to thus vary the range of resistance thereof in response to a same increment of movement of the handle. The linkage may include a hinge assembly (34) and a biasing spring (31) or the link may be connected to the adjustment shaft (23b) of the potentiometer directly.

Abstract: An adjustable apparatus (15) for rigidly restraining different sized objects (10) such as batteries which are resting on a frame (12), such as that of a lift truck vehicle (13). The apparatus has opposed first and second support members (16,17) upwardly rising from the frame. A rigid first strap structure (20) is pivotally attached (22) to the first support member, while a rigid second strap structure (29) is releasably attached (31 or 31') to the second support member. The strap structures are telescopable (49) one within the other to selectively adjust the length defined by the straps.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved carriage guide and mast stiffener for a lift mast of the sort used on a lift truck or the like. Such a lift mast comprises a pair of spaced apart outer mast members, a pair of spaced apart inner mast members between the outer mast members, each slidably mounted in a respective one of the outer mast members and a carriage structure mounted on the inner mast members for translation therein. The improved structure of the present invention comprises a pair of rails each affixed to extend longitudinally along a respective outer surface of a respective one of the outer mast members and a pair of bearings affixed to the carriage structure, each snugly but slidably engaging a respective one of the rails and allowing relative longitudinal translation of the carriage structure relative to the outer mast members while preventing other translation therebetween.

Abstract: A control pedal (106,156) may be operably connected for actuating vehicle functions of acceleration (14), forward direction (16) and rearward direction (18). Different portions (108,158, 114,168,120,174) of the pedal control these functions. Each pedal portion (108, 158,114,168,120,174) is biased to return to an inoperative position. Preferably, the pedal includes a main accelerator portion (108,158), a supplemental forward direction portion (114,168) and a supplemental rearward direction portion (120,174). A microswitch (140a,200,140b,202) is preferably positioned for selective contact by each of the supplemental portions (114,168,120,174) of the pedal (106,156).