Abstract: A towbar head for a towbar-guided industrial truck includes control elements located on the towbar head. The control elements control various functions of the industrial truck such as the propulsion and/or the controls for a lifting device. The control elements are effectively connected to signal generators (4, 5) to generate electrical control signals. The invention teaches that there are at least two signal generators (4, 5) which are preferably in the form of membrane switches located on a common circuit board (3). In one embodiment, at least-one membrane switch has a plurality of contact areas 4b, 5b) located on the common circuit board (3). The common circuit board (3) has at least one contact membrane (13) that can be electrically connected with a contact surface (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) or a resistance track by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (13). Preferably, all the signal generators located on the common circuit board (3) are in the form of membrane switches.

Abstract: An industrial truck has a tiller that can pivot around a horizontal axis and a traction drive motor that can be controlled by an operator by a traction drive switch. The maximum speed of travel of the industrial truck can be set by an electrical control unit as a function of the pivot angle of the tiller. The maximum speed of the industrial truck is a function of the pivot angle of the tiller. At least one segment of the pivoting range of the tiller is provided with variable maximum speed, in which the maximum speed of travel varies continuously with the pivoting angle. The division of the pivoting range of the tiller into the segment with variable maximum speed and at least one additional segment is made by the control unit as a function of the signal of a continuous or incremental sensor.

Abstract: A control device is provided for an industrial truck, in particular the towbar of a towbar-guided industrial truck, having a circuit element to generate a multi-stage electrical control signal. The invention teaches that the switching element has at least one contact membrane (6) which can be electrically connected by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (6) with at least one of a plurality of contact points (2) that correspond to the contact membrane (6). The contact points (2) are connected by electrical resistors (R1-8). The electrical resistors (R1-8) are preferably connected in series, whereby the connecting line between each two resistors is connected to a contact point (2). There are two sliders (8a, b), each of which exerts a pressure force on the contact membrane (6), as a result of which a contact point (2) can be connected to a contact area (3).