Abstract: An overhead guard is provided for counterweighted lift trucks of different lengths. The overhead guard has a top portion supported at its front end by a pair of laterally spaced front legs extending downwardly to attaching points on the front of the truck and the top portion is supported at its rear end by adjustably positioned laterally spaced rear posts. The top of the rear posts may be attached to different longitudinally spaced points on the upper portion of the guard and the bottom of the rear posts are attachable to support posts on the counterweight which is at different longitudinal positions on different length trucks.

Abstract: A fork lift truck has a safety system for inhibiting further raising of the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast when an excessive tilting moment is acting on the truck and permits the truck operator to selectively simulate an overload on the truck and provides a visual indication that the safety system has responded properly to such simulated overload, thereby permitting the truck operator to test whether or not the truck is protected from picking up an overload.

Abstract: An automatic mechanical brake adjuster for a walk-behind lift truck includes a lever (59) with two relatively pivoted parts (58,76) including a ratchet mechanism (96) therebetween. The ratchet mechanism (96) includes a ratchet wheel segment (77) and cooperating pawls (101-104). The brake adjuster also includes an extensible link (126) which determines the brake shoe back-off distance and cooperates with the ratchet mechanism (96) in effecting pivotal adjustment between the lever parts (58,76).

Abstract: A fork lift truck has a safety system for inhibiting further raising of the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast when an excessive tilting moment is acting on the truck and permits override of the safety system so that the overload can be relieved by the operator under certain conditions without requiring the assistance of a second truck.

Abstract: A fork lift truck has an overload protective circuit which is responsive to an excessive tilting moment acting on the truck, as a result of a load on the raised carriage, to disable the mast tilting motor and carriage elevating motor from shifting the load supporting carriage in a direction which would increase the forward tilting moment and also has a crowbar circuit which, upon failure of the protective system to respond properly to such excessive tilting moment, opens an electrical circuit that also results in inhibiting the mast tilting and carriage elevating motors from further raising the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast on the overloaded truck, thereby providing enhanced protection against faulty operation resulting from component failure. One embodiment permits the truck operator to selectively simulate an overload and thereby initiate testing for component failure in the overload protective system.

Abstract: An overload protective system continuously monitors the forward overturning moment on a counterbalanced lift truck and prevents further raising of the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast when the overturning moment is excessive.

Abstract: An overload protective system continuousy monitors the forward overturning moment on a counterbalanced lift truck and prevents further raising of the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast when the tilting moment is excessive.

Abstract: When the load moment on a counterbalanced lift truck exceeds a predetermined magnitude, a blocking valve automatically prevents forward tilting of the mast and elevation of the load. The load moment is sensed by the pressure differential across the tilt jack and the blocking valve is actuated by the pressure differential. In order to prevent the blocking valve from becoming locked up, when the tilt jack is contracted to the end of its stroke, a spring-biased unloading valve is incorporated in the tilt jack piston. Abuse of the truck is reduced and operator safety is improved further by the provision of a second blocking valve which prevents lifting loads when the tilt jack is at the end of its extension stroke, that is when the mast is tilted forwardly as far as permitted by the tilt jack. In this condition the second blocking valve will close preventing further raising of the load. However, retraction of the tilt and lift jacks is permitted even though the blocking valves are in their closed positions.