Abstract: A steering assembly for a floor-type industrial vehicle, for example, a fork-lift truck, which comprises an elongated axle body to which the steerable wheel axles are affixed by pivotal axle carriers at the ends of the axle body and a steering linkage is mounted on the axle body for displacing the wheels. The axle assembly is at least limitedly swingable on the vehicle frame by a mounting assembly which comprises a pair of ball joints whose centers lie in the vertical median plane of the vehicle and transverse to the axle assembly.

Abstract: A lateral-shift device for the prongs of a fork-lift vehicle in which the fork carrier and prong-support device is laterally shiftable by a mechanism at least in part recessed in the front face of the carrier on which the fork is vertically displaceable such that the forward portions of the fork support member does not extend sufficiently forwardly to materially shift the weight of the system in this direction.

Abstract: A hydrostatic-transmission control system for fork-lift trucks and like industrial vehicles has a pair of variable-displacement hydrostatic motors driving respective wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle and supplied by pump means having a control element for varying its displacement under the control of an operator. The prime mover, e.g. a gasoline engine or electric motor, drives the pump. The control system comprises means whereby, for low and average output speeds of the transmission consisting of a combination of pump means and motors, the control of the transmission ratio is a function only of the position of the aforementioned element whereas, for highest output speeds, the ratio is controlled at least in part independently of this element by a further parameter, e.g. prime-mover output.

Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle, e.g. a forklift truck or other utility-type battery-powered vehicle, is provided with a hydraulic power-steering system with a pump driven by an electric motor. A circuit is provided to cut out the power-steering pump motor when the vehicle attains an elevated speed, thereby reducing battery drain during period in which power-steering is not normally required.

Abstract: A lift assembly for an industrial vehicle, e.g. a fork-lift truck, comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights mounted upon a common tiltable frame formed with cylinders for plunger-type pistons carried by the vertically displaceable members of the lift device. A lift carriage with a fork is shiftable upon these members and is engaged by the end of a chain passing over a pulley or sprocket wheel carried by the vertically shiftable members for relative displacement of the carriage and the latter members.

Abstract: A lift assembly for an industrial vehicle, e.g. a fork-lift truck, comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights mounted upon a common tiltable frame formed with cylinders for plunger-type pistons carried by the vertically displaceable members of the lift device. The latter members surround the uprights and preferably are in the form of one-piece tubes of cylindrical configuration. A lift carriage (fork) is shiftable upon these members and is engaged by the end of a chain passing over a pulley or sprocket wheel carried by the vertically shiftable members for relative displacement of the carriage and the latter members.