Abstract: An industrial truck, in particular a counterbalanced front-forklift truck, is provided which can be operated both manually and automatically and has a fork to handle pallets and loads located thereon. The forklift truck is equipped for automatic operation with a control system which can be brought into active connection with the vehicle drive system, the vehicle steering system, the vehicle braking system or the movement control system for the fork.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle for transporting loads includes a vehicle body and a control console connected to the vehicle body in a first position. The control console can be moved to a second position on the vehicle body by a user. The vehicle may include various devices for positioning the control console with respect to the body. For example, the devices may include separate post openings, a slot, a track, or a pivoting arm. In addition, the control console may include a stability support for the operator and various controls for operating the vehicle. The operator is able to maintain stability by holding the stability support with his or her hand. Furthermore, the operator does not need to remove his or her hand from the stability support in order to operate the various controls. The controls may be mounted on the stability support or may be located in relatively close proximity to the stability support.

Abstract: In a method for operating an industrial truck, a load-lifting member (1) is moved up and down vertically on a lift mast (2). A discrete control signal is provided to control the vertical speed of the load-lifting member (1) by at least one single or multistage switch. In switching on and then holding the switch (13) in the on position, the load-lifting member (1) is first accelerated from zero to a first vertical speed value (V.sub.1) and after the passage of a period of time T.sub.1, it is accelerated to a second higher vertical speed value (V.sub.2).

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for reducing the maximum speed of a lift truck when a fork carriage exceeds a fork carriage trip height and a limit switch positioned at the trip height to detect trip height has failed. Using lift truck control signals, a calculated fork carriage height is determined and compared to the trip height which corresponds to the limit switch position. When the calculated height reaches the trip height and the limit switch does not provide a sensed signal, a latch is set in a non-volatile memory which limits the maximum truck speed until the limit switch is again operable.

Abstract: A floor conveyor vehicle, particularly a stacker, has a brake device and an adjustable floor panel guided in the vertical direction by way of a device and is held in several working positions by a locking device. The floor panel is guided in the vertical direction by a lifting frame on a column arranged on one side of the vehicle. The floor panel is constructed as an operating plate for a parking brake and, with a pedal plate for a service brake, is swivellably linked to the lifting frame on axes.

Abstract: The chassis of a forklift truck includes a front assembly and a rear assembly which, in certain embodiments, are movable toward and away from each other between an extended stable normal working condition and a contracted compact condition for storage or transport of the forklift truck. The front assembly includes driven front wheels, standard upright mast and double-acting lift jack for the fork carriage movable along the mast. The rear assembly includes the operator compartment, rear axle assembly for the rear wheels and mechanism mounting the rear axle assembly for vertical movement relative to the operator compartment between a raised normal working position and a downward-projected position. The rear assembly also includes a landing wheel or wheels mounted in front of the rear axle assembly at a location above the rear wheels when the rear axle assembly is raised.