초록 ▼

An industrial truck having a steering assembly used to steer the industrial truck about a steering axis when a pivotally attached tiller is swung around the truck by an operator. The steering axis is tilted towards the forks of the truck an angle between 2 and 5 degrees from vertical. By tilting the

An industrial truck having a steering assembly used to steer the industrial truck about a steering axis when a pivotally attached tiller is swung around the truck by an operator. The steering axis is tilted towards the forks of the truck an angle between 2 and 5 degrees from vertical. By tilting the pivot axis, the distal end of the tiller is tilted toward the forks of the truck when rotated to a fully turned position. This improves the maneuverability of the truck near obstacles and allows longer tillers and larger/more comfortable handles to be used without increasing interference with obstacles near the back of the truck.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An industrial truck, comprising: a pivot frame; a lift frame assembly, which includes at least one fork, connected to the pivot frame; and a steering assembly rotatably connected to the pivot frame and including a tiller having a handle formed on its distal end to enable an o

What is claimed is: 1. An industrial truck, comprising: a pivot frame; a lift frame assembly, which includes at least one fork, connected to the pivot frame; and a steering assembly rotatably connected to the pivot frame and including a tiller having a handle formed on its distal end to enable an operator to rotate the steering assembly about a steering axis in an arc from one side of the industrial truck to the other to select a direction of motion of the industrial truck; wherein the steering axis is offset at a predetermined angle from vertical toward the at least one fork. 2. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is between 2 and 5 degrees. 3. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 1, wherein the tiller is pivotally fastened to a tiller mount and the tiller mount is rotatably connected to the pivot frame such that the tiller rotates about the steering axis to steer the industrial truck. 4. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 3, wherein the tiller mount is rotatably connected to the pivot frame through a steering bearing. 5. An industrial truck, comprising: a pivot frame; a lift frame assembly, which includes at least one fork, connected to the pivot frame; and a steering assembly, rotatably connected to the pivot frame and rotatable about a steering axis that is tilted toward the fork at a predetermined angle from vertical; a power unit rotatably connected to the pivot frame, such that the power unit is rotatable about a drive axis, and connected to the steering assembly such that the steering assembly and the power unit rotate together; wherein the steering assembly includes a tiller having a handle formed on its distal end to enable an operator to rotate the steering assembly about the steering axis and the steering axis and the drive axis are aligned and together define a pivot axis of the industrial truck. 6. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 5, wherein the predetermined angle is between 2 and 5 degrees. 7. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 5, wherein the tiller is pivotally fastened to a tiller mount and the tiller mount is rotatably connected to the pivot frame such that the tiller rotates about the steering axis to steer the industrial truck. 8. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 7, wherein the tiller mount is rotatably connected to the pivot frame through a steering bearing. 9. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 8, wherein the power unit is connected to the steering assembly through a multi-axis pivot joint. 10. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 9, wherein the multi-axis pivot joint is a Cardan joint. 11. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 10, wherein the power unit comprises: a transmission housing rotatably connected to the pivot frame and rotatable about the drive axis; a motor fastened to the transmission housing; and a drive wheel rotatably connected to the transmission housing and driven by the motor through a transmission assembly. 12. An industrial truck, as recited in claim 11, wherein the transmission housing is rotatably connected to the pivot frame through a steering bearing. 13. An industrial truck, comprising: a pivot frame; a lift frame assembly connected to the pivot frame, the lift frame including at least one fork that extends away from the pivot frame; a power unit rotatably connected to the back of the pivot frame for rotation about a steering axis and including a tiller, the tiller having a handle formed at its distal end and being rotatable in an arc from one side of the industrial truck, around the back of the industrial truck, and to the other side of the industrial truck, to rotate the power unit about the steering axis, wherein the steering axis is tilted toward the fork a predetermined amount from vertical such that the distal end of the tiller tilts toward the fork when in a fully turned position; and a drive wheel rotatably connected to the power unit, the direction of wheel rotation being determined by the rotatable orientation of the power unit to control the direction of motion of the industrial truck.