Forklift stabilizing apparatus

A vehicle including

• a frame,
• a front axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto,
• a rear axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto, and
• a stabilizer apparatus including
• a pressure source,
• first and second fluid-actuated stabilizer assemblies connected respectively to said front and rear axles, one of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being locked against extension and contraction in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source, and the other of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being free to extend and contract in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source, and
• hydraulic circuit means connected between said pressure source and said first and second fluid activated stabilizer assemblies and including
• flow control means operable between
• a first mode wherein said pressure source is disconnected from said first and second stabilizer assemblies, whereby said one of said stabilizer assemblies is locked against extension and retraction, thereby locking said axle connected thereto against shifting movement relative to said frame, and whereby said other of said stabilizer assemblies is free to extend and retract, thereby permitting shifting movement relative to said frame of said axle connected thereto, and
• a second mode wherein said pressure source is selectively connectable to said first and second stabilizer assemblies for selective pressurization thereof by said pressure source so as to selectively extend and retract said first and second stabilizer assemblies,
• wherein said vehicle also includes a boom, and
• means for pivoting said boom through a predetermined vertical angle, and
• wherein said flow control means includes
• means for setting said flow control means in said first mode when said boom is below said predetermined angle and for setting said flow control means in said second mode when said boom is above said predetermined angle.

A vehicle including

• a frame,
• a front axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto,
• a rear axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto, and
• a stabilizer apparatus including
• a pressure source,
• first and second fluid-actuated stabilizer assemblies connected respectively to said front and rear axles, one of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being locked against extension and contraction in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source, and the other of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being free to extend and contract in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source, and
• hydraulic circuit means connected between said pressure source and said first and second fluid activated stabilizer assemblies and including
• flow control means operable between
• a first mode wherein said pressure source is disconnected from said first and second stabilizer assemblies, whereby said one of said stabilizer assemblies is locked against extension and retraction, thereby locking said axle connected thereto against shifting movement relative to said frame, and whereby said other of said stabilizer assemblies is free to extend and retract, thereby permitting shifting movement relative to said frame of said axle connected thereto, and
• a second mode wherein said pressure source is selectively connectable to said first and second stabilizer assemblies for selective pressurization thereof by said pressure source so as to selectively extend and retract said first and second stabilizer assemblies,
• wherein said hydraulic circuit includes
• flow restricting means operable, when said flow control means is in said second mode, for restricting fluid flow to at least one of said stabilizer assemblies to retard the speed of shifting movement of at least one of said axles.

A vehicle including

• a frame,
• a boom mounted on said vehicle,
• means for elevating said boom above a predetermined horizontal angler,
• a front axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto,
• a rear axle supported at the opposite ends thereof by wheels and connected to said frame for shiftable movement relative thereto, and
• a stabilizer apparatus including
• a pressure source,
• first and second fluid-actuated stabilizer assemblies connected respectively to said front and rear axles,
• one of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being locked against extension and contraction in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source, and the other of said first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being free to extend and contract in the absence of pressurization thereof by said pressure source,
• hydraulic circuit means connected between said pressure source and said first and second fluid activated stabilizer assemblies and including
• flow control means operable between a first mode wherein said pressure source is disconnected from said first and second stabilizer assemblies, whereby said one of said stabilizer assemblies is locked against extension and retraction, thereby locking said axle connected thereto against shifting movement relative to said frame, and whereby said other of said stabilizer assemblies is free to extend and retract, thereby permitting shifting movement relative to said frame of said axle connected thereto, and
• a second mode wherein said pressure source is selectively connectible to said first and second stabilizer assemblies for selective pressurization thereof by said pressure source so as to selectively extend and retract said first and second stabilizer assemblies said flow control means also including
• sensing means for sensing when said boom is elevated above said predetermined angle and for setting said flow control means in said second mode.