Mounting structure for wheel angle detector and rotation amount detector for vehicle wheel
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
InventorsKenji Chino, Masaya Hyodo, Yoshihisa Iwanaga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for detecting the wheel angle of forklift rear wheels is disclosed. A cylinder steers the rear wheels by means of steering mechanisms based on manipulation of a steering wheel. The steering mechanisms include kingpins that support the rear wheels to be rotatable in relation to a rear axle. Each kingpin rotates integrally with the corresponding rear wheel. A wheel angle sensor, which includes a potentiometer, is fixed to the rear axle by a bracket. The position of the sensor corresponds to the position of one of the kingpins. The sensor detects the rotational angle of the kingpin as the wheel angle of the rear wheels.
Claims20
An apparatus for detecting a wheel angle for use with a vehicle having a vehicle wheel, a manipulating member, an actuator and a steering mechanism, wherein the actuator steers the vehicle wheel with the steering mechanism based on manipulation of the manipulating member, wherein the steering mechanism has a rotating member that rotates in synchronization with the steering of the vehicle wheel, wherein the rotating member is rotatably supported by a collar within a hole formed in a support that is located in the vehicle, and wherein the rotating member pivotally supports the vehicle wheel and the rotating member pivots integrally with the vehicle wheel about a rotational axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a fixed detector attached to the support to be operably coupled to the rotating member, said detector detects a wheel angle of the vehicle wheel based on the rotational angle of the rotating member;
- a rotatable input shaft extending from the detector, wherein the detector outputs a signal corresponding to a rotational angle of the input shaft, wherein the input shaft extends through the hole and is coupled to the rotating member for integral rotation;
- a positioning member located between the support and the detector for fixing the position of the detector in relation to the rotating member, wherein the positioning member comprises a cylindrical body that is fitted to the hole to surround the input shaft, wherein the cylindrical body includes a small diameter portion at its distal end, wherein the diameter of the small diameter portion is smaller than the diameter of the hole.
A mounting structure of a fixed detector that detects a rotation amount of a rotating member, wherein the rotating member is rotatably supported by a collar within a hole formed in a support, wherein the detector is attached to the support to be operably coupled to the rotating member, the structure comprising:
- a positioning member located between the support and the detector for fixing the position of the detector in relation to the rotating member, wherein the positioning member comprises a cylindrical body that is fitted to the hole, wherein the cylindrical body includes a small diameter portion at its distal end, wherein the diameter of the small diameter portion is smaller than the diameter of the hole.
A mounting structure of a fixed detector that detects a rotation amount of a rotating member, wherein the rotating member is rotatably supported by a collar within a hole formed in a support, wherein the detector is attached to the support to extend through the hole and to be operably coupled to the rotating member, the structure comprising:
- a positioning member located between the support and the detector for fixing the position of the detector in relation to the rotating member, wherein the positioning member comprises a cylindrical body that is fitted to the hole, wherein the cylindrical body includes a small diameter portion at its distal end, wherein the diameter of the small diameter portion is smaller than the diameter of the hole;
- a bearing located between the hole and the rotating member, wherein a space is defined in the hole for containing lubricant supplied to the bearing;
- and
- a seal provided in the hole for separating the lubricant from the detector.
An industrial vehicle comprising:
- a wheel;
- a manipulating member;
- an actuator;
- a steering mechanism, wherein the actuator steers the wheel with the steering mechanism based on manipulation of the manipulating member, wherein the steering mechanism includes:
- a bell crank that is coupled to and is rotated by the actuator;
- a connector that couples the bell crank with the wheel for steering the wheel by rotation of the bell crank;
- and
- a shaft that rotates in synchronization with the steering of the wheel, wherein the shaft pivotally couples the bell crank to the vehicle, and wherein the shaft is integrally rotated with the bell crank;
- and
- a fixed detector operably coupled to the shaft, wherein the detector detects a wheel angle of the wheel based on the rotational angle of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.