Axle pivot angle detecting apparatus for industrial vehicle and industrial vehicle
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
InventorsKazuo Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Fujimori, Masakatsu Suzuki, Kazuo Komori, Takaki Ogawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An industrial vehicle has a body frame and an axle, which supports wheels and is pivotally supported by the body frame. A potentiometer is supported on the body frame and is spaced apart from the pivot axis of the axle by a predetermined distance. The potentiometer detects the pivot angle of the axle. A link mechanism amplifies motion of axle pivot and converts the axle motion into rotational or linear motion. The link mechanism then actuates the potentiometer in accordance with the converted motion.
Claims18
An axle pivot control apparatus for an industrial vehicle having an axis that supports a wheel and is pivotally supported on a frame about a pivot axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a single damper, the damper located at one side of the pivot axis to connect the frame and the axle, for locking the axle, and for serving as a shock absorber;
- a detector for detecting a pivot angle of the axle, the detector located on one of the frame and the axle at the opposite side of the pivot axis;
- and
- a converter for converting pivot motion of the axle into one of rotational and linear motion, wherein the converter actuates the detector in accordance with the converted motion, wherein the converter is spaced from the pivot axis.
An axle pivot control apparatus for an industrial vehicle having an axle pivotally supported about a pivot axis on a frame, the apparatus comprising:
- a single damper, the damper located between the frame and the axle at one side of the pivot axis to connect the frame and the axle, for locking the axle, and for serving as a shock absorber, wherein the damper extends and contracts in accordance with the pressure of hydraulic oil inside the damper, wherein the damper regulates the pivoting of the axle;
- a conduit connected to the damper for permitting oil to enter and exit the damper;
- a control valve connected to the conduit for selectively opening and closing the conduit;
- a detector, the detector located at the opposite side of the pivot axis for detecting the pivot angle of the axle;
- a converter for converting pivot motion of the axle into one of rotational and linear motion, wherein the converter actuates the detector in accordance with the converted motion, wherein the converter is spaced from the pivot axis by a predetermined distance;
- and
- a controller that controls the control valve based on the pivot angle detected by the detector, wherein when the controller controls the control valve to open the conduit the conduit permits oil to flow into the damper, and wherein when the conduit is closed oil flow into the damper is prohibited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.