# US 9,751,738 B2 · Steering system for an industrial truck

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- Number: US 9,751,738 B2
- Document ID: US9751738B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/442,400
- Filed: 2013-10-30
- Published: 2016-09-22
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-15
- Assignees: Hubtex Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Hubtex Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Juergen Keller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751738B2

## CPC

- B66F 9/07568: {Steering arrangements}
- B62D 5/12: Piston and cylinder
- B62D 7/08: the pivotal axes being situated in a single plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
- B66F 9/22: Hydraulic devices or systems
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A steering system for an industrial truck includes a first wheel set configured to be hydraulically steerable, a second wheel set configured to be hydraulically steerable, a first hydraulic linear motor connected to the first wheel set, and a second hydraulic linear motor connected to the second wheel set. The first hydraulic linear motor is provided as a first synchronizing cylinder. The second hydraulic linear motor is provided as a second synchronizing cylinder. The first synchronizing cylinder and the second synchronizing cylinder are operatively connected to each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering system for an industrial truck comprising:
a chassis;
a first wheel set configured to be hydraulically steerable;
a second wheel set configured to be hydraulically steerable;
a first hydraulic linear motor connected to the first wheel set, the first hydraulic linear motor being provided as a first synchronizing cylinder;
a second hydraulic linear motor connected to the second wheel set, the second hydraulic linear motor being provided as a second synchronizing cylinder,
wherein,
the first synchronizing cylinder and the second synchronizing cylinder are operatively connected to each other,
the first synchronizing cylinder comprises a first active piston rod configured to transmit a translational movement of a piston, and an additional piston rod configured to provide a synchronization, the additional piston rod not being connected at a free end so that the additional piston rod does not transmit a translational movement,
the second synchronizing cylinder comprises a second active piston rod configured to transmit a translational movement of a piston, and an additional piston rod configured to provide a synchronization, the additional piston rod not being connected at a free end so that the additional piston rod does not transmit a translational movement,
the first synchronizing cylinder and the second synchronizing cylinder are arranged parallel to each other,
the first active piston rod of the first synchronizing cylinder and the second active piston rod of the second synchronizing cylinder are oriented in a same direction, and
the first synchronizing cylinder and the second synchronizing cylinder are arranged stationary with respect to the chassis of the industrial truck.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a hydraulic valve; and
a common closed hydraulic circuit,
wherein,
the first synchronizing cylinder further comprises a first traction chamber and a first pressure chamber,
the second synchronizing cylinder further comprises a second pressure chamber and a second traction chamber,
each of the first synchronizing cylinder and the second synchronizing cylinder is arranged in the common closed hydraulic circuit,
the first traction chamber of the first synchronizing cylinder is connected to the second pressure chamber of the second synchronizing cylinder, and
each of the first pressure chamber and the second traction chamber is connected to the hydraulic valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The steering system as recited in claim 2, wherein,
the first wheel set comprises a first rotatably mounted device configured to achieve a steerability,
the second wheel set comprises a second rotatably mounted device configured to achieve the steerability,
the first active piston rod of the first synchronizing cylinder is further configured to act on a first point on the first rotatably mounted device of the first wheel set,
the second active piston rod of the second synchronizing cylinder is further configured to act on a second point on the second rotatably mounted device of the second wheel set,
the first point is arranged on a first side of a first axis of rotation,
the second point is arranged on a second side of a second axis of rotation, and
the first side is different from the second side so that in spite of a synchronous movement of the first active piston rod of the first synchronizing cylinder and the second active piston rod of the second synchronizing cylinder, a rotation in an opposite direction, and thereby a steering of the first wheel set and the second wheel set, takes place.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The steering system as recited in claim 3, further comprising;
a first steering lever; and
a second steering lever,
wherein,
the first active piston rod of the first synchronizing cylinder is further configured to act on the first rotatably mounted device of the first wheel set via the first steering lever, and
the second active piston rod of the second synchronizing cylinder is further configured to act on the second rotatably mounted device of the second wheel set via the second steering lever.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The steering system as recited in claim 4, wherein,
the first steering lever is configured to be rotatably mounted on the first active piston rod and to be rotatably disposed on the first rotatably mounted device, and
the second steering lever is configured to be rotatably mounted on the second active piston rod and to be rotatably disposed on the second rotatably mounted device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The steering system as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the first steering lever and the second steering lever is curved.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The steering system as recited in claim 4, wherein,
the first rotatably mounted device comprises a first steering lever opening,
the second rotatably mounted device comprises a second steering lever opening,
the first steering lever is configured to enter the first steering lever opening in a specific steering situation, and
the second steering lever is configured to enter the second steering lever opening in a specific steering situation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The steering system as recited in claim 3, wherein no electronic coupling exists between the first rotatably mounted device and the second rotatably mounted device.

### Claim 9

The steering system as recited in 1, further comprising:
a steering element;
a steering orbitrol mechanically connected to the steering element;
a steering control apparatus configured to generate a steering angle desired value;
a first steering motor provided as the first synchronizing cylinder, the first steering motor being hydraulically connected to the steering element and configured to steer the first wheel set;
a second steering motor provided as the second synchronizing cylinder, the second steering motor being hydraulically connected to the steering element and configured to steer the second wheel set;
a first steering angle pickup operatively connected to the steering control apparatus and configured to detect a steering angle of either the first wheel set or the second wheel set;
a third wheel set configured to be steered by a motor power, the third wheel set comprising a third steering motor, the third steering motor being configured to be connected or to be connectable to the steering element;
a second steering angle pickup operatively connected to the steering control apparatus and configured to detect the steering angle of the third wheel set;
a switch-over valve configured to switch between a hydraulic connection of the steering orbitrol to the first steering motor and the second steering motor, and a hydraulic connection of the steering orbitrol to the third steering motor,
wherein,
the first steering motor, the second steering motor, and the third steering motor of the third wheel set each being further configured to be driven selectively as a function of a desired steering angle value.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The steering system as recited in claim 9, wherein the steering element is a steering wheel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The steering system as recited in claim 9, wherein the steering control apparatus is a computer comprising an apparatus configured to store a plurality of steering programs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An industrial truck comprising the steering system as recited in claim 1.