Axle mechanism for industrial truck

Claim 1

IN AN INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCK HAVING A CHASSIS, A LOAD LIFTING MAST PROVIDED AT ONE END OF THE TRUCK, A LOAD ENGAGING CARRIAGE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE MAST FOR ELEVATION THEREIN AND DRIVE AXLE AND WHEEL MEANS ASSOCIATED RIGIDLY WITH THE CHASSIS AT SAID ONE END OF THE TRUCK, A STEERING AXLE AND WHEEL MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TRUCK, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PIVOT SHAFT SUPPORTED FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CHASSIS AND SUPPORTING SAID STEERING AXLE AND WHEEL MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE, A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED DEVICE SUPPORTED FROM SAID CHASSIS ABOVE SAID STEERING AXLE AND OPERABLE TO BE ACTUATED INTO AND OUT OF FIXED SAID ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID STEERING AXLE INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION DEPENDING FROM THE CHASSIS ABOVE THE STEERING AXLE HAVING OPPOSED PISTON RODS ACTUATABLE HORIZONTALLY FROM OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND LOCK MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON RODS FOR ACTUATION THEREBY INTO AND OUT OF ABUTTING RELATION WITH SAID OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF THE STEERING AXLE.