Motion selector device for a lift truck

Claim 2

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a mechanism for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the drive and brake control mechanism for movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the mechanism upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the drive and brake control mechanism, means mounted on said support means for restraining movement of the control mechanism into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the mechanism within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the control mechanism within the one arc, and a slide mechanism on said support means for sliding said restraining means between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the mechanism and an inoperative position wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrain the mechanism.

Claim 3

The truck defined in claim 1 wherein the mechanism is urged into a braking arc, and wherein said restraining means maintains the mechanism within a driving arc permitting the truck to coast after the mechanism has been released.

Claim 4

The truck defined in claim 1 wherein the mechanism is urged into a driving arc, and wherein said restraining means is positionable to maintain the mechanism within a braking arc causing the truck to stop after the mechanism has been released.

Claim 5

The truck defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is a hand grip, the mechanism is a manually operated lever spaced frOm and pivoted to said grip, and said restraining means is a resilient member positionable between said grip and said lever.

Claim 6

The truck defined in claim 1 wherein said support means is a surface on the truck, the mechanism is a foot operated pedal spaced above and pivoted to said surface, and said restraining means is a resilient member positionable between said pedal and said surface.

Claim 7

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the tiller, said support means including at least one restraining means support member attached to the tiller mounting means adjacent the tiller for movement with the tiller, means for restraining movement of the tiller into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the tiller within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc, means mounted on said restraining means support member for receiving and mounting said restraining means thereon, and a pivot on said receiving means for pivoting said receiving means on said support member between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the tiller and an inoperative position wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrain the tiller.

Claim 8

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the tiller, said support means including at least one restraining means support member attached to the tiller mounting means adjacent the tiller for movement with the tiller, means for restraining movement of the tiller into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the tiller within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc, means mounted on said restraining means support member for receiving and mounting said restraining means thereon, and a pivot on said receiving means for pivoting said receiving means on said support member between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the tiller and an inoperative position wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrain the tiller.

Claim 9

The truck defined in claim 6 including abutment means on the truck for locating said receiving means when moved to said operative position.

Claim 10

The truck defined in claim 7 including a swivel cap mounted on the truck, said cap including a swivel plate, a pair of vertical tiller support members mounted on said swivel plate, and a bridge plate mounted across said tiller support members, wherein a drive train connects the tiller to the motor and has an upper end which terminates in said cap, wherein the tiller is pivoted to said cap, wherein said restraining means support means includes a base plate secured to said bridge plate, and wherein said abutment means is a forward edge formed in said base plate by an opening therein.

Claim 11

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the tiller, said support means including at least one restraining means support member attached to the tiller mounting means adjacent the tiller for movement with the tiller, means for restraining movement of the tiller into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the tiller within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc, means including a plate mounted on said restraining means support member for receiving and mounting said restraining means thereon for movement between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the tiller and an inoperative posItion wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrain the tiller, and said restraining means including a spring having an inner end and an outer end, bumper means mounted on the outer end of said spring, and means for retaining the inner end of said spring on said plate.

Claim 12

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the tiller, said support means including at least one restraining means support member attached to the tiller mounting means adjacent the tiller for movement with the tiller, means for restraining movement of the tiller into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the tiller within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc, means including a plate mounted on said restraining means support member for receiving and mounting said restraining means thereon for movement between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the tiller and an inoperative posItion wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrain the tiller, and said restraining means including a spring having an inner end and an outer end, bumper means mounted on the outer end of said spring, and means for retaining the inner end of said spring on said plate.

Claim 13

The truck defined in claim 9 wherein said restraining means further comprises a guide pin having an inner end and an outer end, inner and outer brackets having means defining openings for receiving said guide pin therethrough, said inner bracket being retained adjacent said plate and said outer bracket being retained adjacent said bumper means, said brackets being formed for containing said spring therein, and means defining an opening in said plate for receiving said guide pin for sliding movement therethrough upon compression of said spring.

Claim 14

The truck defined in claim 10 including a cam operatively connected to the tiller, a cam follower operatively connected to the brake and positioned for movement into and out of said cam when the tiller is pivoted into and out of the one arc, and said follower being operative to effect the motion control determined by the one arc as it enters said cam.

Claim 15

In a lift truck of the type having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through a predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through a predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising support means including members mounted on the truck adjacent the base of the tiller, and restraining means mounted on said support means, said restraining means including a plate having an opening therein and pivotally mounted across said support members, a guide pin slidably disposed within said opening and having an inner end and an outer end, a bumper attached to the outer end of said pin for engaging the tiller upon its release, retention means attached to the inner end of said pin, an inner bracket mounted on said pin adjacent said plate, an outer bracket mounted on said pin adjacent said bumper, and a spring mounted on said pin and compressibly contained between said brackets and being positionable to restrain movement of the tiller into the one arc and to maintain the tiller within the other arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said spring being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc.

Claim 16

In a lift truck of the type having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, a tiller for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, means mounting the tiller for pivotal movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the tiller through a predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the tiller through a predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the tiller upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising support means including members mounted on the truck adjacent the base of the tiller, and restraining means mounted on said support means, said restraining means including a plate having an opening therein and pivotally mounted across said support members, a guide pin slidably disposed within said opening and having an inner end and an outer end, a bumper attached to the outer end of said pin for engaging the tiller upon its release, retention means attached to the inner end of said pin, an inner bracket mounted on said pin adjacent said plate, an outer bracket mounted on said pin adjacent said bumper, and a spring mounted on said pin and compressibly contained between said brackets and being positionable to restrain movement of the tiller into the one arc and to maintain the tiller within the other arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said spring being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the tiller within the one arc.

Claim 17

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a mechanism for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the drive and brake control mechanism for movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the mechanism upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the drive and brake control mechanism, means mounted on said support means for restraining movement of the control mechanism into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the mechanism within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the control mechanism within the one arc, and a pivot on said support means for pivoting said restraining means between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the mechanism and an inoperative position wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrAin the mechanism.

Claim 18

In a lift truck or tow tractor of the type having a mechanism for controlling the drive and brake of the truck, the truck having a drive motor and a brake for motion control, means mounting the drive and brake control mechanism for movement on the truck, means coupling the brake to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined braking arc, means coupling the drive motor to movement of the mechanism through at least one predetermined driving arc, and means normally urging the mechanism upon its release into one of the driving and braking arcs, an improved motion selector device comprising: support means on the truck adjacent the drive and brake control mechanism, means mounted on said support means for restraining movement of the control mechanism into the one arc by the urging means and for maintaining the mechanism within another arc to effect the motion control determined by the other arc, said restraining means being sufficiently resilient to be overpowered by physically moving the control mechanism within the one arc, and a pivot on said support means for pivoting said restraining means between an operative position wherein said restraining means engages and restrains the mechanism and an inoperative position wherein said restraining means does not engage and restrAin the mechanism.

Claim 19

The truck defined in claim 13 wherein the mechanism is urged into a braking arc, and wherein said restraining means maintains the mechanism within a driving arc permitting the truck to coast after the mechanism has been released.

Claim 20

The truck defined in claim 13 wherein the mechanism is urged into a driving arc, and wherein said restraining means is positionable to maintain the mechanism within a braking arc causing the truck to stop after the mechanism has been released.