Operation lamp and steer indicator

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a frame, at least one steerable ground engaging wheel for guiding movement of said vehicle, and an operator''s station positionable remotely above said steerable wheel: support means operatively mounting said steerable wheel to said frame for steering rotation about a substantially vertical axis and for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a light transmitting member operatively connected to said steerable wheel for rotation about said vertical axis and having a light receiving surface and a light emitting surface, and a light source including an electrical circuit for energization thereof, said electrical circuit having an electrical flasher unit connected electrically in series with said light source and connected electrically in parallel with a normally closed battery discharge indicator, opening of said discharge indicator due to a low battery voltage condition putting said flasher in series with said light source to cause said light source to flash indicating a low battery voltage condition, said light source being operatively mounted on said frame in position to illuminate said light receiving surface, and said light emitting surface being oriented in a fixed predetermined position relative to said horizontal axis capable of indicating the orientation of said steerable wheel to an operator at said operator''s station positioned remotely from said steerable wheel.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a housing operatively attached to said frame and receiving said light transmitting member, and means formed in said housing to render said light emitting surface visible from a position remote from said vehicle.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said means formed in said housing comprises a transparent member secured within an opening formed in said housing.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said transparent member comprises a dial face secured within an opening in a horizontal surface of said housing, and said light emitting surface is rectangular to define an elongated pointer with its longest dimension aligned with the plane of rotation of said steerable wheel.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said dial face is colored to render said pointer substantially invisible when said light transmitting member is not illuminated by said light source.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including electric power and control circuits to power said vehicle and a master switch to control said power and control circuits, said light source being connected in an electrical circuit energized by closing said master switch controlling said power and control circuits of said vehicle, energization of said light source providing indication that said vehicle is in a ''''power on'''' condition.

Claim 8

In a vehicle having a frame, a vertical mast attached to said frame, an operator platform vertically movable along said mast, a drive/steer unit mounted to said frame for rotation about a vertical steering axis, said drive/steer uniT being received in a housing and comprising a drive motor, and at least one ground engaging drive/steer wheel operatively connected to the output of said motor for rotating said wheel about a substantially horizontal drive axis: a light source attached to said motor for rotation therewith about said vertical steering axis, said light source also including an electrical circuit for energization thereof; a light transmitting member having a light receiving surface illuminated by said light source and a light emitting surface attached to said light source, said light source and light transmitting member being disposed within said housing with said light emitting surface adjacent a portion of said housing and having a fixed predetermined alignment with said steering and driving axes, and said electrical circuit for said light source having an electrical flasher unit connected electrically in series with said light source and connected electrically in parallel with a normally closed battery discharge indicator, opening of said discharge indicator due to a low battery voltage condition putting said flasher in series with said light source to cause said light source to flash indicating a low battery voltage condition; and means formed in said housing for rendering said light emitting surface visible to an operator located remotely on said platform.

Claim 9

In a vehicle having a frame, a vertical mast attached to said frame, an operator platform vertically movable along said mast, a drive/steer unit mounted to said frame for rotation about a vertical steering axis, said drive/steer uniT being received in a housing and comprising a drive motor, and at least one ground engaging drive/steer wheel operatively connected to the output of said motor for rotating said wheel about a substantially horizontal drive axis: a light source attached to said motor for rotation therewith about said vertical steering axis, said light source also including an electrical circuit for energization thereof; a light transmitting member having a light receiving surface illuminated by said light source and a light emitting surface attached to said light source, said light source and light transmitting member being disposed within said housing with said light emitting surface adjacent a portion of said housing and having a fixed predetermined alignment with said steering and driving axes, and said electrical circuit for said light source having an electrical flasher unit connected electrically in series with said light source and connected electrically in parallel with a normally closed battery discharge indicator, opening of said discharge indicator due to a low battery voltage condition putting said flasher in series with said light source to cause said light source to flash indicating a low battery voltage condition; and means formed in said housing for rendering said light emitting surface visible to an operator located remotely on said platform.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including electric power and control circuits to power said vehicle and a master switch to control said power and control circuits, said light source being connected in an electrical circuit energized by closing said master switch controlling said power and control circuits of said vehicle, energization of said light source providing indication that said vehicle is in a ''''power on'''' condition.