Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Towmotor Corporation

Alan J Hickman

David C Wachter

Charles R Chelin

Laurel L Peterson

A steering system for an articulated steered mobile work machine has a first sensor for sensing the relative angular position of first and second machine sections and a second sensor for sensing the relative angular position of second and a third machine sections. A controller determines for a sensed relative angle of the first and second machine sections the desired relative steering angle of the second and third sections and actuates a second control valve to direct fluid flow to a second pair of fluid operated jacks and pivot the third machine section to a desired angular position relative to the second machine section. The second sensor provides feedback as to the relative angular position of the second and third machine sections.

Steering system

A material handling system (10) has a lifting element (12) and first apparatus (14) for moving the lifting element (12). The system (10) is, for example, a work vehicle having mast mounted implements, such as a lift truck (10) with forks (12) or a container handler. Proper alignment of the lifting element (12) relative to material (46) to be loaded and structure (52) adjacent the material (46) is necessary to engage the material (46). The material handling system (10) has a second apparatus (40) for delivering first and second signals in response to first and second surfaces (20,22) of the lifting element (12) being at elevations (42,48) greater and lesser than first and second preselected elevations (44,50), respectively. A third apparatus (57) automatically moves one of the lifting element surfaces (20,22) to the respective one of the preselected elevations (44,50), in response to receiving a respective one of the signals for automatically aligning the lifting element ( 12).

Aligning apparatus for material handling system

An adjustable arbor wheel mounting arrangement has a support frame having a mounting surface and an arbor having an axis and an end mounting surface. A wheel means is mounted on the arbor and fastening means is provided for clamping the arbor end mounting surface against the mounting surface of the support frame upon reaching a preselected working position. An abutment reaction means is provided for directing thrust forces upon the wheel means and substantially normal to the axis through the arbor and to the support frame.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Alan J Hickman