Eaton Corporation

James A Wahl

Bernard W Jalbert

Walter J Pleier

Gerald W Skulley

A multiple function control for an electric lift truck which facilitates moving the truck while the load carriage is being raised or lowered. Two vehicles speeds in forward and reverse can be selected by means of a pair of pushbuttons (34, 36) located on the load carriage lift control handle (32), independent of the normal vehicle travel control (28). Circuit means are provided to prevent simultaneous selection of both forward and reverse drive motor directions and to prevent adverse results from simultaneous operation of the normal vehicle travel control and the pushbutton control.

Lift truck control

An electro-hydraulic automatic seat brake system which is effective to automatically set the hydraulic service brakes and shut down the engine of an industrial vehicle whenever the operator's seat is unoccupied. In order to release the brakes after the seat is reoccupied, the operator must turn on the engine ignition circuit and close a separate brake release switch. The system is charged immediately upon starting the engine by means of an engine-driven pump before other hydraulic components can be operated, and the charge is maintained when the engine is shut down by means of an accumulator. According to one aspect of the invention the hydraulic pressure on the service brakes is automatically released when a mechanical handbrake is set. According to another aspect of the invention means are provided to allow the engine to keep running when the operator's seat is unoccupied, provided that the vehicle transmission is in a neutral condition.

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Langhorne, PA, United States of America

James A Wahl