The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 08, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1998
Merrick O. Monaghan, Yankton, SD (US);
Gehl Company, West Bend, WI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle, such as an extendible forklift, includes a chassis or frame carrying a set of ground-engaging wheels, and a boom assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. A leveling cylinder is interposed between the frame and the wheels for leveling the frame when the vehicle is on uneven terrain and prior to raising the boom assembly to elevate a load. A switch mechanism is interposed between the frame and the boom assembly, for detecting when the boom assembly reaches or exceeds a predetermined angle relative to the frame. Actuation of the switch mechanism results in a restriction in the flow of fluid to the leveling cylinder, to reduce the speed at which the frame leveling cylinder can be operated. Simultaneously, the switch mechanism is operable to actuate the parking brake of the forklift, to prevent movement when the boom is raised above the predetermined angle. In this manner, frame leveling can only be accomplished at a slow speed when the boom assembly is at or above a predetermined angle relative to the frame.