Patent ID: 6140594
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B66F

Abstract:
An apparatus mounted on a forklift vehicle for detecting a vertical position of a fork of the forklift vehicle, the vehicle having an outer mast, an inner mast movable in a path parallel to the outer mast, the fork being vertically movable in accordance with vertical movement of the inner mast, the apparatus comprising:a housing mounted on the forklift vehicle;a lever displaced when engaged by a lower end of the inner mast when the inner mast is lowered, the lever intersecting the path of the inner mast;a switch actuated by the lever, the switch disposed within the housing;a support shaft for supporting the lever, the support shaft being rotatable in a predetermined angular range;a spring for biasing the support shaft in a first rotational direction, the support shaft being rotated in a second rotational direction, opposite to the first rotational direction, when the lever is engaged by the inner mast; anda switch actuator member located on the support shaft and moving integrally with the support shaft, wherein the switch actuator member actuates the switch when the support shaft is rotated in the first rotational direction, the switch actuator member de-actuating the switch when the support shaft is rotated in the second rotational direction, and wherein said support shaft is axially movable and is biased toward the inner mast.