Patent ID: 7861820
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: B62D,B66F

Abstract:
1. A steering system for an industrial vehicle comprising: a drive wheel configured to steerably align with a first radius of curvature; an electronically controlled idler wheel configured to steerably align with a second radius of curvature different than the first radius of curvature; a controller configured to command the electronically controlled idler wheel to steerably align with the second radius of curvature according to a determination of the first radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature share a common center point of turning radius, and wherein the common center point of turning radius identifies a minimum turning radius steering operation such that the industrial vehicle pivots about an axis of rotation passing through a longitudinal centerline of the industrial vehicle; and a load wheel assembly having a load wheel centerline, wherein during the minimum turning radius steering operation the load wheel centerline intersects the longitudinal centerline at the common center point.