Patent ID: 6047229
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
An industrial vehicle for conveying a load mounted thereon, comprising:a frame;an axle pivotally mounted on the frame;a restriction mechanism for restricting the pivotal movement of the axle;a pair of vehicle wheels rotatably supported on the axle;a steering mechanism having a steering wheel for steering the vehicle wheels in accordance with rotation of the steering wheel;a first detecting device for detecting an angular position of the steering wheel, the angular position representing a steering amount of the steering wheel;a second detecting device for detecting a wheel angle, wherein the wheel angle is the angle between a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the vehicle wheel and a line representing straight running of the vehicle;a third detecting device for detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle;a fourth detecting device for detecting a vehicle speed;calculating means for calculating a plurality of variables based on the detected angular position of the steering wheel, wheel angle, yaw rate and vehicle speed, the variables including lateral acceleration, yaw rate changing rate and lateral acceleration changing rate; andcontrol means for controlling the restriction mechanism to restrict the pivotal motion of the axle when one of the variables exceeds a predetermined reference value.