Patent ID: 6240353
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
The control apparatus for an industrial vehicle including a rear axle, said rear axle being swingable during straight travel of the vehicle and being lockable during turning of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:holding means for selectively locking and unlocking the rear axle;memory means for storing a first value and a second value of an angular velocity rate, wherein said angular velocity rate represents an angular velocity per unit time, wherein said first value is predetermined to indicate turning of the vehicle when the angular velocity rate is greater than the first value, and wherein said second value is predetermined to indicate the straight travel of the vehicle when the angular velocity rate is smaller than the second value; andcontrol means for selectively activating and deactivating the holding means, said control means activating the holding means to lock the rear axle when the angular velocity rate is greater than the first value, said control means deactivating the holding means to unlock the rear axle when the angular velocity is kept smaller than the second value for a predetermined time period after the angular velocity rate has become smaller than the second value.