Patent ID: 6505715
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
A method of controlling braking of an industrial lift vehicle driven by an electric motor, wherein vehicle drive wheel rotational speed is proportional to rotational speed of the electric drive motor, the method wherein upon activation of a control means by a vehicle driver, an electronic control unit sends signals to a control unit of the electric motor to reduce the rotational speed of the motor according to a predetermined deceleration characteristic whereupon a resulting vehicle braking deceleration rate is proportional to a position of the control means, wherein the control means (1) is activatable between a number of different activation positions, and (2) includes a travel direction switch, and, wherein the rotational speed of the electric motor is reduced when the control means is activated according to one of a number of available predetermined deceleration characteristics, where the characteristic is chosen in dependency of the activation position of an accelerator pedal so that the rotational speed is reduced more rapidly the further the accelerator pedal is moved from its initial position whereupon when a driver activates the brake, the same control means position will result in the same deceleration characteristic independent of vehicle load.