Patent ID: 9145163
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: B62B,B62D,B66F

Abstract:
1. A system for providing an electrical steering assist for a materials handling vehicle comprising: a drive housing; a steerable wheel coupled to the drive housing; a steering arm pivotally mounted to the drive housing, the steering arm operatively configured to determine a steering direction of the steerable wheel by moving the steering arm from side to side in a generally horizontal plane; a steer drive unit coupled to the steerable wheel; an input sensing device arranged to detect a turning force applied to the steering arm by an operator, wherein the turning force is provided to change the angle of travel of the vehicle, the input sensing device comprising a strain measuring assembly defining a strain sensitive region between the steering arm and the steer drive unit, wherein a coupling between the steering arm and the strain measuring assembly allows for vertical pivoting movement of the steering arm relative to the strain measuring assembly, wherein such pivoting movement of the steering arm is used to move the steering arm into braking and operating arcs; and a controller operatively configured to control the steer drive unit to turn the steerable wheel based upon a signal from the input sensing device, wherein the controller is operatively configured to vary an amount of steering assist provided to the steering arm by the steer drive unit based upon a level of force detected by the input sensing device.