Patent ID: 6345932
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: B62D,E01C

Abstract:
A control system for an industrial vehicle having left and right lateral sides and an articulated frame including a front frame half and a rear frame half movably connected with the front frame half, the system comprising:a steering mechanism disposed between the front and rear frame halves and configured to pivot the rear frame half with respect to the front frame half; a first hydraulic actuator operably connected with the steering mechanism; an offset mechanism disposed between the front and rear frame halves and configured to displace the rear frame half with respect to the front frame half in a direction generally toward one of the lateral sides of the vehicle; a second hydraulic actuator operably connected with the offset mechanism; a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic fluid source and a selector valve device connected with the fluid source and with each of the first and second actuators, the selector valve being configured to selectively direct hydraulic fluid to the first actuator to operate the steering mechanism and alternatively to the second actuator to operate the offset mechanism; and an operator controller device connected with the hydraulic circuit and configured to adjust hydraulic flow between the fluid source and the selector valve device so as to control extent and direction of movement of the rear frame half with respect to the front frame half by a selectively operated one of the steering mechanism and the offset mechanism.