Patent ID: 6065556
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: B62D,E02F

Abstract:
A mobile vehicle for lifting a load, comprising:a vehicle body including front and rear wheel assemblies each including at least a pair of wheels supporting respective front and rear vehicle body parts;an implement attached to the vehicle body for lifting said load;a drive motor mounted on the vehicle;an extension and retraction assembly responsive to actuation of the drive motor and mounted within said vehicle body;a controller for actuating the extension and retraction assembly responsive to an input from an operator of the vehicle;wherein the extension and retraction assembly allows the vehicle to move between a retracted state in which the extension and retraction assembly is fully retracted and the body parts are in opposition and where a wheel base distance is at a minimum for the vehicle and an extended state in which the extension and retraction assembly is fully extended so that the body parts are at least partially separated and the wheel base is set at a maximum for the vehicle; wherein, when the vehicle is extended, one wheel assembly supporting one of said body parts is displaced relative to the other wheel assembly supporting the other body part, the drive motor providing counterbalance for said load and resistance against overturning under said load, wherein at least one wheel of one or both said wheel assemblies includes at least one wheel motor and wherein hydraulic hoses between a controlling pump mounted on one of the front and rear body parts and said at least one wheel motor displace to accommodate displacement of the body parts.