Patent ID: 8157500

Claim:
A device for determining vertical orientation of a fork of a forklift, said forklift comprising a frame, a fork assembly, a tilting piston assembly, an operator compartment, a prime mover and surface engaging wheels, said fork assembly pivotally attached to said frame, said fork assembly further comprising a column, a telescoping structure and a pair of forks, said pair of forks movable upon said telescoping structure, said telescoping structure moveable upon said column, said piston assembly comprising a piston and a cylinder, said cylinder pivotally attached to said frame, said piston having one end longitudinally movable within said cylinder and an opposite end of said piston coupled to said fork assembly with a pivotable coupling, said device comprising: an indicating rod, a electrical contact switch assembly, an tilt indicator, a mounting lug and connecting wires, said mounting lug having a hole disposed longitudinally therethrough, said electrical contact switch assembly rigidly mounted to said cylinder, said indicating rod having a forward end adjustably attached to said pivotable coupling in said mounting lug, said indicating rod disposed parallel to said piston and passing through said electrical contact switch assembly, said indicating rod having a central cylindrical portion, a forward tilt groove, a rearward tilt groove and an end cylindrical portion, said forward tilt groove disposed aft of said central cylindrical portion, said rearward tilt groove disposed between said central cylindrical portion and said end cylindrical portion, said forward tilt groove disposed diametrically opposite said rearward tilt groove, said electrical contact switch comprising a pair of electrical contactors disposed in opposed relationship wherein one said electrical contact switch has a follower adapted to travel on said indicating rod diametrically opposite a follower of another said electrical contact switch, said follower of said one electrical contact switch aligned with said forward tilt groove and said follower of said another electrical contact switch aligned with said rearward tilt groove, said tilt indicator mounted in said operator compartment and electrically coupled to said electrical contact switch assembly with said connecting wires, said tilt indicator providing an operator with an orientation of said forks relative to a surface engaged with said surface engaging wheels.