Patent ID: 7716926

Claim:
A control apparatus for an engine-powered forklift, comprising: a hydraulic pump operated by an engine; a main line for supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump to an actuator and a speed change device; an inching valve provided on the main line and interrupting supply of the hydraulic oil to the speed change device in a working mode in which the actuator is operated; mode detecting means for detecting whether the forklift is in a traveling mode or the working mode, the mode detecting means comprising a pressure switch provided on a hydraulic pressure line which connects the inching valve to the speed change device; and a controller to control the engine such that, when the forklift is in the traveling mode, output of the engine is restricted from increasing to a preset output value or more, and, when the forklift is in the working mode, the output of the engine is allowed to increase to the preset output value or more, wherein the pressure switch outputs a detection signal to the controller when a pressure of the hydraulic oil supplied from the inching valve to the speed change device is reduced to a preset pressure or less.