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United States Patent | 6,079,110 |
Chino ,   et al. | June 27, 2000 |
A device for detecting the wheel angle of forklift rear wheels is disclosed. A cylinder steers the rear wheels by means of steering mechanisms based on manipulation of a steering wheel. The steering mechanisms include kingpins that support the rear wheels to be rotatable in relation to a rear axle. Each kingpin rotates integrally with the corresponding rear wheel. A wheel angle sensor, which includes a potentiometer, is fixed to the rear axle by a bracket. The position of the sensor corresponds to the position of one of the kingpins. The sensor detects the rotational angle of the kingpin as the wheel angle of the rear wheels.
Inventors: | Chino; Kenji (Kariya, JP); Hyodo; Masaya (Kariya, JP); Iwanaga; Yoshihisa (Kariya, JP) |
Assignee: | Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho (Aichi-Ken, JP) |
Appl. No.: | 061440 |
Filed: | April 16, 1998 |
Apr 25, 1997[JP] | 9-109303 | |
May 12, 1997[JP] | 9-121054 | |
May 13, 1997[JP] | 9-122233 |
Intern'l Class: | G01B 005/255; G01B 007/315 |
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