Material handling vehicle having improved deadman control

摘要

A material handling vehicle is disclosed which is in the form of a battery-operated lift truck having a drive unit including an electric motor and a brake and having a hydraulically operated power steering system controlled from a steering wheel on a vertically movable platform. A pump of the power steering system is operated by an electric motor which is energized through a deadman switch on the operator's platform. The brake of the drive unit is spring-biased toward an engaged condition and is released by a hydraulic cylinder supplied with fluid from the power steering pump, the brake being released by the hydraulic back pressure of the power steering system.