Fork lift truck with a single front wheel

1. A fork lift truck ( 10 ) comprising:

a truck body ( 12 ) having a front end,

a lift mechanism ( 14 ) being pivotally connected to the truck body ( 12 ) by a vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) supported by an arm, the arm interconnecting the lift mechanism ( 14 ) with the front end of the truck body,

means ( 24 ) for turning the lift mechanism ( 14 ) relative to the truck body ( 12 ),

the truck body ( 12 ) having a pair of ground engaging rear wheels ( 16 ) mounted on transverse axes,

the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) having a single ground engaging front wheel ( 40 ) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, and

wherein each of the front and rear wheels ( 16 , 40 ) have independent drive means ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ), the independent drive means ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ) being connected to a power source ( 164 , 76 ) in a manner by which, when the fork lift truck is turning, an increase in load opposing rotation of the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on an inside of the turn, will divert power from the power source ( 164 , 76 ) from the rear wheel ( 16 ) on an inside of the turn, to the rear wheel ( 16 ) on an outside of the turn and/or to the front wheel ( 40 ).

2. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the front and rear wheels ( 16 , 40 ) are driven independently by electric motors ( 44 , 160 , 162 ), and the electric motors ( 160 , 162 ) driving the rear wheels ( 16 ) is connected in series to an electrical power source ( 164 ).

3. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the electric motor ( 44 ) driving the front wheel is connected in series with the electric motors ( 160 , 162 ) driving the rear wheels.

4. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the front and rear wheels ( 16 , 40 ) are driven independently by hydraulic motors ( 70 , 72 , 74 ), and the hydraulic motors ( 72 , 74 ) driving the rear wheels ( 16 ) is connected in series to a common source ( 76 , 78 , 84 ) of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

5. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic motor ( 70 ) driving the front wheel is connected in series with the hydraulic motors ( 72 , 74 ) driving the rear wheels ( 16 ) to the common source ( 76 , 78 , 84 ) of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

6. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic motor ( 70 ) driving the front wheel is connected to the common source ( 76 , 78 , 84 ) of hydraulic fluid under pressure, by a separate parallel circuit.

7. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic motor ( 70 ) driving the front wheel is connected to a separate source of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

8. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) may be pivoted to the truck body ( 12 ) at a steering angle of substantially 90° or more.

9. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the front wheel ( 40 ) is positioned forwardly of vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) between the truck body ( 12 ) and the lifting mechanism ( 14 ).

10. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the front wheel ( 40 ) is positioned as far forward as possible towards a load bearing part ( 36 ) of the lifting mechanism ( 14 ).

11. The fork lift truck ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the motor ( 44 ) is connected to the front wheel ( 40 ) by a gearbox ( 46 ).

12. The fork lift truck according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the motor ( 44 ) and gearbox ( 46 ) is built partially into a hub of the front wheel ( 40 ).

13. The fork lift truck according to claim 1 , wherein the power source is an engine ( 80 ) driven generator or a hydraulic pump ( 76 , 78 ), or a battery pack ( 164 ).

14. The fork lift truck according to claim 13 , wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine powered by fuel gas.

15. An all wheel drive fork lift truck ( 10 ) having a single driving mode, the all wheel drive fork lift truck ( 10 ) comprising:

a truck body ( 12 ), including a turning mechanism ( 24 ), having a front end,

a lift mechanism ( 14 ) and the truck body ( 12 ) being pivotally connected to one another by a vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) supported by an arm,

the arm ( 50 ) interconnecting the lift mechanism ( 14 ) with the front end of the truck body ( 12 ),

the vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) being axially spaced from the truck body ( 12 ) by the arm ( 50 ),

the turning mechanism ( 24 ) being coupled for turning the lift mechanism ( 14 ) relative to the truck body ( 12 ),

the truck body ( 12 ) having a pair of ground engaging rear wheels ( 16 ) mounted on transverse axes, and

the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) having a single ground engaging front wheel ( 40 ) mounted centrally on a transverse axis,

wherein the front wheel ( 40 ) and each of the rear wheels ( 16 ) has an independent drive ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ) which are constantly engaged for driving the respective rear and front wheels ( 16 , 40 ), and the independent drive ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ) is connected to a power source ( 164 , 76 ) so that when the fork lift truck is turning, an increase in load opposing rotation of the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on an inside of the turn will divert drive power, supplied by the power source ( 164 , 76 ), from the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on the inside of the turn to at least one of the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on an outside of the turn and the front wheel ( 40 ).

16. An all wheel drive fork lift truck ( 10 ) having a single driving mode in which all of the wheels of the lift truck are continuously driven, the all wheel drive fork lift truck ( 10 ) comprising:

a truck body ( 12 ), including a turning mechanism ( 24 ), and a front end,

a lift mechanism ( 14 ) and the truck body ( 12 ) being pivotally connected to one another by a vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) supported by an arm,

the arm ( 50 ) interconnecting the lift mechanism ( 14 ) with the front end of the truck body ( 12 ),

the vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) being axially spaced from the truck body ( 12 ) by the arm ( 50 ),

the turning mechanism ( 24 ) being coupled for turning the lift mechanism ( 14 ) relative to the truck body ( 12 ),

the truck body ( 12 ) having a pair of ground engaging rear wheels ( 16 ) mounted on transverse axes, and

the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) having a single ground engaging front wheel ( 40 ) mounted centrally on a transverse axis,

wherein the front wheel ( 40 ) and each of the rear wheels ( 16 ) has an independent drive ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ) which are constantly engaged for driving the respective rear and front wheels ( 16 , 40 ), and the independent drive ( 44 , 160 , 162 , 70 , 72 , 74 ) is connected to a power source ( 164 , 76 ) so that when the fork lift truck is turning, an increase in load opposing rotation of the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on an inside of the turn, will divert drive power, supplied by the power source ( 164 , 76 ), from the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on the inside of the turn to at least one of the rear wheel ( 16 ) located on an outside of the turn and the front wheel ( 40 ); and

the vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) is located closer to the front wheel ( 40 ) then either of the rear wheels ( 16 ) to facilitate turning of the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) by actuation of the turning mechanism ( 24 ).

17. The fork lift truck according to claim 1 , wherein

an arm ( 50 ) generally extends horizontally between and interconnects the lift mechanism ( 14 ) with the front end of the truck body ( 12 ), and

a remote end of the arm ( 50 ) supports the vertically extending pivot ( 52 ).

18. The fork lift truck according to claim 17 , wherein has a turning radius which is greater than 90°.

19. The fork lift truck according to claim 1 , wherein

a pair of motors ( 160 , 162 ), which drive the rear wheels ( 16 ) of the truck ( 10 ), are connected in series to a power source ( 164 ), and

a motor ( 44 ), for driving the front wheel ( 40 ) of the fork lift truck ( 10 ), is connected to the power source ( 164 ) in parallel with the motors supplying drive to the rear wheels ( 16 ) of the fork lift truck ( 10 ).