Lift steering systems and methods

Abstract

A lift device includes a base having two front wheels and two rear wheels, a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base, a platform coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism, and a steering system. The steering system includes a second linear actuator coupled to a first front wheel of the two front wheels and a third linear actuator coupled to a second front wheel of the two front wheels. The two front wheels are spaced from the two rear wheels in a longitudinal direction. The retractable lift mechanism includes a first linear actuator extending along the longitudinal direction and configured to transition the retractable lift mechanism between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second linear actuator and the third linear actuator extend generally along the longitudinal direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift device, comprising:
 a base including two front wheels and two rear wheels, the two rear wheels being in a fixed orientation relative to the base, and the two front wheels being spaced from the two rear wheels in a longitudinal direction;   a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base, the retractable lift mechanism including a first linear actuator extending along the longitudinal direction and configured to transition the retractable lift mechanism between a stowed position and a deployed position;   a platform coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism; and   a steering system including:
 a second linear actuator coupled to a first front wheel of the two front wheels; and 
 a third linear actuator coupled to a second front wheel of the two front wheels, wherein the second linear actuator and the third linear actuator extend generally along the longitudinal direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the second linear actuator is configured to independently control a steering direction of the first front wheel, and the third linear actuator is configured to independently control a steering direction of the second front wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the first front wheel is coupled to the base by a first post and the second linear actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the first front wheel by rotating the first front wheel about the first post. 
     
     
         4 . The lift device of  claim 3 , wherein the second front wheel is coupled to the base by a second post and the third linear actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the second front wheel by rotating the second front wheel about the second post. 
     
     
         5 . The lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable lift mechanism is a scissor lift mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The lift device of  claim 1 , wherein a battery is mounted to the base and supplies electrical power to the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, and the third linear actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The lift device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, and the third linear actuator includes a motor. 
     
     
         8 . A lift device, comprising:
 a base including two front wheels and two rear wheels;   a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base, the retractable lift mechanism including a first linear actuator configured to transition the retractable lift mechanism between a stowed position and a deployed position;   a platform coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism; and   a steering system including:
 a second linear actuator coupled to a first front wheel and configured to independently control a steering direction of the first front wheel; and 
 a third linear actuator coupled to a second front wheel of the two front wheels and configured to independently control a steering direction of the second front wheel, 
   wherein an orientation of the first linear actuator changes relative to both the second linear actuator and the third linear actuator as the retractable lift mechanism moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         9 . The lift device of  claim 8 , wherein the first front wheel is coupled to the base by a first post and the second linear actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the first front wheel by rotating the first front wheel about the first post. 
     
     
         10 . The lift device of  claim 9 , wherein the second front wheel is coupled to the base by a second post and the third linear actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the second front wheel by rotating the second front wheel about the second post. 
     
     
         11 . The lift device of  claim 8 , wherein the retractable lift mechanism is a scissor lift mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The lift device of  claim 8 , wherein a battery is mounted to the base and supplies electrical power to the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, and the third linear actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The lift device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, and the third linear actuator includes a motor. 
     
     
         14 . A lift device, comprising:
 a base including two front wheels and two rear wheels the two rear wheels being in a fixed forward-aligned orientation, the two front wheels being spaced from the two rear wheels in a longitudinal direction;   a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base, the retractable lift mechanism including a first electric actuator configured to transition the retractable lift mechanism between a stowed position and a deployed position;   a platform coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism; and   a steering system including a second electric actuator coupled to one of the two front wheels and configured to control a steering direction of the one of the two front wheels, wherein the second electric actuator extends generally along the longitudinal direction, and wherein an orientation of the first electric actuator changes relative to the second electric actuator as the retractable lift mechanism moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.   
     
     
         15 . The lift device of  claim 14 , wherein the one of the two front wheels is a first front wheel, and wherein the steering system further includes a third electric actuator coupled to a second front wheel of the two front wheels and configured to control a steering direction of the second front wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The lift device of  claim 15 , wherein the first front wheel is coupled to the base by a first post and the second electric actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the first front wheel by rotating the first front wheel about the first post. 
     
     
         17 . The lift device of  claim 16 , wherein the second front wheel is coupled to the base by a second post and the third electric actuator is configured to adjust a steering direction of the second front wheel by rotating the second front wheel about the second post. 
     
     
         18 . The lift device of  claim 14 , wherein the retractable lift mechanism is a scissor lift mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The lift device of  claim 14 , wherein a battery is mounted to the base and supplies electrical power to the first electric actuator and the second electric actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The lift device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first electric actuator and the second electric actuator includes a motor.