Vehicle and environmental detection system

• US 10,040,676 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Incorporated (Nacco Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Kenan, Fitzsimmons, Alan H., Moore, Stephen A., Brock, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Luat T
• Application Number:
  US15/257,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20160376136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49, 701 36, 701 37, 701117, 701118, 701408
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/30 Indexing codes relating to the vehicle environment
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/33 Driving situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/065 non-masted mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers B66F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07504 Accessories, e.g. for towing, charging, locking
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 : for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A system includes a detection device configured to transmit and receive one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle. Additionally, the system may include a processing device configured to measure a time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction. A distance travelled by the one or more signals may be determined based, at least in part, on the measured time of flight, and the distance travelled may be compared with a threshold distance to determine an overhead clearance of the vehicle. In response to determining the overhead clearance, a vehicle system may be activated.

Claims

1. A detection system, comprising:

a sensing device configured to detect one or more signals travelling in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with an operational range of overhead distances; and

a processing device configured to;

operate a vehicle system in a mode of operation;

compare a distance travelled by the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction with the operational range of overhead distances to determine a change in overhead clearance of the vehicle; and

modify the mode of operation of the vehicle system in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system is configured to operate in either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, and wherein the processing device modifies the mode of operation by commanding the vehicle system to change operation from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.

3. The detection system of claim 2, wherein the change in overhead clearance identifies a reduced overhead clearance.

4. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standard mode of operation of the vehicle system, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises a restricted mode operation of the vehicle system that is commanded by the processing device in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle system comprises a hoisting system associated with a maximum lift height, and wherein the processing device restricts an allowable lift height of the hoisting system in the second mode of operation to less than the maximum lift height.

6. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle system comprises a traction system associated with a maximum travel speed, and wherein the processing device restricts an allowable travel speed of the traction system in the second mode of operation to less than the maximum travel speed.

7. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the processing device is configured to prohibit the vehicle system from operating in the first mode of operation in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

8. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the processing device is configured to disable the vehicle system in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

9. The detection system of claim 3, wherein the processing device is configured to activate the vehicle system in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

10. The detection system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle system comprises a vehicle lighting system, and wherein the processing device is configured to deactivate the vehicle lighting system in the first mode of operation.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting one or more signals travelling in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with an operational range of overhead distances;

operating, by a processing device, a vehicle system in a mode of operation;

comparing, by the processing device, a distance travelled by the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction with the operational range of overhead distances,

determining, by the processing device, a change in overhead clearance of the vehicle; and

modifying the mode of operation of the vehicle system in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle system operates in either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, and wherein modifying the mode of operation comprises commanding the vehicle system to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the change in overhead clearance identifies a reduced overhead clearance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a standard mode of operation of the vehicle system, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a restricted mode of operation of the vehicle system, and wherein modifying the mode of operation comprises commanding the vehicle system to operate in the restricted mode of operation in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle system comprises a hoisting system associated with a maximum lift height, and wherein an allowable lift height of the hoisting system is restricted in the second mode of operation to less than the maximum lift height.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle system comprises a traction system associated with a maximum travel speed, and wherein an allowable travel speed of the traction system is restricted in the second mode of operation to less than the maximum travel speed.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein modifying the mode of operation comprises activating the vehicle system in response to identifying the reduced overhead clearance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle system comprises a vehicle lighting system, and wherein the vehicle lighting system is deactivated in the first mode of operation.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting one or more signals travelling in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is associated with an operational range of overhead distances;

means for operating the vehicle in a mode of operation; and

means for comparing a distance travelled by the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction with the operational range of overhead distances in order to determine a change in overhead clearance of the vehicle, wherein the mode of operation of the vehicle is modified in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for operating comprises means for operating the vehicle in either a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, and wherein the mode of operation is modified by changing vehicle operation from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to determining the change in overhead clearance.