System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck during driving

• US 20070069907A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: Magens, Ernst-Peter, Manken, Frank, von Werder, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors

Abstract

System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck with the following features: transponders are arranged at predetermined points of the working area of the industrial truck, the transponders are designed so that they transmit a UHF signal upon receipt of a transmission signal, the industrial truck comprises at least one aerial for transmitting and/or receiving an LF signal, an evaluation unit is arranged on the industrial truck which, upon receipt of a signal, sends said signal to an electronic evaluation unit for the UHF signals, the evaluation unit is connected to an on-board computer in the industrial truck.

Claims

1. System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck with the following features:

transponders (20) are arranged at predetermined points of the working area of the industrial truck (10), the transponders (20) are designed so that they transmit a UHF signal upon receipt of a transmission signal, the industrial truck (10) comprises at least one aerial (12) for transmitting and/or receiving a signal to and/or from the transponder, an evaluation unit (16) is arranged on the industrial truck (10) which contains an electronic evaluation unit for the UHF signals, the evaluation unit is connected to an on-board computer (22) in the industrial truck.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the transponders (20) fitted with batteries are normally inactive and upon receipt of a signal, preferably an LF signal, transmit a UHF signal, the industrial truck has a first aerial for transmitting the transmission signal, preferably LF signal, and the evaluation unit preferably has a second aerial for the receipt of the UHF signal.

3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the transponders (20) are attached to, or in the vicinity of, traffic signs (24).

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a first aerial (12) is attached to the overhead guard of the industrial truck.

5. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the industrial truck has a control device for the vehicle drive and the speed is influenced according to the UHF signal.

6. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a transmission circuit for the transmission signal, preferably the LF signal, is arranged in the evaluation unit (16) and the evaluation unit (16) is connected via a cable (28) to the transmission aerial (12).

7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a mains connection is provided as a supply terminal for the transponders.

8. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the aerial is attached to the front or rear windscreen or to the lifting equipment.

9. System according to claim 1, characterised in that on the industrial truck a monitoring circuit is provided which monitors the functions of the industrial truck, data relative to the functions of the industrial truck are stored in the transponder which correspond to prohibited functions or mandatory functions at the location of, or in the vicinity of, the transponders and the monitoring circuit compares the signals coming from the transponders with the respective function and it is indicated to the driver on the display or the like when the respective function deviates from the prohibited function or mandatory function contained in the signal.

10. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the transponders may be activated by external control devices in the operating area of the industrial truck.