Snag-free coiled cable assembly for a lift truck

• US 20070222686A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Holladay, Michael, Hughes, James, Meyers, Michael, Carscallen, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,592,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.R
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/122 longitudinally movable
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/205 Arrangements for transmitting pneumatic, hydraulic or electric power to movable parts or devices for cranes B66C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

A cable assembly for a lift truck includes, in one exemplary embodiment, a transportation cable loosely housed in a self-retracting hose preformed to default to a coiled shape when no pressure is applied to elongate the self-retracting hose. The self-retracting hose has a slick external surface that is selected to prevent adherence of the surface to any portion of the lift truck. The transportation cable is used for transporting a communication signal and/or a power supply voltage.

Claims

1. A cable assembly for a lift truck, the cable assembly comprising:

a first transportation cable for transporting at least one of a first communication signal and a first power supply voltage; and

a self-retracting hose comprising a slick external surface that is selected to prevent adherence of the surface to any portion of the lift truck, the self-retracting hose preformed to default to a coiled shape when no pressure is applied to elongate the self-retracting hose, and wherein the first transportation cable is loosely housed inside the self-retracting hose.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-retracting hose is a self-retracting nylon air hose and the first transportation cable provides communicative coupling between a first electronic component of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system of the lift truck and a second electronic component of the RFID system of the lift truck.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the first electronic component is located in a cab of the lift truck and the second electronic component is an antenna that is mounted on a moveable carriage of the lift truck.

4. The cable assembly of claim 3, further comprising a braided, metal sheath encasing the first transportation cable.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first power supply voltage comprises at least one of a direct current (DC) voltage and an alternating current (AC) voltage.

6. The cable assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second transportation cable, wherein the first transportation cable is configured to carry the first communication signal and the second transportation cable is configured to transport the first power supply voltage.

7. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the first transportation cable is a fiber optic conductor configured to carry an optical RFID signal.

8. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the first transportation cable is a coaxial conductor configured to carry a radio frequency (RF) signal.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first transportation cable includes an outer metal jacket that is connected to a connector located at one end of the self-retracting hose.

10. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the nylon hose further comprises a pivoting connector at one end of the nylon hose, the pivoting connector providing the nylon hose rotational freedom around a longitudinal axis of the pivoting connector.

11. A method for manufacturing a cable assembly for a lift truck, the method comprising:

providing an air hose that is an original equipment manufacture (OEM) component, the air hose preformed to default to a coiled shape when no pressure is applied to elongate the air hose; and

inserting a transportation cable through the air hose, the transportation cable configured to transport one of a communication signal and a power supply.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the air hose is a nylon air hose and the transportation cable is one of an electrical cable and an optical cable.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

mechanically anchoring a first end of the air hose to a stationary portion of the lift truck; and

mechanically anchoring a second end of the air hose to a second portion of the lift truck wherein the second portion moves relative to the first portion during an operational movement of the lift truck.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion is a portion of a carriage of the lift truck.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

using the transportation cable to transport one of a communication signal and a power supply between a first electronic component of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system and a second electronic component of the RFID system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first electronic component is an antenna mounted on a moveable portion of the lift truck.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second electronic component is an RFID controller mounted on a stationary part of the lift truck.

18. A method for manufacturing a cable assembly of a lift truck, the method comprising:

providing an air hose that is an original equipment manufacture (OEM) component, the air hose preformed to default to a coiled shape when no pressure is applied to elongate the air hose;

elongating the air hose longitudinally;

inserting a draw line through the air hose from one end to the other; and

using the draw line to draw a transportation cable through the air hose, the transportation cable configured to transport one of a first communication signal and a first power supply.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

encasing the transportation cable in a metal braided, sheath prior to using the draw line for drawing the transportation cable through the air hose; and

drawing the metal braided, sheath with the transportation cable through the air hose.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a connector on at least one end of the transportation cable; and

mounting the cable assembly on a lift truck, the cable assembly configured to provide communicative coupling between a first electronic component of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system of the lift truck and a second electronic component of the RFID system of the lift truck.

21. A cable assembly, comprising:

a first transportation cable for transporting at least one of a first communication signal and a first power supply voltage; and

a self-retracting hose preformed to default to a coiled shape when no pressure is applied to elongate the self-retracting hose, wherein the first transportation cable is loosely housed inside the self-retracting hose, and wherein the hose is adapted to transport one of a liquid and a gas.