MULTI-FUNCTION JOYSTICK FOR FORKLIFT CONTROL
First Claim
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1. A multi-function joystick system for controlling forklift mast, tilt and fork functions, comprising:
- a joystick pivotable about two-axes and having first, second and third buttons and a trigger;
a mast controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis;
a tilt controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis; and
a fork controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis in combination with the first button and the trigger, and pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis in selective combination with the first, second or third button.
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Abstract
A multi-function joystick system controls forklift mast, tilt and fork functions. The system includes a single joystick pivotable about two axes and having first, second and third buttons and a trigger. Combinations of pivoting the joystick alone or in combination with pressing buttons and triggers performs eight forklift functions including negative lift/lower, free lift/lower, maximum lift/lower, tilt forward/backward, left fork left/right, right fork left/right, both forks left/right, and fork open/close.
54 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A multi-function joystick system for controlling forklift mast, tilt and fork functions, comprising:
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a joystick pivotable about two-axes and having first, second and third buttons and a trigger; a mast controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis; a tilt controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis; and a fork controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis in combination with the first button and the trigger, and pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis in selective combination with the first, second or third button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A multi-function joystick system for controlling forklift mast, tilt and fork functions, comprising:
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a joystick pivotable about two-axes and having first, second and third buttons and a trigger; a mast controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis; a tilt controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis; and a fork controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis in combination with the first button and the trigger, and pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis in selective combination with the first, second or third button, wherein a left fork and a right fork are jointly shifted by pressing the first button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, wherein the left fork is independently shifted by pressing the second button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, wherein the right fork is independently shifted by pressing the third button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, and wherein the distance between the left and right forks is shifted by pressing the first button in combination with the trigger and pivoting the joystick along the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A multi-function joystick system for controlling forklift mast, tilt and fork functions, comprising:
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a joystick pivotable about two-axes and having first, second and third buttons and a trigger; a mast controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis; a mast actuator responsive to the mast controller for raising and lowering a multi-stage mast, a mast sensor associated with the mast actuator for determining a height of an inner mast section, and first and second multi-state switches associated with the inner mast section; a tilt controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis; a fork controller responsive to pivotal movement of the joystick about the first axis in combination with the first button and the trigger, and pivotal movement of the joystick about the second axis in selective combination with the first, second or third button; a left actuator associated with a left fork, and a left sensor associated with the left actuator for determining a lateral position of the left fork; a right actuator associated with a right fork, and a right sensor associated with the right actuator for determining a lateral position of the right fork; and said left and right actuators responsive to the fork controller for laterally shifting said left and right forks, wherein the left and right forks are jointly shifted by pressing the first button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, wherein the left fork is independently shifted by pressing the second button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, wherein the right fork is independently shifted by pressing the third button and pivoting the joystick along the second axis, and wherein the distance between the left and right forks is shifted by pressing the first button in combination with the trigger and pivoting the joystick along the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification