APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE

• US 20100145551A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Wershing, Jesse, Horvath, Eugene P., Dues, Jeffry D., Pulskamp, Steven R., Snodgrass, Ryan M., Schloemer, James F., Siefring, Vernon W., Green, Matthew M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07581 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0216 Vehicle for transporting goods in a warehouse, factory or similar
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle. The finger-mounted remote control device includes a rigid mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand; a mounting strap coupled to said rigid mounting structure for securing said rigid mounting structure to the at least one finger; a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said rigid mounting structure; and control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

Claims

1. A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a rigid mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said rigid mounting structure for securing said rigid mounting structure to the at least one finger;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said rigid mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein said mounting strap contacts the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein said rigid mounting structure is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

6. A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said mounting structure for securing the mounting structure to the at least one finger;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle;

wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

7. The control device of claim 6, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

8. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a power unit;

a load handling assembly coupled to said power unit;

at least one obstacle detector mounted to said power unit to detect an object located along a path of travel of said power unit, said detector generating a distance signal upon detecting an object corresponding to a distance between the detected object and said power unit; and

a controller receiving said distance signal and generating a corresponding vehicle stop or maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance signal.

9. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 8, further comprising a load sensor to generate a weight signal indicative of a weight of a load on said load handling assembly.

10. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 9, wherein said controller receives said distance signal and said weight signal and generates a corresponding vehicle stop or maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance and weight signals.

11. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 10, wherein for a given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a first detection zone, a stop signal is generated by said controller to effect stopping of said vehicle.

12. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 11, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a second detection zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first detection zone, then a first maximum allowable vehicle speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said second detection zone.

13. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 12, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a third detection zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first and second detection zones, then a second maximum allowable vehicle speed greater than said first maximum is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said third detection zone.

14. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a power unit;

a load handling assembly coupled to said power unit;

at least one obstacle detector mounted to said power unit to detect an object located along a path of travel of said power unit, said detector generating a distance signal upon detecting an object corresponding to a distance between the detected object and said power unit;

a load sensor to generate a weight signal indicative of a weight of a load on said load handling assembly; and

a controller receiving said distance signal and said weight signal and generating a corresponding vehicle stop or maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance and weight signals.

15. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 14, wherein for a given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a first detection zone, a stop signal is generated by said controller to effect stopping of said vehicle.

16. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 15, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a second detection zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first detection zone, then a first maximum allowable vehicle speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said second detection zone.

17. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 16, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a third detection zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first and second detection zones, then a second maximum allowable vehicle speed greater than said first maximum is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said third detection zone.

18. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a power unit;

a load handling assembly coupled to said power unit;

at least one first obstacle detector mounted at a first location on said power unit to detect an object located along a path of travel of said power unit beyond a dead zone of said first detector; and

at least one second obstacle detector mounted at a second location on said power unit, spaced from said power unit first location, and capable of detecting an object in said dead zone of said first obstacle detector.

19. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 18, wherein said first obstacle detector is located at a front portion of said power unit.

20. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 19, wherein said second obstacle detector is spaced away from said first obstacle detector in a direction towards said load handling assembly.