Driver Assist Device And Industrial Truck With Driver Assist Device

• US 20140158468A1
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Original Assignee: Linde Material Handling GmbH (Superlift Holding SARL)
• Inventors: Adami, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,802,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/222
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems

Abstract

A driver assist device is described for an industrial truck (1) with at least one steered wheel (21) at the rear end of the truck. The driver assist device is located on the industrial truck (1) and projects a lighting effect on the roadway (13). The lighting effect marks a peripheral path (12) of the external periphery (14) of the rear end (15) of the truck on the roadway (13) for a selected steering angle as the industrial truck travels in a curve.

Claims

1. A driver assist device for an industrial truck having at least one steered wheel at a rear end of the truck, which driver assist device comprises:

a light source configured to be mounted on an industrial truck and to project a lighting effect on a roadway, wherein the lighting effect marks a peripheral path of an external periphery of a rear end of the industrial truck as the industrial truck travels on a curve.

2. The driver assist device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting effect comprises a solid or broken line which corresponds to the peripheral path.

3. The driver assist device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting effect is produced by a laser.

4. An industrial truck comprising:

at least one steered wheel at the rear end of the truck; and

a driver assist device comprising at least one light source mounted on the industrial truck,

wherein the driver assist device projects a lighting effect on a roadway, and wherein the lighting effect marks a peripheral path of an outside periphery of the rear end of the industrial truck on the roadway for a selected steering angle as the industrial truck travels on a curve.

5. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the peripheral path is marked beginning from the rear end of the truck to a maximum lateral deviation with reference to a longitudinal axis of the truck.

6. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the peripheral path is for a maximum steering angle of the industrial truck.

7. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the peripheral path is for an instantaneous steering angle of the industrial truck.

8. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the driver assist device is turned on by a steering angle that exceeds a predetermined minimum steering angle.

9. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the driver assist device is turned on by a switch.

10. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the driver assist device is turned on when a speed of the truck drops below a predetermined speed limit.

11. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the driver assist device projects a lighting effect on the roadway on one side or both sides of the industrial truck.

12. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the industrial truck has a protective roof over a driver station and the light source for the lighting effect is located in an upper area of the protective roof.

13. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the industrial truck has a lifting mast and the light source for the lighting effect is located on an upper area of the lifting mast.

14. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the industrial truck has a counterbalance and the light source for the lighting effect is located on an upper area of the counterbalance.

15. The industrial truck as recited in claim 4, wherein the steering angle is selected from the group consisting of a maximum steering angle of the industrial truck and an instantaneous steering angle of the industrial truck.