Safety switch light fence
First Claim
1. In a vehicle having multiple exit openings about an operator station from which an operator controllably operates various functions of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
- a photoelectric cell system disposed substantially across said multiple exit openings about the operator station, including at least one light source and a plurality of light sensors spaced from the light source, the light sensors producing respective signals responsive to obstruction of a respective beam adjacent the corresponding exit opening from the source to the respective sensor, and means responsive to the respective signal for operating at least one of an indicator and a device for disabling of the vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety switch light fence for vehicles such as fork lift trucks has a photoelectric cell system positioned across a vehicle exit opening in an area where an operater'"'"'s foot is disposed when the operator allows his foot to protrude from the cab. At least one of a signaling device and an automatic cut-off are activated when protrusion of an operator'"'"'s leg or foot is sensed. One or more light beams are directed across the exit opening. A foot switch can be used to sense proper placement of the operator'"'"'s feet in the cab and to disable the photoelectric cell system, alarm and/or cut-off if the feet are safely stowed.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a vehicle having multiple exit openings about an operator station from which an operator controllably operates various functions of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
a photoelectric cell system disposed substantially across said multiple exit openings about the operator station, including at least one light source and a plurality of light sensors spaced from the light source, the light sensors producing respective signals responsive to obstruction of a respective beam adjacent the corresponding exit opening from the source to the respective sensor, and means responsive to the respective signal for operating at least one of an indicator and a device for disabling of the vehicles. - 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. In a vehicle having an operator station from which an operator controllably operates various functions of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
a photoelectric cell system disposed substantially across an exit opening from the operator station, including a light source and at least two light sensors spaced from the light source, a beam splitter disposed such that a beam emitted from the light source is split by the beam splitter into spaced beams directed to the at least two light sensors, the light sensors producing a signal responsive to obstruction of either of the spaced beams adjacent the exit opening, and means responsive to the signal for operating at least one of an indicator and a device for disabling of the vehicle.
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20. In a vehicle having an operator station from which an operator controllably operates various functions of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
a photoelectric cell system disposed substantially across an exit opening from the operator station, including a light source and a light sensor spaced from the light source, the light sensor producing a signal responsive to obstruction of a beam adjacent the exit opening from the source to the sensor, means responsive to the signal for operating at least one of an indicator and a device for disabling of the vehicle; and
a switch means disposed in a floor of the vehicle at the operator'"'"'s station, the switch means being connected to the photoelectric system, and the switch means disabling operation of said photoelectric system when at least one of an operator'"'"'s feet are disposed on the switch means.
Specification