SENSOR CONFIGURATION FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE

• US 20170057798A1
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Dues, Jeffry D., Green, Matthew M., Schloemer, James F., Siefring, Vernon W., Wershing, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 10,301,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17 Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/001 the torque NOT being among the input parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/075 Constructional features or details
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07509 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07581 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• 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: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle includes a power unit; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; at least one obstacle detector mounted to the power unit; and a controller. The at least one obstacle detector detects object located along a path of travel of the power unit, and generate a distance signal upon detecting an object corresponding to a distance between the detected object and the power unit. The controller receives the distance signal and generates a corresponding vehicle stop or predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on the distance signal, wherein if a sensed object is located within a speed zone associated with a predetermined maximum allowable travel speed comprising a fixed speed greater than zero (0) miles per hour, as determined by the distance signal, the vehicle speed is reduced to the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed.

Claims

1. 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 predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance signal, wherein if a sensed object is located within a speed zone associated with a predetermined maximum allowable travel speed comprising a fixed speed greater than zero (0) miles per hour, as determined by said distance signal, the vehicle speed is reduced to the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed.

2. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 1, further comprising a load sensor to generate a weight signal indicative of a weight of a load on said load handling assembly.

3. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 2, wherein said controller receives said distance signal and said weight signal and generates a corresponding vehicle stop or predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance and weight signals.

4. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 3, 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.

5. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 4, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a second detection zone comprising said speed zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first detection zone, then the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said second detection zone.

6. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 5, 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 predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed comprising a fixed speed greater than said first predetermined maximum speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said third detection zone.

7. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 1, further comprising a presence sensor that detects the presence of an operator in the operator'"'"'s station of the materials handling vehicle, wherein said controller is responsive to remote travel requests and determines whether to implement each remote travel request based on the evaluation of at least one vehicle condition, said at least one vehicle condition evaluated by said controller comprising a status of said presence sensor, wherein said controller is configured to decide to not implement said remote travel request if said status from said presence sensor is indicative of the presence of an operator in the operator'"'"'s station of the materials handling vehicle.

8. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 7, wherein said remote travel request comprises a wireless travel request sent by a wireless remote control device donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle.

9. 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 predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on said distance and weight signals, wherein if a sensed object is located within a speed zone associated with a predetermined maximum allowable travel speed comprising a fixed speed greater than zero (0) miles per hour, as determined by said distance signal, the vehicle speed is reduced to the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed.

10. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 9, 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.

11. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 10, wherein for said given first load weight, if a sensed object is located at a distance within a second detection zone comprising said speed zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first detection zone, then the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said second detection zone.

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 third detection zone spaced further away from said power unit than said first and second detection zones, then a second predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed comprising a fixed speed greater than said first predetermined maximum speed is defined corresponding to said first load weight and an object being detected in said third detection zone.

13. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 9, further comprising a presence sensor that detects the presence of an operator in the operator'"'"'s station of the materials handling vehicle, wherein said controller is responsive to remote travel requests and determines whether to implement each remote travel request based on the evaluation of at least one vehicle condition, said at least one vehicle condition evaluated by said controller comprising a status of said presence sensor, wherein said controller is configured to decide to not implement said remote travel request if said status from said presence sensor is indicative of the presence of an operator in the operator'"'"'s station of the materials handling vehicle.

14. The materials handling vehicle as set out in claim 13, wherein said remote travel request comprises a wireless travel request sent by a wireless remote control device donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle.