Caterpillar Industrial Inc.

Darren L Krahn

Joseph J Harding

John E Wible

Andrew P Blau

Paul D Grohsmeyer

A control system for a fluid operated jack reduces the speed of retraction of a piston rod of the jack to an acceptable rate during a preselected range of operation by adding pressurized fluid flow to the fluid being exhausted from the jack through a restrictor valve to the reservoir. This reduction in speed reduces the potential for damage to the jack and associated componentry without sacrificing efficiency of operation. An implement controller causes fluid flow from a fluid source to be combined with the flow of fluid being exhausted from the jack in response to receiving a position signal from a implement position sensor and subsequent to the implement controller commanding the shifting of a control valve to a position at which fluid flow is passed from the fluid operated jack to the reservoir. The control system is particularly suitable for use on an automatic guided vehicle.

Control system for a fluid operated jack

An apparatus controllably moves the forks of a material handling vehicle in traverse directions relative to a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes fork position sensors which detect the transverse location of each fork. A controller receives signals from the position sensors and moves the forks to locations a preselected or calculated distance apart. Forktip sensors detect the opening in a load during movement of the forks. The controller receives signals from the forktip sensors and positions the forks such that they are disposable within the load opening. The apparatus is especially suitable for use on an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV).

Apparatus and method for controllably positioning forks of a material

An apparatus and method for controllably moving the carriage assembly of a automated load handling vehicle vertically and horizontally. The carriage assembly includes load detecting sensors which detect the opening in the load during movement of the carriage assembly. Once the opening is located, a controller positions the carriage assembly at vertical and horizontal target positions, and moves the carriage assembly into the opening.

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Concord, OH, United States of America

Darren L Krahn