Crown Equipment Corporation

George Robert Wetterer

James Francis Schloemer

Eric L Jensen

Monty L Crabill

Steven R Pulskamp

Eric J Kaiser

Kevin Anthony Gilliland

Lewis Henry Manci

Michael P Gallagher

Eric J Hanson

Craig J Rekow

Adam M Ruppert

Leroy M Kluver

Jay L Kuck

Brian M Lambert

Eugene G Bruns

Steven C Billger

Gary Lester Topp

Ted R Wagner

Gary J May

David T Rench

William C Jones

Michael Corbett

John Ivan Koeper

Brad A Halbert

Sultan Masoud Karimi

Clinton L Reges

Bruce A Dubberly

Rhett Eugene Snyder

A load wheel assembly is provided comprising: a frame member; a side plate coupled to the frame member; an axle extending between the frame member and the side plate; and a keeper coupled by a fastener to the frame member or the side plate. The keeper is coupled to one end of the axle to prevent rotational and axial movement of the axle relative to the frame member and the side plate.

Load wheel assembly for preventing axial and rotational movement of an axle

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; wheels supported on the frame; a traction motor coupled to one of the wheels to effect rotation of the one wheel; a speed control element operable by an operator to define a speed control signal corresponding to a desired speed of the traction motor; a system associated with a steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel; and control apparatus coupled to the speed control element to receive the speed control signal, and coupled to the traction motor to generate a drive signal to the traction motor in response to the speed control signal to control the operation of the traction motor. The control apparatus may determine an acceleration value for the traction motor based on at least one of an angular position of the steerable wheel, a speed of the traction motor and a current position of the speed control element as defined by the speed control signal.

Materials handling vehicle having a control apparatus for determining an acceleration value

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame comprising an operator's compartment; wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel; a steer-by-wire system associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about a first axis; and a control apparatus. The steer-by-wire system comprises a control handle capable of being moved by an operator to generate a steer control signal, a selection switch capable of generating one of a first select signal and a second select signal, and a steer motor coupled to the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about the first axis. The control apparatus may be coupled to the control handle to receive the steer control signal, coupled to the selection switch to receive the one select signal, and coupled to the steer motor to generate a first drive signal to the steer motor to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about the first axis. The control apparatus may convert the steer control signal to a corresponding desired angular position for the steerable wheel using one of first and second steerable-wheel-to-control-handle-position ratios, wherein the one ratio is selected based on the one select signal.

Materials handling vehicle with a module capable of changing a steerable wheel to control handle position ratio

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame comprising an operator's compartment, wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel, and a steer-by-wire system associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel. The vehicle further comprises a control apparatus.

Materials handling vehicle having a steer system including a tactile feedback device

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame comprising an operator's compartment; wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel; a steer-by-wire system and control apparatus. The steer-by-wire system is associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about a first axis.

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; a set of wheels supported on the frame to allow the materials handling vehicle to move across a floor surface; a rider compartment located within the frame for receiving an operator; and an operator support assembly. The operator support assembly comprises a suspended floorboard upon which the operator may stand when located within the rider compartment and an energy absorbing structure coupled to the frame and the suspended floorboard for absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of energy resulting from disturbances encountered by the vehicle as it moves across the floor surface prior to the energy portion reaching the operator standing on the suspended floorboard, the energy absorbing structure including a damping element for effecting a dampening function.

Suspended floorboard

A compressive member is used to bias a seat backrest into a predetermined position, generally upright as illustrated, relative to a seat base with the compressive member deforming to enable the seat to be pivoted by the application of force to the backrest. When used on a materials handling vehicle for which it is particularly applicable, the resiliently biased backrest attenuates forces that are transferred to the back of an operator occupying the seat when the vehicle is driven over irregularities in a floor supporting the vehicle.

Materials handling vehicles having seats with pivoting backrests

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; a set of wheels supported on the frame to allow the materials handling vehicle to move across a floor surface; a rider compartment located within the frame for receiving an operator; and an operator support assembly. The operator support assembly comprises a suspended floorboard upon which the operator may stand when located within the rider compartment and an energy absorbing structure coupled to the frame and the suspended floorboard for absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of energy resulting from disturbances encountered by the vehicle as it moves across the floor surface prior to the energy portion reaching the operator standing on the suspended floorboard, the energy absorbing structure including a damping element for effecting a damping function.

An operator's compartment for an industrial vehicle comprises a platform floor, an operator's seat, at least one presence sensing device and a control module. The operator's seat has a base structure coupled to the platform floor and an operator support coupled to the base structure such that the operator support may be rotated with respect to the platform floor. Each provided presence sensing device is arranged to sense an operator's presence in a predetermined location in or about the operator's compartment and the control module is configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based upon a rotational position of the operator's seat and a signal from at least one of the presence sensing device(s).

Rotating and/or swiveling seat

Seat assembly

An operator's seat for a vehicle includes a base structure that allows the operator's seat to be rotated with respect to a platform floor of an operator's compartment within the vehicle. The operator's seat may further include a swivel structure that allows an operator support to swivel independently of the rotation of the base structure. At least one presence sensing device may be provided to detect the presence of an operator. The presence sensing device(s), and rotational position of the operator support may provide input signals to a control module that controls the vehicle travel, load handling features, and/or other features of the vehicle that may be selectively enabled, limited or otherwise controlled.

Electrical steering assist systems reduce the operator applied steering effort necessary to operate material handling vehicles. A steer drive unit including a motor is coupled to a steerable wheel for providing steering assist. The amount of steering assist provided by the steer drive unit is determined by a controller that receives input from one or more input sensing devices. The input sensing device(s) may include force sensors that detect an operator applied turning force. The input sensing device(s) may also detect the movement of one steering component relative to another. Further, the input sensing device(s) may include operator activated controls such as a joystick, potentiometer, switches and voice initiated commands. Input sensing device(s) may additionally be provided to detect operational parameters such as the load on the material handling vehicle, vehicle speed, or environmental conditions such as travel path obstruction detection, homing and proximity sensing.

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Troy, OH, United States of America

George Robert Wetterer