Towmotor Corporation

Caterpillar Industrial Inc.

John E Wible

Grant C Melocik

James G Blaha

Robert D Higgins

Robert L McNutt

Richard A Schwehr

Andrew P Blau

Paul D Grohsmeyer

Bernard E Erlacher

Darren L Krahn

Joseph F Sabo

Ian J Dawson

William R Mueller

Terence E Valencic

Richard A Nestoff

John R Dineen

Lawrence A Liljequist

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

A system for retaining a battery on a frame of a vehicle has a retaining device which is movable between a first position at which the battery is free to move in a passing relationship relative to a side of the frame and second position at which the battery is retained on the frame and from passing movement relative to the frame side. A sensing device delivers electromagnetic radiation, receives electromagnetic radiation and delivers a first control signal in response to receiving electromagnetic and delivers a second control signal in the absence of receiving electromagnetic radiation. An obstructing device is movable to block the sensing device from receiving electromagnetic radiation in response to the retaining device being at the first position. A controller receives the first and second signals and delivers a vehicle disabling signal in response receiving the second signal. The system is particularly suitable for use on an automatic guided vehicle.

Battery retaining system

A system using free ranging automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) for loading and unloading material from a number of trailers is provided. The system employs a plurality of sensors for monitoring both pedestrian, operator driven vehicles and other AGV traffic, and for ensuring that the trailers are parked in position and ready for loading and unloading. The system further includes signals for controlling traffic and a plurality of trailer mounted targets for AGV navigation. During an operation cycle full containers are unloaded from a first trailer and empty containers are loaded on a second trailer.

System for loading and unloading trailers using automatic guided vehicles

A contactor assembly having contacting head portion is mounted on a vehicle and a receiving device is mounted on a load transfer station. The contactor assembly and receiving device is provided for transferring electrical energy from a source of electrical energy between the load transfer station and the vehicle and improves the flexibility of load transfer station location and relocation. The contacting head portion is transversely movable between first and second spaced apart locations relative to the vehicle and into engagement with the receiving device. A sensing device is provided for sensing the position of the vehicle relative to the load transfer station and delivering an actuator control signal to an actuating device in response to the contacting head portion and the receiving device being aligned for mating engagement. The actuating device moves the contacting head portion from the first position to the second position in response to the receiving the actuating control signal. The contactor assembly is particularly suited for use on an automatic guided vehicle.

Power transferring arrangement

A sensing apparatus capable of delivering a control signal in response to contact between an element of the apparatus and an external object should respond readily to a predetermined level of contact, and should be sensitive along all portions of the contact sensing surface. The instant invention provides a contact sensing apparatus including a conduit having a generally hollow tubular construction and being formed a resilient deformable material. A sonic generator is connected to one end of the conduit and a sonic detector is connected to the other end of the conduit. An electrical circuit is connected to the sonic generator and sonic detector, and is adapted to controllably produce a control signal in response to contact between the conduit and an external object. The instant invention is advantageously free from electro-mechanical switches and optical devices likely to be contaminated when used in an industrial environment, and requires no seals or other precautions necessary to contain pressure or fluid within the conduit.

Contact sensing apparatus and method

A navigation system for use in a self guided material handling vehicle provides guidance during operation in areas having densely stacked rows of containers and reduces the potential of deviation of the self guided vehicle from the desired path of travel. A laser signaling device is mounted on the vehicle and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the self guided vehicle. The laser signaling device is adapted to delivery a light beam signal at a first preselected angle relative to the axis of rotation and a directing device is provided for directing the delivered light beam signal, during a preselected portion of rotation of the laser signaling device, at a second different preselected angle relative to the axis of rotation. A receiving device receives a reflection of the light beam signal and delivers a position signal in response to the light beam signal received. The navigation system is particularly suited for use in automatic storage and retrieval systems.

Vehicle guidance system

A load carrying attachment has a supporting frame mounted on an elevationally movable carriage assembly mounted uprights of a lift mast and a load engaging frame having a load engaging device. A connecting device connects the load engaging frame to the supporting frame and guides the load engaging frame for movement in a preselected plane in directions transverse the uprights. The load engaging frame is freely transversely movable in the plane in response to an external force being applied to the load engaging frame and alleviates damage to the load engaging frame or a carried load due to misalignment with a transporter. A sensing device is provided for sensing the position of the load engaging frame and delivering a vehicle braking signal in response to the load engaging frame being at either a first or a second preselected transverse position. The load carrying attachment is particularly suited for use on an automatic guided vehicle.

Freely positionable load carrying attachment for an automatic guided

An obstacle detection system for protecting a frame upper end portion and laser scanning device of a self guided vehicle from damage by external objects includes a device for delivering a light signal in a direction along a preselected elevationally oriented axis and a device for receiving a reflection of the delivered light signal and delivering a condition control signal in response to receiving the reflected light signal. A supporting assembly is connected to the frame upper end portion and a guide frame is connected to the supporting assembly and defines a plane passing through the elevationally oriented axis. A reflecting member is supported on the guide frame and a connecting device connects the reflecting member to the support assembly and maintains the reflecting member for movement between a first position at which the reflecting member reflects the light signal towards the receiving device and a second position spaced from the first position at which the reflecting member is free from reflecting the light signal towards the receiving device.

Obstacle detection system

Automatic guided vehicle

An arrangement for sensing an object relative to the side of a vehicle requires physical contact between the arrangement and the object. Therefore, mechanically operated object sensing arrangements are prone to damage, frequent malfunctions, and premature failure. An object sensing arrangement for identifying an object within a preselected minimum distance spaced from a first side of a vehicle has first reflective target movably connected to the first side at a location on the first side adjacent a first end portion, and a first connecting apparatus movably connects a first signaling apparatus to the first side at a first location on the first side adjacent a frame second end portion. The first signaling apparatus delivers a first signal to the first reflective target and receives a reflection of the first delivered signal from the first reflective target. The first connecting apparatus is movable in a direction toward the first side and in a passing relationship with the first side in response to an external force being applied to the first connecting apparatus. Therefore, the aforementioned problems related to damage caused by physical contact and the like are alleviated. The object sensing arrangement is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.

Object sensing arrangement

A control having a primary work system, a secondary work system, a first fluid flow generating system, and a second fluid flow generating system is provided. A control signal delivering device is provided to deliver a control signal having a magnitude responsive to a relative location of a control valve between a first and second position of a control valve. A control signal receiving device receives the control signal and separately controls the flow rate deliverable from the first and second flow generating system in response to the magnitude of the control signal received. The control signal receiving device has a set point value which is representative of a preselected magnitude of the received control signal. The second fluid flow generating system is controlled to deliver fluid only in response to the magnitude of the received control signal having a value greater than preselected deliverable flow rate. The first flow generating system is controlled to deliver fluid at a rate responsive to the magnitude of the received control signal and, during periods at which the received control signal has a value greater than the set point, reduces the fluid flow deliverability rate of the first flow generating system, an amount substantially equal to the flow rate being delivered by the second flow generating system.

Fluid operated system control

The subject brake test apparatus operates in conjunction with a vehicle having a source of power, a traction motor controllably connected to the power source and to at least one vehicle wheel, and a vehicle brake associated with at least one vehicle wheel. An actuator controllably engages and disengages the vehicle brake in response to receiving respective brake control signals, and a transducer produces wheel rotation signals in response to rotation of at least one of the vehicle wheels. A processor controllably delivers a brake engaging signal to the actuator and engages the vehicle brake. A predetermined amount of power from the power source is delivered to the traction motor for a predetermined period of time. In response to receiving wheel rotation signals from the transducer, the processor determines the degree of rotation of the vehicle wheels during at least a predetermined portion of the period of time that the traction motor is energized, and produces a brake status signal in response to amount of rotation of the vehicle wheels. The brake test apparatus advantageously produces an objective result, and is fully automatic in operation. Therefore, it is particularyl well suited to use on unmanned vehicles.

Apparatus and method for testing vehicle brakes

Controlling arrangements of the type used for aligning a load engaging assembly with a load to be lifted tend to be bulky, costly, unable to accurately position the load engaging assembly with the load to be lifted, and unable to accommodate different types of load supporting structures. A controlling arrangement having a signal assembly having first and second spaced apart portions is provided. The first portion is adapted to deliver a first signal and receive a reflection of the first signal and the second portion is adapted to deliver a second signal and to receive a reflection of the first signal. A single sensing device is adapted to receive the reflected signals and a selecting device controls the operation of the first and second signal assembly portions. Therefore, the problems of bulk, cost, inaccuracy and flexibility are eliminated. The controlling arrangement is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.

Controlling arrangement

High-visibility mast assembly for lift trucks

This invention relates to a suspended seat assembly (10) which eliminates the problems of excessive elevational movement and limited field of use, harsh ride, inability to accommodate a broad range of occupant weights, bulkiness, wear and premature failure, and difficult adjustment. The suspended seat assembly has a seat frame (12), a support frame (14), a connecting apparatus (42) which pivotally connects the seat frame (12) to the support frame (14) and permits movement of the seat frame (12) between a first position (38) above the support frame (14), past the support frame (14), to a second position (40) below the support frame (14), a tie apparatus (66) which maintains the seat frame (12) at a preselected attitude relative to the support frame (14), and a biasing arrangement (74) for biasing the connecting apparatus (42) and urging the seat frame (12) to the first position (38). Thus, the suspended seat assembly (10) useable in vehicle (34) applications wherein low overhead requirements are required, improves ride, accommodates a broad range of occupant weight, is compact, easy to adjust and has improved life. The suspended seat assembly (10) is particularly useful in a material handling vehicle (34).

Growing community of inventors

Painesville, OH, United States of America

John E Wible