Crown Equipment Corporation

Michael Corbett

Trisha M Luthman

Jamison S Frady

Christopher R Graunke

Steven R Pulskamp

Vern I Woodruff, Iii

Justin Bennett

Mike Etienne Ciholas

Sarah Dory

Herb Hollinger

Josh Woody

Casey Richardson

James Francis Schloemer

Vernon W Siefring

George Robert Wetterer

Veron W Siefring

George R Wetterer

A system is provided comprising: a materials handling vehicle; a wearable remote control device comprising: a wireless communication system including a wireless transmitter; and a rechargeable power source; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter; a controller at the vehicle that is communicably coupled to the receiver, the controller being responsive to receipt of the transmissions from the remote control device; and a charging station at the vehicle. The charging station may charge the rechargeable power source of the wearable remote control device. The charging station may comprise a visual indicator.

On-board charging station for a remote control device

A method is provided for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication between a remote control device comprising a peripheral BLE device and a controller on a materials handling vehicle comprising a central BLE device. The method comprises: polling via a plurality of connection requests, by the central BLE device, communicated with the peripheral BLE device with which the central BLE device is paired. The peripheral BLE device comprising one or more activatable switches. Based on the status of the one or more activatable switches, the peripheral BLE device sending reply messages to at least a portion of the plurality of connection requests in accordance with at least one of a first or a second communication operating mode. When operating in the first communication operating mode, the peripheral BLE device replies to only a portion of the plurality of connection requests, wherein each reply message is indicative of the status of the one or more activatable switches.

Power savings for remote control device

A method is provided for wireless communication between a wireless remote control device comprising a peripheral device and a controller on a materials handling vehicle comprising a central device. The method may comprise: polling via a plurality of connection event requests, by the central device, communicated with the peripheral device with which the central device is paired, the peripheral device comprising one or more activatable switches. Based on the status of one or more activatable switches, the peripheral device sending reply messages to at least a portion of the plurality of connection requests in accordance with at least one communication operating mode of the peripheral device, wherein each reply message is indicative of the status of the one or more activatable switches. Calculating, by the central device, a number of missed messages.

Calculating missed messages expected to be received by a central device from a peripheral device

Testing operational characteristics of a remote control device associated with a materials handling vehicle can include waiting for receipt of a first input indicative that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a travel button of the remote control device. The testing may further comprise waiting for receipt, subsequent to receiving the first input, of a second input indicative that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button relates to a first auxiliary vehicle function. The testing still further comprises determining whether or not a predetermined button pressing sequence is successful based at least in part on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs; and optionally driving a display on the vehicle to provide a visual indication that the button pressing sequence is successful or not successful based on the determination.

Method and system for testing a remote control device

A materials handling vehicle automatically implements steer maneuvers when objects enter an environment around the vehicle. A steer correction maneuver is automatically performed by steering the vehicle away from the detected object, wherein an angle of steer correction and/or a rate of change of the steering angle that is implemented to achieve a desired angle of steer correction is dependent upon how far from a reference coordinate associated with the vehicle the detected object is determined to be.

Steer control maneuvers for materials handling vehicles

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

Growing community of inventors

Saint Marys, OH, United States of America

Michael Corbett