Towmotor Corporation

Caterpillar Industrial Inc.

Richard A Schwehr

John E Wible

Edward V Leskovec

Robert D Higgins

Ward L Bivens

James W Erker

Edward V Leskoverc

Lawrence A Liljequist

Sensors associated with load carrying members are inaccurate, incorrectly sense the position of the load, and are subject to impact forces which cause premature sensor failure. A load lifting device having a load carrying member and first and second sensors and first and second reflectors on the load carrying member is provided. The sensors are mounted on a first end portion of load carrying member at longitudinally spaced apart locations and the first and second reflectors are mounted on a second end portion of the load carrying member at spaced apart locations on the second end portion. The first sensor delivers a first signal to the first reflector and receives a reflection of the first signal, and the second sensor delivers a second signal to the second reflector and receives a reflection of the first signal from the second reflector. The problems associated with inaccurate sensing of load position, damage to the sensors by impact, and premature wear due to cyclical forces are substantially reduced. The load lifting device is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle of the automatic guided vehicle type.

Load lifting device load sensing

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).

Suspended seat assembly

Switch actuator apparatus

A handle (12) is pivotally mounted on a support (11) and is connected to a potentiometer (21) by a linkage (24) for selectively varying the resistance of the potentiometer upon manipulation of the handle. The linkage includes a link (25) adjustably connected to the handle for varying the degree of relative movement between a housing (22) and rotary adjustment shaft (23) of the potentiometer to thus vary the range of resistance thereof in response to a same increment of movement of the handle. The linkage may include a hinge assembly (34) and a biasing spring (31) or the link may be connected to the adjustment shaft (23b) of the potentiometer directly.

Adjustable potentiometer control arrangement

A vehicle frame has first and second members having adjustably telescoping channel portions securable by bolts disposed in selected combinations of holes provided in the channel portions for providing a total vehicle frame of a chosen length and wheelbase. Adjacent portions of the respective members define portions of a battery compartment which varies with the size of the vehicle frame to accommodate the power requirements thereof. Channel shaped spacers join facing portions of the members for increased strength of the resulting frame. A rear axle mounting assembly is adjustably mounted on the rear member for independent adjustment of the wheelbase. A second embodiment has front and rear members secured by a selected nestable spacer member having an adjustable axle mounting for independent adjustment of the vehicle frame and wheelbase.

Expandable vehicle frame

A lift truck having a frame which includes parallel beams having forward ends that terminate in bifurcated ends forming upper and lower portions with U-shaped openings therebetween adapted to receive a front drive axle assembly therein for forward removal from the frame. Co-planar transverse plates are secured to the upper and lower portions of the beam ends and have hanger plates including upward opening hook removably attached thereto for supporting a mast assembly thereon.

Mast mounting

A delayed turn-on and turn-off control circuit for an electric motor includes a motor relay having an electrical actuator and a normally open motor contactor which is connected in series between the motor and an electrical power source for running the motor when the electrical actuator is energized. A normally non-conductive electrical switching device is serially connected between the electrical actuator and the power source. A turn-on delay circuit is responsive to closing of a normally open motor start switch and produces an electrical signal to render the electrical switching device conductive only after a predetermined lapse of time following the closing of the motor start switch, thereby energizing the motor. A turn-off delay circuit is responsive to opening of the motor start switch and produces an electrical signal to render the electrical switching device nonconductive only after a predetermined lapse of time following the opening of the motor start switch, thereby causing the motor to be deenergized.

Delayed turn-on and turn-off control circuit

An apparatus having an electrical power source and an accelerating element has pivotally actuated control means connected to the accelerating element.

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Mentor, OH, United States of America

Richard A Schwehr