Crown Equipment Corporation

Stephen Mangette

Joe K Hammer

Brent A Barnhart

Mark E Addison

Karl L Dammeyer

Walter Conley, Iii

Eric L Jensen

Vernon W Siefring

Anthony T Castaneda

Todd M Fullenkamp

Jared J Ranly

A method for adjusting the position of a steered wheel of a vehicle includes detecting a steering position value of a steering control device of a vehicle such that the steering position value corresponds to an angular position of the steering control device; calculating a traction speed breakpoint at or above which steering desensitization may occur; and defining a maximum commencement steer angle at or below which steering desensitization may commence. The method also includes determining if the angular position of the steering control device or an angular position of the steered wheel is equal to or less than the maximum commencement steer angle; detecting a traction speed of one of a traction motor or a traction wheel of the vehicle; determining if the traction speed is equal to or above the traction speed breakpoint; and calculating, by the processor, a steering desensitization value when the angular position of one of the steering control device or the steered wheel is equal to or less than the maximum commencement steer angle and the traction speed is equal to or above the traction speed breakpoint.

High speed straight ahead tiller desensitization

A steering application executing on a vehicle control module receives a steering control input to control a steered wheel of a vehicle and, based on the steering control input, determines a setpoint value for the steered wheel. A diagnostic supervisor receives a measured value of the control attribute and the setpoint value; wherein the first diagnostic supervisor comprises a first model of a steering system of the vehicle. Based on the setpoint value and the first model, the diagnostic supervisor calculates a virtual value of the control attribute and, based on the virtual value and the measured value of the control attribute the first diagnostic supervisor determines an operating condition of the steering system of the vehicle.

Model based diagnostics based on steering model

A module capable of operating on one of first and second vehicles includes an input table having a superset of input elements, with a first subset of input elements related to a first set of hardware devices on the first vehicle and a second subset related to a second set of hardware devices on the second vehicle. The module includes at least one configuration table with configuration elements corresponding to ones of the superset of input elements, wherein each configuration element has data related to transforming a value associated with an input element. The module includes vehicle function input elements related to function inputs utilized on the vehicles; and structure for determining a value of an input element corresponding to a function input element, transforming the value to a transformed value and linking the transformed value with the corresponding function input element.

Vehicle control module with signal switchboard and input tables

Calculating a current target position value for controlling a traction speed of a materials handling vehicle, that includes receiving steering command signals; generating an output value proportional to a rate of change of the steering command signals; determining whether the output value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold; determining a raw target position value for controlling the traction speed of the materials handling vehicle; and calculating the current target position value based on: whether the output value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and whether the raw target position value is less than or equal to a previously calculated target position value for controlling the traction speed.

Traction speed recovery based on steer wheel dynamic

A traction application executing on a vehicle control module receives a traction speed control input to control a traction wheel of the vehicle. Based on the traction speed control input, the traction application determines a first setpoint value of a control attribute related to the traction wheel. A first diagnostic supervisor receives a measured value of the control attribute related to the traction wheel, and the first setpoint value from the traction application. The first diagnostic supervisor comprises a first model of a traction system of the vehicle. Based on the first setpoint value and the first model, the first diagnostic supervisor calculates a first virtual value of the control attribute related to the traction wheel. Based on the first virtual value and the measured value of the control attribute, the first diagnostic supervisor determines a first operating condition of the traction system of the vehicle.

Model based diagnostics based on traction model

A control module capable of operating on one of first and second vehicles can include a) a module output table comprising a superset of module output elements comprising a first subset of module output elements related to a first set of hardware devices provided on the first vehicle and a second subset of module output elements related to a second set of hardware devices provided on the second vehicle; b) vehicle function output elements related to vehicle function outputs utilized on the first and second vehicles; and c) a configuration table comprising configuration elements corresponding to the module output elements. The module can also include computer-based structure for determining a value of a vehicle function output element corresponding to a module output element of the module output table, transforming the value to the transformed value, and storing the transformed value based on the corresponding module output element.

Vehicle control module with signal switchboard and output tables

Based on a steering control input, a measured value of the steering control attribute and a measured value of the traction control attribute received by a steering application, determining: a first setpoint value of the steering control attribute; a target steering angle of the steered wheel of the vehicle. Based on receiving, by a traction application executing on the vehicle control module of the vehicle: a traction speed control input to control the traction wheel of the vehicle, and the target steering angle, from the steering application, determining, by the traction application: a second setpoint value of the traction control attribute.

Steering and traction applications for determining a steering control attribute and a traction control attribute

A steering application executing on a vehicle control module receives a steering control input to control a steered wheel of a vehicle. Based on the steering control input, the steering application determines a traction threshold value associated with a traction control attribute related to a traction wheel of the vehicle. A first diagnostic supervisor executing on the vehicle control module receives a measured value of the traction control attribute and the traction threshold value. When the measured value of the traction control attribute exceeds the traction threshold value, the first diagnostic supervisor repeatedly calculates a respective difference between the traction threshold value and the measured value of the traction control attribute to generate a set comprising a plurality of the respective differences. Based on the plurality of respective differences, the first diagnostic supervisor determines a first operating condition of a traction system of the vehicle.

Diagnostic supervisor to determine if a traction system is in a fault condition

A system for providing an electrical steering assist for a materials handling vehicle includes a drive housing; a steerable wheel coupled to the drive housing; a steering arm pivotally mounted to the drive housing; a steer drive unit coupled to the steerable wheel; an input sensing device; and a controller. The steering arm is operatively configured to determine a steering direction of the steerable wheel. The input sensing device is arranged to detect a turning force applied to the steering arm by an operator, wherein the turning force is provided to change the angle of travel of the vehicle. The input sensing device includes a strain measuring assembly defining a strain sensitive region between the steering arm and the steer drive unit. The controller is operatively configured to control the steer drive unit to turn the steerable wheel based upon a signal from the input sensing device.

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Delphos, OH, United States of America

Stephen Mangette