Hyster - Yale Group, Inc.

Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc.

Thomas Kenan Miller

Stephen Allen Moore, Jr

Alan H Fitzsimmons

Allen Brock

A system includes a detection device configured to transmit and receive one or more signals in a generally vertical direction above a vehicle. Additionally, the system may include a processing device configured to measure a time of flight associated with the transmission and receipt of the one or more signals in the generally vertical direction. A distance travelled by the one or more signals may be determined based, at least in part, on the measured time of flight, and the distance travelled may be compared with a threshold distance to determine an overhead clearance of the vehicle. In response to determining the overhead clearance, a vehicle system may be activated.

Vehicle and environmental detection system

By law, a stand-up lift truck operator must be trained to keep both feet and legs located within an operator compartment. An exemplary operator presence detector includes multiple zones, or areas, configured to receive an operator's feet. A sensor arrangement detects the presence of the operator's feet and a logic device determines whether the operator's feet are present in the zones or areas in a predetermined configuration, such as a configuration that reinforces operator training to keep both feet in a designated area on a compartment platform. In preferred arrangements, based on whether the operator's feet are present in the zones in a predetermined configuration, at least one vehicle function is enabled or disabled which may serve to reinforce an operator's training to keep both feet and legs located within an operator's compartment.

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Greenville, NC, United States of America

Thomas Kenan Miller