The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2002
Forrest A. Haverfield, Maplewood, OH (US);
Allen T. Trego, Hampshire, IL (US);
Crown Equipment Corporation, New Bremen, OH (US);
Abstract
A knurled wheel is coupled to a sensor mounted to one mast member and the wheel is forced into another mast member so that the wheel/sensor rotate upon mast movement. The sensor generates signals, corresponding to mast movement, which are processed conventionally to determine mast height, etc. The knurled wheel forms a track on the contacted mast member and the knurl engages the track. The wheel can be forced into the mast member with a force of six to nine pounds. To enhance the versatility of the mast height sensing device, the thickness of the wheel can be made less than ⅛ inch, for example {fraction (1/16)} inch. The sensor can be an encoder or a sensor bearing and a heater can be provided for operation in cold environments to ensure rotation of the sensor under such conditions.