Abstract: A personnel carrying vehicle comprises a self propelled, steerable body, a telescoping mast attached to and extending upwardly from the body, and a personnel compartment attached to the mast. Two control handles are mounted within the personnel compartment, with one handle including a rocker mechanism mounted therein for pivotal movement within a generally horizontal plane to control steering and the other handle being rotated to controlling traction. Sensors ensure that the operator's hands are on both control handles and both feet are properly positioned on a floor of the operator's compartment before the vehicle can be moved or the platform raised; this ensures a four point stance, providing for operator stability and that the operator's hands and feet are within the operator's compartment anytime the vehicle is being moved or during lifting or lowering operations.

Abstract: A multi-task capable work assist vehicle is designed for transporting an operator and items to be handled by the operator and for elevating the operator with such items supported upon a load tray elevated with the operator. Preferably the load tray is mounted for positioning along a telescoping mast which supports and elevates the operator. A load deck or load platform is provided on a body of the vehicle in addition to the load tray so that items such as packages, tools, parts, merchandise and the like can be carried by the vehicle. Load shelves may also be provided adjacent the load deck to add flexibility and capacity to the load carrying capability of the vehicle. Uses of the vehicle include order picking, in-house service maintenance, stock management, cargo delivery and the like. It is designed to be compact in size and highly maneuverable for use in narrow storage aisles and tight quarters.

Abstract: A work assist vehicle includes a self propelled, steerable body having a chassis and a drive mechanism supported on the chassis; a mast assembly coupled to the body; and, a personnel compartment attached to the mast assembly and being movable by the mast assembly toward and away from the body. The body further includes a cover adapted to extend over a portion of the chassis and a weight sensor assembly coupled to the chassis and the cover. The weight sensor assembly is capable of detecting if someone or something is located on the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for guiding a personnel carrying vehicle including a body with a pair of driven rear wheels and a pair of front caster wheels into a narrow aisle. A pair of guide rollers are mounted on each side of the vehicle and spaced between the front caster wheels and the driven rear wheels. A steering rail extends between the pair of guide rollers on each side of the vehicle and is curved inwardly towards the body. A guide rail is placed on each side of the narrow aisle for engaging the vehicle mounted rollers with the guide rails terminating in entry ends which engage the steering rails for entry of the vehicle into the narrow aisle. The vehicle is steered forward toward an aisle entrance to cause one of the forward guide rollers to engage one of the guide rails and one of the aisle entry ends to engage one of the steering rails. Continuing forward movement of the vehicle causes the vehicle to rotate about the engaged aisle entry end to align the vehicle within the aisle.

Abstract: A personnel carrying vehicle comprising a self propelled, steerable body, a telescoping mast attached to and extending upwardly from said body, and a personnel compartment attached to the mast and provided with a rail member that extends from the mast and around the sides. A pair of gate members, which are pivotally attached to the rail member and to the floor of the compartment, are movable from a closed position to an open position wherein said gate members extend into the compartment.

Abstract: A fork lift truck includes a fork level sensor located in the forks, away from the vertical mast of a lift truck for detecting the true level of the forks, and a vision system including a camera which may take several forms. In one form, a single camera is mounted in a housing which may be moved to a protected location vertically either by sliding in the carriage assembly, or by use of a parallelogram device. In another form, multiple cameras are employed where a second camera may be either mounted above the first camera in the same housing or mounted between the forks. Alternatively, the first camera may perform multiple roles by being moved vertically from a first predetermined location below the bottom of the forks to a higher elevation a second predetermined location relative to the forks.

Abstract: A fork lift truck includes a fork level sensor located in the forks, away from the vertical mast of a lift truck for detecting the true level of the forks, and a vision system including a camera which may take several forms. In one form, a single camera is mounted in a housing which may be moved to a protected location vertically either by sliding in the carriage assembly, or by use of a parallelogram device. In another form, multiple cameras are employed where a second camera may either mounted above the first camera in the same housing or mounted between the forks. Alternatively, the first camera may perform multiple roles by being moved vertically from a first predetermined location below the bottom of the forks to a higher elevation a second predetermined location relative to the forks.

Abstract: An end of aisle control system permits an operator controlled materials handling vehicle to be configured by following instructions given on a service terminal and easily positionable magnet sensors to a customer's specific operating environment. In addition to end of aisle magnets that are buried in specified paths in the floor of a warehouse, magnets may be buried in other paths to accomplish specified functions, such as auto-resume and end aisle blocked. The buried magnets identify zones of operation and a microprocessor controls the maximum speed of travel in each of these zones. The maximum speed of the vehicle in each of the specified zones may be pre-selected according to the direction of travel of the vehicle, thus making the control system adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments. The end of aisle control system also controls the method of stopping the vehicle, either by the use of brakes, or by plugging the traction motor.

Abstract: An improved switch assembly for use with a materials handling truck includes a pair switches that are conveniently placed in a natural position for actuation by an operator while walking along side the truck. The pair of switches are so placed on each side of a steering control handle to prevent inadvertent actuation and therefore inadvertent operation of the truck. One of the pair is operated by the thumb while the other is positioned to be operated by the fingers as the operator grasps the handle. A control circuit responds to the operation of both switches on one side to move the truck forward at a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle employs a two step braking process where full brakes are applied to stop the vehicle quickly when it is traveling at a fast rate, and partial braking force is applied to stop the vehicle smoothly when it is traveling slowly. The amount of the braking force is controlled by the spring force applied to the braking shoes. Whenever the vehicle is moving at or less than a predetermined speed, only the brakes on one pair of wheels, typically the load wheel brakes, that is the brakes on the wheels under the load, will be used when braking action is requested. This will permit the vehicle to stop smoothly, and not abruptly as would be the case if full braking were to be applied. If the vehicle is moving faster than the predetermined speed, then full braking force will be applied by actuating the brakes on both pairs of wheels whenever requested by the operator or by the vehicle control system.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle, such as a turret stockpicker, is provided with control circuits and hardware to allow an operator to control the vehicle from either a standing or seated position while providing all of the safety interlocks that ensure proper operation of the vehicle. All functions of the vehicle, including raising and lowering of forks and moving the vehicle, are affected by the operator's position. The switch associated with the operator's seat indicates whether the operator is in the standing or seated position, and the control of the vehicle is appropriately modified to conform to industry standards according to the mode selected from the operator.

Abstract: The lifting mast (20), frame (12), and outriggers (16) of a slip sheet lift truck (10) are fixed and immovable with respect to one another. The platen (30), push-pull mechanism (45), and back plate (31) are an integral unit mounted to permit side shifting on a tilt carriage (29), which is mounted on lower pivots (28) and tiltable thereabout with upper tilt cylinders (35). These are carried on a lifting carriage (25) which is vertically moveable and supported by a lifting cylinder (26) on the lifting mast (20). The lift truck outriggers (16) extend and slope forwardly and downwardly from the mast (20) to provide better truck stability, clearance for the platen (30), and good underclearance for ramps and dockboards.

Abstract: A fork lift with a retractable overhead guard has limit switches built into the mast and one rail of the retractable guard which prevent the fork lift from being raised above a predetermined height when the guard is lowered, and when the fork lift has been raised above the predetermined height with the guard raised, prevents the guard from being lowered.

Abstract: A fork lift truck includes a fork level sensor located in the forks, away from the vertical mast of a lift truck for detecting the true level of the forks, and a vision system including a camera which may take several forms. In one form, a single camera is mounted in a housing which may be moved to a protected location vertically either by sliding in the carriage assembly, or by use of a parallelogram device. In another form, multiple cameras are employed where a second camera may be either mounted above the first camera in the same housing or mounted between the forks. Alternatively, the first camera may perform multiple roles by being moved vertically from a first predetermined location below the bottom of the forks to a higher elevation a second predetermined location relative to the forks.