Sensor configuration for a materials handling vehicle

• Main Authors: Green, Matthew M, Schloemer, James F, Wershing, Jesse, Siefring, Vernon W, Dues, Jeffry D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.05.2019
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; HAULING; HOISTING; HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCEDIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIFTING; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OFVEHICLES; REGULATING; SIGNALLING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TRAILERS; TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILARSIGNALS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A materials handling vehicle includes a power unit; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; at least one obstacle detector mounted to the power unit; and a controller. The at least one obstacle detector detects object located along a path of travel of the power unit, and generate a distance signal upon detecting an object corresponding to a distance between the detected object and the power unit. The controller receives the distance signal and generates a corresponding vehicle stop or predetermined maximum allowable speed signal based on the distance signal, wherein if a sensed object is located within a speed zone associated with a predetermined maximum allowable travel speed comprising a fixed speed greater than zero (0) miles per hour, as determined by the distance signal, the vehicle speed is reduced to the predetermined maximum allowable vehicle speed.