Fork safety control system and fork truck

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of fork safety control systems, including time-delay relay, fork position detection module, control module, external power supply, power circuit detection module and drop solenoid valve, when the vehicle power is cut off, the vehicle power outage detection device detects power-off signal, power-off signal triggers time-delay relay, time-delay relay connects external power supply, external power supply powers fork position detection module and control module, control module is used to receive the signal of fork position detection module, when signal shows that fork is in middle area, output signal controls drop solenoid valve to open, when signal shows that fork is in low position, close drop solenoid valve, fork remains in place;After time-delay relay reaches preset delay time, time-delay relay cuts off the circuit of external power supply, and vehicle equipment stops working.The control system improves the safety, reliability and efficiency of fork in the operation process.A kind of fork truck also has the advantages of high safety and high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of engineering machinery technology, particularly forklifts, specifically a fork safety control system and a forklift. Background Technology

[0002] A forklift is an industrial material handling vehicle primarily used for loading, unloading, stacking, and short-distance transport of goods. It is widely used in ports, railway stations, airports, freight yards, factory workshops, warehouses, distribution centers, and other similar locations. The main components of a forklift include a power unit, chassis, working device, hydraulic system, and electrical equipment. Common types of forklifts include internal combustion forklifts (fueled by gasoline, diesel, or liquefied petroleum gas) and electric forklifts (powered by batteries).

[0003] The forks are the main working parts of a forklift, used for carrying and moving goods. They insert into the bottom of the goods, lifting them for transport, thus enabling loading, unloading, and handling. Working in conjunction with the forklift's lifting system, the forks can raise goods to a certain height, facilitating stacking and placement. Simultaneously, during handling, the forks stably support the goods, ensuring their safety during transport. The shape and size of the forks can be adjusted and selected according to different types of goods. For example, standard flat forks can be used for palletized goods; special long forks can be used for long, narrow goods. This flexibility allows the forklift to adapt to various goods handling needs.

[0004] In actual use, if the forks are not lowered in time, the forks may collide with the ground or other obstacles while the forklift is in motion, causing the goods to fall or the forklift to go out of control, thus causing a safety accident, endangering the safety of the operator and the surrounding people, affecting the user experience, and hindering the promotion and application of forklifts in the market. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the first objective of this invention is to provide a forklift safety control system. This system, through the coordinated operation of multiple sensors and control modules, effectively improves the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the forks during operation, ensuring that the forks can be safely lowered after the vehicle is powered off. This guarantees the safety of goods placed on the forks, reduces the accident rate, enhances the user experience, and facilitates the promotion and application of the aforementioned forklift safety control system in the field of forklift technology. The second objective of this invention is to provide a forklift that, by applying the aforementioned forklift safety control system, also possesses the advantages of high safety and high reliability, enhancing the user experience and facilitating the promotion and application of the forklift in the market.

[0006] The aforementioned forklift safety control system and the aforementioned forklift are technically related and belong to the same inventive concept.

[0007] To achieve the first objective mentioned above, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a fork safety control system, comprising a time-delay relay, a fork position detection module, a control module, an external power supply, a power circuit breaker detection module, and a descent solenoid valve. When the vehicle power supply is cut off, the vehicle power failure detection device detects a power failure signal, which triggers the time-delay relay. The time-delay relay connects to the external power supply, which supplies power to the fork position detection module and the control module. The control module receives signals from the fork position detection module. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a high or middle position, the control module outputs a signal to open the descent solenoid valve, thereby controlling the forks to descend. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a low position, the control module closes the descent solenoid valve, and the forks remain in their original positions. After the time-delay relay reaches a preset delay time, the contacts of the time-delay relay open, cutting off the circuit of the external power supply, and the vehicle equipment stops working.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork safety control system further includes a foreign object detection device, which includes an infrared sensor for determining whether there is a foreign object under the forks.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork safety control system further includes an alarm device, and the foreign object detection device is connected to the alarm device via a signal. When a foreign object is present under the forks, the alarm device is activated.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alarm device is an audible and visual alarm. The audible and visual alarm will sound for 30 seconds when there is an abnormal object under the forks. After the alarm ends, the forks will continue to descend until the preset delay time is reached, after which the external power supply will be disconnected.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preset delay time of the time delay relay is 5 minutes.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork position detection module includes a pull rope displacement sensor, an external power supply provides power to the pull rope displacement sensor and determines whether the forks have fallen through the pull rope displacement sensor.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pull rope displacement sensor outputs an analog signal, which includes a high-level signal, a middle-level signal, and a low-level signal. The high-level signal indicates that the fork is in a high-level state, the middle-level signal indicates that the fork is in a descent process, and the low-level signal indicates that the fork has returned to its original position.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork safety control system includes an emergency stop button, which is used to immediately stop the fork descent action in an emergency.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork safety control system includes a fault alarm module, which is used to issue an alarm signal when a malfunction occurs in the device.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The fork safety control system of the present invention, by setting up a time delay relay, a fork position detection module, a control module, an external power supply, a power circuit failure detection module, and a descent solenoid valve, when the vehicle power supply is cut off, the vehicle power failure detection device detects the power failure signal, the power failure signal triggers the time delay relay, the time delay relay connects to the external power supply, the external power supply supplies power to the fork position detection module and the control module, the control module is used to receive the signal from the fork position detection module, when the signal indicates that the fork is in the middle area, the output signal controls the descent solenoid valve to open, when the signal indicates that the fork is in the low position, the descent solenoid valve closes, and the fork remains in the original position; after the time delay relay reaches the preset delay time, the contacts of the time delay relay open, cutting off the circuit of the external power supply, and the vehicle equipment stops working. This control system, through the coordinated operation of multiple sensors and control modules, effectively improves the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the forks during operation, ensuring that the forks can be safely lowered after the vehicle is powered off. This guarantees the safety of goods placed on the forks, reduces the accident rate, enhances the user experience, and is conducive to the promotion and application of the aforementioned fork safety control system in the field of forklift technology.

[0017] To achieve the third objective mentioned above, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a forklift that uses the aforementioned fork safety control system.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: the forklift of the present invention, by applying the above-mentioned fork safety control system, also has the advantages of high safety and high reliability, enhances the user experience, and is conducive to the promotion and application of the above-mentioned forklift in the market. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is the control logic diagram of the fork safety control system in this embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention is described below with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the invention.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0022] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Example: Figure 1 As shown, a fork safety control system mainly consists of a time-delay relay, a fork position detection module, a control module, an external power supply, a power circuit breaker detection module, and a lowering solenoid valve for controlling the fork descent. The time-delay relay is activated after the vehicle is powered off, turning on the external power supply and delaying for 5 minutes. The fork position detection module includes a pull rope displacement sensor, powered by the external power supply, used to determine whether the forks have landed on the ground. The control module, also known as the control motherboard, receives signals from the pull rope displacement sensor. When the signal is in a high or intermediate range, it outputs a signal to control the opening of the lowering solenoid valve, thereby controlling the fork descent. Under the control of the motherboard (control module), the lowering solenoid valve can quickly and accurately control the fork descent, ensuring the stability of the forks during the descent process. When the signal is in a low range, the lowering solenoid valve is closed.

[0024] The external power supply provides power to the fork position detection module and the mainboard (control module). It connects to the power supply after the time-delay relay is activated and disconnects after 5 minutes; the time-delay relay's delay time is 5 minutes. One function of the time-delay relay is to automatically connect the external power supply after the vehicle's main power is lost. The external power supply, activated by the time-delay relay, provides stable power to the fork position detection module and the mainboard (control module), ensuring the normal operation of the device. The external power supply can be a backup battery, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), or other backup power equipment, used to continue providing power to certain critical equipment or systems after the vehicle's main power is disconnected. After the external power supply is connected, the time-delay relay maintains the external power supply's connection and automatically disconnects it after 5 minutes. This 5-minute delay is to ensure that there is enough time to complete certain necessary operations or checks after a power outage, such as checking whether the forks have been safely lowered. It also ensures that the forks can be safely lowered after the power to the entire vehicle is cut off, thereby guaranteeing the safety of the goods placed on the forks, reducing the accident rate, enhancing the user experience, and facilitating the promotion and application of the aforementioned fork safety control system in the field of forklift technology.

[0025] In this embodiment, when the vehicle power supply is cut off due to normal or abnormal conditions, the vehicle power failure detection device detects a power failure signal. The power failure signal triggers the time-delay relay, which connects to the external power supply. The external power supply supplies power to the fork position detection module and the control module. The control module receives signals from the fork position detection module. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a high or middle position, the output signal controls the lowering solenoid valve to open, and the lowering solenoid valve controls the forks to descend. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a low position, the lowering solenoid valve closes, and the forks remain in their original position. After the time delay relay reaches a preset delay time, the contacts of the time delay relay open, cutting off the circuit of the external power supply, and the vehicle equipment stops working.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pull-cord displacement sensor outputs an analog signal, which has high, middle, and low levels. A high level indicates the forks are in a high position; a middle level indicates the forks are descending; and a low level indicates the forks have landed on the ground. By analyzing these analog signals, the position of the forks can be accurately determined, allowing for further adjustments to the forks' descent or maintenance, reducing operational difficulty and improving efficiency. This embodiment, based on the signal from the pull-cord displacement sensor, can precisely control the forks' descent, ensuring a safe and stable landing.

[0027] The fork safety control system in this embodiment further includes a foreign object detection device. This device includes an infrared sensor to determine whether a foreign object exists under the forks. The infrared sensor has high sensitivity and can accurately detect any abnormalities under the forks, providing reliable protection for the safe descent of the forks. The fork safety control system also includes an alarm device. The foreign object detection device and the alarm device are connected via a signal. When a foreign object is present under the forks, the alarm device is activated to remind the operator to remove the object, ensuring the forks can descend normally to a safe position. Specifically, the alarm device can be an audible and visual alarm. The audible and visual alarm sounds for 30 seconds when an abnormality is present under the forks. After the alarm ends, the forks continue to descend until a preset delay time, after which the external power supply is disconnected. That is, after the alarm ends, the forks continue to descend until the battery power is disconnected after 5 minutes.

[0028] To ensure the safety of operators and equipment, the fork safety control system in this embodiment includes an emergency stop button, which is used to immediately stop the fork descent in an emergency. The fork safety control system also includes a fault alarm module, which issues an alarm signal when a malfunction occurs, reminding operators to promptly inspect and repair the device.

[0029] In this embodiment, a fork safety control system activates a time-delay relay after the vehicle is powered off, turns on the external power supply, and delays for 5 minutes. The fork position detection module (powered by the external power supply) determines whether the forks have landed on the ground. If so, no action is taken, and the external power supply is automatically disconnected after 5 minutes. If not, the foreign object detection module (infrared sensor) determines whether there is an abnormal object under the forks. If so, an audible and visual alarm is activated for 30 seconds, and the forks are lowered until the external power supply is disconnected after 5 minutes. If no object is found, the audible and visual alarm is activated while the forks are lowered as a reminder until the external power supply is automatically disconnected after 5 minutes.

[0030] This embodiment of a fork safety control system includes a time-delay relay, a fork position detection module, a control module, an external power supply, a power circuit breaker detection module, and a lowering solenoid valve. When the vehicle's power is cut off, the power failure detection device detects a power failure signal, which triggers the time-delay relay. The time-delay relay connects to the external power supply, which then supplies power to the fork position detection module and the control module. The control module receives signals from the fork position detection module. When the signal indicates that the forks are in the middle position, it outputs a signal to open the lowering solenoid valve. When the signal indicates that the forks are in the low position, it closes the lowering solenoid valve, keeping the forks in their original position. After the time-delay relay reaches its preset delay time, its contacts open, cutting off the external power supply circuit and stopping the vehicle's operation. This control system, through the coordinated work of multiple sensors and control modules, effectively improves the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the forks during operation, ensuring that the forks can be safely lowered after a power failure, thereby guaranteeing the safety of goods placed on the forks, reducing the accident rate, enhancing the user experience, and facilitating the promotion and application of this fork safety control system in the field of forklift technology.

[0031] The aforementioned fork safety control system can be applied to, but is not limited to, forklifts. By applying the aforementioned fork safety control system, the forklift also has the advantages of high safety and high reliability, enhancing the user experience and facilitating the promotion and application of the forklift in the market.

[0032] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A forklift safety control system, characterized in that: The system includes a time-delay relay, a fork position detection module, a control module, an external power supply, a power circuit breaker detection module, and a descent solenoid valve. When the vehicle's power supply is cut off, the vehicle power failure detection device detects a power failure signal. This signal triggers the time-delay relay, which connects to the external power supply. The external power supply powers the fork position detection module and the control module. The control module receives signals from the fork position detection module. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a high or middle position, it outputs a signal to control the descent solenoid valve to open, thus controlling the forks to descend. When the signal indicates that the forks are in a low position, it closes the descent solenoid valve, keeping the forks in their original position. After the time-delay relay reaches a preset delay time of 5 minutes, the relay contacts open, cutting off the circuit of the external power supply, and the vehicle equipment stops working.

2. The fork safety control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork safety control system also includes a foreign object detection device, which includes an infrared sensor for determining whether there is a foreign object under the forks.

3. A fork safety control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fork safety control system also includes an alarm device. The foreign object detection device is connected to the alarm device via a signal. When a foreign object is present under the forks, the alarm device is activated.

4. A fork safety control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The alarm device is an audible and visual alarm. When there is an abnormal object under the forks, the alarm will sound for 30 seconds. After the alarm ends, the forks will continue to descend until the preset delay time, after which the external power supply will be disconnected.

5. A fork safety control system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The preset delay time of the time delay relay is 5 minutes.

6. A fork safety control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork position detection module includes a pull rope displacement sensor. An external power supply provides power to the pull rope displacement sensor, and the pull rope displacement sensor determines whether the forks have fallen.

7. A fork safety control system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The pull rope displacement sensor outputs analog signals, including high-level signals, middle-level signals, and low-level signals. The high-level signal indicates that the forks are in a high position, the middle-level signal indicates that the forks are in a descent process, and the low-level signal indicates that the forks have returned to their original position.

8. A fork safety control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork safety control system includes an emergency stop button, which is used to immediately stop the fork descent in an emergency.

9. A fork safety control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork safety control system includes a fault alarm module, which is used to issue an alarm signal when a fault occurs in the device.

10. A forklift, characterized in that: The application includes a fork safety control system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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