Armrest Steering Control for Forklift Visibility and Reverse Maneuvers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing steering devices for vehicles, particularly forklift trucks, hinder the driver's view of the cargo and are ergonomically disadvantageous during maneuvers requiring body rotation, leading to unsafe operations.

Innovation Solution

A steering device mounted on the armrest of a vehicle seat, rotatable about a pivot axis, with two interconnected elements allowing ergonomic steering through hand placement on different surfaces for forward and reverse movements, featuring progressive steering ratios and adjustable components for enhanced control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional steering wheel is used, then steering control is achieved, but the driver's view of the cargo area is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering controlVSAvoiddriver's view of cargo area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering device is extracted from its traditional position in front of the driver and relocated to the armrest area, removing the obstruction to the driver's view of the cargo area while preserving steering control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The steering control is moved from a horizontal plane (steering wheel in front of driver) to a vertical/different spatial arrangement (device on armrest), changing the dimensional relationship between the driver, steering device, and cargo area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If the driver rotates the body to see the rear area, then rear visibility is improved, but the hand twists relative to the steering device making operation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverear area visibilityVSAvoidsteering device operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The steering device incorporates a rotatable element that can dynamically adjust its orientation to match the driver's hand position during body rotation, maintaining ergonomic operation regardless of the driver's rotational posture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows changes in the rotational parameter of the steering element to accommodate different driver positions, enabling safe operation when the driver rotates to see the rear area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12459798B2Device for vehicles for carrying out a steering movement

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 GRAMMER AG

AI summary

Device for vehicles, in particular fork-lift trucks, the device being designed at least for carrying out a steering movement of the vehicle, the device being arranged on an arm rest of a vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein the device is at least partially rotatable about a first pivot axis relative to the arm rest, wherein rotation of the device about the first pivot axis causes the steering movement of the vehicle, and wherein the device comprises a first device element arranged above the arm rest, and a second device element which is fixedly connected to the first device element and extends downwards from the first device element beyond the first device element.