Lift Truck Fork Positioner With Wireless Hydraulic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load handlers for lift trucks face issues with increased dimensions, reduced load-carrying capacity, impaired operator visibility, and hazardous electrical wire routing for wireless control systems, particularly due to the need for multiple hydraulic lines and incompatible electrical systems.
Innovation Solution
A compact fork positioner with bidirectional hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies that can be easily mounted on existing lift truck carriages, combined with a wireless hydraulic control system using radio transceivers to control solenoid valves independently of the lift truck's electrical system, minimizing wire exposure and optimizing load-carrying capacity and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If detachably-mounted side-shifters are added to existing lift truck carriages, then fork-positioning capability is improved, but the dimensions of the lift truck carriage increase, reducing load-carrying capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The fork positioner components are nested within the carriage structure, with the side-shifting mechanism integrated into the existing carriage framework. The piston and cylinder assemblies are positioned to utilize internal space, allowing the fork positioner functionality to be added without significantly increasing the external dimensions of the carriage, thereby preserving load-carrying capacity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If detachably-mounted side-shifters are added to existing lift truck carriages, then fork-positioning capability is improved, but operator visibility over the top of the carriage is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The fork positioner components are arranged in a compact configuration that utilizes the vertical and lateral dimensions efficiently. The side-shifting mechanism is positioned low on the carriage structure, and the fork positioner components are arranged to minimize vertical profile, ensuring that operator visibility over the top of the carriage is maintained while still providing the required fork-positioning capability.
3Ease of operation
If electrical wires are routed between the lift truck and the vertically movable load handler, then wireless control functionality is improved, but wire exposure to hazards increases, resulting in breakage and short-circuiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based electrical connection system with a wireless control system using radio transceivers. The operator's compartment includes a radio transmitter that communicates wirelessly with a radio receiver on the load handler, eliminating the need for physical electrical wires to extend over the mast. This substitution removes the vulnerability of wires to hazards such as breakage, short-circuiting, and corrosion while maintaining full control functionality.
4Measurement precision
If multiple fluid control valves are provided to separately regulate each fluid power function, then control precision is improved, but the number of hydraulic lines increases beyond two
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single pair of hydraulic lines that serve multiple functions through a multi-functional control valve. This valve is capable of regulating different fluid power functions (such as side-shifting and fork positioning) by directing hydraulic fluid to different actuators based on operator input. By designing the control valve to handle multiple functions through a single hydraulic circuit, the system maintains precise control capability while limiting the hydraulic line count to exactly two, thereby reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A fork positioner, usable alternatively either as an attachment to an existing load-lifting carriage with forks, or as part of the original equipment of a load-lifting carriage, has a pair of elongate hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies mountable in an interconnected parallel relationship between an upper transverse fork-supporting member and a lower transverse member of the carriage. Each of a pair of fork-positioning guide members has a fork-engagement surface movable by a respective piston and cylinder assembly and connectable thereto so that the fork-engaging surfaces face substantially perpendicularly away from an imaginary plane containing the respective longitudinal axes of the piston and cylinder assemblies. An exemplary carriage mounting the fork positioner is also disclosed, together with a wireless hydraulic function control system for use with the fork positioner or other multi-function load handlers.