Forklift Operator Platform Active Vibration Damping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial truck driver's platforms experience high levels of stress from vibrations due to passive springing and damping, which fail to effectively minimize operator discomfort during operation.

Innovation Solution

The driver's platform is actively connected to an actuator controlled by an electronic device that adjusts based on detected truck vibrations and the operator's mass, allowing for real-time counteracting movements to minimize vibrations, thereby providing active damping and improved comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If passive springing and damping devices are used for the driver's platform, then the platform can be supported with simple mechanical structures, but the operator experiences high levels of stress from vibrations during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of mechanical structureVSAvoidvibration stress on operator
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the passive mechanical spring-damper system with an active electromechanical system consisting of sensors, actuators, and a control unit. The control unit processes vibration signals and commands actuators to generate counteracting forces, substituting simple mechanical elements with an intelligent control system that actively minimizes vibrations affecting the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where sensors detect vibrations of the driver's platform, the control unit processes this information, and actuators apply counteracting forces based on the detected vibration characteristics. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment to minimize vibration transmission to the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If active damping systems are implemented to reduce vibrations, then operator comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuators and control electronics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration stress on operatorVSAvoidcomplexity of actuator and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the driver's platform system by introducing controllable actuators that can dynamically adjust suspension characteristics. The control unit modifies system parameters in real-time based on vibration detection, enabling adaptive damping that optimizes comfort while managing system complexity through intelligent control rather than purely mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2990372B1Industrial truck with an operator's platform for an operator
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 LINDE MATERIAL HANDLING GMBH
  • EP2990372B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2990372B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a forklift truck (1) with a driver platform (10) for an operator. The driver platform (10) is movably connected to the forklift truck (1) via at least one actuator (11). An electronic control unit (15) is operatively connected to the actuator (11) on its output side for controlling the actuator. The electronic control unit (15) is designed such that the actuator (11) is controlled based on detected vibrations of the forklift truck (1) and based on the mass of an operator on the driver platform (10) in such a way as to minimize vibrations of the driver platform (10).