Front Scanner Leveling Linkage for Mast Tilt Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional material handling vehicles face challenges in accurately detecting hazards due to sensors being angled when the mast is tilted, which impairs the driver's ability to navigate safely around obstacles in a warehouse environment.
Innovation Solution
An advanced material handling vehicle equipped with a front scanner leveling apparatus, where the sensor remains parallel to the ground and body plane during mast tilt, utilizing linkages and bearings to maintain its position and prevent tilting, ensuring accurate hazard detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is installed on the mast, then the sensor can detect hazards, but the angle of the sensor shifts when the mast is tilted, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting structure is made dynamic through linkages that allow the sensor to translate and adjust its position as the mast tilts. The linkage system includes movable connections between the sensor mount and the mast, enabling the sensor to maintain its parallel orientation to the ground plane while the mast changes angle during protraction and retraction operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mast is protracted and retracted to move forks upward, then load handling capability is improved, but the sensor angle changes, impairing hazard detection
Solution Approach 1:
A linkage system acts as an intermediary between the mast and the sensor. This intermediate mechanism includes linkages with bearings and mounting brackets that decouple the sensor's orientation from the mast's angular changes, allowing the sensor to remain parallel to the ground plane while the mast performs its protraction and retraction movements for load handling.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor remains parallel to the ground during mast tilt, then hazard detection accuracy is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to linkages and bearings
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting system is segmented into multiple independent components: the sensor itself, a sensor mount, linkages with bearings, and mounting brackets. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the linkages handle the mast's angular movements while the sensor mount maintains the sensor's parallel orientation to the ground, simplifying the overall design compared to a rigid integrated structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A material handling vehicle including a sensor leveling apparatus is provided. The leveling apparatus extends outwardly from an underbody panel of the material handling vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame defined by a first arm, a second arm, a mast coupling plate, and a sensor. The mast coupling plate is positioned between the first and second arms and is coupled to a mast of the material handling vehicle. The sensor is positioned forward and above the mast coupling plate and between the first and second arms and coupled to the mast coupling plate. The sensor is configured to move in the opposite direction of the mast coupling plate in response to the mast of the material handling vehicle being protracted and retracted.