Lift Arm Attachment Interlock Using Proximity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lift-arm vehicles lack effective safety systems to ensure secure attachment and prevent accidental movement during operations, posing risks to operators and others in the vicinity.

Innovation Solution

A lift arm attachment safety system incorporating sensors and vehicle control systems that monitor the engagement and locking of attachments, using control signals to manage vehicle drive functions and locking mechanisms to ensure safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a lift arm attachment is coupled to a vehicle, then the vehicle can perform work operations, but the attachment may accidentally disengage or move during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework operation capabilityVSAvoidattachment security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor the engagement status of the attachment and provides feedback to the control system. When the attachment is properly engaged, the system allows vehicle operation; when disengaged or improperly positioned, the system prevents operation through interlocking control logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification that the attachment is properly engaged and secured before allowing the vehicle to begin work operations. This preliminary check ensures that the attachment is in the correct position and locked properly before any potentially harmful movement can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the vehicle is moving, then productivity is improved, but the attachment may shift or detach causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle mobilityVSAvoidaccidental attachment movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Sensors continuously monitor attachment engagement status during vehicle movement and provide real-time feedback to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to determine whether to allow or prevent vehicle movement based on the attachment's engaged state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system separates vehicle movement control from attachment engagement status. The interlocking control logic independently manages these functions, allowing the vehicle to move only when the attachment is confirmed engaged, thus preventing harmful movement while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If sensors and control systems are added to monitor attachment engagement, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment engagement monitoringVSAvoidsystem components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects attachment engagement status, verifies proper positioning, and provides input for control logic decisions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes overall complexity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically manages the interlocking logic between attachment engagement and vehicle movement without requiring complex external control mechanisms. The system self-regulates by using sensor feedback to enable or disable vehicle functions based on attachment status

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the vehicle drive system is interlocked with attachment engagement status, then operator safety is improved, but operational flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator injury riskVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking control system uses real-time sensor feedback to automatically enable or disable vehicle drive functions based on attachment engagement status. This provides continuous safety monitoring while maintaining operational flexibility through automated control logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically manages safety interlocking without requiring manual intervention or complex operator procedures. The system self-regulates vehicle functions based on attachment status, reducing operator burden while maintaining safety and operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250283295A1Lift arm attachment safety system

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 ESAIAS NORMAN D

AI summary

A lift arm attachment safety system may include, an adapter plate receivable within an adapter frame of a lift arm attachment; one or more configured to detect a proximity of the adapter plate to the adapter frame; a drive control system configured to control drive capabilities of a vehicle; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing one or more instructions for: receiving at least one signal from the one or more sensors indicating that the adapter plate is within a threshold proximity to the adapter frame; transmitting one or more control signals to the drive control system to cause the drive control system to disable drive capabilities of the vehicle in response to receiving the at least one signal from the one or more sensors indicating that the adapter plate is within a threshold proximity to the adapter frame.