Lift Contact Sensor Bar for Obstacle-Triggered Motion Reversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In lift devices, users may face restricted freedom of movement when obstacles push them toward the user interface, potentially limiting control over the platform's movement as it approaches obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly with a bar and resilient member is integrated into the lift device, which detects when the user's upper body contacts the sensor, triggering the controller to stop or reverse the platform's movement to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user is positioned in front of the user interface during platform movement, then the user can control the platform movement, but the user's freedom of movement is restricted when obstacles push them toward the user interface
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor assembly with a bar and resilient member is introduced as an intermediary between the user and the control system. The bar extends into the user's space and the resilient member detects when the user is pushed by an obstacle, triggering an automatic safety response without requiring direct user interaction with the control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly enables the system to automatically detect and respond to hazardous conditions without user intervention. When the resilient member is compressed by user contact during obstacle collision, the system self-activates to stop or reverse platform movement, providing autonomous safety protection.
2Reliability
If a sensor assembly with bar and resilient member is added to detect user contact, then user safety is improved by preventing collisions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than implementing a complex system-wide safety monitoring network, the patent applies a localized sensor assembly at the critical interface between the user and the platform. The bar and resilient member are positioned specifically where user contact is most likely to occur during obstacle collision, providing targeted safety protection with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member transforms the physical parameter of user contact force into a detectable mechanical state (compression). This simple parameter transformation allows the system to detect hazardous conditions using basic mechanical principles rather than complex sensing technology, maintaining system simplicity while improving safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures user safety by preventing collisions and maintaining control over the lift device's movement, even when obstacles approach, by automatically stopping or reversing the platform's movement upon detection of user contact.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member is configured to apply a biasing force to resist movement of the second end portion away from the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A lift device includes a chassis, a platform configured to support a user, a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis, an actuator configured to at least one of (a) move the platform relative to the chassis or (b) propel the chassis, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The sensor assembly includes a bar including a first end portion coupled to the platform and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The sensor assembly further includes a sensor coupled to the platform and configured to provide a signal in response to the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor. The controller is operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on the signal from the sensor.