Industrial Truck Load Pickup Light Intensity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial trucks with height-adjustable load handling devices often cause glare for personnel nearby due to fixed lighting, which is not effectively controlled, compromising safety both for operators and bystanders, especially at specific lifting heights.

Innovation Solution

A control unit integrated with the industrial truck adjusts the light intensity of a lamp attached to the load handling device based on lifting height, reducing glare by maintaining a lower intensity at heights where personnel are most affected and increasing intensity only when necessary for clear visibility, with adjustable lifting height ranges and optional additional lighting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light source is attached to the load handling device to illuminate the loading/unloading area, then the illumination of dark areas is improved, but glare is caused to personnel nearby at certain lifting heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination of loading areaVSAvoidglare to personnel
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light intensity is dynamically adjusted based on the lifting height of the load handling device. The control unit receives signals from the lifting height sensor and automatically modifies the light output to match the operational context, reducing glare when the device is at heights that could affect personnel visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameter of light intensity is changed as a function of lifting height. The system transitions between different light intensity states (reduced intensity at certain heights, full intensity at others) based on the vertical position of the load handling device, optimizing both illumination and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If the light source operates at full intensity to ensure visibility, then the illumination is sufficient, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source operates at full intensity only when necessary (when the load handling device is at heights where full illumination is needed), and at reduced intensity when full illumination is not required. This partial action approach maintains sufficient visibility while reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the lifting height via the sensor and adjusts the light intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy is consumed only when full illumination is actually needed for the current operational state, rather than operating continuously at full power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the light intensity is reduced to avoid glare, then safety for personnel is improved, but illumination in dark areas may become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety for personnelVSAvoidillumination sufficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts light intensity to the specific operational context defined by lifting height. At heights where personnel are present and glare is a concern, reduced intensity maintains safety. At heights where full illumination is needed for loading/unloading operations, full intensity is restored, ensuring sufficient lighting is always provided when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2830987B1Industrial truck with a vertically adjustable load pickup means and a light-emitting means on the load pickup means
Publication Date: 2016.03.23 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP2830987B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2830987B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an industrial truck (1) with a vertically adjustable load pickup means (2), wherein a light-emitting means (8) is arranged on the load pickup means, and the light-emitting means is connected to a control unit (6), wherein the light-emitting means in the switched-on state has a reduced light intensity controlled by the control unit depending on a travel height (13) of the load pickup means.