| CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120110812 | MANUFACTURING CELL AND ELEMENTS OF THE CELL - A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120076624 | BACKREST ASSEMBLY FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - An adjustable backrest assembly for a materials handling vehicle. The backrest assembly includes an adjustable backrest structure and mounting structure for mounting the adjustable backrest structure on the materials handling vehicle so that the adjustable backrest structure extends generally vertically over load handling apparatus of the materials handling vehicle. The mounting structure enables pivoting movement of the adjustable backrest structure from a first position generally adjacent a power unit of the materials handling vehicle wherein pallets of a first size are accommodated to at least a second position spaced along the load handling apparatus from the power unit wherein pallets of a second size are accommodated. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120046982 | FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method of implementing an automated diagnostic checklist for materials handling vehicles comprises detecting, by a processor on a materials handling vehicle, an error in operation of the materials handling vehicle and initiating an automated diagnostic check of a component of the materials handling vehicle in response to detecting the error. The method also comprises obtaining error event information by the processor, from across a vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus, where the obtained error event information is related to at least one condition of the materials handling vehicle and wirelessly transmitting the obtained error event information to a server having software thereon for specifically monitoring materials handling vehicles. The error in operation of the materials handling vehicle is repaired in response to receiving the wirelessly transmitted error event information obtained automatically from the CAN bus. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046981 | FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system comprises a materials handling vehicle, an information linking device and a wireless transceiver. The materials handling vehicle comprises a controller area network (CAN) bus and at least one native control module coupled to the CAN bus that generates and sends the vehicle-related data over the CAN bus. The information linking device comprises a CAN-bus interface coupled to the CAN bus of the materials handling vehicle, which extracts the vehicle-related data off of the CAN bus, a memory device coupled to the CAN-bus interface, which stores the vehicle-related data extracted off of the CAN bus and an output interface coupled to the memory device. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the output interface of the information linking device. The wireless transceiver wirelessly sends and receives across a wireless network environment. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046809 | FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Position dependent operation of a materials handling vehicle, comprises utilizing a processor on the materials handling vehicle to communicate across a wireless computing environment to a corresponding server computer via a transceiver on the materials handling vehicle. Operation further comprises obtaining from at least one device on the materials handling vehicle, information relating to the position of the materials handling vehicle and communicating the obtained position related information to the server computer. The operation still further comprises receiving a command from the server computer to perform a predetermined action, wherein the command is based upon the position related information of the materials handling vehicle relative to a position of a point of interest known by the server, and communicating information across a vehicle network bus to at least one component of the materials handling vehicle to perform the predetermined action in response to the received command. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120038455 | ASSOCIATING A TRANSMITTER AND A RECEIVER IN A SUPPLEMENTAL REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES - A method of associating a transmitter and a receiver in a supplemental remote control system for materials handling vehicles includes initiating a power on sequence to enable a vehicle for operation, the vehicle having a receiver for receiving wirelessly transmitted travel commands, and pairing and synchronizing the receiver and a corresponding vehicle controller to a select one of a plurality of wireless remote control devices. Pairing mode confidence signals are received at the vehicle receiver, wherein each pairing mode confidence signal provides a transmitter identification that uniquely identifies a corresponding wireless remote control device within range of the receiver. A known transmitter identification code associated with the select wireless remote control device is matched with a corresponding one of the pairing mode confidence signals received by the receiver, and the matched wireless remote control device is synchronized to the receiver and the controller of the vehicle for communication therebetween. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20110118903 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter to be worn on the wrist of the operator and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to the vehicle. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110040440 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES - Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are utilized to implement dashboard functions that thread status information from detail level views, up through intermediate views and to summary level views to facilitate efficient fleet maintenance, management and control. Further, industrial vehicle data may be communicated to a trusted third party server. As such, wirelessly collected industrial vehicle information is utilized within robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110022442 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES INCLUDING CYCLICAL RECURRING VEHICLE INFORMATION MESSAGE - Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged against robust software solutions to implement enterprise wide vehicle management functions, to integrate industrial vehicle data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management. Still further, wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged with robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises and/or promote the exchange of information between independent entities. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110001335 | SUSPENDED FLOORBOARD - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; a set of wheels supported on the frame to allow the materials handling vehicle to move across a floor surface; a rider compartment located within the frame for receiving an operator; and an operator support assembly. The operator support assembly comprises a suspended floorboard upon which the operator may stand when located within the rider compartment and an energy absorbing structure coupled to the frame and the suspended floorboard for absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of energy resulting from disturbances encountered by the vehicle as it moves across the floor surface prior to the energy portion reaching the operator standing on the suspended floorboard, the energy absorbing structure including a damping element comprising a valve for effecting a damping function. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100320034 | OUTRIGGER ASSEMBLY WITH QUICK CHANGE LOAD WHEEL ASSEMBLY - A load wheel assembly for a materials handling vehicle includes first and second spaced side members, at least one rotatable roller extending between the first and second side members. An interface structure provides a substantially rigid connection between the load wheel assembly and a mounting structure on the materials handling vehicle. The mounting structure includes a transverse bar and the interface structure includes a portion that engages and mates with the transverse bar to form a rigid connection between the interface structure and the transverse bar. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100242866 | WORKING VEHICLE HAVING COOLING SYSTEM WITH SUCTION DEVICE - A work vehicle is provided comprising: a main frame including an engine compartment; an engine located in the engine compartment; and a cooling system comprising a rotating fan apparatus and a cooling assembly. The cooling assembly may comprise a heat exchanger for transferring energy in the form of heat from a coolant fluid to air and a filter apparatus positioned adjacent an engine-compartment side of the heat exchanger. The air may be moved through the heat exchanger by the fan apparatus. The filter apparatus may filter the air before the air passes through the heat exchanger. The filter apparatus may comprise filter structure and a suction device for removing debris from the filter structure. The suction device preferably expels the debris outside of the engine compartment. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100242865 | WORKING VEHICLE HAVING COOLING SYSTEM - A cooling assembly is provided for use in a work vehicle. The cooling assembly may comprise a heat exchanger for transferring energy in the form of heat from a coolant fluid to air passing through the heat exchanger, filter structure positioned adjacent a first side of the heat exchanger to filter the air before the air passes through the heat exchanger, and a fan shroud positioned adjacent a second side of the heat exchanger. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100238013 | FUEL LEVEL METER FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES - The present application discloses a method for measuring pressurized liquid fuel level in a fuel tank used on a vehicle comprising measuring the pressure of the fuel to generate a pressure signal and measuring the temperature of the fuel to generate a temperature signal. A fuel level signal is determined from the pressure signal and the temperature signal and changes in the fuel level signal are determined over time. A first point of the fuel level signal indicating approaching emptying of the tank is identified when changes in the fuel level signal exceed a given value and the approaching emptying of the tank is signaled to an operator of the vehicle in response to identifying the first point. Also disclosed is a fuel level meter system comprising a display comprising a series of at least three light sources arranged in a generally vertical column with a bottommost one of the at least three light sources being of a first color and light sources above the bottommost one of the at least three light sources being of a second color. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100228428 | INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES - Industrial vehicles communicate across a wireless environment and the wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged against robust software solutions to implement enterprise wide asset management functions, to integrate industrial vehicle data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management. Still further, wireless communication, data collection and/or processing capabilities of industrial vehicles are leveraged with robust software solutions that aggregate and analyze data across multiple enterprises and/or promote the exchange of information between independent entities. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100187889 | ADJUSTABLE ARMREST MECHANISM FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - An adjustable armrest mechanism is provided, which is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle frame. The armrest mechanism comprises a base fixed to the vehicle frame, armrest apparatus movably coupled to the base such that the armrest apparatus moves relative to the control handle and pivots about a virtual pivot point in front of the control handle, and a locking device for releasably locking the armrest apparatus to the base in one of at least two positions. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100171283 | MOVABLE STEP FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard. The vehicle further comprises at least one step capable of being positioned across the entrance a spaced distance from the floorboard such that an operator may stand on the step when the step is positioned across the entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100089703 | RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR WALKIE/RIDER PALLET TRUCK - A walkie/rider pallet truck is provided comprising a power unit; a set of forks associated with the power unit; a platform associated with the power unit and defining a location upon which an operator may stand; and a restraint system comprising a pivotable restraint structure. The restraint structure is movable to one of a walkie position, a rider-driving position and a quick-exit position. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100068023 | FORK CARRIAGE APPARATUS FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A materials handling vehicle is provided including a vehicle power unit, a monomast coupled to the vehicle power unit, and a fork carriage apparatus supported on the monomast. The fork carriage apparatus includes a mast carriage assembly directly coupled to the monomast for vertical movement, a fork carriage mechanism to which forks are mounted, and a reach mechanism coupled to the mast carriage assembly and to the fork carriage mechanism for actuating the fork carriage mechanism to move between an extended position and a retracted position. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100065377 | MONOMAST FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a vehicle power unit having a longitudinal centerline, a monomast coupled to the vehicle power unit and having a centerline offset from and generally parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle power unit, and a fork carriage apparatus movably coupled to the monomast. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20090276134 | SLIP CONTROL FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels coupled to the main body; a traction motor associated with the main body and coupled to at least one of the wheels for driving the one wheel; control apparatus coupled to the traction motor and generating a motor drive signal to the traction motor; a first sensor for generating a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the driven wheel; and a further sensor for sensing an acceleration of the main body and generating a vehicle acceleration signal. The control apparatus determining a measured velocity of the driven wheel from the first sensor speed signal, calculating a velocity of the vehicle using the vehicle acceleration signal and comparing the measured velocity of the driven wheel to the calculated velocity of the vehicle to determine wheel slip status. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090276109 | SLIP CONTROL FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels coupled to the main body; a traction motor associated with the main body and coupled to at least one of the wheels for driving the one wheel; control apparatus coupled to the traction motor and generating a motor drive signal to the traction motor; and a first sensor for generating a speed signal indicative of a speed of the driven wheel. The control apparatus may calculate acceleration of the one wheel using changes in the speed signal over time and calculate an acceleration of the vehicle using torque applied by the traction motor and a mass of the vehicle. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090198416 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING A CONTROL APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AN ACCELERATION VALUE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; wheels supported on the frame; a traction motor coupled to one of the wheels to effect rotation of the one wheel; a speed control element operable by an operator to define a speed control signal corresponding to a desired speed of the traction motor; a system associated with a steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel; and control apparatus coupled to the speed control element to receive the speed control signal, and coupled to the traction motor to generate a drive signal to the traction motor in response to the speed control signal to control the operation of the traction motor. The control apparatus may determine an acceleration value for the traction motor based on at least one of an angular position of the steerable wheel, a speed of the traction motor and a current position of the speed control element as defined by the speed control signal. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090194363 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING A STEER SYSTEM INCLUDING A TACTILE FEEDBACK DEVICE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame comprising an operator's compartment; wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel; a steer-by-wire system and control apparatus. The steer-by-wire system is associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about a first axis. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090194358 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE WITH A MODULE CAPABLE OF CHANGING A STEERABLE WHEEL TO CONTROL HANDLE POSITION RATIO - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame comprising an operator's compartment; wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel; a steer-by-wire system associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about a first axis; and a control apparatus. The steer-by-wire system comprises a control handle capable of being moved by an operator to generate a steer control signal, a selection switch capable of generating one of a first select signal and a second select signal, and a steer motor coupled to the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about the first axis. The control apparatus may be coupled to the control handle to receive the steer control signal, coupled to the selection switch to receive the one select signal, and coupled to the steer motor to generate a first drive signal to the steer motor to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel about the first axis. The control apparatus may convert the steer control signal to a corresponding desired angular position for the steerable wheel using one of first and second steerable-wheel-to-control-handle-position ratios, wherein the one ratio is selected based on the one select signal. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090194357 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING A STEER SYSTEM INCLUDING A TACTILE FEEDBACK DEVICE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame comprising an operator's compartment, wheels supported on the frame, at least one of the wheels being a steerable wheel, and a steer-by-wire system associated with the steerable wheel to effect angular movement of the steerable wheel. The vehicle further comprises a control apparatus. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090095560 | SUSPENDED FLOORBOARD - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; a set of wheels supported on the frame to allow the materials handling vehicle to move across a floor surface; a rider compartment located within the frame for receiving an operator; and an operator support assembly. The operator support assembly comprises a suspended floorboard upon which the operator may stand when located within the rider compartment and an energy absorbing structure coupled to the frame and the suspended floorboard for absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of energy resulting from disturbances encountered by the vehicle as it moves across the floor surface prior to the energy portion reaching the operator standing on the suspended floorboard, the energy absorbing structure including a damping element for effecting a dampening function. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090000103 | MANUFACTURING CELL AND ELEMENTS OF THE CELL - A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080202858 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CONTROLLER COUPLED TO A FRONT WALL OF A FRAME - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including structure for defining an operator compartment and structure for defining a battery compartment; first and second front wheels coupled to the frame; a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to the frame; an electric motor; and a controller coupled to a front wall of the frame to control the operation of the electric motor. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080202857 | MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE - A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including a longitudinal centerline and an operator compartment; first and second front wheels coupled to the frame; a rear steer wheel assembly coupled to the frame; mast apparatus coupled to the frame and including a pair of forks; and a battery associated with the frame and having a center of gravity. The battery is preferably positioned such that the battery center of gravity is laterally offset from the longitudinal center line. A stability triangle for the vehicle is defined by a first point at the first front wheel, a second point at the second front wheel and a third point at the rear steer wheel assembly. Preferably, the stability triangle defines a scalene triangle. | 08-28-2008 |
