Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Material Handling Vehicle With Dual Control Handle System |
| Document Number: |
20100096212 |
| Publication Date: |
April 22, 2010 |
| Appl. No: |
12/644664 |
| Application Filed: |
December 22, 2009 |
| Abstract: |
A material handling vehicle includes an operator compartment having two operator control handles, a deadman switch accessible by an operator using either control handle, and a traction system. The traction system is controlled by the control handles to drive the vehicle in a selected direction, wherein an operator can control the traction system while facing one of the selected directions and the deadman switch is selectively activatable to enable operation from both control handles. |
| Inventors: |
Smiley, Gregory W. (Greene, NY, US); Lewis, Robert J. (Birighamton, NY, US); Werner, Kurt R. (Auburn, NY, US); Ryan, H. Scott (Skaneateles, NY, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A material handling vehicle, comprising: an operator compartment; a first operator control handle for selecting a direction and a speed of vehicle travel, the first control handle being mounted in the operator compartment and configured for operation in a first vehicle direction; a second operator control handle for selecting a direction and a speed of vehicle travel, the second operator control handle mounted in the compartment and configured for operation in the second vehicle direction; a deadman switch in a position accessible by an operator operating the vehicle using at least one of the first control handle and the second control handle, the deadman switch being selectively activatable to enable operation from both the first operator control handle and the second operator control handle; and a traction system controlled by the first and second operator control handles to selectively drive the vehicle in the first vehicle direction and the second vehicle direction, wherein an operator can control the traction system while facing one of the first vehicle direction and the second vehicle direction. |
| Claim: |
2. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the first operator control handle is a multi-function control handle. |
| Claim: |
3. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the first operator control is mounted at a first end of the operator compartment. |
| Claim: |
4. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein the second operator control handle is mounted to a second end of the operator compartment. |
| Claim: |
5. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the first operator control handle is movable about an axis and said second operator control handle is movable about an axis. |
| Claim: |
6. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 5, in which axis about which the first operator control handle is movable and the axis about which the second operator control handle is movable are not coaxial. |
| Claim: |
7. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 6, in which one of said operator control handles includes a vertical section. |
| Claim: |
8. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a floor in the compartment, and the deadman switch is mounted to the floor. |
| Claim: |
9. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the second operator control is mounted at an angle as referenced to a side of the compartment selected to be substantially perpendicular of an arm of the operator when operating the second operator control. |
| Claim: |
10. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, including a steering wheel mounted to the compartment, the steering wheel being positioned on the compartment in a location to allow an operator to rotate the steering wheel when using either the first control handle or the second control handle. |
| Claim: |
11. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the second operator control handle includes a horn actuator for activating a horn. |
| Claim: |
12. An operator compartment for a material handling vehicle comprising: a first control handle mounted for access by an operator facing a first direction, said first control handle being movable about an axis; a second control handle mounted for access by an operator facing a second direction, the second control handle being movable about an axis; a deadman switch accessible by an operator using the first control handle when facing the first direction and the second control handle when facing the second direction; and a steering wheel accessible by an operator using the first control handle when facing the first direction and accessible by an operator using the second control handle when facing the second direction. |
| Claim: |
13. The material handling vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first and second vehicle directions are fore and aft directions of the vehicle. |
| Claim: |
14. The material handling vehicle of claim 12 wherein the second control handle is substantially horizontal. |
| Claim: |
15. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 12, in which axis about which the first operator control handle is movable and the axis about which the second operator control handle is movable are not coaxial. |
| Claim: |
16. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 12, wherein the first and second control handles are each movable around a substantially horizontal axis. |
| Claim: |
17. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 12, wherein each of the first and second control handles are movable in the second and first directions, respectively, to provide a control signal indicative of motion in the direction opposite the direction the operator is facing. |
| Claim: |
18. The material handling vehicle as defined in claim 12, wherein the second control handle is a twist grip handle. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
180/321 |
| Current International Class: |
60 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20100096212 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
