Powered lifting hand truck apparatus, system, and method
AssigneeMagline, Inc.
InventorsStewart A. Burton, Michael James Casey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered lift hand truck with a corresponding method of operation and control. The apparatus includes a powered lift hand truck configured to lift a load from a lowered to a raised position (and vice versa). The system uses the rotational speed to measure linear speed and enforce a consistent speed of the load. The system is programmed to lift/lower loads at the same speed, regardless of load overall weight. If, for example, the load is heavy, the system determines that the speed is below a predetermined threshold and increases the power so as to increase speed.
Claims9
A system for controlling lifting speed of a load bearing portion of a hand truck operated by a user, the system comprising:
- a lifting portion, the lifting portion configured to move a load from a first position to a second position;
- a lead screw, the lead screw integral to the movement of the lifting portion;
- a control portion, the control portion configured to receive a desired linear speed from the user, the desired speed having a corresponding desired rotational speed of the lead screw;
- a sensor, the sensor measuring an actual rotational speed of the lead screw;
- and
- a processor, the processor comparing the actual rotational speed to the desired rotational speed;
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is less than the desired rotational speed, additional power is applied until the actual rotational speed matches the desired rotational speed;
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is greater than the desired rotational speed, power is decreased until the actual rotational speed matches the desired rotational speed;
- and
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is equal to the desired rotational speed, no action is taken.
A method for controlling linear speed of a moving load on a hand truck operated by a user, the hand truck having a lead screw and a sensor configured to measure rotational speed, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a desired linear speed from the user, the desired linear speed having a corresponding desired rotational speed for the lead screw;
- measuring an actual rotational speed of the lead screw;
- and
- comparing the actual rotational speed to the desired rotational speed;
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is less than the desired rotational speed, additional power is applied until the actual rotational speed matches the desired rotational speed;
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is greater than the desired rotational speed, power is decreased until the actual rotational speed matches the desired rotational speed;
- and
- wherein if the actual rotational speed is equal to the desired rotational speed, no action is taken.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.