US 12,655,006 B2 · Systems and methods for restricting operation of a lift device

Abstract

A lift device includes a chassis, tractive elements, a platform, a lift assembly, a first set of proximity sensors, and a controller. The tractive elements are rotatably coupled to the chassis and support the chassis. The platform is disposed above the chassis and includes a deck for supporting an operator. The lift assembly couples the platform to the chassis and can selectably move the platform between a lowered position and a raised position. The first set of proximity sensors are coupled to the platform and detect a distance of an obstacle relative to the platform. The controller is operably coupled with an alert system and receives obstacle detection data from the first set of proximity sensors. The controller selects a subset of the first set of proximity sensors to analyze based on an active function of the lift device and determines whether the obstacle is within the minimum allowable distance.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lift device, comprising:

a platform;
a lift assembly configured to selectably move the platform between a lowered position and a raised position above the lowered position;
a plurality of sensors coupled to the platform, the plurality of sensors comprising:
a first sensor coupled at a bottom of the platform at a first distal end oriented in a downwards direction;
a second sensor coupled at the bottom of the platform at a second distal end oriented the downwards direction, the second distal end opposite the first distal end;
a third sensor positioned on a first rail of the platform at a corner between a first lateral side of the platform and the first distal end of the platform, the third sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards the second distal end of the platform;
and
a fourth sensor positioned on a second vertical rail of the platform at a corner between a second lateral side of the platform and the second distal end of the platform, the fourth sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards the first distal end of the platform.

5 more elements

A method for providing an alert for a lift device and restricting operation of the lift device, the method comprising:

receiving object detection data from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising a first sensor positioned at a bottom of a platform of the lift device on a first distal end, the first sensor oriented in a downwards direction, a second sensor positioned at the bottom of the platform of the lift device on a second distal end, the second sensor oriented in the downwards direction, a third sensor positioned on a rail of the platform at a corner between a first lateral side of the platform and the first distal end of the platform, the third sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards the second distal end of the platform, and a fourth sensor positioned on a second rail of the platform at a corner between a second lateral side of the platform and the second distal end of the platform, the fourth sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards the first distal end of the platform;
determining if an obstacle is present in a stop zone or a warning zone using the object detection data;
and
in response to determining that the obstacle is present in the stop zone, restricting one or more operations of a lift assembly of the lift device and the lift device.

1 more element

An obstacle detection system for a lift device, the obstacle detection system comprising:

a first sensor at a first end of a deck at a bottom of a platform and oriented in a downwards direction;
a second sensor at a second end of the deck at the bottom of the platform and oriented in the downwards direction;
a third sensor positioned on a first vertical rail of the platform at a corner between a first lateral side of the platform and a first distal end of the platform, the third sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards a second distal end of the platform;
and
a fourth sensor positioned on a second vertical rail of the platform at a corner between a second lateral side of the platform and the second distal end of the platform, the fourth sensor oriented partially downwards and partially towards the first distal end of the platform;
and
a controller operably coupled with an alert system, wherein the controller is configured to limit operations of the lift device based on obstacle detection data obtained from the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, and the fourth sensor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for restricting operation of a lift device

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for restricting operation of a lift device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20