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US 2012/0235100 A1Published application
Dynamic Vibration Control Systems and Methods for Industrial Lift Trucks
AssigneeThe Raymond Corporation
InventorsPaul P. McCabe, John B. Kirk, Bryce Gregory, Michael G. Field
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lift truck includes systems and methods for improved vibration control. Vibration control features reduce or eliminate motion of the truck in one or more of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Some embodiments may include, alone or in combination with the vibration control, stability control to further stabilize the motion of the truck.
Claims24
A lift truck having vibration control, the lift truck comprising:
- a tractor unit;
- vertically movable forks mounted relative to the tractor unit, the forks being vertically movable between an upper position and a lower position;
- a vertical support mounted relative to the tractor unit, and a platform mounted relative to the vertical support, the platform for mounting electrical components;
- and
- the vertical support comprising a hollow tube at least partially filled with a vibration damping material to damper vibrations from reaching the platform.
2 more elements
A lift truck having vibration control, the lift truck comprising:
- a tractor unit;
- vertically movable forks mounted relative to the tractor unit, the forks being vertically movable between an upper position and a lower position;
- a vertical support mounted relative to the tractor unit, and a platform mounted relative to the vertical support, the platform for mounting electrical components;
- the vertical support comprising two or more cylinders that function as a mass-damper system to damper vibrations from reaching the platform, the mass-damper system include a spring, a fluid, and a variable valve;
- and
- control circuitry coupled to the variable valve, the control circuitry to control a flow of the fluid through the variable valve to control a degree of vibration damping.
3 more elements
A method of reducing vibrations on a lift truck, the method comprising:
- providing a lift truck, the lift truck comprising:
- a tractor unit;
- and
- vertically movable forks mounted relative to the tractor unit, the forks being vertically movable between an upper position and a lower position;
- providing a vertical support mounted relative to the tractor unit;
- providing a platform mounted relative to the vertical support, the platform for mounting electrical components;
- damping vibrations from reaching the platform with at least one of a vibration damping material in the vertical support and a mass-damper system;
- and
- providing control circuitry coupled to the at least one of the vibration damping material and the mass-damper system to control a degree of vibration damping.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.