Movable sensing apparatus

A movable sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• first signaling means for delivering a first signal and receiving a reflection of said first signal, said first signaling means being connected to said housing;
• trackway means for guiding said housing along a preselected guide path between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions;
• an actuator having a body and an output member movably connected to said body, said output member being controllably movable between spaced apart positions relative to said body;
• coupling means for connecting said output member to said housing and releasing said output member from said housing in response to an external force of a preselected magnitude being applied to said housing in a direction substantially along said guide path;
• biasing means for urging said housing toward said first position and moving said housing to said first position in response to said housing being released from connection with said output member.

A movable sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• first signaling means for delivering a first signal and receiving a reflection of said first signal, said first signaling means being connected to said housing;
• trackway means for guiding said housing along a preselected guide path between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions;
• an actuator having a body and an output member movably connected to said body, said output member having a first end portion and being controllably movable between spaced apart positions relative to said body;
• coupling means for connecting said output member to said housing and releasing said output member from said housing in response to an external force of a preselected magnitude being applied to said housing in a direction substantially along said guide path, said coupling means having a bracket connected to said housing and a pin connected to and between the bracket and the output member first end portion.

A movable sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• first signaling means for delivering a first signal and receiving a reflection of said first signal, said first signaling means being connected to said housing;
• trackway means for guiding said housing along a preselected guide path between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions;
• an actuator having a body and an output member movably connected to said body, said output member being controllably movable between spaced apart positions relative to said body, said actuator having an electric motor mounted on said body and being drivingly connected to said output member;
• coupling means for connecting said output member to said housing and releasing said output member from said housing in response to an external force of a preselected magnitude being applied to said housing in a direction substantially along said guide path;
• position sensing means for sensing the elevational position of said housing and delivering a signal in response to said housing being at one of said first and second elevational positions.

A lift mast assembly, comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart uprights;
• a carriage assembly connected to said pair of uprights, said carriage assembly being movable along said pair of uprights between elevationally spaced apart raised and lowered positions;
• a load engaging device having first and second spaced apart end portions and being connected at said first end portion to said carriage assembly;
• a guide rail assembly mounted on said carriage assembly;
• a housing connected to said guide rail assembly and movable along said guide rail assembly between a first position at which said housing is substantially elevationally located above the load engaging device second end portion and adjacent the first end portion, and a second position at which said housing is elevationally spaced from said first position and spaced substantially elevationally beneath said load engaging device second end portion;
• first signaling means for delivering a first signal and receiving a reflection of said first signal, said first signaling means being connected to said housing;
• an actuator having a body and an output member movably connected to said body, said body being mounted on said carriage assembly and said output member being controllably movable between elevationally spaced apart positions relative to said body;
• and
• coupling means for connecting said output member to said housing.

A material handling vehicle, comprising:

• lift mast assembly having a pair of spaced apart uprights;
• a carriage assembly movably mounted on said pair of uprights, said carriage assembly being movable along said pair of uprights between elevationally spaced apart raised and lowered positions;
• a pair of material handling forks each having first and second spaced apart end portions, and a heel portion located between said first and second end portions, said forks first end portions being elevationally oriented and mounted on said carriage assembly at transversely spaced apart locations on the carriage assembly, and said forks second end portion extending from said carriage assembly in a direction transverse the pair of uprights and longitudinal of the material handling vehicle;
• a guide rail assembly mounted on said carriage assembly at a location between the pair of forks, said guide rail assembly being elevationally oriented;
• a housing being connected to said guide rail assembly and elevationally movable along said guide rail assembly between a first position at which said housing is substantially elevationally located between the forks first end and the heal portions, and a second position at which said housing is substantially elevationally spaced from the first position and elevationally below the forks first end and heal portions;
• first signaling means for delivering a first signal and receiving a reflection of said first signal, said first signaling means being connected to said housing at a preselected location on the housing;
• second signaling means for delivering a second signal and receiving a reflection of said second signal, said second signaling means being connected to said housing at a location on said housing spaced from said first signaling means;
• an actuator having a body and an output member movably connected to said body, said body being mounted on said carriage assembly, and said output member being extensibly movable between spaced apart positions relative to said stationary body;
• and
• a coupling means for connecting said output member to said housing and releasing said output member from said housing in response to an external force of a preselected magnitude being applied to said housing in a direction substantially along said guide rail assembly.