Dual operator position for material handling vehicle

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle, such as a turret stockpicker, is provided with control circuits and hardware to allow an operator to control the vehicle from either a standing or seated position while providing all of the safety interlocks that ensure proper operation of the vehicle. All functions of the vehicle, including raising and lowering of forks and moving the vehicle, are affected by the operator's position. The switch associated with the operator's seat indicates whether the operator is in the standing or seated position, and the control of the vehicle is appropriately modified to conform to industry standards according to the mode selected from the operator. An electronic circuit is responsive to an operator actuated seat switch to control the mode of operation wherein, a) if the operator is standing, floor operated switches control the braking of the vehicle, with braking being applied upon release of either of said switches, and b) if the operator is sitting, a pair of pedestal switches must both be activated to permit selected operations of the vehicle and lift truck functions, and wherein braking is controlled by the operation of a pedestal brake switch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.