Patent US3560678A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3560678A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load presence detector lever mounted for pivotal and longitudinal movement
Assignee: Acme Steel Co
•
Filing: 1968-11-04
•
Granted: 1971-02-02
•
Expires: 1988-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A load presence detector for a power-operated load handling fork assembly comprises a rotatable, longitudinally displaceable lever member. When the power-operated fork is extended, the lever member is rotated about a pivot axis and, if the storage space into which it is desired to deposit the load being carried by the forks is already occupied by another load, the rotated lever member contacts the load in the space and moves in a longitudinal direction to terminate power to the fork. If the space is unoccupied, the lever member rotates further about its pivot to allow the fork to deposit the load in the unoccupied space.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond H Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/0755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A load presence detector for detecting the presence of a load in a load storage space comprising: an elongated lever member; mounting means pivotally mounting said lever member, said lever member being rotatable about said pivotal mounting in response to a force on said lever member intermediate its ends for contacting a load if a load is present in the space; longitudinal movement means carried by said lever member for effecting longitudinal movement of said lever member when the lever member contacts the load; and signal means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said lever member for signalling the presence of the load in the storage space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A load presence detector for detecting the presence of a load in a load storage space comprising: an elongated lever member; mounting means pivotally mounting said lever member, said lever member being rotatable about said pivotal mounting in response to a force on said lever member intermediate its ends for contacting a load if a load is present in the space; longitudinal movement means carried by said lever member for effecting longitudinal movement of said lever member when the lever member contacts the load; and signal means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said lever member for signalling the presence of the load in the storage space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The load detector of claim 1 wherein said lever member is rotatable about said pivotal mounting by said force from a first normal angular position to a second angular position in which said lever member contacts the load occupying the space and to a third angular position when the space is unoccupied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The load detector of claim 2 including spring means normally urging said lever member into said first normal angular position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The load detector of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal movement means comprises: head means, said lever member being mounted on said head means; a stationary member; an elongated shaft attached to said head means, said shaft being axially slideably carried by said stationary member; and urging means normally urging said head means toward said first longitudinal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The load detector of claim 4 wherein said urging means comprises a spring carried by said elongated shaft normally urging said shaft and the associated head means in a direction in which the signal means is not actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The load detector of claim 4 including a second elongated rod attached to said head means and slideably carried by said stationary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The load detector of claim 4 wherein said signal means is responsive to the axial sliding movement of said elongated rod to signal the presence of the load in the storage space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The load detector of claim 1 wherein said signal means terminates the force exerted on the lever member upon said longitudinal movement of the lever member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The load detector of claim 8 wherein said signal means comprises an electric switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
A load depositing assembly having a stationary portion and at least one load handling arm extendible relative to said stationary portion to position a load in a storage space, comprising: a load presence detector mounted separately from said arm on said stationary portion, said load presence detector including a feeler means for sensing the loading condition of the storage space, at least a part of the feeler means being directed toward the storage space by the arm as the arm is extended; and signal means associated with said feeler means, said signal means being actuated by the feeler means when the feeler means senses the presence of a load in the storage space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A load depositing assembly having a stationary portion and at least one load handling arm extendible relative to said stationary portion to position a load in a storage space, comprising: a load presence detector mounted separately from said arm on said stationary portion, said load presence detector including a feeler means for sensing the loading condition of the storage space, at least a part of the feeler means being directed toward the storage space by the arm as the arm is extended; and signal means associated with said feeler means, said signal means being actuated by the feeler means when the feeler means senses the presence of a load in the storage space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The assembly of claim 10 wherein said feeler means comprises a lever member which is mounted adjacent said arm for rotational movement in response to the extension of said arm and for longitudinal movement in response to the presence of a load in the storage space, and said signal means is actuated in response to the longitudinal movement of said lever member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
The assembly of claim 10 wherein said feeler means comprises an elongated rigid lever member normally positioned in a first angular position across the extendible end of said arm and mounting means mounting said lever member for rotation by the arm about a pivot axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said arm from said first angular position to second and third angular positions and for longitudinal movement substantially parallel to the axis of the arm by the arm from a first normal longitudinal position in response to contact of said lever member with a load already present in the storage space when said lever member is rotated to said second angular position, said signal means being actuated by said longitudinal movement of said lever member for signalling the presence of the load in the storage space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 12 including urging means normally urging said lever member into said first angular position and first longitudinal position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The assembly of claim 12 wherein said load detector further comprises: a longitudinally moveable head moveable in response to longitudinal movement of said lever member, said lever member being rotatably mounted on said head; a stationary member having an aperture defined therein; and an elongated shaft attached to said head and slideably journaled through said aperture for longitudinal movement with said head, said signal means being responsive to said longitudinal movement of said shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 12 wherein said lever member is in said first longitudinal position when said lever member is positioned in said first and third angular positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of claim 10 wherein said signal means discontinues the power to said arm to stop the extension of said arm when said signal means is actuated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2490217A
Cited
US2518065A
Cited
US2822436A
Cited
US3139994A
Cited
US3232455A
Cited
US3339040A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |