US3854820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light reference system for aiding operator positioning of load handling devices and the like
Assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-11
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1994-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A light reference system for generating a collimated beam of light and converting and projecting the same as a relatively intense fan-shaped or diverging plane of light from an operator manipulatable device on a machine or a vehicle to an object or opening which may be positionally referenced to the device in a selected predetermined relation by operator control of the machine or vehicle and manipulatable device, thus enabling the operator to observably locate a sharply defined resulting line of light so as to establish such selected relation. The light reference system is capable of a number of different embodiments or forms, a few of which are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment of the machine or vehicle with which such a system is combined herein is of a fork lift truck vehicle on which the light reference system in various forms is mounted on the elevatable load handling device or fork carrier for generating a collimated beam of light and for converting the same into a flat plane of diverging light, referred to usually herein as a ''''fanshape'''' of light, having abrupt demarcation in intensity and projected as a relatively intense operator observable line of light to any selected object, such as to a pallet in an elevated bin of a storage rack, in a predetermined attitude with respect to the load handling device such as the fork of a fork truck. Also disclosed is an embodiment which projects an image or visual reference in the form of a line of light, generated by a scanning laser beam, and projected on surfaces in the path of the projected light such as a pallet as recited above.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:01
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/0755; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B65G1/0421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
In a vehicle having a manipulatable load handling device, a light optical means mounted on the handling device being so constructed and arranged as to provide a substantially collimated light beam and to project said light beam from said load handling device as a diverging plane of light collimated in one dimension and in a predetermined attitude in relation to the load handling device such that a visual reference of the position of the load handling device appears in the form of a distinctly perceivable line of light on surfaces in the path of the projected diverging plane of light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a vehicle having a manipulatable load handling device, a light optical means mounted on the handling device being so constructed and arranged as to provide a substantially collimated light beam and to project said light beam from said load handling device as a diverging plane of light collimated in one dimension and in a predetermined attitude in relation to the load handling device such that a visual reference of the position of the load handling device appears in the form of a distinctly perceivable line of light on surfaces in the path of the projected diverging plane of light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light optical means is mounted on the load handling device inside of rigid enclosing structure in a manner which protects the light optical means from damage during relatively rough load handling operations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light optical means is adapted to project light through a plane having diverging edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said load handling device comprises an elevatable carriage of a lift truck, and said enclosing structure comprises an elongated hollow beam means secured lengthwise of one side of the carriage and having an opening through which the collimated light beam is projected as said diverging plane of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said collimated light beam travels longitudinally of said enclosing structure, and means is provided for redirecting and projecting said light beam as said diverging plane of light through an opening formed in said rigid enclosing structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the source of said light beam is located in the enclosing structure in longitudinally spaced relation to the opening through which is projected said plane of light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said carriage is a fork carriage, said enclosing structure is secured at one side only of the fork carriage, and said opening is dimensioned such that the diverging edges of said plane of light are adapted to subtend an angle so that the line of light as projected on a surface adjacent the lift truck indicates the elevation and attitude of the fork carriage at both sides thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the location of said line of light is an operative visual reference of both the elevation and tilt attitude of said carriage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light beam is projected in a diverging plane transverse to the direction of movement of the load handling device on the vehicle so that the elevation and attitude of the handling device may be visually perceived as a line of light on surfaces both parallel and angular to said direction of travel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said diverging plane of light is projected both sideways and forwardly of the load handling device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projected plane of light is substantially of a fan-shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a conical reflector converts said collimated light beam to said diverging plane of light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the vehicle is a maneuvering vehicle the load handling device of which is maneuverable in elevation as well as with the vehicle, said line of light being a continuous visual reference on the said surfaces facilitating precise operator''s control of the load handling device during maneuvering of the vehicle, whereby to reduce the requirement for operator''s depth perception other than by said visual reference.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load handling device is maneuverable both with the vehicle and in elevation, the Projected line of light being projected in a plane substantially transverse of the direction of movement of the load handling device so that the elevation and attitude thereof may be visually perceived as a line of light on surfaces both parallel and angular to the load handling device, tilting of the load handling device from a horizontal position causing the line of light to be projected onto a substantially vertical surface which is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the load handling device at an angle to the horizontal which indicates to the operator the approximate angle and direction of tilt of the load handling device, and turning of the load handling device from such a parallel to a transverse relation to said vertical surface causing the line of light to reflect as a substantially horizontal line from the transverse surface which indicates both the attitude and elevation of the load handling device in relation thereto.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for mounting on a maneuverable load handling device comprising a rigid housing, means mounted in the housing for producing a substantially collimated light beam which is projected inside of the housing, an opening in said housing, reflector means in said housing mounted in a predetermined relation both to said light beam means and to said opening, said reflector means being in the line of projection of said light beam and being adapted to project said light beam through said opening and outside of said housing, said opening being of such predetermined size and location relative to said reflector means as to permit said light beam to be projected outside of said housing in a predetermined attitude in relation to said load handling device and in a manner to produce a visual reference which appears in the form of a distinctly perceivable elongated line of light on a surface in the path of the projected light beam, said line of light defining the position of the load handling device relative to said surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for mounting on a maneuverable load handling device comprising a rigid housing, means mounted in the housing for producing a substantially collimated light beam which is projected inside of the housing, an opening in said housing, reflector means in said housing mounted in a predetermined relation both to said light beam means and to said opening, said reflector means being in the line of projection of said light beam and being adapted to project said light beam through said opening and outside of said housing, said opening being of such predetermined size and location relative to said reflector means as to permit said light beam to be projected outside of said housing in a predetermined attitude in relation to said load handling device and in a manner to produce a visual reference which appears in the form of a distinctly perceivable elongated line of light on a surface in the path of the projected light beam, said line of light defining the position of the load handling device relative to said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the load handling device is mounted on a vehicle and is maneuverable both with the vehicle and in elevation, the projected line of light being projected in a plane substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the load handling device so that the elevation and attitude thereof may be visually perceived as a line of light on surfaces both parallel and angular to the load handling device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein tilting of the load holding device from a horizontal portion causes a line of light to be projected onto a vertical surface parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle at an angle to the horizontal which indicates to the operator the angle and direction of tilt of the load handling device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein turning the load handling device from a parallel to a transverse relation to said vertical surface causes the line of light to reflect as a substantially horizontal line from the transverse surface which indicates both the attitude and elevation of the load handling device in relation thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said reflector means is supported on a fulcrum and is adapted to be mounted on triangularly related adjustment means for tilting the reflector means on the fulcrum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said reflector means is supported on a fulcrum and is adapted to be mounted on adjustment means for tilting the reflector means on the fulcrum in any one of a plurality of selected directions to adjust the position of the line of light on said surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said light beam means includes a light source located at the focal point of a reflector for producing said light beam, said reflector means projecting said light beam as a diverging plane of light which appears as said line of light on such a surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said light beam means provides a laser beam, and said reflector means projects said laser beam as a scanning beam forming a diverging plane of light such that it is visually perceived as said line of light on such a surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said light beam means includes a light source, reflector, lens means and cropper means intermediate said light source and lens means for interrupting an area of peripheral light rays emanating from the light source toward said lens means all of predetermined design and spacing to produce said substantially collimated light beam, said reflector means projecting said collimated beam through said opening as a diverging plane of light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said reflector means receives said beam of light and projects it through said opening in a diverging plane collimated in one dimension and adapted to reflect from said surface as said line of light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rigid housing is of tubular or multi-sided elongated construction said light beam being directed lengthwise thereof and said reflector means being spaced longitudinally thereof for receiving said light beam in the vicinity of said opening and for redirecting and reforming said light beam to project through said opening so as to form said visually perceivable line of light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said light beam is a laser beam and said reflector means projects said laser beam as a scanning beam in a diverging plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said light beam is projected as a flat diverging plane of light which is reflected as said line of light from said surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said reflector means includes a biased motor driven reflecting surface for projecting said laser beam as a scanning beam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said surface reflects a sloping line of light if the load handling device is in a non-horizontal attitude, the slope of the line of light increasing in proportion to the angle of said device from horizontal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said load handling device is a tiltable and elevatable fork carriage of a lift truck, and said line of light as reflected and perceived by an operator provides a direct visual reference to the angle of tilt of the fork either rearwardly or forwardly and to the elevation of the fork.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said light source comprises a high intensity arc lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |