초록 ▼

A single lever hand control for multiple functions having two distinct axes of movement. In the case of a stand-up, battery powered lift truck having a mast, a carriage with forks raised and lowered on the mast, and the forks side shifted on the carriage, which also can be tilted from vertical, forw

A single lever hand control for multiple functions having two distinct axes of movement. In the case of a stand-up, battery powered lift truck having a mast, a carriage with forks raised and lowered on the mast, and the forks side shifted on the carriage, which also can be tilted from vertical, forward or back, the operator stands facing to the side with reference to the direction of travel of the truck. Movement of the control lever right to left from a neutral position relative to the direction the operator is facing controls the forward or reverse direction and the speed of the truck. The mast and carriage operations are controlled by the lever being pushed or pulled by the operator transversely to the direction of travel. The force required to displace the lever in one direction is less than that required in the other consistent with the large muscle groups employed to overcome the respective forces. Movement of the lever is also consistent with the direction of movement being imparted to the particular function being performed consistent with the ergonomics of a stand-up lift truck.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [6.] In a powered industrial lift truck having a stand up operator's compartment designed to accommodate an operator standing in the stand up operator's compartment facing partially sideways in a "Y" direction laterally to the direction of travel of the powered industrial lift

[ What is claimed is:] [6.] In a powered industrial lift truck having a stand up operator's compartment designed to accommodate an operator standing in the stand up operator's compartment facing partially sideways in a "Y" direction laterally to the direction of travel of the powered industrial lift truck in either forward or reverse traveling in an "X" direction of the operator's compartment generally perpendicular to the "Y" direction corresponding to either the right or left of the operator;powered means for propelling the powered industrial lift truck in either the forward or reverse directions at variable speeds;a mast on the powered industrial lift truck having a lift and lower motion imparted to a load, which motion corresponds to a push, or pull motion of the operator's unsupported arm in the "Y" direction of the stand up operator's compartment and involving in such push or pull motion, a first larger muscle group for effecting such motion, generally in the direction that the operator is facing, and a first larger resistive force associated with said push or pull motion;a multi-function single-lever operator hand control having a neutral position and two directions of motion therefrom mounted in said stand-up operator's compartment at approximately waist level of the operator, said control comprising;a first "X" direction of motion corresponding to said "X" direction in the stand up operator's compartment which motion corresponds to a right or left rolling motion of the operator's unsupported arm and involving in said right or left rolling motion, a smaller muscle group for effecting such motion, generally parallel to the direction the operator is facing, and a second smaller resistive force associated with said rolling motion;a second "Y" direction of motion; corresponding to the "Y" direction of the stand up operator's compartment;said first "X" direction of motion comprising a human factors rolling action of the operator's hand and unsupported arm for controlling the direction of travel and speed of the powered industrial lift truck; ;a control means responsive to displacement of said single-lever hand control from the neutral position in either the "X" or "Y" directions, said control means comprising means rotatable about an axis approximately parallel to the operator's unsupported arm and perpendicular to the "X" direction of motion for varying the speed and direction of said powered means operable by the human factors rolling action of the operator's hand and unsupported arm as controlled by said second smaller muscle group, andsecond means rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to said first rotational axis being operable by the human factors push or pull action of the operator's unsupported arm moving in said "Y" direction of motion involving said first larger muscle group thereby minimizing operator fatigue due to prolonged operation by matching the larger and smaller muscle groups with the larger and smaller resistive forces.