JP2005170542A - Safety device of industrial vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safety device of an industrial vehicle in which the safety function is retained if no intervention is required such as during a failure or during a work in a half-standing posture while ensuring the essential safety function. <P>SOLUTION: The safety device 1 of the industrial vehicle comprises a seat switch 5, an accelerator pedal switch 7, a traveling direction input detection means 9, and a cargo handling operation input detection means 11. An absence determination unit 19 determines absence based on the result of detection of the switches 5 and 7. If absence is determined, a safety control operation performing means 31 performs the safety control operation for absence of a driver taking into consideration the result of detection of the detection means 9 and 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a safety device that is provided in an industrial vehicle such as a forklift and operates when a driver is absent.

  As a technique for detecting the state of the driver in the driver's seat, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-294059 (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a driver's seating state is detected in an agricultural vehicle that is one of industrial vehicles. Specifically, a seat sensor composed of a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors is provided at the seating portion of the driver's seat of the farm work vehicle. The seat sensor includes a center sensor provided at a central portion of the seating portion and a pair of left and right side sensors provided on both left and right sides of the seating portion. Then, the driver's work posture in the driver's seat is discriminated from the detection states of the center sensor and side sensor, and the control is performed to reduce the vehicle traveling speed and the farming work speed, improving usability and safety. I am letting.

JP 2001-294059 A

  As exemplified in Patent Document 1, when detecting a driver's seating state using a seat sensor, a configuration in which information for one determination target is normally detected from one sensor is employed. That is, also in Patent Document 1, the center sensor can detect the seating state only for the central portion, and the side sensor can also detect only the corresponding seat measuring portion. Therefore, when the sensor breaks down in the absence detection state, or when the driver floats from the seating part and performs work, there is a risk that the safety function will work and the work cannot be performed as expected. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems. While the original safety function is ensured, the safety function is reserved when no intervention is required, for example, in the event of a failure or when the user is sitting up. An object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for an industrial vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a safety device for an industrial vehicle according to the present invention includes a take-off seat state detection unit that detects a driver's take-off seat state, and a seat detection unit that detects a driver's seat in the driver seat. The absence determination means for determining the absence of the driver in the driver's seat based on the detection results of the separated seat state detection means and the presence detection means, and at least the driver based on the absence determination of the driver in the absence determination means And a safety control operation executing means for executing an absent safety control operation.

  Preferably, the seating / seating state detection means is a seat switch provided on the driving seat.

  In order to achieve the same object, a safety device for an industrial vehicle of the present invention includes a plurality of presence detection means for detecting the presence of a driver in a driver seat, and a plurality of presence detection means obtained from the plurality of presence detection means. Absence determining means for determining the absence of the driver in the driver's seat based on the detection result, and safety control operation executing means for performing the safety control operation for the absence of the driver based at least on the absence determination of the driver in the absence determining means It is characterized by comprising.

  In the above, preferably, the presence detection means includes an operation amount detection sensor for detecting an operation amount of the operation means input by the driver, a contact detection sensor for detecting a contact state of the driver with the operation means, and driving This is either a seat belt switch for detecting the seat belt in the seat or a floor switch provided on the floor of the driver's seat.

  According to the present invention, a driver's absence determination is performed not only based on a single seating detection result, but based on a seating detection result and a seating detection result, or based on a plurality of different seating detection results. Therefore, when there is no need for intervention, for example, when there is a malfunction or when you are sitting on the waist, while securing the original safety function that allows you to perform safety control operations for absence when the driver is truly absent Execution of the safety control operation can be reserved.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the industrial vehicle safety device according to the present invention applied to a forklift will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the safety device according to the first embodiment. The safety device 1 is broadly classified in terms of its functions, and a seating / seating state detection unit that detects a driver's seating / seating state, a seating detection unit (operation amount detection sensor) that detects a driver's seating in the driver's seat, The absence determination means for determining the absence of the driver in the driver's seat based on the detection results of the seating / seating state detection means and the presence detection means, and the absence of the driver based on the determination of the absence of the driver in at least the absence determination means Safety control operation executing means for executing the safety control operation. In the claims and the description of the present application, “seating seat” means whether or not the driver is sitting on the driving seat in the driver seat, and “absence / seating” means driving. This means whether the person is in the driver's seat or not. Therefore, in the state where the driver in the driver's seat is floating, the driver is seated in the driver's seat while being away.

  The controller 3 of the safety device 1 includes, as information input sources, a seat switch 5 as a seating / seating state detection means, an accelerator pedal switch 7 as a presence detection means, a traveling direction input detection means 9 and a cargo handling operation input detection means. 11 is connected. First, the seat switch 5 is a contact type switch provided in the seat portion of the driver seat in the driver seat of the forklift vehicle, and detects the seated state when the driver sits down on the seat portion. And when the driver is away from the seat, it is assumed that the absence state has been detected and the OFF state is established. The seat switch may be provided not only in the seat portion but also in the backrest portion, and the meaning of the ON / OFF state and the seating / seating state may be reversed.

  The accelerator pedal switch 7 is one of operation amount detection sensors for detecting the operation amount of the operation means (accelerator means) input by the driver. In this embodiment, the accelerator pedal switch 7 is provided in the driver's seat. It is an accelerator opening detection switch that detects whether or not the moving angle has become a predetermined angle. The accelerator means is not limited to the stepping pedal type, and may be, for example, a manual lever type. Therefore, a switch for detecting the angle of the accelerator lever may be used as the operation amount detection sensor. Alternatively, instead of angle detection, a potentiometer (volume) linked to the accelerator opening may be extracted to detect whether or not the potentio output value has reached a predetermined value.

  The traveling direction input detection means 9 is a sensor that detects an input state of the traveling direction of the forklift vehicle. Specifically, it comprises a sensor provided for a traveling direction lever standing in the driver's seat of the forklift and detecting whether the traveling direction lever is tilted forward or backward. Furthermore, the cargo handling operation input detection means 11 is a sensor which detects the input state of cargo handling operation. Specifically, like the traveling direction lever, it is provided for a cargo handling lever erected in the driver's seat and includes a sensor that detects whether the cargo handling lever is tilted to the fork ascending side or the descending side. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a forklift of a type in which the mast can be tilted by hydraulic pressure or the like, it may be prepared as a sensor for detecting the input state of the tilt lever. The aspect which detects the state which inputs operation | movement of the cargo handling work using a pressure is included widely. In addition, although the traveling direction lever and the cargo handling lever are classified according to their functions, they may actually be used as a single lever or may be prepared as individual levers. The input mode of the cargo handling operation is not limited to the lever mode, and may be any mode such as a button mode or a rotary knob mode.

  The controller 3 is connected with a traveling neutral means 13, a cargo handling operation stopping means 15, and a prime mover operation adjusting means 17 as command output destinations. The traveling neutral means 13 is a means for forcibly setting the forward / reverse switching clutch arranged on the driving force transmission path of the prime mover to a neutral (neutral) state. In addition, it may be a means that is arranged in the driving force transmission path and simply blocks the driving force. The cargo handling operation stop means 15 is a means such as a valve that is arranged on a path for transmitting a fluid pressure such as a hydraulic pressure for performing a cargo handling operation and that blocks a change in fluid pressure. In any case, the traveling neutral means 13 and the cargo handling operation stop means 15 may be any means that shuts off the driving force and interrupts the power that newly performs the cargo handling operation, regardless of the operating state of the prime mover.

  Further, the prime mover operation adjusting means 17 is means for stopping the operation of the prime mover in the present embodiment. Therefore, in an engine-type forklift, there is a means for cutting off the supply of fuel, and in a battery-type forklift, there is a means for cutting off the supply of drive current. In any case, the prime mover operation adjusting means 17 may be any means that stops the function of outputting the driving force in the prime mover.

  Next, the internal functions of the controller 3 will be described. In the controller 3, an absence determination unit 19 that determines the absence of a driver, a safety control operation determination unit 21 for a traveling system, a safety control operation determination unit 23 for a cargo handling system, a motor operation adjustment command unit 25, and a travel neutral command unit 27. A cargo handling operation stop command unit 29 is provided. Then, the safety control operation determination unit 21 for the traveling system, the safety control operation determination unit 23 for the cargo handling system, the prime mover operation adjustment command unit 25, the traveling neutral command unit 27, and the cargo handling operation stop command unit 29 are connected to the controller 3. The traveling neutral means 13, the cargo handling operation stopping means 15, and the prime mover operation adjusting means 17 constitute a safety control operation executing means 31.

  Next, the operation of the safety device 1 having the above configuration will be described. In short, in the safety device 1, the safety control operation is performed by the safety control operation execution unit 31 based on the determination result of the absence determination unit 19 and the detection result of the traveling direction input detection unit 9 or the cargo handling operation input detection unit 11. Is determined and executed.

  In detail, first, when the vehicle is stopped and the driver leaves the driver's seat completely without stopping the engine, the driving direction lever and the cargo handling lever swing by mistake for some reason. Then, in an automatic vehicle, there is a concern that the vehicle may start traveling at a low speed due to a creep phenomenon caused by a torque converter, or that an operation part for cargo handling work such as a fork may operate. In this case, since the driver is outside the driver's seat, the driver is naturally away from the driver's seat, and the seat switch 5 is turned off to detect the away state. Further, the driver cannot be outside the driver's seat and step on the accelerator pedal, and the accelerator pedal switch 7 is in an OFF state where the swing angle of the accelerator pedal is less than a predetermined angle, so that the driver is absent. Detected.

  The absence detection result in the seat switch 5 and the detection result of the absence of the driver in the accelerator pedal switch 7 are sent to the absence determination unit 19. The absence determination unit 19 finally determines the absence of the driver based on these results. The determination result of the absence of the driver is sent to the traveling system safety control operation determination unit 21 and / or the cargo handling system safety control operation determination unit 23.

  In addition, the case where the traveling direction lever has swung unintentionally will be described as an example. When the traveling direction of the forward or reverse side is entered, the information is detected as the traveling direction input. Detected by the means 9 and sent to the traveling system safety control operation determination unit 21.

  The safety control operation determination unit 21 of the traveling system is in a state where the driver is absent in the driver's seat and receives information that the traveling direction lever is in the traveling direction, the safety for the absence of the driver. It is determined that the control operation is in a necessary state, and selection is made as to whether to properly adjust the operation of the prime mover or to cut off the driving force (set to a traveling neutral state). In response to such selection, a command is output from the corresponding prime mover operation adjustment command unit 25 or the traveling neutral command unit 27 to the prime mover operation adjustment means 17 or the traveling neutral means 13, so that the vehicle speed does not increase any further. As the safety control operation, the prime mover operation adjusting means 17 stops the prime mover, and the traveling neutral means 13 forces the forward / reverse switching clutch to the neutral state.

  In the above, the case where the traveling direction lever swings unintentionally is described as an example, but the same applies when the cargo handling lever is swung accidentally, and the traveling direction input detection means 9 and the safety control of the traveling system are the same. Instead of the operation determination unit 21, the cargo handling operation input detection unit 11 and the cargo handling system safety control operation determination unit 23 function, and the prime mover operation adjustment unit 17 performs an absence safety control operation for preventing the fork or the like from operating any more. The prime mover is stopped or the operation pressure of the fork or the like is interrupted by the cargo handling operation stop means 15.

  Here, for example, when it is determined that the safety control operation for absence of the driver is necessary based on the result of the absence detection by the seat switch 5 as a single sensor as in the prior art, for example, the driver operates Even if you are in the seat and intentionally put the travel direction lever in the forward travel direction to drive the vehicle, for example, if there is a sensor failure or the driver is in a posture In some cases, it is determined that a safety control operation without a driver is necessary, and the prime mover is stopped. When the prime mover is stopped, the supply of hydraulic pressure to the various assist mechanisms is stopped, and the brake assist system and the power steering system cannot be used, resulting in a very inconvenient state. However, in the present embodiment, not only the operation result of the seat switch 5 but also the operation result of the accelerator pedal switch 7 is taken into account to determine the absence of the driver. Therefore, for example, even if the driver is in a posture of floating, if the accelerator pedal is depressed to some extent, the state is detected by the accelerator pedal switch 7 and the absence of the driver is not determined. The safety control operation for the absence of a person is not performed. Therefore, the present embodiment is configured to perform the safety control operation only when it is really necessary, that is, to secure the original safety function for performing the absence safety control operation when the driver is absent. However, it is possible to reserve the execution of the safety control operation when no intervention is required, for example, when a failure occurs or when a work is performed with a hip.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, as understood from the configuration of FIG. 1, the system of the motor operation adjustment command unit 25 and the motor operation adjustment means 17, the system of the travel neutral command unit 27 and the travel neutral means 13, and the cargo handling operation stop Although described as a configuration including all the systems of the command section 29 and the cargo handling operation stopping means 15, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the second embodiment has a configuration in which the travel neutral command unit 27, the travel neutral unit 13, the cargo handling operation stop command unit 29, and the cargo handling operation stop unit 15 in the first embodiment are not provided as the first mode. Prepare. Further, as a second aspect of the second embodiment, a configuration in which the prime mover operation adjustment command unit 25 and the prime mover operation adjustment means 17 are not provided in the first embodiment is provided. According to the second embodiment, the same operation as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The safety device according to the present embodiment is different from the first or second embodiment in that the operation means other than the accelerator pedal input by the driver instead of the accelerator pedal switch 7 as the operation amount detection sensor of the presence detection means. A switch for detecting the operation amount is used. As a specific example, an operation amount of a brake input sensor (such as a steering wheel) that detects an operation amount of a brake input unit (such as a pedal or a lever) or a component that operates in response thereto, or an operation amount of a component that operates in response thereto is used. Examples include a steering system sensor to be detected, and a cargo handling operation system sensor. According to the third embodiment, the same operation as in the first or second embodiment can be obtained. In the present invention, the operation amount input mode of the operation means is not limited to the pedal, and may be any mode such as a lever, button, knob, or the like. The detected operation amount may be an input amount or a change amount thereof.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The safety device 401 according to the present embodiment uses a seat belt switch 407 instead of the operation amount detection sensor as the presence detection means in the first to third embodiments. The seat belt switch 407 is a sensor that detects whether or not the driver is wearing the seat belt correctly. Therefore, when the driver floats with the seat belt attached, the seat belt switch 407 detects the presence of the driver even if the seat switch 5 detects the away state. Therefore, the absence determination unit 19 finally determines that the driver exists in the driver's seat and is not absent. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as in the first to third embodiments, the safety control operation is performed only when it is really necessary, for example, when there is no need for intervention, such as at the time of failure or when the work is lifted up. The execution of the safety control operation can be reserved. Further, in the fourth embodiment, when the driver is driving without wearing a seat belt, a safety control operation such as driving force interruption is executed every time the seat switch 5 detects the absence of the seat. The Therefore, there is an advantage that the effect of encouraging the driver to wear the seat belt is obtained, and the safety of work is further improved.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The safety device 501 according to the present embodiment uses the floor switch 507 instead of the operation amount detection sensor or the seat belt switch as the presence detection means in the first to fourth embodiments. The floor switch 507 is disposed on the floor of the driver's seat and may be of any type of contact type / non-contact type, and a part of the body such as a driver's foot is in contact with the detection unit or the detection unit. It is a sensor that detects the presence of a driver when it is in a facing position. Therefore, even when the driver floats from the seat in the driver's seat, the seat switch 5 detects the away state but the floor switch 507 detects the presence of the driver. Therefore, the absence determination unit 19 finally determines that the driver is present in the driver's seat. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as in the first to fourth embodiments, the safety control operation is performed only when it is really necessary, for example, when there is no need for intervention, such as when a failure occurs or when the work is lifted up. The execution of the safety control operation can be reserved.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiments, the driver's absence determination is performed based on the detection result of the seating / seating state detection means and the detection result of the presence detection means. In the sixth embodiment, a plurality of (in the following description, two as an example) presence detection means are provided, and the absence of the driver is determined based on the detection results. As shown in FIG. 4, the safety device 601 is provided with a seat belt switch 607 a and an accelerator pedal switch 607 b as two seating detection means, and these switches are both connected to the absence determination unit 19. ing. The absence determination unit 19 determines that the driver is absent only when both the seat belt switch 607a and the accelerator pedal switch 607b detect the absence of the driver. Therefore, for example, even when one of the switches detects a failure while detecting the absence of the driver, when the driver is actually in the driver's seat, the other switch Therefore, the absence determination unit 19 that receives the detection results of both switches does not perform the determination of the absence of the driver, and erroneously performs the safety control for the absence of the driver. The operation is never executed.
The presence detection means is not limited to a seat belt switch or an accelerator pedal switch, and for example, a floor switch or an operation amount detection sensor other than the accelerator pedal switch can be used.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The seventh embodiment is the same as that of the first to sixth embodiments described above, except that the travel direction input detection means 9, the travel system safety control operation determination section 21, the travel neutral command section 27, and the travel neutral section 13 travel system. In addition, the cargo handling operation input detection unit 11, the cargo handling safety control operation determination unit 23, the cargo handling operation stop command unit 29, and the cargo handling operation stop unit 15 do not have any one of the cargo handling systems from the beginning. is there. Even if it is such a form, this invention can be implemented as a structure implemented limited to a traveling system or a cargo handling system from the beginning.

  As described above, the present invention described with reference to a plurality of embodiments can be implemented with the following modifications.

  First, the seat switch 5 may be any means that can detect the seating / seating state, and may be, for example, a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor whose light receiving state changes depending on the presence / absence of a seated driver.

  In addition, as the presence detection means in the above-described embodiment, instead of an aspect of detecting the operation amount of the operation means input by the driver, an aspect of detecting whether or not the driver is in contact with the operation means But you can. Alternatively, an optical sensor or the like provided at a convenient position for detecting absence in the driver's seat, not in the driver's seat.

  The absence determination in the absence determination unit 19 may be determined as soon as the detection result of the presence / absence seat state detection means and the detection result of the presence detection means are received, or may be determined while observing both results for a predetermined time. But you can.

  The prime mover operation adjusting means 17 is a means for performing an operation for dropping the output of the prime mover to a certain level as a safety control action for the absence of the driver, not limited to the action of stopping the prime mover as in the above embodiment. May be.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it is the structure which determines whether to perform safety control action for a driver's absence based on the absence determination in an absence determination means, and a driving direction input state or the input state of cargo handling operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a mode in which execution of the safety control operation for the absence of the driver is determined based only on the absence determination of the driver.

  The present invention is not limited to the type of prime mover, and can be widely applied not only to engines but also to motors and other driving force generating means. In addition, when the prime mover is an engine, the power transmission mechanism can be applied to a manual transmission as well as a so-called automatic transmission, and can also be implemented with other mechanisms. Furthermore, the target vehicle to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a forklift, and may be any industrial vehicle used at a construction site, a distribution site, an agricultural / forestry / fishery site, or the like.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the safety device which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2, and 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the safety device which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the safety device which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the safety device which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1,401,501,601 Safety device, 5 Seat switch (seating / seating state detecting means), 7,607b Accelerator pedal switch (seating detecting means), 9 Traveling direction input detecting means, 11 Cargo operation input detecting means, 13 Traveling Neutral means (safety control operation execution means), 15 cargo handling operation stop means (safety control operation execution means), 17 prime mover operation adjustment means (safety control operation execution means), 19 absence determination unit (absence determination means), 21 Safety control operation determination unit (safety control operation execution means), 23 cargo handling system safety control operation determination unit (safety control operation execution means), 25 prime mover operation adjustment command section (safety control operation execution means), 27 travel neutral command section ( Safety control operation execution means), 29 cargo handling operation stop command section (safety control operation execution means), 407, 607a seat belt switch Presence detection means), 507 floor switch (presence detection means).

Claims (4)

A take-off seat state detection means for detecting a driver's take-off seat state;
Presence detection means for detecting the presence of the driver in the driver seat;
Absence determination means for determining the absence of the driver in the driver's seat based on the detection results of the seating state detection means and the presence detection means;
An industrial vehicle safety device comprising: safety control operation executing means for executing a safety control operation for absence of a driver based on at least determination of absence of the driver in the absence determination means.   The industrial vehicle safety device according to claim 1, wherein the seating / seating state detection means is a seat switch provided in a driving seat. A plurality of presence detection means each detecting presence of the driver in the driver seat;
Absence determination means for determining the absence of the driver in the driver's seat based on a plurality of detection results obtained from the plurality of presence detection means,
An industrial vehicle safety device comprising: safety control operation executing means for executing a safety control operation for absence of a driver based on at least determination of absence of the driver in the absence determination means.   The presence detection means includes an operation amount detection sensor for detecting an operation amount of the operation means input by the driver, a contact detection sensor for detecting a contact state of the driver with the operation means, and a seat belt in the driver seat. The safety device for an industrial vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the safety device is a seat belt switch for detecting a vehicle or a floor switch provided on a floor of a driver's seat.

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