NZ272571A - Overheight warning system for vehicle with tiltable part, proximity switch senses position of tiltable part - Google Patents

Description

272571 N.Z. PATENT OFFICE - JUL 1996 RECEIVLD Patents Form No 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional Number: 272571 Dated: 13 July 1995 VEHICLE HEIGHT SAFETY INDICATOR We, ARTHUR EDE LIMITED a New Zealand company of 20 Hawkins Street, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement 272 57 1 VEHICLE HEIGHT SAFETY INDICATOR Field of Invention This invention relates to safety indicator and warning 5 devices for vehicles, and in particular for trucks with elevating trays for the discharge of the tray contents, and/or truck mounted jibs and the like.

Background And Objects 10 In the operation of elevating tray trucks in such as restricted or confined height areas, such as for example when moving with the truck tray elevated for the discharge and distribution of materials in road surfacing operations and passing under overhanging 15 structures or low bridges and overhead power and telephone lines or the like; extreme care is required to be taken by the truck driver to guard against damage and/or injury with the upper edge parts of the elevated tray accidently contacting the overhanging or overhead 20 structure, power or telephone lines. This is of particular importance in the case of operation near power lines with the extreme danger of snagging and entanglement by the truck tray and possible electrocution danger to the truck driver and/or others 25 in the immediate vicinity, in addition to the disruption and inconvenience caused by power failure in accidents of this kind.

Whilst aware of the need for care in operating in such 30 areas, with concentration in manoeuvering and driving their trucks and controlling material discharge etc, the truck drivers attention is often distracted or diverted from height limitations affecting the angle of tilt and the effective maximum tray height and/or 35 (particularly if reversing) the driver may not in fact see the overhead structure or line or be readily able to gauge the clearance height needed; and as a consequence accidents of the kind referred to are not 272 57 1 infrequent. Similar problems can arise with such as truck mounted elevating jibs, and the invention is similarly applicable to such vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a relative simple but effective warning and safe operation indicator device or means whereby a truck driver is msde and maintained aware of a potentially dangerous operating height for his/her truck with its tray or 10 jib in the elevated position.

Other and more particular objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

Summary of Invention According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a warning and safe operation indicator means for a vehicle having an elevating assembly mounted 20 thereon, said indicator means comprising electronic sensor switch means mounted or arranged for mounting on a fixed part of the vehicle and in close proximity to a part of the elevating assembly for sensing elevational movement of said elevating assembly, said 25 switch means being coupled via electronic control means and an electric power source to visible and/or audible alert means located or arranged to be located in proximity to the vehicle driver and elevating assembly controller, so as to be capable of alerting the driver/ 30 controller on the elevating assembly reaching and/or exceeding a predetermined elevated height.

Preferably said electronic control means includes a timer control circuit enabling operating of the visible 35 and/or audible component(s) of said driver/controller alert means for a prescribed short period of time on the elevating assembly reaching the prescribed elevated maximum safe working height. 27257 1 Preferably also said driver controller alert means includes a two colour light emitting diode, with one colour (eg green) indicating that the elevating assembly is operational and within a safe working height and 5 the second colour (eg red) indicating that the assembly has been elevated to and/or is exceeding a maximum safe working height, said electronic control means being arranged to effect switching between the two indicating colours according to the elevational location 10 of the elevating assembly.

The indicator means is further preferably arranged, constructed and provided for sale and installation as a kit-set; and the sensor switch means and electronic 15 control means are mounted on a support which is arranged to be vertically and/or angularly adjustably mounted on a fixed part of a vehicle so as to be supplyable as a standard unit adaptable for use on a variety of different kinds of vehicle and according to the 20 desired maximum safe working height of the vehicle and elevated assembly thereon.

Brief Description of Drawings Some aspects of the invention will now be described 25 by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 diagrammatically illustrates a typical elevating tray truck to which the invention is particularly applicable; FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic fragmented side view illustrating one form of the indicator means and location relative to a truck elevating tray assembly, and FIGURE 3 is a view in the direction of arrows III-III in figure 2. 272 57 Description A typical truck to which the invention is applicable is exampled in figure 1 and generally indicated by the arrow 1; and has an elevating tray or open body 2 (the term 'tray' in this context including what some may call the 'body')/ which tray 2 is; usually elevated and tipped about a rear transverse pivot axis 3 by forwardly mounted hydraulic ram means 4 (one or more extensible ram units) having a lower pivot connection with the truck chassis 5 and an upper pivot connection with a lower side part of the tray 2.

A convenient location for the sensor switch means 6 and associated electronic control means 7 is in close proximity to the tray pivot connection 3 as a readily accessible point, with the visible and/or audible alert means 8 - in the preferred form being a small self contained box unit 8 incorporating a light emitting diode (LED) 9 and a buzzer or like audible alarm (not seen) - located in a convenient readily viewable position in the driving cab 10 of the truck 1 and coupled by electric wiring 11 to the electronic control means 7.

The sensor switch means 6 is preferably in the form of an electronic proximity switch which is operable by being located in a position with its inner sensor side 6a in close proximity to but spaced from the vertical plane and line of movement of an outer metal side wall part 2a of the truck tray 2 near the rear pivot connection 3 therefor - the wall part 2a can conveniently be a depending pivot bracket plate for the pivot connection 3 ; so as to horizontally align with and be affected by the proximity and conductive effect of a lower edge portion of the tray side wall depending part 2a whilst the tray 2 is in its lowest horizontal position (as shown in full line 27257 t in figure 2 of the drawings), and during tilting elevation through and to the prescribed safe angle of tilting (as indicated in broken line in figure 2) determining the maximum safe height of the highest 5 forward end wall 12 at its upper edge 12a. The positioning further providing that on reaching the said prescribed maximum safe working height, which is pre-set with a safe clearance below the lowest level of the overhead power or telephone lines 13 (or other 10 overhead structure/obstacle) in the vicinity of the trucks operating area, the truck wall part 2a lowest edge portion 2b leaves alignment with and breaks its conductive proximity to the sensor side 6a of the proximity switch 6, thus causing a change in the 15 effective high frequency resistance of the proximity switch 6 for immediate actuation of the visible and audible alert means 8 ie actuation of the LED 9 and buzzer. The arrangement, governed by the electronic control means 7, preferably providing that the alert 20 means 8 (and LED 9) is operational or active only when the truck power take-off unit of the truck 1 is operating to operate the hydraulic ram means 4 for raising and lowering the tray 2; and further providing that the LED 9 glows green whilst active and with the 25 truck tray 2 lowered and elevated within the prescribed safe working angle and height, and switches to glow red with simultaneous operation of the buzzer (or other associated audible warning or alerting device) on the tray 2 reaching the prescribed safe working angle and 30 height and breaking of the conductive effect between the tray wall depending part 2a, 2b and proximity switch sensor side 6a.

The indicator device or assembly can be provided with 35 its own electric battery power source eg as indicated at 14; but generally this will be unnecessary and the arrangement preferably and more conveniently provides for electric coupling to the existing truck battery 27257 t electrical circuitry. As battery sizes and outputs vary for different trucks the control means 7 preferably includes in its circuitry a voltage regulator for the accommodation of 6, 12 and 24 volt battery systems, 5 an inverter for switching of the LED 9 between red and green light emission, and a timer circuit for controlling he time of operation of the buzzer or other audible lert device.

The control means 7 has its circuitry and components enclosed in a sealed or sealable box housing for external mounting in a convenient readily accessible position and in the kitset form of the invention can be mounted on a strong support bracket 15 having an 15 extending arm or like projection 15a on which the proximity switch is securely mounted. The support bracket 15 is arranged for permanent but adjustable mounting on a fixed truck part eg the truck chassis 5; and as exampled fixing of the bracket 15 can be 20 by way of horizontal securing bolts 16 located through an elongate slot 17 of the bracket 15 (which is disposed in a vertical plane with its arm or like projection 15a extending upwardly) to enable adjustment upwardly or downwardly for correct positioning of the proximity 25 switch 6 relative to the truck lower side wall depending bracket part 2a and lower edge portion 2b. The proximity switch 6 is also adjustably mounted on the bracket arm or projection 15a for transverse adjustment to obtain the correct proximity to the outer surface 30 cf the truck side wall part 2a. Packer or spacer means 19 of appropriate thickness may be required between the inner face of the support bracket 15 and outer side wall part of the chassis 5 to which it is fitted to obtain the generally correct proximity positioning 35 and spacing of the proximity switch 6, with fine proximity adjusting at the switch 6 itself; or the support bracket 15 can be of two part construction enabling lateral adjustment between the two parts. 272 57 As previously indicated, the invention is not confined to use with trucks having elevating trays or bodies but can be similarly applied to variable height truck mounted jibs which may be required to operate in 5 restricted height areas.

Some preferred aspects of the invention have been described and illustrated by way of example, but it will be appreciated that other variations of and 10 modifications to the invention and its application can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 27 2 571

Claims (4)

WHAT WE CLAIM ISs

1. A warning and safe operation indicator means for a vehicle having an elevating assembly mounted thereon, said indicator means comprising electronic sensor switch means mounted or arranged for mounting on a fixed part of the vehicle and in close proximity to a pivot connection of an angularly tiltable part of the vehicle mounted elevating assembly for sensing elevational movement of said elevating assembly, said switch means being coupled via electronic control means and an electric power source to visible and/or audible alert means located or arranged to be located in proximity to the vehicle driver and elevating assembly controller, so as to be capable of alerting the driver/ controller on the elevating assembly reaching and/or exceeding a predetermined elevated height.

2. Indicator means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic control means includes a timer control circuit enabling operating of visible and/or audible component(s) of said driver/controller alert means for a prescribed short period of time on the elevating assembly reaching the prescribed elevated maximum safe working height.

3. Indicator means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said driver controller alert means includes a two colour light emitting diode, with one colour (eg green) indicating that the elevating assembly is operational and within a safe working height and the second colour (eg red) indicating that the assembly has been elevated to and/or is exceeding a maximum safe working height, said electronic control means being arranged to effect switching between the two indicating colours according to the elevational location of the elevating assembly. * r^rTo^icE

4. Indicator means as claimed in any 1997 272 57 1 -10- of the preceding claims, wherein said sensor switch means is in the form of an electronic proximity switch which is operable by location in a position with an inner sensor side in close proximity to, but spaced from, the vertical plane and line of movement of an outer metal side wall part of the elevating assembly near said pivot connection thereof.

5. Indicator means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer metal side wall part comprises a depending pivot bracket plate for said pivotal connection and which can horiziontally align with, and be affected by, the proximity and conductive effect of a lower edge portion of said depending pivot bracket plate whilst said elevating assembly is in its lowest position relative to the vehicle on which it is mounted, and during tilting elevation of said tiltable part through and to a prescribed safe angle of tilt determining the maximum safe height of the highest end part of the elevating assembly remote from said pivot connection thereof; the positioning and arrangement providing that on reaching and exceeding said prescribed safe angle of tilt, the lower edge portion of the pivot bracket plate leaves alignment with and breaks its conductive proximity to the sensor side of the proximity switch, to cause a change in the effective high frequency resistance of the proximity switch for immediate actuation of said visible and/or audible alert means. €. Indicator means as claimed in claim 4 or 5 when dependant upon claim 3, wherein said electronic control means provides that the alert means is operational or active only whilstt mechanism for operation of the elevating assembly is active for raising and lowering the elevating assembly; and whereby the light emitting diode glows green with lthe-^levat;i_nfl assembly lowered and elevated within the pres«xS^_J ' 'K37 I 272 5 7 -ii- safe working angle and height, and switches to Glow red with simultaneous operation of an electronic audible warning or alert service coupled to said control means on said elevating assembly reading and exceeding the prescribed safe working angle and/or height.

7. Indicator means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said sensor switch means and electronic control means are mounted on a support which is arranged to be vertically and/or angularly adjustably mounted on a fixed part of a vehicle so as to be supplyable as a standard unit adaptable for use on a variety of different kinds of vehicle and according to the desired maximum safe working height of the vehicle and elevated assembly thereon.

8. Indicator means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said visible and/or audible alert means comprises a self contained unit adapted for location in a vehicle cab in a position convenient to and viewable by a driver of the vehicle.

9. Indicator means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and incorporating its own electric power source.

10. Indicator means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 inclusive and comprising electrical connections adapted for connection to an electric power source of the vehicle on which the elevating assembly is mounted.

11. Indicator means as claimed in claim 10 and comprising a voltage regulator coupled to its electronic circuitry and adapted for the accommodation of 6,12 and 24 volt power sources. 272 57 1 -12- the preceding claims wherein said control means has electronic circuitry and components enclosed in a sealed or sealable housing for external mounting on a support bracket having an extending arm or like projection on which said electronic sensor switch means is mounted; said support bracket being adapted for vertically adjustable mounting relative to a fixed part of the vehicle mounting the elevating assembly, and said electronic sensor switch means and/or the arm or like projection on which it is mounted being arranged to provide transverse adjustment relative to the co-operating part of the elevating assembly with which it is in or required to be in close proximity.

13. A warning and safe operating indicator means arranged constructed and adapted for fitment and operation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle mounting an elevating assembly and the warning and safe operating indicator means according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein said elevating assembly is a tiltable tray or body.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein said elevating assembly is a jib, crane or like hoist means. ARTHUR EDE LIMITED By Their Authorised Attorneys - REMMiNGTQN-PIPER END OF CLAIMS