Patent Application
20180319640
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The disclosure and prior art relates to measuring devices and more particularly pertains to a new measuring device for determining distance between a vehicle and an object.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container that has a pair of slots. A vehicle is included that has a pair of forks and the pair of forks are selectively positioned between a lifted position and a lowered position. The vehicle is selectively driven toward the container having each of the forks extending into an associated one of the slots. In this way the vehicle may lift the container. A measuring unit is coupled to the forks and the measuring unit is in electrical communication with the vehicle. The measuring unit emits a first signal between the forks and the container to communicate a distance between the forks and the container to a driver. The measuring unit emits a second signal between the forks and the ground. In this way the measuring unit may communicate a height of the forks with respect to ground to the driver.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A measuring unit 24 is provided and the measuring unit 24 is coupled to the forks 18. Additionally, the measuring unit 24 is in electrical communication with the vehicle 16. The measuring unit 24 emits a first signal between the forks 18 and the container 12. In this way the measuring unit 24 communicates a distance between the forks 18 and the container 12 to a driver. The measuring unit 24 emits a second signal to communicate a height of the forks 18 with respect to ground 26 to the driver. In this way the measuring unit 24 facilitates the driver to align the forks 18 with the slots 14 in the container 12.
The measuring unit 24 comprises a housing 28 that is positioned within the vehicle 16 such that the housing 28 is accessible to the driver. A processor 30 is coupled to the housing 28 and the processor 30 is electrically coupled to the vehicle 16 as a power source. The processor 30 may be an electronic processor 30 or the like. A signal analyzer 32 is coupled to the housing 28 and the signal analyzer 32 is electrically coupled to the processor 30. The signal analyzer 32 may be a Doppler signal analyzer, a laser strength analyzer or any other electronic signal analyzer capable of determining relative distance between two objects.
A display 34 is provided and the display 34 is coupled to the housing 28 such that the display 34 is visible to the driver. The display 34 displays indicia 36 and the display 34 is electrically coupled to the processor 30. Moreover, the display 34 may be an LCD or the like. A plurality of buttons 38 is provided and each of the buttons 38 is movably coupled to the housing 28. Each of the buttons 38 is electrically coupled to the processor 30 to control operational parameters of the processor 30.
A first distance sensor 40 is provided and the first distance sensor 40 is coupled to the forks 18. The first distance sensor 40 emits the first signal forwardly from the associated fork 18. The first signal reflects off of the container 12 back to the first distance sensor 40. The first distance sensor 40 is in electrical communication with the processor 30 and the signal analyzer 32. In this way the signal analyzer 32 determines a distance between the distal end 20 of the associated fork 18 and the container 12. The first distance sensor 40 may be a radio frequency transmitter, a laser light transmitter or any other electronic distance measuring sensor. The display 34 selectively displays first indicia 42. The first indicia 42 may comprise words and numbers corresponding to the distance between the associated fork 18 and the container 12.
A second distance sensor 44 is provided and the second distance sensor 44 is coupled to the associated fork 18. The second distance sensor 44 emits the second signal downwardly from the associated fork 18. Additionally, the second signal reflects off of ground 26 back to the second distance sensor 44. The second distance sensor 44 is in electrical communication with the processor 30 and the signal analyzer 32. In this way the signal analyzer 32 determines a distance between the bottom surface 22 of the associated fork and the ground 26. The second distance sensor 44 may be a radio frequency transmitter, a laser light transmitter or any other distance measuring electronic sensor. The display 34 displays second indicia 46. The second indicia 46 may comprise words and numbers corresponding to the distance between the associated fork 18 and the ground 26. Each of the first 40 and second 44 distance sensors may be in electrical communication with the processor 30 through any conventional means to include, but not be limited to, hardwire communication or wireless communication involving a transmitter and a receiver.
In use, the vehicle 16 is driven toward the container 12 and the buttons 38 are manipulated to turn each of the first 40 and second 44 distance sensors on. The first distance sensor 40 emits the first signal and the display 34 displays the distance between the distal end 20 of the associated fork 18 and the container 12. In this way the driver is alerted to the distance between the associated fork 18 and the container 12. The second distance sensor 44 emits the second signal and the display 34 displays the height of the associated fork 18 with respect to ground 26. In this way the driver is facilitated to match the height of the forks 18 to the height of the slots 14 in the container 12. In this manner the measuring unit 24 enhances efficiency and accuracy with respect to engaging the forks 18 in the slots 14 and emptying the container 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
