MOVABLE STEP FOR A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard. The vehicle further comprises at least one step capable of being positioned across the entrance a spaced distance from the floorboard such that an operator may stand on the step when the step is positioned across the entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a materials handling vehicle and including first and second step assemblies (a stop for the second step assembly is not illustrated) constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the materials handling vehicle of FIG. 1 with its forks removed and including the first and second step assemblies constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the first and second steps in their stowed positions;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the vehicle illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the first step in its deployed position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views of the first step assembly and its corresponding stop;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the first and second step assemblies and corresponding stops with the first and second steps in their deployed positions;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the first and second step assemblies and corresponding stops with the first and second steps in their stowed positions;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the first step assembly;

FIG. 11A is a view taken along view line 11A-11A in FIG. 11;

FIG. 11B is a view taken along view line 11B-11B in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first locking mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the first locking mechanism illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13A is a view taken along view line 13A-13A in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a second wall of the vehicle including a female portion of the first locking mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the first step including a male portion of the first locking mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a view of the second wall of the vehicle illustrating upper and base portions of the second wall, wherein the upper portion pivots relative to the base portion;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views of a first hinge mechanism of the first step assembly;

FIG. 19 is a rear view of the first hinge mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the first hinge mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are perspective views of the first step assembly and a first microswitch;

FIGS. 21A and 22A are perspective views of the second step assembly and a second micro switch;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are perspective views illustrating a camming surface of a first arm and the first microswitch;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are front and side views respectively of the camming surface and the first microswitch illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a vehicle drive wheel, a traction motor/brake assembly, a processor and the first and second microswitches, all assembled in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27A is a schematic view of a vehicle drive wheel, a traction motor/brake assembly, a processor and first and second proximity sensors, all assembled in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of first and second step assemblies constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 28A and 28B are exploded views of the second step assembly illustrated in FIG. 28;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are perspective views of the first step assembly illustrated in FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a view of the first step assembly coupled to a second wall of a materials handling vehicle;

FIG. 32 is a view taken along view line 32-32 in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a view taken along view line 33 in FIG. 31 with the first step in its stowed position and without the second wall illustrated;

FIG. 33A is a view similar to FIG. 33 but with the first step in its deployed position; and

FIG. 34 is a view of the first and second step assemblies of FIG. 28 coupled to the second wall.

Claims

1. A materials handling vehicle comprising: a frame comprising an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard; andat least one step capable of being positioned across said entrance a spaced distance from said floorboard such that an operator may stand on said step when said step is positioned across said entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location.

2. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step is movable between a deployed position where said step is positioned across said entrance and a stowed position where said step is positioned in a location so as not to block said entrance into and exit from said operator compartment.

3. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step slides between the deployed and stowed positions.

4. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 2, further comprising at least one hinge mechanism coupled to said at least one step to allow said step to pivot between the deployed and stowed positions.

5. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step is in a down position when deployed and an up position when stowed and further comprising a biasing element for assisting an operator in moving said step from the down position to the up position.

6. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said operator compartment further comprises first and second walls, and further comprising a stop coupled to said first wall, said step being pivotably coupled at a first end to said second wall, and a second end of said step engaging said stop when said step is moved to the down position.

7. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a locking mechanism associated with said second wall for releasably locking said step when said step has been moved to the up position.

8. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a drive wheel coupled to said frame;a motor coupled to said drive wheel for effecting rotation of said drive wheel;a controller for controlling the operation of said drive motor; andat least one sensor associated with said step, said sensor generating a signal to said controller when said step is in a travel state, said controller providing a drive signal to said motor only when a travel state signal is being generated by said sensor.

9. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step is positioned above said floorboard a distance of from about 250 mm to about 450 mm.

10. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said operator compartment comprises a walk-through operator compartment having first and second entrances, and said at least one step comprises first and second steps, said first step being adapted to be positioned across said first entrance a spaced distance from said floorboard and said second step being adapted to be positioned across said second entrance a spaced distance from said floorboard, wherein an operator may stand on one of said first and second steps when said one step is positioned across a corresponding one of said first and second entrances to gain access to the elevated storage location.

11. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first step is movable between a deployed position where said first step is positioned across said first entrance and a stowed position where said first step is positioned in a location so as not to block said first entrance into said operator compartment, and said second step is movable between a deployed position where said second step is positioned across said second entrance and a stowed position where said second step is positioned in a location so as not to block said second entrance into said operator compartment.

12. A materials handling vehicle comprising: a frame comprising an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard;a drive wheel coupled to said frame;a motor coupled to said drive wheel for effecting rotation of said drive wheel;a controller for controlling the operation of said motor;at least one step associated with said frame capable of being moved between a deployed position to allow an operator to stand on said step and gain access to an elevated storage location and a stowed position where said step is stored in an out-of-the-way location; andat least one sensor associated with said step, said sensor generating a signal to said controller when said step is in a travel state, said controller providing a drive signal to said motor only when a travel state signal is being generated by said sensor.

13. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step slides between the deployed and stowed positions.

14. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 12, further comprising at least one hinge mechanism coupled to said at least one step to allow said step to pivot between the deployed and stowed positions.

15. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step is in a down position when deployed and an up position when stowed and further comprising a biasing element for assisting an operator in moving said step from the down position to the up position.

16. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein said operator compartment further comprises first and second walls, and further comprising a stop coupled to said first wall, said step being pivotably coupled at a first end to said second wall, and a second end of said step engaging said stop when said step is moved to the down position.

17. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a locking mechanism associated with said second wall for releasably locking said step when said step has been moved to the up position.

18. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step comprises a camming surface and said at least one sensor comprises a microswitch which is actuated by said camming surface.

19. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein said at least one step comprises first and second steps, said first step being adapted to be moved between a deployed position to allow an operator to stand on said first step and gain access to an elevated storage location and a stowed position where said first step is stored in an out-of-the-way location, and said second step being adapted to be moved between a deployed position to allow an operator to stand on said second step and gain access to an elevated storage location and a stowed position where said second step is stored in an out-of-the-way location.

20. The materials handling vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step comprises a flag and said at least one sensor comprises a proximity sensor which is actuated by said flag.