Lift device with user contact sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12466715-B2
Application number	US-202418655493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2024
Priority date	Jan 21, 2021
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A lift device includes a chassis, a platform, a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis, an actuator, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The sensor assembly includes a bar including a first end portion coupled to the platform and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, a receiver positioned to receive the second end portion of the bar, and a sensor configured to detect at least one of (a) the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor or (b) the second end portion of the bar exiting the receiver. The controller is operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on a signal from the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lift device comprising:
a chassis; a platform; a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis; an actuator; a sensor assembly, comprising:
a bar including a first end portion coupled to the platform and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;
a receiver positioned to receive the second end portion of the bar; and
a sensor configured to detect at least one of (a) the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor or (b) the second end portion of the bar exiting the receiver; and
a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on a signal from the sensor.

2 . The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned to contact the second end portion when the second end portion is received within the receiver.

3 . The lift device of claim 2 , wherein the bar includes a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and wherein the resilient member is configured to resist the second end portion exiting the receiver.

4 . The lift device of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge pivotally coupling the first end portion to the platform.

5 . The lift device of claim 4 , wherein the hinge includes:
a first hinge portion fixedly coupled to the platform; and a second hinge portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge portion and defining a bar aperture that receives the bar therethrough, wherein the bar is repositionable through the bar aperture to adjust a position of the second end portion of the bar.

6 . The lift device of claim 1 , further comprising a plate coupling the first end portion of the to the platform, wherein the first end portion includes a threaded portion, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a fastener in threaded engagement with the threaded portion and engaging a first side of the plate.

7 . The lift device of claim 6 , wherein the fastener is a first fastener, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a second fastener in threaded engagement with the threaded portion and engaging a second side of the plate opposite the first side such that the plate extends between the first fastener and the second fastener.

8 . The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selectively repositionable relative to the platform to adjust a position of the sensor relative to the second end portion of the bar.

9 . The lift device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the platform and operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on an instruction received by the user interface, and wherein the bar extends above the user interface.

10 . The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect the second end portion of the bar exiting the receiver.

11 . The lift device of claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to indicate when the second end portion of the bar is within a threshold distance of the proximity sensor.

12 . The lift device of claim 11 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to distinguish between a metallic object and a non-metallic object, and wherein the second end portion of the bar is metallic.

13 . The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor.

14 . The lift device of claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes an interface member configured to engage the second end portion of the bar and a biasing element configured to bias the interface member toward the second end portion of the bar.

15 . A sensor assembly for a lift device, comprising:
a rod including a first end portion configured to be coupled to the lift device, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a receiver configured to be coupled to the lift device and shaped to receive the second end portion of the rod; and a sensor positioned to detect at least one of (a) a presence of the second end portion of the rod within the receiver or (b) the second end portion of the rod exiting the receiver.

16 . The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a biasing force to resist movement of the second end portion away from the sensor.

17 . The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sensor includes a switch positioned to contact the second end portion of the rod when the second end portion is received within the receiver.

18 . The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of the second end portion within the receiver without the proximity sensor contacting the second end portion.

19 . A lift device comprising:
a chassis; a platform including a rail assembly; a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis; a sensor assembly, comprising:
a rod including (a) a first end portion coupled to the rail assembly, (b) a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and (c) a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion;
a sensor positioned to detect the second end portion of the rod; and
a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to limit movement of the platform in response to an indication from the sensor that the second end portion of the rod has moved away from the sensor.

20 . The lift device of claim 19 , further comprising a plate defining an aperture sized to receive the second end portion of the rod, wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a biasing force to resist the second end portion of the rod exiting the aperture.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Boroni Davide
• Lavagnini Matteo
• Marchesini Roberto
• Poltronieri Zeno
• Yutzy Fredric L
• Kobel Korry D
• Hill John

Classifications

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• B66F11/046

  of the telescoping type · CPC title

• B66F11/044 Primary

  Working platforms suspended from booms · CPC title

• B66F17/006 Primary

  for working platforms · CPC title