公开(公告)号：US08467937B2

公开(公告)日：2013-06-18

申请号：US12728521

申请日：2010-03-22

申请人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough

发明人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough

IPC分类号： A01B69/00 ,  B62D6/00 ,  B62D11/00 ,  B62D12/00 ,  B62D51/04 ,  B62D1/14 ,  B62D5/06 ,  B62D7/00 ,  B63G8/20 ,  B63H25/04 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06F17/00 ,  G06F19/00 ,  G06F7/00

CPC分类号： B62D1/14 ,  B62B5/063 ,  B62D5/0418 ,  B62D6/10 ,  B66F9/0759

摘要： A power steering assist system for a hand-steered pallet truck includes a joint assembly having a pivot joint, handle biasing mechanism, and a torque sensing arrangement. The pivot joint includes a pair of needle bearings and pivot pin disposed within a pivot block that provides a flexible connection between a handle and a tiller arm. The handle biasing mechanism includes a cantilevered beam spring and two cam rollers that resists an operator steering force applied to the handle and further, centers the handle with respect to the tiller arm after the force is released. The torque sensing arrangement includes a magnet and a non-contact magnetoresistive (MR) sensor that measures movement of the handle relative to the tiller arm which is used to determine operator steering intent, i.e., the amount of steering force applied to the handle. The MR sensor provides accurate torque measurements regardless of the angle of the tiller arm. The steering assist system further includes a driving unit with a steerable drive wheel, and a servomotor. The amount of steering assist provided by the servomotor to the drive wheel is at least partially determined based on the measured operator steering intent.

摘要翻译： 用于手动转向托盘车的动力转向辅助系统包括具有枢转接头，手柄偏压机构和扭矩感测装置的接头组件。 枢转接头包括设置在枢轴块内的一对滚针轴承和枢轴销，其提供手柄和舵柄臂之间的柔性连接。 手柄偏压机构包括悬臂梁弹簧和两个凸轮辊，其抵抗施加到手柄上的操作者转向力，并且在力被释放之后，手柄相对于耕耘机臂居中。 扭矩感测装置包括磁体和非接触磁阻（MR）传感器，其测量手柄相对于舵杆的运动，该运动用于确定操作者转向意图，即施加到手柄的转向力的量。 MR传感器提供精确的扭矩测量，而不管耕耘机臂的角度如何。 转向辅助系统还包括具有可转向驱动轮的驱动单元和伺服电动机。 伺服马达提供给驱动轮的转向辅助量至少部分地基于所测量的操作者转向意图来确定。

公开(公告)号：US08504241B2

公开(公告)日：2013-08-06

申请号：US12756732

申请日：2010-04-08

申请人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough ,  Jeffrey A. Coppola

发明人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough ,  Jeffrey A. Coppola

IPC分类号： B62D1/20

CPC分类号： B62D1/14 ,  B62D5/0418 ,  B62D6/10 ,  B66F9/065 ,  B66F9/07568 ,  Y02T10/7258 ,  Y10T74/20

摘要： A steering mechanism includes a handle with a tiller arm coupled to the handle via a flexible joint allowing relative movement of the handle about the tiller arm. A handle centering mechanism forming part of the steering mechanism includes a first end fixedly secured to the handle and a second end extending into a channel of the tiller arm. The second end compresses bumpers disposed on opposing sides of the second end. The bumpers urge the handle toward a neutral position wherein when a force is applied to move the handle away from a home position relative to the tiller arm, one of the compressed bumpers of the pair of compressed bumpers is further compressed. When the force is removed, the handle is returned to the home position by action of the pair of compressed bumpers. Preferably, the steering mechanism includes a torque sensing arrangement having a sensor and a magnet. The sensor produces a signal based on movement of the handle relative to the tiller arm by sensing changes in the magnet field of the magnet proportional to the torque exerted on the handle regardless of the angle of the tiller arm.

摘要翻译： 转向机构包括手柄，其具有通过柔性接头联接到手柄的舵杆，允许把手围绕耕作机臂相对移动。 形成转向机构的一部分的手柄对中机构包括固定在手柄上的第一端和延伸到舵手臂的通道中的第二端。 第二端压缩设置在第二端的相对侧上的保险杠。 缓冲器将把手推向中立位置，其中当施加力以相对于耕耘机臂移动手柄远离原始位置时，一对压缩缓冲器中的一个压缩缓冲器被进一步压缩。 当力消除时，手柄通过一对压缩缓冲器的作用返回到原位。 优选地，转向机构包括具有传感器和磁体的转矩感测装置。 传感器基于手柄相对于耕耘机臂的移动产生信号，通过感测与施加在手柄上的扭矩成比例的磁体磁场的变化，而不管耕耘机臂的角度如何。

公开(公告)号：US20110231059A1

公开(公告)日：2011-09-22

申请号：US12756732

申请日：2010-04-08

申请人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough ,  Jeffrey A. Coppola

发明人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough ,  Jeffrey A. Coppola

IPC分类号： G06F19/00 ,  B62D1/20

CPC分类号： B62D1/14 ,  B62D5/0418 ,  B62D6/10 ,  B66F9/065 ,  B66F9/07568 ,  Y02T10/7258 ,  Y10T74/20

摘要： A steering mechanism includes a handle with a tiller arm coupled to the handle via a flexible joint allowing relative movement of the handle about the tiller arm. A handle centering mechanism forming part of the steering mechanism includes a first end fixedly secured to the handle and a second end extending into a channel of the tiller arm. The second end compresses bumpers disposed on opposing sides of the second end. The bumpers urge the handle toward a neutral position wherein when a force is applied to move the handle away from a home position relative to the tiller arm, one of the compressed bumpers of the pair of compressed bumpers is further compressed. When the force is removed, the handle is returned to the home position by action of the pair of compressed bumpers. Preferably, the steering mechanism includes a torque sensing arrangement having a sensor and a magnet. The sensor produces a signal based on movement of the handle relative to the tiller arm by sensing changes in the magnet field of the magnet proportional to the torque exerted on the handle regardless of the angle of the tiller arm.

摘要翻译： 转向机构包括手柄，其具有通过柔性接头联接到手柄的舵杆，允许把手围绕耕作机臂相对移动。 形成转向机构的一部分的手柄对中机构包括固定在手柄上的第一端和延伸到舵手臂的通道中的第二端。 第二端压缩设置在第二端的相对侧上的保险杠。 缓冲器将把手推向中立位置，其中当施加力以相对于耕耘机臂移动手柄远离原始位置时，一对压缩缓冲器中的一个压缩缓冲器被进一步压缩。 当力消除时，手柄通过一对压缩缓冲器的作用返回到原位。 优选地，转向机构包括具有传感器和磁体的转矩感测装置。 传感器基于手柄相对于耕耘机臂的移动产生信号，通过感测与施加在手柄上的扭矩成比例的磁体磁场的变化，而不管耕耘机臂的角度如何。

公开(公告)号：US20110231058A1

公开(公告)日：2011-09-22

申请号：US12728521

申请日：2010-03-22

申请人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough

发明人： Timothy T. Hanna ,  Richard M. Day ,  James M. McDonough

IPC分类号： G06F19/00 ,  B62D3/00 ,  B62D1/14

CPC分类号： B62D1/14 ,  B62B5/063 ,  B62D5/0418 ,  B62D6/10 ,  B66F9/0759

摘要： A power steering assist system for a hand-steered pallet truck includes a joint assembly having a pivot joint, handle biasing mechanism, and a torque sensing arrangement. The pivot joint includes a pair of needle bearings and pivot pin disposed within a pivot block that provides a flexible connection between a handle and a tiller arm. The handle biasing mechanism includes a cantilevered beam spring and two cam rollers that resists an operator steering force applied to the handle and further, centers the handle with respect to the tiller arm after the force is released. The torque sensing arrangement includes a magnet and a non-contact magnetoresistive (MR) sensor that measures movement of the handle relative to the tiller arm which is used to determine operator steering intent, i.e., the amount of steering force applied to the handle. The MR sensor provides accurate torque measurements regardless of the angle of the tiller arm. The steering assist system further includes a driving unit with a steerable drive wheel, and a servomotor. The amount of steering assist provided by the servomotor to the drive wheel is at least partially determined based on the measured operator steering intent.

摘要翻译： 用于手动转向托盘车的动力转向辅助系统包括具有枢转接头，手柄偏压机构和扭矩感测装置的接头组件。 枢转接头包括设置在枢轴块内的一对滚针轴承和枢轴销，其提供手柄和舵柄臂之间的柔性连接。 手柄偏压机构包括悬臂梁弹簧和两个凸轮辊，其抵抗施加到手柄上的操作者转向力，并且在力被释放之后，手柄相对于耕耘机臂居中。 扭矩感测装置包括磁体和非接触磁阻（MR）传感器，其测量手柄相对于舵杆的运动，该运动用于确定操作者转向意图，即施加到手柄的转向力的量。 MR传感器提供精确的扭矩测量，而不管耕耘机臂的角度如何。 转向辅助系统还包括具有可转向驱动轮的驱动单元和伺服电动机。 伺服马达提供给驱动轮的转向辅助量至少部分地基于所测量的操作者转向意图来确定。