Management system embedded in an industrial vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US10425128B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Management system embedded in an industrial vehicle",
  "abstract": "A system for transmitting data between components of an industrial vehicle that are powered by electricity received through a power line is provided. The system includes a first electrical choke with a conductor arranged to pass through the first electrical choke and to connect a first component to the power line, and a first communication circuit for at least one of sending and receiving signals and having a transmission wire for carrying the signals. When the first communication circuit transmits a communication signal, the communication signal passes along the transmission wire through the first electrical choke in a first direction, and subsequently the communication signal passes along the conductor through the first electrical choke in a second direction opposite to the first direction thereby cancelling attenuation of the communication signal by the first electrical choke.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for transmitting data between components of an industrial vehicle that are powered by electricity received through a power line, said system comprising: a first electrical choke, wherein a conductor is arranged to pass through the first electrical choke and to connect a first component to the power line; and a first communication circuit for at least one of sending and receiving signals and having a transmission wire for carrying the signals, wherein the transmission wire passes through the first electrical choke and is electrically attached to the conductor at a point between the first electrical choke and the first component, and wherein when the first communication circuit transmits a communication signal, the communication signal passes along the transmission wire through the first electrical choke in a first direction, and subsequently the communication signal passes along the conductor through the first electrical choke in a second direction opposite to the first direction thereby cancelling attenuation of the communication signal by the first electrical choke.",
    "2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electrical choke is a cylindrical tube through which the conductor and the transmission wire pass.",
    "3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electrical choke comprises a body of a magnetically permeable material.",
    "4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electrical choke comprises a body of a ferromagnetic material.",
    "5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a battery.",
    "6. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a truck-side electrical choke arranged such that the power line extends therethrough and on an opposing side of a battery connector than the first electrical choke.",
    "7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the truck-side electrical choke is arranged at a predetermined distance from the battery connector.",
    "8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the predetermined distance is minimized to prevent communication signal loss in the power line.",
    "9. The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a second communication circuit operatively connected for at least one of sending and receiving the message signals that travel through the power line.",
    "10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein when the second communication circuit transmits a communication signal, the communication signal passes along a second transmission wire through the truck-side electrical choke in the first direction, and subsequently the communication signal passes along the power line through the truck-side electrical choke in the second direction opposite to the first direction thereby cancelling attenuation of the communication signal by the truck-side electrical choke.",
    "11. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional electrical chokes adjacent other components of the industrial vehicle and through which the power line passes.",
    "12. A system for transmitting data between components of an industrial vehicle that are powered by electricity received through a power line, said system comprising: a first electrical choke configured to attenuate signals and comprising a cylindrical tube of magnetically permeable material and through which a conductor passes, wherein the conductor connects a first component to the power line; and a first communication circuit for at least one of sending and receiving message signals and having a transmission wire for carrying the message signals, wherein the transmission wire passes through the cylindrical tube and is electrically attached to the conductor at a point between the first electrical choke and the first component, wherein when the first communication circuit transmits a communication signal, the communication signal passes along the transmission wire through the first electrical choke in a first direction, and subsequently the communication signal passes along the conductor through the first electrical choke in a second direction opposite to the first direction thereby cancelling attenuation of the communication signal by the first electrical choke.",
    "13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetically permeable material is a ferromagnetic material.",
    "14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first component comprises a battery.",
    "15. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a truck-side electrical choke arranged such that the power line extends therethrough and on an opposing side of a battery connector than the first electrical choke.",
    "16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the truck-side wire bead is arranged at a predetermined distance from the battery connector.",
    "17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the predetermined distance is minimized to prevent communication signal loss in the power line.",
    "18. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a second communication circuit operatively connected for at least one of sending and receiving the message signals that travel through the power line.",
    "19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein when the second communication circuit transmits a communication signal, the communication signal passes along a second transmission wire through the truck-side electrical choke in the first direction, and subsequently the communication signal passes along the power line through the truck-side electrical choke in the second direction opposite to the first direction thereby cancelling attenuation of the communication signal by the truck-side electrical choke.",
    "20. The system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of additional electrical chokes adjacent other components of the industrial vehicle and through which the power line passes."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to industrial vehicles, such as lift trucks; and more particularly monitoring and managing the operation of the industrial vehicles. Material handling vehicles are powered vehicles commonly used in a facility, such as warehouse, a factory or a store, to transport materials and finished goods. A human operator either sits on a seat or stands on a platform of the vehicle and manipulates controls which govern movement through the facility and operation of a load carrier on which items being transported are placed. Examples of material handling vehicles include, but are not limited to, fork lift trucks, order pickers, stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks, sit-down counterbalanced lift trucks, lift trucks and tow tractors. Another type of industrial vehicle, known as an autonomously guided vehicle (AGV), is a form of mobile robot that transports goods and materials from one place to another in a constrained environment, such as a factory or a warehouse. Some AGV's followed a wire buried in the floor and thus were limited to traveling along a fixed path defined by that wire. More sophisticated guidance technology developed so that the vehicle was not confined to such a fixed path.\n\nIn warehousing operations, material quantities and inventory turnover rates are increasing rapidly. Therefore, to maintain competitiveness, it is important to have accurate information about inventory, and to ensure that each piece of equipment, and each employee is productive. For a warehouse to compete on the global level, continually improving operator productivity is vital to reducing costs.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04B 3/542",
    "B66F 9/24",
    "G07C 5/008",
    "G07C 5/0808",
    "H04B 3/548",
    "H04B 3/56"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G07C 5/00",
    "G07C 5/08",
    "H04B 3/54",
    "H04B 3/56"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "RAYMOND CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "KIRK JOHN B",
    "MAGILL RYAN A",
    "DONAHUE TIMOTHY E",
    "DAY RICHARD M"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-10-12",
  "publication_date": "2019-09-24",
  "grant_date": "2019-09-24",
  "priority_date": "2012-06-15",
  "application_number": "US-201715782539-A",
  "family_id": "61010691",
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}