US 12,269,721 B2
Passively actuated sensor system
Bruce Thompson, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Jacob Seal, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Elijah Richter, Glenshaw, PA (US); Matt Heisel, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Thomas Stimmel, Devon, PA (US); Ben Tylenda, Venetia, PA (US); and Pat Braun, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to SEEGRID CORPORATION, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Appl. No. 18/285,030
Filed by Seegrid Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 28, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/016617
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/192315, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 5, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/324,190, filed on Mar. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0308825 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B66F 9/06 (2006.01); B66F 9/075 (2006.01); B66F 9/08 (2006.01); B66F 9/24 (2006.01)
CPC B66F 9/063 (2013.01) [B66F 9/0755 (2013.01); B66F 9/08 (2013.01); B66F 9/24 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passively actuated sensor kit for use with a robotic vehicle having a pair of forks coupled to a carriage that is height adjustable within a mast, the kit comprising:
an object sensor configured to couple to the carriage and passively move between a first position above the forks when the forks are lowered and a second position below the forks when the forks are raised, wherein the object sensor is configured to detect objects under the forks when the forks are raised;
a deployment hard stop defining an upper limit of movement of the carriage relative to the mast and a retracting hard stop defining a lower limit of movement of the carriage relative to the mast; and
a position feedback sensor configured to determine when the carriage is at an upper limit of movement when the position feedback sensor engages the deployment hard stop, wherein the object sensor is deployed when the position feedback sensor determines that the carriage is at its upper limit of movement.