Provided are systems and methods for a public standard interface including a Battery Management System that allows for communication between an alternative energy source and a material handling vehicle. The alternative energy source may be a Lithium Ion Battery, a fuel cell, or another non-lead acid based battery. The Battery Management System is coupled with a CAN bus that allows for communication between the material handling vehicle and the alternative energy source. The CAN bus communicates information such as a type of the energy source, energy output limits, electric current limits and information such as an energy demand profile of the vehicle. Also included is an interface between the Battery Management System and Charger Control System.

A forklift-type automated guided vehicle includes a body and a control circuit unit received in the body, both a first fork arm and a second fork arm parallel to each other and formed on a front end of the body to forklift cargo, each of the first fork arm, the second fork arm and a bottom end of the body including at least one two-wheel differential driving assembly rotatably connected to the first and second fork arms, and the body, respectively, and electrically connected to the control circuit unit. The two-wheel differential driving assembly includes a left driving wheel and a right driving wheel formed opposite to each other which can be independently driven to realize differential rotation. The present disclosure not only can forklift cargo with a small turning radius, but also can realize left-to-right sideways movements and an in-place rotation and a U-turn movement.

A transport device is for carrying and moving objects from one location to another. In an embodiment, the transport device includes a chassis and at least four motor-driven omnidirectional wheels arranged on the chassis. The chassis is configured to adapt the wheelbase and the track gauge of the omnidirectional wheels according to the size of the object. A corresponding method for operating such transport device is further specified in an embodiment. The embodiments of the application lie in the universal usage of the transport device for nearly all sizes and shapes of an object.

Lift trucks designed with a common chassis can include an ergonomically improved operator compartment, wheels, lift assembly, power plant, energy source, steering, seat, and counterweight components. Modular chassis designs can accommodate different form factors and different energy sources to accommodate different end uses of the lift truck, including lift trucks having a low floor, seatside steering, and/or a combination of operator-inaccessible compartments for high-reliability components and operator-accessible components for components that may require more frequent or convenient access. In one embodiment, the energy source is a lithium-ion battery bank in an operator-inaccessible compartment under a low, broad floor that facilitates easy entry into and exit from the operator compartment as well as ergonomic operation by the operator.

Wheel drive apparatuses are provided on left and right wheels of a forklift and drive the respective wheels. Each of the wheel drive apparatuses includes a brake on the inside of a vehicle body of the forklift. The brake includes a brake shaft, friction plates, and a brake cover. The brake cover is removable from the wheel drive apparatus while the wheel drive apparatuses are mounted on the vehicle body. The friction plates are assembled with the brake shaft so as to be movable in an axial direction, and are removable from the wheel drive apparatus, while the wheel drive apparatuses are mounted on the vehicle body, by sliding along the brake shaft toward the inside of the vehicle body in the axial direction when the brake cover has been removed.

An engine exhaust system is accommodated in a counterweight portion while minimizing a change in an existing arrangement of an engine, a radiator, a radiator fan, and the counterweight portion. A body has a work device provided at the front and the counterweight portion at the rear. A ventilation path provided in the counterweight portion includes an elevated part formed between a bottom of a front portion and a bottom of a rear portion. An exhaust gas purification device and a muffler, both having a tube-like outer shape, are disposed in the rear portion of the ventilation path so as to be positioned one above the other with the purification device lying above the muffler. Pipes, which extend straight respectively from an end circumferential to surface of the purification device and an end circumferential surface of the muffler toward each other, are connected via flanges.

A vehicle includes a chassis, an implement coupled to the chassis, a hydraulic actuator configured to move the implement relative to the chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a hydraulic motor configured to drive the tractive element to propel the vehicle, a drive pump fluidly coupled to the hydraulic motor, a charge pump coupled to the chassis and configured to provide a flow of pressurized fluid, and a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the charge pump. The valve assembly is configured to (a) direct a first portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to the drive pump and (b) selectively direct a second portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator.

Disclosed is an industrial vehicle work guide system. An industrial vehicle work guide system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory configured to store engine used data, a driving time, a fuel consumption amount, and reference fuel efficiency; a display module configured to output a guide message; and an analysis module configured to calculate actual fuel efficiency by using the engine used data, the driving time, and the fuel consumption amount, compare the actual fuel efficiency with the reference fuel efficiency, and control the display module so that the display module outputs a guide message when the actual fuel efficiency is lower than the reference fuel efficiency.

Controlling a maximum vehicle speed for an industrial vehicle includes determining, by a processor of the industrial vehicle, a torque applied to the traction wheel of the industrial vehicle; converting the torque to an equivalent force value; and determining an acceleration of the industrial vehicle while the torque is applied to the traction wheel. Additional steps include calculating a load being moved by the industrial vehicle, based at least in part on the acceleration and the equivalent force value; and controlling the maximum speed of the industrial vehicle based on the calculated load being moved by the industrial vehicle.

The invention relates to a container transportation system, such as a rail-based conveyance arrangement. The present invention provides a transportation unit for a container, such as a shipping container, the transportation unit having a wheel arrangement including one or more wheels for engaging a rail along which the container is conveyable, the one or more wheels being locatable at a side of the container; wherein said unit is detachably mounted to the container.