Patent ID: 6985795
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B60G,B66C,B66F

Abstract:
1. A material handler comprising: a frame; a telescoping boom coupled with the frame for supporting a load; first and second front wheels rotatably coupled to the frame; a front axle coupled to the frame, the first front wheel being rotatably coupled to a first portion of the front axle and the second front wheel being rotatably coupled to a second portion of the front axle; first and second rear wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, the front and rear wheels supporting the frame for movement over the ground and defining a plane; a rear axle pivotally coupled to the frame the first rear wheel being rotatably coupled to a first portion of the rear axle and the second rear wheel being rotatably coupled to a second portion of the rear axle; and a control system including a first sensor positioned on the front axle adjacent to the first front wheel, a second sensor positioned on the front axle adjacent to the second front wheel, a third sensor positioned on the rear axle adjacent to the first rear wheel, and a fourth sensor positioned on the rear axle adjacent to the second rear wheel, each sensor generating signals corresponding to the force that the material handler applies to the adjacent wheel, and a display device disposed generally on the frame, the control system being configured to determine from the sensor signals the center of gravity of the combination of the material handler and any load supported by the material handler and to display on the display device the location of the center of gravity within a virtual plane that is a representation of the plane defined by the wheels.