A few hundred lift truck mishaps are unfortunately reported in Fontana every year. Operator training is not sufficient to decrease the number of incidents, enough to say, although, it is certainly one of the most essential components. Obviously, the right method to avoiding lift truck mishaps is having the organization and business involved, in addition to combining the efforts of everybody in the facility.
Toyota has applied the System of Active Stability or SAS, which is technology derived from the automotive technology. The SAS is capable of electrically monitoring and controlling lift truck operations. This system is important for helping reduce the possibility of accidents from happening. Whenever the SAS system senses any kind of instability, its advanced sensors signal simultaneously and engage the correct controller. Both the Active Mast Function Controller and the Active Control Rear Stabilizer help to prevent injuries or accidents occurring by adding stability.
The patented technology provided by Toyota's SAS system is in place to sense numerous things which lead to possible lateral instability. If and when those conditions are detected, the SAS immediately locks a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle. If this particular situation occurs, the forklift's stability footprint changes from triangular in shape to a rectangular shape, resulting in more stability. The outcome is an instant stability and greatly lessens the possibility of a lateral overturn from happening.
The SAS system engages immediately, when the machine senses the occurrence of instability. Then, the rear axle becomes stabilized when the Swing Lock Cylinder is engaged. This creates the lateral stability the machinery requires to help lessen the possibility of lateral tip-overs from happening.
Similar to the active rear stabilizer control, the active mast function controller utilizes the same technologies. Its function is to sense the numerous factors which can result in a potential longitudinal instability. When the SAS controller senses possible longitudinal instability from happening, 2 systems become engaged to help lessen the possibilities of forward and rearward tip-over accidents from occurring: the rear tilt speed control and the forward tilt angle control.
The equipment forward tilt angle control can sense the load weight and mast height, the will override the operator's manual control automatically. It would also limit the forward tilt which would reduce the chances of spilling or forward tipping. All these safety devices are in place to help the operator be safe.
The Rear Tilt Speed Control uses the same load sensors and same mast height sensors to govern the mast's reverse tilt speed to half. This really decreases the chances of having the forklift tilt backwards or spilling unsecured loads.