Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division – including its legacy brands of Arens Controls, Penny & Giles, PG Drives Technology and Williams Controls – is a recognized leader in providing components and sub-systems that enable customer specific solutions for a wide range of material handling equipment, including pallet/stacker trucks, reach trucks and counterbalance trucks.
For one application, NRH272 rotary position sensors from the Industrial division’s brand family of Penny & Giles have been specified for use on a range of British-designed and manufactured electric forklift trucks from Nexen Lift Trucks.
The Challenge
To maximize storage space within a building footprint, aisle width in warehouses is being reduced and many lift truck manufacturers are having to adopt the latest technologies to ensure material handling vehicles can operate safely and effectively within these new narrow-aisle environments. Additionally, many lift truck operators are reviewing the environmental impact of running forklifts using traditional internal combustion engines but, until recently, electric-powered vehicles haven’t been able to providesimilarlevelsofperformanceandproductivity associatedwithtraditionalinternal combustion applications.
During its research and development process, Nexen identified the need for electric models and itslatestX-Rangeincludes the three-wheeledFBXT lift truck usingaNexen-designedandmanufacturedaxle; andafour-wheelFBXversionusingapurpose-designedsteeringaxle.
Forbothaxletypes, Nexenneededrotarypositionsensorsthatcoulddetectsteeringposition, withfeedbackfromthesensorenablingcontrolofthetruckspeedanddirection, anddisplayedtotheoperatorviaacabin-mounted Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Commenting for Nexen, technical manager Shaun Bailey says: “We needed a sensor that would combine maximum functionality with a design that was robust enough for our application. Angle range, redundancy, voltage range and versatility were all considered before we chose Curtiss-Wright.”
The Solution
A bespoke version of Curtiss-Wright’s NRH272 has been supplied with a 5V power supply option, 10-90% voltage output, Deutsch DT04 connectors and an electrical output set to correspond to rotations of between 20°and 360°. For added safety functionality, the sensor’s on-board diagnostic functions mean the outputs can enter into safe, pre-defined states should an internal sensor error be detected.
With over 30-years’ experience in the materials handling sector, Nexen has established itself as a reliable and cost-effective manufacturer of high quality, innovative products for the materials handling market. As Shaun Bailey explains, the Curtiss-Wright NRH272 complements Nexen’s reputation: “Much like Nexen, Curtiss-Wright has a reputation for quality and dependability, so when looking for a high quality sensor, it made sense to consider the NRH272.”
The Curtiss-Wright NRH271/NRH272 range of non-contact, rotary position sensors with Hall-effect sensing technology is designed to supply an optimum combination of performance, safety and cost effectiveness. The sensor is accommodated in a low-profile housing with a compact footprint; and its robust design offers outstanding protection from water, dust, shock, vibration and temperature, making it ideal for use in arduous, on- and off-highway vehicle applications. In addition, its incorporated non-contact, Hall-effect technology makes the sensor incredibly hard wearing.
Connection options are industry-standard AMP Superseal (IP68 rated) or Deutsch DT04 series (IP67 rated) connectors, or simple flying leads for customer termination. The sensor can also be supplied with a protective conduit for the cabling.
The Results
Having been designedfromthegroundup, Nexen’s all-electric X-Range lift trucks use integrated technology – including Curtiss-Wright’s NRH272 rotary position sensors – toprovideunprecedentedcombinationsofperformance, productivityandcost-effectiveness, all withoutcompromisingoperator safety and comfort.
The FBX and FBXT models within the X-Range are the latest in the Nexen line-up of electric counter-balanced forklift trucks. They have been specifically designed for the logistics and warehousing sector, whilst being developed to apply the most advanced technology and versatility available. The three- and four-wheel variants allow for a range of applications including the loading, unloading, shunting and storage of raw materials, goods and production materials; with lifting capacities ranging from 1.6 to 2 tonnes and different motors, transmissions and mast options available. Both models are also available in long- and short-wheel-base formats to provide a productive and energy-efficient solution for numerous lifting applications.
Having brought the design, manufacturing, research and development processes back from Taiwan to the UK, Nexen expects the X-Range to be extremely successful in the European market. “We originally handled manufacturing and R&D in Taiwan but, in recent years, have brought it back to the UK. It’s a big step for the company because it gives us much more control over the product and quality; and it gives us the ability to put our forklift trucks in the hands of some of Britain’s top designers and engineers.” says Shaun.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division today announced that it will be attending the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo North America 2017 and promoting products from its legacy brands of Arens Controls and Williams Controls from Booth #1118.
The Industrial division has extensive experience in designing and manufacturing solutions for the monitoring and control of vehicles, including applications throughout the on-highway commercial vehicle sector.
Many of the systems designed and developed by Curtiss-Wright can be found in applications in the hybrid vehicle market and on today’s most advanced commercial vehicles including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school and transit buses, recreational vehicles, and agricultural and off-highway equipment.
Robust design of new JC050 is ideal for arduous applications in hand-grips and HMI consoles
Curtiss-Wright Industrial division has announced the launch of the JC050, a Hall-effect thumbwheel roller that is suitable for integration within joystick hand-grips and other in-cab human-machine interfaces (HMI) in specialty off-highway vehicles.
Designed by the Corporation’s brand family of Penny & Giles, the JC050 features a low under-panel depth of 23mm and return-to-center functionality over a range of ±37° roller travel. The new thumbwheel roller is rated for 3 million operating cycles thanks to the use of non-contacting, Hall-effect sensing technology. The JC050 roller benefits from a ‘pass through’ design for any liquid or dust contamination. Electronic robustness is assured by sealing of the internal electronics to a rating of IP67.
To ensure safety is enhanced, the JC050’s dual-redundant electronic architecture is constructed using two power supplies and two sensing circuits, the outputs of which can be set to positive ramps, a combination of positive and negative ramps, or full voltage range over half travel from each sensor with constant output in the other half travel.
Other key features of the JC050 include:
The JC050 launches with a 5Vdc supply voltage and connection via 3-, 4- or 6-way flying leads based on input/output requirements.
New model expands joystick range and offers non-contact proportional control for hand-grips and HMI consoles
Curtiss-Wright Industrial division has announced the launch of the JC040, a single-axis, Hall-effect proportional rocker that is suitable for arduous applications in specialty off-highway vehicles.
The JC040 builds on the success of legacy potentiometric versions available from the Corporation’s brand family of Penny & Giles, and uses non-contacting, Hall-effect sensing technology for long-life integrity of the output signal. The IP67-rated JC040 provides safety functionality via dual outputs – which can be set to positive or a combination of positive and negative ramps – and also benefits from independent supply voltages for each of the outputs.
The JC040 rocker is designed for integration within joystick grips and other in-cab human-machine interfaces; and benefits from a ‘pass through’ design for any liquid or dust contamination. Electronic robustness is assured by sealing of the internal electronics to a rating of IP67.
An optional, mechanical over-press feel – that operates at ±20° of travel from center positon – is integrated within the JC040 design to provide additional operator feedback. The electrical output of this mechanical feature can be used in a system to indicate a new mode of operation such as a rapid traverse.
Key features of the JC040 include:
• Return-to-center, ±25° rocker action
• 21mm under-panel depth
• Rated for 1 million operating cycles
• Dual supply, ensuring signal integrity
• Supplied as standalone unit or integrated into the Penny & Giles AMF range of grips
The JC040 launches with a 5Vdc supply voltage and connection via a 6-way flying lead.
