Several hundred lift truck accidents are sadly reported within Canada each and every year. Operator training is not sufficient to reduce the number of incidents, enough to say, although, it is certainly one of the most vital components. Clearly, the best method to preventing lift truck mishaps is having the company and organization involved, as well as combining the efforts of every individual in the facility.
Toyota implements the System of Active Stability or SAS. This technology originated from automotive technology. The SAS is capable of electrically monitoring and controlling forklift operations. This particular system is very important for helping decrease the chance of mishaps from happening. When the SAS system senses any type of instability, its advanced sensors signal simultaneously and engage the correct controller. The Active Control Rear Stabilizer and the Active Mast Function Controller help to avoid injuries or accidents occurring by adding stability.
Toyota's SAS system is a patented technology that could detect various factors which could cause potential lateral instability. If and when those conditions are detected, the SAS immediately locks a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle. If this specific situation occurs, the stability footprint of the forklift changes to a rectangular in shape from a triangular in shape, resulting in more stability. The outcome is an instant stability and really lessens the possibility of a lateral overturn from happening.
The SAS system engages immediately, once the machinery senses the occurrence of instability. Then, the Swing Lock Cylinder is engaged and the rear axle becomes stabilized. This creates the lateral stability the machinery requires to help decrease the chance of lateral tip-overs from occurring.
Like the active rear stabilizer control, the active mast function controller utilizes the same technologies. Its function is to sense the numerous things that may result in a possible 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 situations from occurring: the rear tilt speed control and the forward tilt angle control.
The Forward Tilt Angle Control would sense load weight and mass height, then automatically override the operator's manual control and limit forward tilt to lessen the chance of tipping the forklift forward or spilling a load. All these safety mechanisms are in place to help the operator be safe.
The Rear Tilt Speed Control uses the same mast height sensors and same load sensors to govern the mast's reverse tilt speed to half. This greatly lessens the possibilities of spilling unsecured cargo or having the lift truck tilt backwards.