Every year within Washington, there are a few hundred lift truck mishaps which are reported. Although operator training is definitely the most important part of preventing workplace mishaps, it is not sufficient to reduce the number of incidences. Obviously, the best method to preventing lift truck mishaps is having the company and organization involved, in addition to combining the efforts of everyone in the facility.
Toyota applies the System of Active Stability or SAS. This technology came from automotive technology. The SAS is capable of electrically controlling and monitoring lift truck operations. This specific system is vital for helping lessen the possibility of mishaps from happening. When the SAS system detects any type of instability, its advanced sensors signal simultaneously and engage the proper controller. Both the Active Control Rear Stabilizer and the Active Mast Function Controller help to prevent injuries or accidents occurring by adding stability.
The patented technology provided by Toyota's SAS system is in place to detect many things which result in potential lateral instability. If and when those conditions are detected, the SAS immediately locks a hydraulic cylinder on the rear steer axle. If this situation occurs, the stability footprint of the forklift changes to a rectangular in shape from a triangular in shape, resulting in added stability. The result is an instant stability and greatly reduces the possibility of a lateral overturn from happening.
When the machinery detects instability occurring, the SAS engages immediately. After that, the rear axle becomes stabilized when the Swing Lock Cylinder is engaged. This creates the lateral stability the machinery needs to help decrease the chance of lateral tip-overs from happening.
Like the active rear stabilizer control, the active mast function controller utilizes the same technologies. Its function is to sense the many factors which can lead to a potential longitudinal instability. When the SAS controller detects possible longitudinal instability from happening, 2 systems become engaged to help decrease the possibilities of forward and rearward tip-over accidents from occurring: the forward tilt angle control and the rear tilt speed control.
The Forward Tilt Angle Control would detect mast height and load weight, then automatically override the operator's manual control and limit forward tilt to reduce the possibility of tipping the forklift forward or spilling a load. All these safety mechanisms are in place to help the operator stay safe.
Using the same load sensors and mast height sensors, the rear tilt speed control is designed to govern the mast's reverse tilt speed to half. This really decreases the chances of spilling unsecured cargo or having the forklift tilt backwards.