Sensor sensation
October 1st 2011 Yale Materials Handling has made an
optical fuel level sensor an option on its
Veracitor VX LPG forklifts
Workplace downtime due to forklift trucks running out
of fuel could soon be a problem of the past thanks to a
new, high-tech, fuel level sensing system available on
trucks produced by Yale Materials Handling.
The new Optical Fuel Level Sensor is an option on all of the
company's Veracitor VX LPG trucks and offers a more reliable
indication of when an LPG truck is beginning to run out of fuel.
According to Tom Pickering, the company's product strategy
manager, conventional systems can give as little as 30 seconds
warning before trucks grind to a halt.
"LPG is normally supplied to the engine in liquid form before
it is converted into gas vapour by the fuel system," he explains.
"When the LPG tank pressure drops below a certain level, the
new sensor which utilises optical refraction technology -
identifies the presence of gas vapour in the fuel lines, a clear
indication of low fuel.
"This provides far greater accuracy than the standard pressure
sensing system, which sometimes does not give operators enough
time to reach a refuelling station or the bottle store."
The new sensor gives up to 15 minutes warning, which can
help improve efficiency and reduce operating costs by providing
drivers with the opportunity to work a little longer before
stopping to refuel.
Tom continues: "Thanks to the accuracy of the system
operators can confidently use more of the reserve LPG before refuelling,
increasing productivity and reducing operating costs.
"It helps to prevent the early replacement of an LPG cylinder
reducing the amount of unused
fuel returned to vendor." More articles from Yale Europe Materials Handling: | 
