User:Knerrjor/Dobson Tube

Dobson Tubes are large rectangular tubes used by a fork truck to lift an object. The tubes are made of any rigid material (usually steel, aluminum, or high strength plastics) and then securely fastened to the base objects that require lifting. The Dobson Tube is then used as a safety device, the lift truck puts its forks into the tubes which secure the lifted item from rolling, tilting or other wise falling off the truck. This not only prevents damage to objects being lifted but their surroundings, including the fork truck, bystanders and other nearby objects.

Dobson Tubes are named after Joe Dobson, an employee of Cooper Standard Automotive (formerly Cooper Tire and Rubber) in Auburn, Indiana. While moving a expensive prototype assembly machine up a loading ramp, the large, top heavy machine tilted and fell off the lift truck. In response to the accident, Cooper began placing "dobson" tubes on much of the plant equipment. While the name "Dobson tube" is not world recognized, it is used in many manufacturing environments in the United States.