Dock leveler with automatic vehicle barrier
US4920598A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 1, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G69/2888
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A dock leveler is provided having an automatically actuated barrier for preventing accidental runoff of material handling equipment from a loading dock. The leveler includes a ramp pivotally mounted on the loading dock for selected movement from a stored position wherein the exposed upper surface of the ramp is level with the platform surface of the dock. A lip is hingedly connected to the front edge portion of the ramp and when in a depending first position supports the ramp in the stored position. When in the first position, a portion of the lip protrudes above the plane of the ramp upper surface and forms a vehicle barrier. Upon the ramp being actuated from the stored position to a raised position, the lip automatically slides relative to the ramp to a depending second position whereby no portion of the lip forms a protruding vehicle barrier. The lip is adapted to assume a cantilevered third position, when the ramp is in the raised position, thereby forming an extension of the ramp and spanning a gap forming between the front edge of the ramp and the rear end of the bed of a vehicle parked at the dock. When in the third position, no portion of the lip forms a protruding vehicle …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.