Patent · US Active

Track follower for a vehicle restraint

US8287223B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
15References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 2007
Grant dateOct 16, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G69/003
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle restraint includes a hook supported by a carriage that travels vertically along a track, wherein the hook can move to selectively restrain or release a vehicle's ICC bar at a loading dock. The carriage includes a unique roller arrangement that minimizes friction while maximizing the rolling line contact between a set of rollers and the track. Instead of individual rollers mounted at opposite ends of a shaft extending from the carriage, two or more rollers are mounted to a module, and two such modules are rotatably or otherwise movably attached to the ends of the shaft. Each module includes a shaft-receiving bore having an inner diameter comparable to that of a conventional individual roller, thus the unique roller arrangement lends itself well to retrofit applications.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.