T-BOLT FOR DOCK LIP
A dock leveler includes a frame configured to support the dock leveler that includes at least one leg. The at least one support leg having a first tube operatively coupled to the frame. A second tube is slidably disposed within the first tube such that the second tube is operable between a first position and a second position. The second tube includes a locking portion. A foot is positioned on an end of the second tube and a shipping pin is configured to engage the locking portion of the second tube such that the second tube is selectively held in one of the first or second positions.
This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/217,062, filed on Sep. 11, 2015, entitled “DOCK LEVELER LIP CONSTRUCTION,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/217,263, filed on Sep. 11, 2015, entitled “T-BOLT FOR DOCK LIP,” the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates to a dock leveler, and, more particularly, to a lip for the dock leveler and an installation method of the dock leveler.
Loading dock levelers are commonly used for providing an inclined ramp, or a level bridge, between the surface of a transport truck deck and a floor surface of a loading dock of a building, thereby facilitating the loading and unloading of the truck by wheeled vehicles, as well as allowing for ambulatory movement, such as pedestrian or animal traffic, if necessary.
Transport trucks have load carrying decks that vary in height above the pavement depending on the size of truck, the intended use of the truck, and the state of compression that the truck suspension is in when loaded or unloaded. Since any truck arriving at a dock may have a deck within a range of heights and the height can float with the suspension under loading, the loading dock leveler must be able to move vertically. The outside end often pivots from a fixed pivot point on the building to rest on the top surface of the truck deck.
The movable deck of the dock leveler usually has a deck plate that pivots from the building, and an outside lip plate that is thin and of relatively short length. The lip plate pivots on the outside end of the deck plate to provide a smooth transition between the truck deck surface and the deck plate. The main deck is a larger, thicker structure that provides a long ramp or bridge section to accommodate most of the difference in heights between the truck deck and building floor, while the lip plate can be a relatively thin plate that rests upon the truck deck and provides a short ramp transitioning between the truck deck and the dock leveler deck plate platform.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a dock leveler is provided that has a frame with a deck plate rotationally coupled to the frame. A lip plate defines a lip plate lower surface and an edge. A lip hinge is coupled to the lip plate and a connection plate to provide relative pivotal movement of the lip plate and the deck plate. The connection plate is positioned below the deck plate. A support link defines a guide slot and is slidably coupled with the connection plate via the guide slot. The lip tube is positioned about equidistant between the lip hinge and the edge on the lip plate lower surface.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a dock leveler is provided that has a frame configured to support a dock leveler and at least one support leg that has a first tube operatively coupled to the support beam, and a second tube slidably disposed within the first tube such that the second tube is operable between a first position and a second position. The second tube defines a locking portion. A foot is positioned on an end of the second tube, and a shipping pin is configured to engage the locking portion of the second tube such that the second tube is held in one of the first or second positions.
According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of installing a dock leveler is provided that includes the steps of providing a dock leveler with at least one support leg having a first tube within which a second tube is slidably disposed. The second tube is configured to accept a shipping pin which resists movement of the second tube relative to the first tube. The dock leveler is positioned within a pit defined by a loading dock and adjusts a height of the dock leveler within the pit such that a deck plate of the dock leveler is aligned with the loading dock. Next, removing the shipping pin from the second tube such that the second tube slides through the first tube and contacts a floor of the pit is performed. Welding the second tube to the first tube is then performed.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments, and together, with the description, serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivates thereof, shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
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According to various embodiments, as exemplified in
In various embodiments, the connection plates 36 may extend from about the deck hinge 66 to the lip plate 22. The lip plate 22 is coupled to the deck plate 18 through a plurality of the lip hinges 34. Each lip hinge 34 is coupled with the lip plate 22 and at least one of the connection plates 36. The lip hinges 34 are positioned on a side of the connection plates 36 opposite that of the deck hinge 66. The lip hinges 34 include one or more hinge tubes 88 through which a hinge pin 92 is disposed. The construction of the hinge pin 92 within the hinge tube 88 allows pivotal rotation of the lip plate 22 with respect to the deck plate 18. The lip plate 22 may be relatively thin and of relatively short length in comparison to the deck plate 18. The lip plate 22 defines the edge 30 on an opposite side of the lip plate 22 from the lip hinges 34. When adjusted, the lip plate 22 provides a smooth transition between the truck deck surface of a trailer 32 and the deck plate 18. The lip hinge 34 can also include a single continuous hinge extending across substantially all of the lip plate 22.
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According to the various embodiments, movement of the components of the lip plate 22 and support link 42 can be manual, or can be assisted by various powered mechanisms that can include pneumatic mechanisms, hydraulic mechanisms, motors, tensioning mechanisms, biasing mechanisms, spring-loaded mechanisms, combinations thereof and other similar powered mechanisms for assisting the rotation of the lip plate 22.
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In various alternate embodiments, it is contemplated that the link slot 114 can be defined within only the flange 110, where the flange 110 serves to define the link slot 114 through which the shaft 122 of the T-bolt 116 extends. In such an embodiment, the head portion 118 slidably engages the underside or lower surface 26 of the flange 110 of the T-shaped connection plate 36.
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In order to provide efficient movement of the head portion 118 of the T-bolt 116, the interior portion 126 of the link receiver 112 can include various sliding assemblies that create a low friction interface between the head portion 118 of the T-bolt 116 and the interior portion 126 of the link receiver 112. Such friction limiting mechanisms can include, but are not limited to, lubricants, bearings, rollers defined within the head portion 118, combinations thereof, and other similar friction-limiting mechanisms.
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Use of the foregoing disclosure may offer several advantages to be realized when shipping and installing the disclosed dock leveler 10. First, use of the disclosed support legs 64 may ease shipping for the dock leveler 10. For example, the second tube 124 may be locked within the first tube 120 with use of the shipping pin 136 and the locking portion 132 during transport of the dock leveler 10. By locking the second tube 124 within the first tube 120, shipping space requirements for the dock leveler 10 may be reduced, which may result in less costly shipping. Second, use of the first and second tubes 120, 124 and the shipping pin 136 allow for easy setting and securing of the deck plate 18 height. By allowing the second tube 124 to descend through the first tube 120 to make contact with the pit floor 68 by only removing the shipping pin 136, labor traditionally associated with installation of dock levelers (e.g., positioning support legs 64, accounting for pit floor height variance, shimming the legs) may be reduced, resulting in a decrease in installation cost and labor time. Additionally, the convenient incorporation and use of the support lens 64 having the first and second tubes 120, 124 can serve to deter the use of shimming and/or jack mechanisms for supporting the dock leveler 10 after installation and during use.
While the embodiments disclosed herein have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed to be a limitation on the scope of the disclosure or the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. In this specification and the amended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise between the upper and lower limit of that range, and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A dock leveler comprising:
- a frame configured to support the dock leveler; and
- at least one support leg comprising: a first tube operatively coupled to the frame; and a second tube slidably disposed within the first tube such that the second tube is operable between a first position and a second position, the second tube defining a locking portion; a foot positioned on an end of the second tube; and a shipping pin configured to engage the locking portion of the second tube such that the second tube is selectively held in one of the first or second positions.
2. The dock leveler of claim 1, wherein the at least one support leg includes a plurality of support legs.
3. The dock leveler of claim 1, wherein the shipping pin holds the second tube in the first position with respect to the first tube, wherein selective removal of the shipping pin from the locking portion defines a slidable engagement of the second tube within the first tube to define the second position, the second position being different than the first position.
4. The dock leveler of claim 1, wherein the second position is defined by the foot of the second tube slidably moving by the force of gravity to rest on a substrate positioned below the dock leveler.
5. The dock leveler of claim 1, wherein the first and second tubes are each rectilinear in shape.
6. The dock leveler of claim 4, wherein the second tube is maintained in the second position through a rigid engagement between the frame and the second tube.
7. The dock leveler of claim 6, wherein the rigid engagement is a welded connection.
8. The dock leveler of claim 3, wherein the second tube is retained in the first position within the first tube by the shipping pin within the locking portion and the foot disposed at a bottom of the second tube.
9. The dock leveler of claim 7, wherein a top of the first tube is positioned below a transport surface of the dock leveler to define an attachment channel within which the welded connection can be positioned.
10. A method of installing a dock leveler, comprising the steps of:
- providing the dock leveler comprising at least one support leg having a first tube within which a second tube is slidably disposed, the second tube configured to accept a shipping pin which resists movement of the second tube relative to the first tube;
- positioning the dock leveler within a pit defined by a loading dock;
- adjusting a height of the dock leveler within the pit such that a deck plate of the dock leveler is aligned with the loading dock;
- removing the shipping pin from the second tube such that the second tube slides through the first tube and contacts a floor of the pit; and
- welding the second tube to the first tube.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
- leveling a portion of the second tube proximate the pit.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of leveling is performed only when the second tube in a second position extends above an area of the loading dock immediately surrounding the dock leveler.
13. The dock leveler of claim 10, wherein a top of the first tube is positioned below a transport surface of the loading dock to define an attachment channel within which the welding step can be performed.
14. The dock leveler of claim 10, wherein the second tube includes a foot at a bottom of the second tube, wherein the foot cooperates with the shipping pin to resist movement of the second tube relative to the first tube, and wherein when the shipping pin is removed, the foot of the second tube contacts the floor of the pit.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 9, 2016
Publication Date: Mar 16, 2017
Inventors: Robert Campbell Yule (Cambridge), Paulo Jorge da Silva Cruz (Toronto)
Application Number: 15/260,922