Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Wheel-activated vehicle restraint system

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-03-05
RITE HITE HLDG CORP
View PDF80 Cites 30 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In accordance with that aim, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a restraint device which is capable of accommodating vehicles of widely varying configurations and tire sizes.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an operator actuated latching mechanism is provided to secure the vehicle in place adjacent the loading dock with the locking arm in the chocking position. An actuator is operatively connected to the latching bar for moving a latch member between a non-engaging and an engaging position. In the engaging position, a textured engaging portion of the latch member engages an upper surface of the guide member, while the engaging portion is spaced from the surface when it is in the non-engaging position. According to the preferred embodiment, engagement blocks are disposed on the trolley assembly such that the movement of the latch member to the engaging position causes the guide member to be clamped between the engaging portion and the engaging block. Advantageously, the structure of the latch mechanism is such that, as a pullout force is exerted on the restraint, the clamping force increases, and the latch member decouples from the latching bar, thus preventing the pullout force from being transferred to the actuator.

Problems solved by technology

Without such securement, there is a potential hazard that the vehicle could be inadvertently moved away from the loading dock during the loading / unloading operation.
If this were to occur without the knowledge of the dock personnel, they could continue to attempt to move cargo into or out of the vehicle assuming the presence of the vehicle at the dock, and injury to personnel or damage to dock equipment could occur.
Previous attempts to employ roadway positioned restraints to prevent the vehicle from prematurely moving away from the loading dock have been largely unsuccessful, or have several shortcomings.
Attempts to place wheel blocks underneath and wedged in front of the vehicles' wheels have been unsuccessful because 1) the blocks are easily lost or damaged; 2) the blocks may not operate effectively due to a slippery road surface from oil, rain, ice, or snow; 3) the blocks are awkward to handle and sometimes difficult to remove from the wedged position; and 4) the blocks require the dock personnel manipulating the devices to be located on the roadway adjacent the dock requiring care to be exercised to avoid being injured by the vehicle.
While such systems are safer and more convenient than manual positioning of chocks, they may have their own disadvantages.
For example, such systems may be incapable of being utilized with a wide variety of vehicle designs because they may interfere with the vehicle undercarriage, tailgate lifts, mud flaps or adjacent tires as they move into an engaging position with the wheel.
In addition, such systems may not be adjustable to accommodate the large range of tire sizes on cargo vehicles.
Such systems may also be awkward, difficult and time consuming to engage and disengage from the vehicle parked at the dock.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Wheel-activated vehicle restraint system
  • Wheel-activated vehicle restraint system
  • Wheel-activated vehicle restraint system

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The tire-actuated vehicle restraint device according to the present invention is shown in an illustrative operating environment in FIG. 1. The restraint device 10 engages a leading tire T of a vehicle V to maintain the vehicle V in a loading / unloading position adjacent a loading dock D. The term "tire" as used herein refers to the combination of a wheel and a tire rotatably mounted to a vehicle V. Thus, an action performed on a tire is also performed on a wheel. Tire T is referred to as the "leading" tire as it is the first to approach the dock D as the vehicle V backs into position over the roadway R. As is conventional, the dock D shown in FIG. 1 includes a dock levele...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A wheel-activated vehicle restraint system including a support structure disposed beside the path of the vehicle approaching the dock, and including a guide member extending away from the dock face, and an elevated supporting member. A trigger assembly is operatively connected to the guide member, and initially engages the wheel of the vehicle as it rolls toward the dock. A locking arm operatively engages the supporting member to move from a stored position to a chocking position on the wheel as the wheel engages the trigger and moves it toward the dock. A trolley assembly operatively connects the trigger assembly and the locking arm, the trolley assembly and the locking arm being connected at a connection point. The trigger assembly is selectively positionable relative to the connection point in response to the dimensions of the wheel, and the locking arm engages a bottom portion of the wheel, and moves along the peripheral surface of the wheel to a chocking position as the wheel continues to push the trigger assembly toward the dock.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to a system for restraining a vehicle adjacent a loading dock, and more specifically to a wheel-actuated vehicle chocking device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the loading and unloading of vehicles at a loading dock, heavy equipment such as forklifts pass into and out of the vehicle to facilitate and expedite the unloading and / or loading of the vehicle. Accordingly, it is imperative that the vehicle remain in a fixed abutting relationship relative to the loading dock to prevent accidents, and to protect the safety of dock personnel. Without such securement, there is a potential hazard that the vehicle could be inadvertently moved away from the loading dock during the loading / unloading operation. If this were to occur without the knowledge of the dock personnel, they could continue to attempt to move cargo into or out of the vehicle assuming the presence of the vehicle at the dock, and injury to personnel or damage to dock equipmen...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): B65G69/00
CPCB65G69/005
Inventor SPRINGER, SCOTT L.HAHN, NORBERTVAN DE WIEL, HANSBOON, MARCELDE BEER, FRANK
Owner RITE HITE HLDG CORP
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products