SEALS FOR DOCK LEVELLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEALING GAPS IN DOCK LEVELLING SYSTEMS

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention concerns seals for dock levelling systems, and methods of sealing gaps in dock levelling systems. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention concerns seals for sealing gaps between levellers of dock levelling systems and the walls of the recesses in which they are mounted, to prevent the entry of unwanted pests such as rodents or the likeBackground of the Invention

[0002] A typical dock levelling system is described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 1, the dock levelling system comprises a leveller 1 comprising a frame 2 on which is mounted a movable ramp 3. The ramp 3 has side panels 3a and 3b, and is hinged to the frame 2 at the rear 4 of the leveller 1. The ramp 3 can be moved up and down by a drive mechanism 5, which operates a piston 5a mounted to the frame 2 and the underneath of the ramp 3.

[0003] As shown in Figure 2, the dock levelling system further comprises a recess 10 in a floor surface 13, the recess 10 having a rear wall 11 and side walls 12a and 12b.

[0004] Figure 3 shows the dock levelling system 15 comprising the leveller 1 mounted within the recess 10. As can be seen, the leveller 1 effectively provides a portion of the floor surface 13 that can be moved up and down as required, and may for example be used as part of a loading bay for loading or unloading a heavy goods vehicle or the like.

[0005] It is a disadvantage of such dock levelling systems that there will be a gap between the rear 4 of the leveller 1 and the rear wall 11 of the recess 10. Such a gap can allow the entry of unwanted pests such as rodents or the like.

[0006] The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively and / or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide improved seals for dock levelling systems, and methods of sealing gaps in dock levelling systems.

[0007] US 2019 / 337741 A1 (THOLE COLLIN ET AL) published 7 November 2019 discloses a seal apparatus for dock levellers according to the preamble of claim 1. An example loading dock includes a dock leveller movable between a standard loading position, a cross-traffic position and a below-deck loading position. The dock leveller has deck and lip movably coupled to the deck. A seal assembly is coupled to the loading dock adjacent a forward edge of the dock leveller. The seal assembly sealingly engages a front surface of a lip of the dock leveler and a rear surface of the lip when the dock leveller is positioned in a cross-traffic position or a below-dock position.Summary of the Invention

[0008] In accordance with the invention there is provided a seal for a dock levelling system comprising a movable hinged ramp arranged within a recess, wherein the seal is for sealing a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, the seal comprising: a rod; a tube of flexible material surrounding the rod; wherein the flexible material of the tube is a metal wire mesh.

[0009] The tube of flexible material is able to fill the gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess, so sealing the gap and providing a barrier to rodents or the like. Further, the seal is held in place by friction between the tube of flexible material and the surfaces of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess. The rod within the tube of flexible material provides support and helps maintain the shape of the tube of flexible material, enabling it to maintain its shape when being positioned in the gap, ensuring that it seals the full horizontal length of the gap. The rod also helps the tube of flexible material exert sufficient force against the surfaces of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess for there to be sufficient friction to keep the seal in position.

[0010] The flexible material of the tube being a metal wire mesh provides a suitably flexible and resilient material to form the seal, but also provides a good barrier against damage by rodents or the like, in particular by chewing.

[0011] Advantageously, the rod comprises a plurality of rod sections connected by connectors. In this case, advantageously the outside surfaces of the rod sections comprise a thread, and are arranged to screw into threaded recesses in the connectors.

[0012] Preferably, the seal further comprises a bush on at least one end of the rod. Preferably, the seal comprises a bush on each end. Advantageously, the tube of flexible material is fixed to the bush. This helps the rod support and maintain the shape of the tube of flexible material. Advantageously, the bush has a circumferential recess, and the flexible material is fixed to the bush by fixing that clamps the flexible material in the recess. Preferably, the fixing is an elasticated ring. Alternatively, the fixing may be a rubber band, O-ring, cable tie or any other suitable fixing.

[0013] In accordance with the invention there is provided a dock levelling system comprising a movable hinged ramp arranged within a recess, wherein there is a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, the dock levelling system further comprising a seal as described above, wherein the seal is arranged in the horizontal gap with the tube of the seal in contact with the hinged end of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess.

[0014] In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of sealing a gap in a dock levelling system using a seal as described above, wherein the dock levelling system comprises a movable hinged ramp arranged within a recess, and wherein there is a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, the method comprising the step of inserting the seal into the horizontal gap so that the tube of the seal is in contact with the hinged end of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess.

[0015] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of, prior to inserting the seal into the horizontal gap, assembling the seal by inserting the rod into the interior of the tube of flexible material.

[0016] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of, prior to inserting the seal into the horizontal gap, cutting the rod to a length that allows the seal to fit within the horizontal gap. It will be appreciated that other assembly steps can be done prior to inserting the seal, including connecting rod sections together using connectors, fixing bushes to the ends of rod sections, fixing the ends of the tube of flexible material of tube to the bushes, and the like.

[0017] In accordance with the invention there is provided a kit of parts for assembly into a seal for a leveller as described above, comprising a rod and a tube of flexible material being a metal wire mesh.

[0018] Preferably, the rod comprises a plurality of rod sections and connector. This allows the parts of the kit to be shorter in length than the assembled seal, making storage, transportation and the like of the kit easier.

[0019] Preferably, the kit further comprises two bushes and two elasticated rings.

[0020] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.Description of the Drawings

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a leveller of a known dock levelling system; Figure 2 shows a recess of a known dock levelling system; Figure 3 shows the leveller of Figure 1 mounted in the recess of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a seal in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows close-up views of the ends and middle of the seal of the first embodiment; Figure 6a is a close-up view of the middle of the seal of the first embodiment; Figure 6b is a close-up view of an end of the seal of the first embodiment; Figure 7 shows a kit of parts for the seal of the first embodiment; Figure 8 shows the seal of the first embodiment for installation in a leveller; Figure 9 is a side view of the seal of the first embodiment installed in a leveller; and Figure 10 is a top view of the seal of the first embodiment installed in a leveller. Detailed Description

[0022] A seal for a dock levelling system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 4 to 11.

[0023] Figure 4 shows the seal 100 of the first embodiment, which comprises a flexible tube 103 of metal wire mesh. At each end of the flexible tube 103 is a bush 104, onto which the flexible tube 103 is held by an O-ring 105, as described in more detail below.

[0024] Figures 5, 6a and 6b show the ends and middle of the seal 100 in more detail. As can be seen, inside the flexible tube 103 are two rod sections 101, which are connected to together at the longitudinal middle of the flexible tube 103 by a connector 102. The outsides of the rod sections 101 are threaded, and screw into threaded holes in the connector 102 to form a single rod running the length of the interior of the flexible tube 103. The rod sections 101 and connector 102 are made of a metal such as stainless steel, and so resilient to bending compression and the like. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention other materials could be used. It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments a single rod section and no connector could be used, or more than two rod sections and corresponding connectors could be used.

[0025] The bushes 104 at each end of the seal 100 are fixed to the ends of the rod sections 101, by threaded holes in the bushes 104 into which the rod sections 101 are screwed. The bushes 104 have a central recess running round their perimeter, into which the respective ends of the flexible tube 103 are held by the O-rings 105.

[0026] In this way, the seal 100 is a length of flexible tube 103 of metal wire mesh, but given resilient shape and form by the support of the rod comprises of the rod sections 101 running inside it, and held in place by the bushes 104 and O-rings 105.

[0027] It will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention, the flexible tube 103 could be attached to the ends of the rod sections 101 by other suitable fixings, or not at all; or differently shaped bushes could be used, or the flexible tube 103 could be attached to the bushes 104 or bushes of a different shape by fixings other than O-rings, for example elastic bands, cable ties or something else.

[0028] Figure 7 shows a kit of parts 200 for the seal 100 of the first embodiment. As can be seen, the kit comprises the two rod sections 101, connector 102, flexible tube 103, bushes 104 and O-rings 105. The kit of parts can be stored, transported or the like within a packing tube 110.

[0029] In order to construct the seal 100 from the kit 200, a user will first, if necessary cut one or both of the rod sections 101 to the required length. The rod sections are then connected by the connector 102, and inserted into the inside of the flexible tube 103. (Inserted of a first rod section 101 into the flexible tube 103 may begin before or after the connector 102 and second rod section 101 are connection to the first rod section 101.) At each end, a bush 104 is fixed to the end of the rod section 101, and the flexible tube 103 attached to the outside of the bush 104 by one of the O-rings 105. If required excess material of the flexible tube 103 beyond the bush 104 is removed, preferably after an O-ring 105 has been attached.

[0030] Figures 8 to 10 show the seal 100 when being installed in the leveller 1. As can be seen from Figure 8 in particular, the seal 100 matches in length the gap between the rear 4 of the leveller 1 and the rear wall 11 of the recess 10 that it is to fill. To install the seal 100 in position, it is simply pushed into the gap. As can be seen from Figures 9 and 10, in position the seal 100 fits in the gap, with material of the flexible tube 103 pushing against both the rear 4 of the leveller 1 and the wall 11, so that the seal 100 is held in place by friction against those surfaces. Further, the rod sections 101 inside the flexible tube 103 ensure the seal 100 maintain its shape when being pushed into position, in particular so that it spans the whole length of the gap The rod sections 101 also help the flexible tube 103 have adequate force against the surfaces of the rear 4 of the leveller 1 and the wall 11, so that there is sufficient friction to hold the seal 100 in position.

Claims

1. A seal (100) for a dock levelling system comprising a movable hinged ramp (3) arranged within a recess (10), wherein the seal is for sealing a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, the seal comprising: a rod (101, 102); a tube of flexible material (103) surrounding the rod; characterised in that the flexible material of the tube is a metal wire mesh.

2. A seal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod (101, 102) comprises a plurality of rod sections (101) connected by connectors (102).

3. A seal (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outside surfaces of the rod sections (101) comprise a thread, and are arranged to screw into threaded recesses in the connectors (102).

4. A seal (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a bush (104) on at least one end of the rod (101, 102).

5. A seal (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube of flexible material (103) is fixed to the bush (104).

6. A seal (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bush (104) has a circumferential recess, and the tube of flexible material (103) is fixed to the bush by fixing that clamps the flexible material in the recess.

7. A seal (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing is an elasticated ring (105).

8. A dock levelling system comprising a movable hinged ramp (3) arranged within a recess (10), wherein there is a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp (3) and a wall of the recess (11), the dock levelling system further comprising a seal (100) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the seal is arranged in the horizontal gap with the tube of flexible material (103) of the seal in contact with the hinged end of the movable ramp (3) and the wall of the recess (11).

9. A method of sealing a gap in a dock levelling system using a seal (100) as claimed in any of claim 1 to 7, wherein the dock levelling system comprises a movable hinged ramp (3) arranged within a recess (10), and wherein there is a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess (11), the method comprising the step of inserting the seal (100) into the horizontal gap so that the tube (103) of the seal is in contact with the hinged end of the movable ramp (3) and the wall of the recess (11).

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of, prior to inserting the seal into the horizontal gap, assembling the seal (100) by inserting the rod (101, 102) into the interior of the tube of flexible material (103).

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further comprising the step of, prior to inserting the seal (100) into the horizontal gap, cutting the rod (101, 102) to a length that allows the seal to fit within the horizontal gap.

12. A kit of parts (200) for assembly of the seal (100) for a leveller as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, comprising a rod (101, 102) and a tube of flexible material (103), characterised in that the flexible material of the tube is a metal wire mesh.

13. A kit (200) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rod (101, 102) comprises a plurality of rod sections (101) and connector (102).

14. A kit (200) as claimed in claim 12 or 13, further comprising two bushes (104) and two elasticated rings (105).