Dock Ramp Assembly Retractable Bumper Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dock ramp assemblies fail to create a complete seal around transport vehicles due to varying floor heights and the presence of bumpers, which obstruct the extension of lower seals, allowing contaminants to enter the facility or vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A dock ramp assembly with a retractable bumper that transitions from an extended position to a retracted position, allowing a lower seal to extend beneath the docking opening and form a complete four-sided seal, accompanied by a movable mounting plate and inflatable seals to accommodate height variations and ensure a tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bumper is installed to protect the dock ramp assembly from vehicle impact, then the protection function is improved, but the ability to form a complete seal around the transport vehicle deteriorates because the bumper obstructs the lower seal
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between an extended protective position and a retracted position that allows the lower seal to extend beneath the docking opening. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing protection when needed while enabling complete sealing during loading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is divided into upper seals and a lower seal that can operate independently. The lower seal is specifically designed to extend beneath the docking opening to the rearward side of the bumper, creating a complete four-sided seal around the transport vehicle that prevents contaminant entry while the bumper remains in its retracted position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dock ramp assembly is designed to accommodate transport vehicles of different floor heights, then the versatility is improved, but the ability to maintain a consistent seal deteriorates due to height variations
Solution Approach 1:
The lower seal is designed with movable mounting plates that can adjust vertically to accommodate different floor heights of transport vehicles. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the seal to maintain consistent contact and sealing performance across varying vehicle configurations while preserving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The position and height of the lower seal can be adjusted as a parameter to match different vehicle floor heights. By changing the vertical position of the lower seal through movable mounting mechanisms, the system maintains seal consistency across diverse vehicle types without compromising adaptability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a complete four-sided seal is implemented around the docking opening, then the prevention of contaminant entry is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for retractable bumpers and movable sealing components
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of the bumper and the lower seal mounting system are merged into a coordinated mechanism. The retractable bumper and movable lower seal work together as an integrated system, where the bumper's retraction enables the lower seal to extend and form the complete four-sided seal, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable mounting plate serves multiple functions: it supports the lower seal, provides vertical adjustment for different vehicle heights, and coordinates with the bumper retraction mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving complete sealing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a complete seal around the transport vehicle, preventing contaminants from entering and ensuring a secure, environmentally controlled link between the vehicle and facility, enhancing the efficiency of loading and unloading operations.
Implementation Method 1
a lower seal which extends beneath the lower peripheral edge of the docking opening, such that the seal extends around the entire periphery of the docking opening and the seal is arranged to form a complete seal between the docking opening and the access door opening
Implementation Method 2
the dock ramp assembly further comprises a retractable bumper which is transitioned from an extended, in-use position in front of the docking opening, to, a retracted, stored position remote from the docking opening
Implementation Method 3
accompanied by a movable mounting plate and inflatable seals to accommodate height variations and ensure a tight seal
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed towards a dock ramp assembly (100) for a docking ope (104) on a facility; the dock ramp assembly comprising a seal for sealing the docking ope with at least one access door ope on a transport vehicle when the transport vehicle is docked with the facility; the seal comprising an upper seal (504) which extends over a top peripheral edge (106) of the docking ope (104) and adjacent side peripheral edges (110A, 110B) of the docking ope, and, a lower seal (600) which extends beneath the lower peripheral edge (108) of the docking ope, such that the seal extends around the entire periphery of the docking ope (104) and the seal is arranged to form a complete seal between the docking ope and the access door ope when the transport vehicle is docked with the facility; wherein, the dock ramp assembly (100) further comprises a retractable bumper (124A, 124B) which is transitioned from an extended, in-use position in front of the docking ope, to, a retracted, stored position remote from the docking ope. Alternatively, the seal could comprise an upper seal (504) which extends over a top peripheral edge (106) of the docking ope and adjacent side peripheral edges (110) of the docking ope, and, a lower seal (600) which extends beneath the lower peripheral edge (108) of the docking ope, with the upper seal and lower seal acting to form a complete seal around a periphery of the docking ope; wherein, at least one of the lower seal and/or the upper seal are vertically moveable so as to allow the complete seal to be formed between the access door ope on the transport vehicle and the docking ope on the facility, without the need for a retractable bumper. In both solutions, a complete seal can be created whilst offering a bumper to protect the facility and the transport vehicle by either moving the bumper or the lower seal/upper seal to allow the complete seal to be actuated.