Loading Dock Sensor Mounting Bracket Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle presence detection sensors installed above loading dock doors are difficult to install and maintain due to their location and height, requiring specialized equipment and time-consuming processes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensor apparatus featuring a mounting bracket with a base portion and wall portions that define a compartment for an object sensor, allowing the sensor to be mounted in multiple orientations and protected from impacts and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle presence sensors are mounted above the loading dock door, then detection coverage is improved, but installation and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by positioning the sensor below the loading dock door instead of above it. This inversion maintains detection functionality while dramatically improving accessibility for installation and maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary structure that enables the sensor to be positioned in an optimized location. The bracket provides a stable mounting platform below the door while maintaining proper sensor orientation and detection coverage.
2Measurement precision
If vehicle presence sensors are mounted above the loading dock door, then detection accuracy is improved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with pre-integrated features such as mounting holes, alignment guides, and cable access pathways. This preliminary design of the mounting structure enables rapid installation without requiring complex on-site assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the mounting location to below the door, the patent eliminates the need for specialized equipment like scissor lifts and reduces installation complexity, thereby significantly reducing installation time while preserving detection accuracy.
3Reliability
If vehicle presence sensors are mounted above the loading dock door, then detection reliability is improved, but service accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting location from above to below the loading dock door, transforming an inaccessible position into an easily accessible one. This enables service personnel to reach the sensor directly for maintenance and repair operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is extracted from the confined space above the door where service access is blocked by door seals and structures. By relocating it below the door, the sensor is removed from the inaccessible zone while maintaining its detection functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle sensor apparatus including a mounting bracket including a base portion including a mounting portion to mount the mounting bracket to a surface; a first wall portion extending from a first peripheral side of the base portion by a first distance; and a second wall portion extending from a second peripheral side of the base portion by a second distance, the first peripheral side different than the second peripheral side, wherein the base, the first wall portion, and the second wall portion define a compartment; and an object sensor disposed in the compartment and coupled to the base portion at a sensor receiving portion, wherein the mounting bracket is mountable to the surface in at least two orientations, wherein the object sensor is couplable to the mounting bracket in at least two orientations, and wherein a thickness of the object sensor is less than the first and second distances.