Telescopic Loading Bridge Safety Control via Preliminary Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing telescopic dock levellers pose a safety risk due to the distance between the front edge of the step surface and the loading space, which can lead to accidents when the loading space is opened after docking, as users may inadvertently operate the step surface incorrectly under time pressure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional interface that must be actuated first to extend the step surface, deactivating the primary input interface until this is done, ensuring the step surface is extended before allowing positioning, thereby reducing the risk of injury by ensuring the distance is minimized before opening the loading space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the loading space is opened after docking when the telescopic loading bridge is in the rest position, then the loading space can be accessed, but a distance remains between the front edge of the step and the loading space creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically extends the telescopic loading bridge to a preliminary extended position before the loading space is opened. This preliminary action reduces the distance between the step and loading space before the door opening operation, preventing the safety hazard that would exist if the door were opened from the rest position.
2Reliability
If the step surface is extended manually before opening the loading space, then safety is improved, but additional time is required for the docking process
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically performs the extension of the telescopic loading bridge without requiring manual intervention. The system monitors the door opening status and autonomously extends the bridge to the preliminary position, eliminating the time that would be spent on manual extension while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from door opening sensors and automatically triggers the extension sequence. This feedback mechanism ensures the bridge is extended at the appropriate moment in the docking process, eliminating unnecessary time delays while maintaining safety requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the input interface remains active from the rest position, then operation is simplified, but users may inadvertently operate the step surface incorrectly creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit requires the telescopic loading bridge to be extended to the preliminary position before activating the input interface for positioning operations. This preliminary extension action ensures safety is established before the user gains full operational control, preventing inadvertent incorrect operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding loading platform (2) which has a height-adjustable and extendable platform (6) at a front edge, wherein drives for the height adjustment and extension of the platform (6) are connected to a control unit, and wherein the control unit has an input interface (4) with which the platform (6) can be positioned by a user by adjusting its height and extending it. According to the invention, the control unit has an additional interface (7), the actuation of which causes the platform (6) to extend, wherein, starting from a rest position of the sliding loading platform (2), the input interface (4) is deactivated by the control unit until the additional interface (7) is actuated for the first time. The invention also relates to a method for connecting a previously closed cargo space (9) of a transport vehicle to the sliding loading platform (2).