Abstract:
A roll-up strip curtain barrier apparatus (10) is provided which provides a curtain member (20) suspended from a support roller (22) rotatably mounted about a door opening (12). The curtain member (20) has a plurality of flexible curtain-like strip panels (34) which are adapted to span the door opening and provide an air-blocking seal. In one embodiment, the plurality of the strip panels (34) are disposed in a plurality of rows (40, 42), each row (40, 42) having a plurality of adjacent strip panels (34). In one mode of operation, the flexible strip panels (34) deflect in response to personnel and material passing through the door opening (12). In another mode of operation, the support roller (22) may be rotated so as to wind and elevate the curtain member (20) about the roller (22) and create an unobstructed door opening (12).
Abstract:
An improved lip extension and control assembly is provided for use in a dock leveler. The dock leveler (16) has a ramp pivotally connected to a stationary frame in a conventional manner for pivoting between a pendant, stored position and an extended preparatory position. The lip (38) is hingedly connected to the front edge of the ramp (16). The assembly has an extending means operatively connected to the lip for extending the lip in response to the rotation of the ramp to the extended position. A pivot controlling means operatively connected to the lip controls the rotation of the lip in a programmed manner such that upon walking the deck down, the descent of the lip progressively increases from the extended position to the pendant position.
Abstract:
A collapsible trailer safety stand (10) may be positioned adjacent the front of a loading bay a predetermined distance from a dock. The stand in one position engages adjacent the kingpin (P) of an unfettered trailer (T). It has a top and bottom and has located proximate its bottom a base (105) having pivotally attached thereto at least one lifting arm and at least one stabilizing arm. The arms (20, 21) have pivotally attached therewith a support (130) which moves from a first position wherein the support (130) is disposed substantially within the base and the safety stand lays substantially flat in the loading bay to a second position wherein the support is disposed adjacent the kingpin.
Abstract:
A frost control system is described for inhibiting and removing frost from the door (8) of a storage locker. Relatively cool air is received by an inlet to the frost control system at an inlet placed above the door. The air is drawn into the system by a blower (18a, 18b) which forces the air through the ducts (26, 28) of the system. The air passes through strip heaters (30, 32) within the vertical ducts (26, 28) of the defrost system positioned on either side of the door (8). The warm air is discharged horizontally across the bottom portion of the door and simultaneously rises creating a blanket of relatively warm air in comparison to the ambient area. Discharge apertures (36, 28) are included in the ends of the vertical ducts (26, 28) which blow a portion of the warmed air to the base of the door (8) to enhance coverage of the door by the warmed air.
Abstract:
An impact detection system for an industrial door, the system including two members that are releasably coupled to each other to move together with the door as it travels; disposed beyond the doorway opening is a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, preferably packaged together in a photoeye device, and emitting a beam of radiation; the first member carries a reflector that, when the two members are coupled, reflects the radiation back to the photoeye, and that is movable to a position wherein it does not reflect the radiation back to the photoeye in response to separation of the two members caused by the door being impacted, the change in state from 1) the radiation being reflected to the photoeye to 2) the radiation not being reflected to the photoeye thus serves as an indication that an impact on the door has occurred.
Abstract:
A curtain bottom tensioning assembly comprised primarily of a resilient member (50) extending across the bottom of the door (10). The resilient member (50) is directly or indirectly coupled to a guide extension (100) extending beyond the leading edge of the door (10) and engaging vertical guide members (20, 30) to guide the door (10) in a vertical plane. The guide extensions (100) also engage the vertical guide members (20, 30) to restrict the guide extensions (100) from moving horizontally toward the curtain (10). The coupling between these horizontally restricted guide extensions (100) and the resilient member (50) places a tension on the resilient member (50). The resilient member (50) is thus stretchedacross the bottom of the door or curtain (10), and serves as a bottom bar that also substantially conforms to or deflects around an obstruction, thus preventing or minimizing damage to the door (10), the bottom bar and the obstruction.
Abstract:
An omni-directional breakaway guide assembly (10) for use in conjunction with a bottom member (50) in a roll-up door. The guide assembly (10) comprises a guide extension (40) for engaging vertical guide members (30) to guide the door in a vertical plane, and a bottom member portion (45) coupled to the bottom member (50). The breakaway guide assembly (10) includes a magnetic coupling (80, 85) between the guide extension (40) and the bottom member portion (45). Upon application of a sufficient force on the bottom member (50) the magnetic coupling (80, 85) is overcome and the bottom member (50) and attached bottom member portion (45) breakaway from the guide extension (40). Such breakaway may occur for forces applied in a variety of directions to the bottom member (50).
Abstract:
A device for locking a vehicle at a loading dock during loading and unloading. The device is provided with a carriage (11) adapted to be yieldably engaged by a depending safety bar (VB) of the vehicle. A hook-like member (26) is mounted on the carriage for movement between an operative mode wherein the vehicle safety bar is engaged and an inoperative safety bar-release mode. A power-actuated unit (35) is mounted on the carriage and effects movement thereof between the operative and inoperative modes. A linkage assembly includes a pair of pivotally connected links (40, 42). One of the links is pivotally connected to a movable portion (38) of the unit and when the latter is moving in one direction it causes the linkage assembly to move the hook-like member to the operative mode. When the unit portion is moved in a second direction, the linkage assembly moves the hook-like member to the inoperative mode. A control assembly (34) is adapted to actuate and deactuate the power-actuated unit.
Abstract:
A vehicle restraint (1) is provided for securing a parked vehicle against a loading dock (5) while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded. The restraint (1) includes a housing (91, 107) for below ground installation in which a ram (33) is stored. The ram (33) is mounted in the housing (91, 107) for vertical movement through an opening in the top of the housing (91, 107), allowing the ram (33) to move between a stored position and a raised position. Doors (2) are provided for closing the opening in the top of the housing (91, 107) when the ram (33) is in the stored position. A hydraulic cylinder (103) is provided for moving the ram (33). A hook assembly (35) is attached to the top of the ram (33) for releasably retaining the vehicle. The hook assembly (35) includes a hook (71) in a stepped configuration to enable engagement of ICC bars (37) having various heights and positioned various distances away from the loading dock wall (9). A sensor (73) is provided for detecting when the hook (71) engages the ICC bar (37) of the vehicle and to stop the vertical movement of the ram (33) when such an engagement has been made. The hook assembly (35) is pivotable about a vertical axis to permit controlled angular adaptation to the ICC bar (37) when the vehicle is not parked at right angles to the loading dock wall. An automatic release mechanism is provided to protect the cylinder (103).