Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
VEHICLE LEVELER WITH DOOR INTERLOCK
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle levelers and more particularly to a vehicle
leveler having multiple surface angles as well as a leveler with a door
interlock
system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of truck levelers have been devised to adjust the height of
different
trailers to properly match the deck of the trailer to the height of the dock.
By aligning
the height of the trailer and the dock the loading and unloading of cargo is
facilitated.
One such device is seen in U.S. Patent No. 4,624,446 to Gould which
discloses a reinforced platform pivotally mounted to the ground at one end and
includes a support assembly having hydraulic cylinders. In operation the rear
wheels
of a truck trailer are backed onto the platform and then the non-mounted end
of the
platform is lifted by the hydraulic cylinders until the deck of the trailer is
equal to the
height of the dock.
A similar device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,765,792 to Cherry, et al. which
also discloses a pivotally-mounted and hydraulically-raised platform. In
addition to
the disclosure of Gould, the device includes mounting the hydraulics inwardly
from
the non-mounted end of the platform and an aperture in the non-mounted end of
the
platform to accommodate a truck restraining device.
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Another design is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,368,043 to Leum, et al. which
teaches a low-profile truck leveler. In this design a low-profile leveler is
enabled
through the use of a raised rear beam and two lateral beams that extend above
the
upper surface of the platform. In addition, a central beam adds further to the
strength
and rigidity of the leveler.
Vehicle levelers of the prior art typically have certain disadvantages. The
majority of vehicle levelers have ramp surfaces which are not highly
adjustable. This
is a distinct disadvantage when vehicles are being loaded or unloaded with
cargo.
Levelers of the prior art are also not able to accommodate all types of
vehicles. This
is yet another disadvantage.
Some levelers of the prior art have certain shortcomings and disadvantages to
which this device is drawn. Specifically, it would be advantageous to have a
vehicle
leveler which is highly adjustable and can elevate both the rear and front
axles of a
vehicle at the same time so as to minimize the slope of the internal floor of
the vehicle
and thereby allow safer loading and unloading of cargo. It would also be
advantageous to have a vehicle leveler which has a photoelectric sensor system
so
that when a vehicle is on the lift and its door is opened it blocks the path
of the
photoelectric sensor and prevents the vehicle leveler from lowering and
possibly causing injury or damage.
In summary, there are problems and shortcomings in the prior art vehicle
levelers and it is to these needs that this device is drawn.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle leveler which is highly
adjustable and can elevate both the rear and front axles of a vehicle at the
same time
so as to minimize the slope of the internal floor of the vehicle or trailer.
Another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle leveler which
incorporates a photoelectric sensor to prevent the vehicle leveler from
lowering when
the sensor path is blocked.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following
descriptions and from the drawings.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a vehicle leveler for use
with a driveway which includes a first portion having a leading edge and a
trailing
edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading
edge
and forms a ramp section, the first portion having a flat section adjacent the
trailing
edge, the flat section being disposed about parallel with the substantially
flat
driveway. The second portion also includes an extension portion which extends
from
the trailing edge of the second portion toward the rear of the leveler and
includes a
substantially flat section disposed about parallel with the substantially flat
driveway.
The first portion and second portion are each unitary structures which are
separate
from each other until they are removably attached together by a connection
apparatus.
It is highly preferable that the vehicle leveler includes opposing side
portions which
extend the length of and contact the second portion and extension portion, the
opposing side portions having a top surface which forms a walkway.
In highly preferred applications, two or more vehicle levelers can be
installed
adjacent to each other and an extended walkway surface can be removably
installed
between each vehicle leveler to form a large surface for a vehicle driver to
use. It is
preferable that the extended walkway surface and top surface form a large
walkway
for a vehicle driver. In some preferred embodiments each vehicle leveler has
two,
opposing top surfaces which each form a separate walkway. The walkway can
extend
the complete length of the top surface in some preferred embodiments or it can
only
extend a portion of the length of the top surface.
Preferably, the walkway and extended walkway surface include metal grating
for safe contact surface for a vehicle driver walking on the walkway or
extended
walkway surface.
The first portion and second portion are each preferably unitary structures
which are separate from each other until they are removably attached together
by a
connection apparatus. It is highly preferred that the second portion including
the
extension portion can be moved between a lowered position and a raised
position to
accommodate varying dock heights for loading and unloading of cargo from
vehicles.
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It is also preferable that the ramp section can be of varying lengths and
heights to
accommodate a single, rear axle vehicle as well as a large trailer.
Highly preferred embodiments include a door interlock system having at least
one pair of photoelectric sensors with a sensor path and a vehicle with doors.
When a
vehicle is being loaded or unloaded on the vehicle leveler, and at least one
of the
vehicle doors is opened, the door blocks the sensor path of the photoelectric
sensors
and prevents the vehicle leveler from moving. It is preferable that the at
least one pair
of photoelectric sensors prevents the vehicle leveler from lowering or
raising.
Preferred embodiments can also include multiple sets of photoelectric sensors
.. each being placed at varying locations adjacent the vehicle leveler.
Preferably, the at
least one pair of photoelectric sensors are mounted onto a building.
Highly preferred embodiments have the at least one pair of photoelectric
sensors operating independently of the power supply for the vehicle leveler,
thereby
the at least one pair of photoelectric sensors can stop the lowering or
raising of the
vehicle leveler by stopping a supply of power to a motor.
It is also preferred that vehicle door can be of varying dimensions and the
vehicle can be any sized vehicle which is able to use the vehicle leveler.
Preferably,
the at least one pair of photoelectric sensor includes at least one photo eye
receiver
and at least one photo eye emitter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments including the above-noted
characteristics and features of the device. The device will be readily
understood from
the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the vehicle leveler in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler of FIGURE 1 with a
truck on the leveler and the leveler in the lowered position;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler of FIGURE 1 with a
truck on the leveler and the leveler in the raised position;
FIGURES 5-6 are perspective views of the vehicle leveler in the raised
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position;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler of FIGURE 1 in the
lowered position with a trailer on the leveler;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler of FIGURE 1 with a
vehicle driver using the top surface/walkway;
FIGURE 9 is a top view of the vehicle leveler illustrating the top
surface/walkway extending partially along the length of the leveler;
FIGURE 10 is a top view of the vehicle leveler illustrating the top
surface/walkway extending farther along the length of the leveler;
FIGURE 11 is a front view of the leveler illustrating the opposing side
portions and extended walkway surface;
FIGURE 12 is a front view of the extended walkway surface;
FIGURE 13 is a front view of two levelers installed side-by-side and
illustrating the large walkway;
FIGURE 14 is a top view illustrating four vehicle levelers installed adjacent
to
each other with a large walkway in between the levelers;
FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the vehicle leveler of FIGURE 1 with the
vehicle doors open;
FIGURE 16 is an enlarged view taken along line 16-16 of FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 17 is an interior view of a dock door illustrating the photoelectric
sensors and sensor path;
FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a photoelectric sensor;
FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are electrical schematics for the control box; and
FIGURE 20 is an electrical schematic for the power unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURES 1-20.
The vehicle leveler 10, as shown in FIGURE 1, includes three primary portions,
a
first portion 12, a second portion 24 and an extension portion 30 and is
designed to be
utilized in conjunction with a substantially flat driveway 18 near a loading
dock wall
46. Furthermore, the leveler 10 can be moved between a lowered position 36,
shown
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in FIGURES 1 and 3 and a raised position 38, shown in FIGURES 4-6.
First portion 12 has a ramp section 20 which is inclined upwards and a flat
section 22 adjacent ramp section 20. First portion 12 includes a leading edge
14 and a
trailing edge 16. Trailing edge 16 is disposed further from driveway 18 than
leading
edge 14. Trailing edge 16 is part of flat section 22. Flat section 22 is
disposed about
parallel with substantially flat driveway 18.
FIGURE 1 illustrates that second portion 24 has a leading edge 26 and a
trailing edge 28. Leading edge 26 of second portion 24 is removably attached
to
trailing edge 16 of first portion 12 as seen in FIGURES 1, 3-4. FIGURE 5
illustrates
that first portion 12 and second portion 24 are removably attached as it shows
first
and second portions 12, 24 separated. Leading edge 26 of second portion 24 is
disposed further from driveway 18 than trailing edge 28 of second portion 24.
Second portion 24 also includes an extension portion 30 as can be seen in
FIGURES 1-7. Extension portion 30 extends from trailing edge 28 of second
portion
24 toward a rear of the leveler 10 (nearest the loading dock wall 46) and
includes a
substantially flat section 32 disposed about parallel with the substantially
flat
driveway 18.
FIGURE 2 illustrates that first portion 12 and second portion 24 include metal
grating 42 over a steel plate for contact with wheels of a vehicle as the
vehicle moves
onto and off of leveler 10. Metal grating 42 over a steel plate is a material
which is
both durable and also provides increased traction for vehicles when moving
onto or
off of leveler 10.
FIGURES 1-7 illustrate that first portion 12 and second portion 24 are each
unitary structures which are separate from each other as seen in FIGURE 5
until they
are removably attached together by a connection apparatus 34 as seen best in
FIGURES 1 and 3-4. Connection apparatus 34 is located on leading edge 26 of
second portion 24 and connects to trailing edge 16 of first portion 12. Flat
section 22
of first portion 12 is in front of connection apparatus 34 since connection
apparatus 34
is located on leading edge 26 of second portion 24.
The drawings illustrate that second portion 24 including extension portion 30
can be moved between a lowered position 36 as seen in FIGURES 1, 3 and 7 and a
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raised position 38 as seen in FIGURES 4-6, to accommodate varying dock heights
for
loading and unloading of cargo from vehicles. FIGURES 4-7 show a variety of
different types of vehicles which can utilize leveler 10.
Depending on the length of the vehicle, leveler 10 can be customized in a
variety of ways including that extension portion 30 can consist of multiple
extension
portions which are identical and which are removably attached together so as
to
accommodate a vehicle which has a longer length. FIGURE 2 illustrates a
leveler 10
with more than one extension portion 30. In an embodiment with multiple
extension
portions 30, each extension portion 30 is removably secured to another
extension
portion 30. In this type of embodiment, a first extension portion 30 would
extend
from the trailing edge 28 of second portion 24 toward a rear of leveler 10,
the
extension portions 30 each would include a substantially flat section 32
disposed
about parallel with the substantially flat driveway 18. In some embodiments,
the
multiple extension portions 30 can be of varying lengths and do not have to be
identical in length.
Leveler 10 can be manufactured so that ramp section 20 can be of varying
lengths and heights to accommodate a single, rear axle vehicle as well as a
large
trailer. FIGURES 1 and 6 each illustrate a ramp section 20 with a different
length and
height. Ramp section 20 and flat section 22 can be manufactured with different
lengths and heights to accommodate single rear axle vans and trailers as well
as 53-
foot over the road tractor trailers. Therefore, leveler 10 can be manufactured
so that
any of the first portion 12, second portion 24 or extension portion 30, can be
of
varying lengths and heights so as to accommodate a variety of vehicles types
and
sizes. For example, FIGURES 3-4 show a box-type truck on leveler 10, FIGURES 5-
6 show a larger vehicle on leveler 10 and FIGURE 7 illustrates a very large
trailer on
leveler 10.
With leveler 10 it is possible that both the front and rear axles of a vehicle
can
be elevated to minimize the incline or decline of an inside floor surface 40
of a trailer
or vehicle thereby making loading and unloading of cargo safer. FIGURES 3-7
illustrate a variety of vehicles on leveler 10 and the dotted line in FIGURES
3-4
illustrates inside floor surface 40 of the vehicle. FIGURES 4-6 illustrate
vehicles on
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leveler 10 that have both a front and rear axle elevated.
FIGURE 6 illustrates that leveler 10 can include opposed sidewalls 52 (see
FIGURE 2) with a light-mounting channel 44 having at least one light 50 (which
could be a single light, multiple lights or a rope light) integrated into
light-mounting
channel 44. Light(s) 50 assist vehicles, such as trailers, when they are
backing in or
pulling away from leveler 10.
A lifting system is also incorporated into the leveler 10 in the form of
hydraulic lifts 48 which contact driveway 18 as seen in FIGURE 1. The
hydraulic
lifts 48 lift the second portion 24 including extension portion 30 the leveler
10.
.. However, any other lifting systems known in the art could be utilized as
well.
Leveler 10 may also include wheel guides 54 shown in FIGURE 1 which can
be on any or all of first portion 12, second portion 24 or extension portion
30.
FIGURE 1 illustrates wheel guides 54 on first portion 12. Wheel guides 54 act
to
guide the wheels of the trailer into the proper position for loading and
unloading of
.. cargo.
The relationship between the first portion 12 and the driveway 18 as well as
the second portion 24 and the driveway 18 can also be defined in terms of
angles as
shown in FIGURES 1-7. Ramp section 20 of first portion 12 is inclined from
driveway 18 about 1-15 degrees from parallel with driveway 18. Second portion
24
.. extends from first portion 12 toward a rear of leveler 10 includes a
decline section 56
which declines toward the substantially flat driveway at between about 1-15
degrees
from parallel with the substantially flat driveway 18.
In operation, a vehicle (including sometimes a large trailer) is backed up to
leveler 10 to put the rear wheels onto the first portion 12, specifically ramp
section
.. 20. The wheels and trailer are therefore elevated from the driveway 18 as
they are
backed up onto ramp section 20. As the vehicle is further backed onto leveler
10 the
rear wheels pass onto the second portion 24 or decline section 56 and begin to
be
lowered back toward the driveway 18. As the rear wheels continue to be backed
up,
they contact the extension portion 30 and at this point, depending on the
length and
.. size of the trailer or vehicle, the rear of the trailer or vehicle may now
be in contact
with the loading dock wall 46. Depending on the length of the vehicle or
trailer, the
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front wheels may either be in contact with the first portion 12 as can been
seen in
FIGURES 3-4 or the trailer may be so large that only the back wheels are on
leveler
as seen in FIGURE 7. Once though the rear wheels are backed up as far onto the
leveler 10 as they can go, the lifting system can then be operated to lift the
trailer to
5 the proper height to safely load and unload cargo. Leveler 10 can elevate
both the
front and rear wheels of a vehicle to minimize the slope of the internal floor
of the
vehicle which allows for safer loading and unloading.
FIGURES 8-14 illustrate that vehicle leveler 10 includes opposing side
portions 58 which extend the length of and contact first portion 12, second
portion 24
10 and extension portion 30.
As seen best in FIGURES 9-10, opposing side portions 58 have a top surface
60 which forms a walkway 60. The walkway, also referred to herein as top
surface 60,
is a safety feature which is used by a driver when he enters or exits a
vehicle which is
using vehicle leveler 10. FIGURE 8 illustrates a driver using the walkway 60.
Figure 10 illustrates that top surface/walkway 60 can extend the complete
length of
second portion 24 and extension portion 30, whereas FIGURE 9, illustrates that
top
surface/walkway 60 can only extend a portion of the length of second portion
24 and
extension portion 30.
FIGURE 11 illustrates opposing side portions 58 as well as top
surface/walkway 60. Figure 12 is a more detailed view of just the extended
walkway
surface 62 which is mounted between two vehicle levelers 10 to form a large
walkway 64. FIGURES 13-14 illustrate that two or more vehicle levelers 10 can
be
installed adjacent to each other and extended walkway surface 62 can be
removably
installed between each vehicle leveler 10 to form a large walkway 64 for a
vehicle
driver to use. In FIGURE 14, each vehicle leveler 10 has two, opposing side
portions 58 with top surfaces 60 which each form a separate walkway. FIGURE 14
illustrates four vehicle levelers 10 installed adjacent to each other.
FIGURE 14 also illustrates that extended walkway surface 62 which forms
large walkway 64 is a step (two or more walkway surfaces 62 can be put
together to
make large walkway 64 or walkway surface 62 can be manufactured to be wider
and
can be large walkway 64) which is wide so as to give the vehicle driver a
wider walk
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surface to assist them as they step onto that and walk out to get around
adjacent
trailers.
FIGURES 15-18 illustrate that door interlock system 78 has at least one pair
of photoelectric sensors 80 with a sensor path 82 and a vehicle 84 with doors
86.
When a vehicle is being loaded or unloaded on vehicle leveler 10, and at least
one of
vehicle doors 86 is opened, door 86 blocks sensor path 82 of photoelectric
sensors 80
and prevents vehicle leveler 10 from moving as seen in FIGURE 15. Vehicle door
86
can be of varying dimensions and vehicle 84 can be any sized vehicle which is
able to
use vehicle leveler 10. Photoelectric sensors 80 when blocked prevent vehicle
leveler 10 from lowering or raising.
Multiple sets of photoelectric sensors can be used and placed at varying
locations adjacent vehicle leveler 10. Photoelectric sensors 80 are mounted
onto a
building wall 76 as seen in FIGURES 16-17, although they can also be mounted
in
any place in which a photoelectric sensor could be used.
Photoelectric sensors 80 can operate independently of the power supply for
the vehicle leveler, which allows photoelectric sensors 80 the ability to stop
the
lowering or raising of vehicle leveler 10 by stopping a supply of power to a
motor.
FIGURE 18 illustrates that photoelectric sensor 80 include at least one photo
eye
receiver 88 and at least one photo eye emitter 90.
FIGURES 19A and 19B are an electrical schematic for the control box.
FIGURE 20 is an electrical schematic for a power supply in the power unit
enclosure
which houses a battery.
The power supply has a current draw which is lower than a current draw from a
power supply unit with an AC motor. The battery powers a 12 volt direct
current power
system which requires a large amount of power for a short period of time. The
battery
can be charged over a period of time with a lower power requirement from the
building, thereby allowing use of a 120 volt 15 amp circuit to power a dock
door.
A wide variety of materials are available for the various parts discussed and
illustrated herein. Although the device has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is
intended to
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-08-09
embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within
the spirit
and broad scope of the appended claims.
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