This application claims priority to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2022891 filed Apr. 8, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a sealing assembly for a dock. Such dock is used for loading and/or unloading goods from a vehicle, such as a truck. These docks are used in distribution centers, for example. Such dock is configured for sending and/or receiving loads, including packages, parcels, consumable materials, and fresh or frozen products. Such dock is specifically designed to receive a truck or a trailer for loading and/or unloading. The dock may include a dock house, a dock leveler, a dock shelter and components thereof.
Conventional docks are known in practice. Especially when these docks are used for loading and/or unloading fresh or frozen products, the opening is sealed against the vehicle or trailer. This may involve the use of inflatable seals, for example.
One of the problems with conventional docks is the energy loss at the bottom of the dock. This is due to the different types of vehicles and trailers that are used in practice. Although often height and width of the truck or trailer is similar between vehicles, the height from the ground floor to the bottom of the cargo space of the vehicle or trailer differs between vehicles. Furthermore, this height of the cargo space bottom above the ground floor depends on the actual load inside the cargo space. In addition, when loading and/or unloading takes place, often lifting trucks or other heavy equipment is used. Such heavy equipment changes the height of the cargo space bottom above the ground floor during loading and/or unloading. In practice this results in insufficient sealing that leads to energy loss, and may even lead to product damage.
An object of the invention is to obviate or at least reduce some of the above problems and to provide an effective sealing assembly for a dock, especially related to the lower side of the dock opening.
This object is achieved with the sealing assembly for a dock according to the present invention, wherein the sealing assembly comprises:
The sealing assembly is connectable with connectors to a dock. The connectors enable mounting and dismounting the frame of the sealing assembly to a dock. This allows for providing the sealing assembly to a conventional dock and/or replacing or remounting the sealing dock in an effective manner.
The sealing assembly according to the invention comprises a sealing element. The sealing element has an upper edge to which a sealing cushion is arranged. The sealing element is movable between a retracted non-sealing position and a sealing position. This movement is achieved with a drive that is configured for moving the sealing element between the at least two positions. In the retracted position the dock opening is open, while in the sealing position of the sealing element the sealing assembly seals against the leveler, shelter and/or rear bottom of a vehicle or trailer that is parked at a dock. In a presently preferred embodiment, when moving the sealing assembly from the sealing position to the retracted position, the sealing assembly is moved substantially below the floor of the dock. In this retracted position, the sealing assembly preferably extends in a substantial horizontal direction. The drive can be provided in different embodiments, including a hydraulic drive, electric drive, pneumatic drive, or combinations thereof. The deformable sealing cushion provides an effective sealing against the bottom of the cargo space of the vehicle or trailer. Due to the deformable character of the sealing cushion irregularities at the bottom of the cargo space can be dealt with effectively.
In one of the presently preferred embodiments the drive is configured for moving the sealing assembly from the retracted position, wherein it extends in a substantially horizontal position, to the sealing position, wherein it extends in a substantially vertical direction. Optionally, this may involve the use of a cylinder, weight, guide, motor and/or other suitable elements for achieving the desired movement.
According to the invention, the sealing assembly further comprises a sealing pressure element that is operatively connected to the sealing element. This sealing pressure element is configured for providing a substantially constant and continuous pressure from the sealing element on the vehicle. Due to this sealing pressure element it is possible to provide a sealing force of the sealing assembly against the bottom of the cargo space of the vehicle that is substantially constant and provides a continuous pressure. This guarantees an effective and efficient sealing against the bottom of the vehicle. Furthermore, it enables dealing with different types of vehicles and trailers. Especially differences in height between the ground floor and bottom end of the cargo space can be easily dealt with, while still providing an effective and efficient sealing functionality. Also, dealing with dynamic height differences during loading and/or unloading caused by the use of heavy equipment such as lifting trucks can be dealt with using the sealing assembly according to the present invention. This is achieved by the sealing assembly being capable of providing a substantially constant and continuous pressure by the sealing element against the vehicle, leveler and/or shelter (or other dock parts such as the bumpers). This substantially constant and substantially continuous pressure guarantees the effective sealing. Preferably, the sealing assembly according to the invention seals between the vehicle, leveler, shelter and dock (preferably the so-called iso-panel thereof).
Furthermore, when parked at the dock, vehicles and trailers are not parked exactly on the desired location. It is shown that the sealing assembly according to the invention is also capable of dealing with so-called parking position differences in an effective manner, while still providing sufficient sealing with a substantially constant and continuous pressure from the sealing element on the vehicle.
The sealing assembly according to the present invention improves the sealing and significantly reduces heat losses, especially in working/use conditions as it is capable of dealing with different vehicle types and even with different parking positions. In addition, it is capable of dealing with dynamic changes due to the use of heavy equipment during loading and/or unloading, for example.
A further advantage of the sealing assembly according to the invention is that it allows to seal against different vehicle types, including vehicles with a so-called tail lift to which is also referred to as liftgate. These lifts are positioned below the dock to enable using the dock equipment, such as a leveler and sealing equipment. Therefore, the sealing assembly according to the invention provides an effective sealing, even in case different vehicle types are handled at a dock.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sealing pressure element comprises one or more weights.
By providing one or more weights the sealing pressure element effectively provides a pressure of the sealing cushion to the vehicle that is substantially constant and substantially continuous. This further improves the robustness of the sealing functionality. It will be understood that also other embodiments using weights or as an alternative thereto, or in combination therewith, springs or similar elements, may improve this failsafe functionality. This also guarantees an effective and efficient sealing that maintains its effective sealing functionality over its entire lifetime. When activated the weights move the sealing element from the retracted to the sealing position.
Preferably, this sealing pressure element further comprises one or more pulleys. The use of these pulleys improves the capability of the sealing assembly to provide the substantially constant and continuous pressure from the sealing element on the vehicle on different types of vehicles, with different loads, different bottom positions, and is capable of dealing with the dynamic changes during loading and/or unloading. In fact, the combination of providing the sealing pressure element with weights and pulleys provides a type of continuous (dynamic) adjustment or adaptation to substantially maintain the desired pressure against the vehicle. This guarantees a fail-safe, effective and robust sealing, also during loading and/or unloading, for example.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the drive comprises a cylinder.
By providing a cylinder an effective drive can be accomplished. The cylinder can either be driven hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically. In a presently preferred embodiment the cylinder is placed below the dock opening such that no additional space is required.
In a presently preferred embodiment of the sealing assembly comprising such a cylinder it further comprises an engagement mechanism that is configured for engaging or connecting the cylinder to the sealing element such that it can be used between the actual end positions of the cylinder.
By providing an engagement mechanism the cylinder can be operated between its end positions. In a retracted position of the cylinder, the sealing assembly is kept in its retracted (lower) position. When activated, the drive moves the sealing assembly to its sealing (upper) position, for sealing against the rear of a vehicle, leveler and/or shelter. The engagement mechanism enables dealing with varying heights of the bottom of the cargo space relative to the dock floor and, more specifically, assures that the piston of the cylinder does not move with the sealing mechanism. Due to the use of the engagement mechanism the cylinder is capable of reaching its end position with maximum stroke, while the sealing element stops as it engages a structural element such as the cargo space bottom, leveler and/or shelter. This improves the failsafe functionality of the cylinder and the cylinder assembly as a whole.
In one of the presently preferred embodiments the cylinder is in a float condition when moving from the retracted to the sealing position. This allows the weights to drive the seal to the sealing position. In addition, the gravitational load (by the weights) will allow the sealing assembly to follow movement of the vehicles, for example during loading and unloading. This achieves an effective seal between vehicle, leveler, shelter and dock (iso-panel). The engagement mechanism allows the cylinder to move to its end position independent from the vehicle type. In addition, the engagement mechanism allows the sealing assembly to follow movement of the vehicle, for example during loading and/or unloading.
This engagement mechanism can be embodied in different forms as would be known to a skilled person. Furthermore, providing this engagement mechanism guarantees that a similar pressure is put on the sealing element irrespective of the vehicle type, for example. This improves the sealing efficiency.
In one of the presently preferred embodiments the cylinder is provided with a home position detector that is capable of detecting when the cylinder reaches this home position. For example, in case of a leakage, even a small leakage, this cylinder can be retracted to its home position in a guaranteed manner. This provides the safety of the sealing assembly.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing assembly comprises releasing connectors for releasable connecting the cushion to the upper edge.
Providing the releasing connectors enables a relatively easy mounting/dismounting of the cushions from the upper edge. This enables an efficient repair, maintenance, and also adjustment to different vehicle types. These connectors may involve a snap-on mechanism and/or can be slided over a guiding rail or shaft, and/or involve other suitable means. Optionally, a fixation means, such as a screw, can be applied to fixate the cushion at the desired location.
In a further preferred embodiment the cushion comprises separate cushion parts. This further improves mounting/dismounting the cushion. In addition, it renders transport and storage easier due to the reduced size of the individual cushion parts. Furthermore, in case of repair or replacement, only the relevant cushion parts need to be dismounted. This renders repair and maintenance more efficient and more cost effective.
In a further preferred embodiment the deformable sealing cushion comprises an inflatable cushion.
By providing an inflatable cushion the sealing functionality can be achieved effectively.
In a preferred embodiment the sealing assembly comprises a fan that is adapted for inflating the inflatable cushion. This fan is preferably provided attached to or mounted close to the frame of the sealing assembly. The advantage of using a separate fan is that a sort of stand-alone sealing assembly is achieved that only requires a power connection. This renders installation of a sealing assembly easier and, in addition, enables providing a sealing assembly to conventional docks.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the deformable sealing cushion comprises a foam cushion.
By providing a foam cushion an effective sealing can be achieved. Such foam cushion can be used as an alternative or in combination with an inflatable cushion as mentioned earlier. This also provides an effective sealing functionality.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the sealing element comprises a number of strips or lamellae.
Providing the sealing element with a number of strips or lamellae that are connected to each other, it is possible to move the sealing element from the sealing and substantially vertical position to a lower and substantially horizontal position. This enables an effective storage of the sealing element in a non-sealing home position without requiring additional space of the dock. In one of the presently preferred embodiments this use of strips or lamellae is applied in combination with a cylinder that can also be provided in a substantially horizontal position below the dock. This provides an effective sealing assembly that does not require additional space of the dock.
In a further preferred embodiment of the sealing assembly it further comprises a sensor which is configured for monitoring the position of the sealing assembly relative to the vehicle.
By providing a sensor it is possible to monitor the actual position of the sealing assembly relative to the vehicle. This improves control of the actual sealing functionality. Optionally, the sensor is coupled to a (central) controller and, if needed, appropriate action can be taken. In some embodiments such appropriate action may involve controlling fan speed, for example.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing assembly further comprises side seals configured for sealing the sides of the dock at the vehicle, and a top seal, configured for sealing the top of the upper edge of the dock against the vehicle.
Providing side seals and a top seal enables sealing the dock at all sides against the vehicle. This provides an efficient and effective sealing functionality. In fact, this provides an effective four-sided seal.
The invention also relates to a dock for loading and/or unloading a vehicle at the dock, wherein the dock comprises a sealing assembly according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, and further also relates to a distribution center comprising one or more of such docks.
The dock and/or distribution center provided with such dock provide(s) the same effects and advantages as described in relation the sealing assembly.
The invention further also relates to a method for sealing a vehicle at a dock, the method comprising the steps of:
The method provides the same effects and advantages as described in relation to the sealing assembly, dock and/or distribution center.
In a presently preferred embodiment a vehicle is parked at a dock. The drive, preferably involving weights, moves the sealing assembly towards its sealing position, preferably until it engages the vehicle, leveler and/or other dock part. Optionally, other (side and top) seals are activated. Bumpers are retracted and vehicle doors are opened. The leveler can now be positioned in the cargo space of the vehicle and the bottom seal can be moved to its sealing position.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Dock 2 (
Furthermore, dock 2 is provided with dock leveller 22 and two door recesses 24. Bottom 26 of cargo space 28 of vehicle 6 is positioned at a height H above driveway G. bottom seal detector 30 is in the illustrated embodiment provided at the front of dock 2. Below dock 2 tail lift room 31 is provided to enable docking of vehicles that have such a tail lift.
Sealing assembly 20 (
Sealing element 32 moves in guides 44 (
In one of the illustrated embodiments cylinder 58 (
In a retracted position (
In one of the presently preferred embodiments sealing cushion 40e (
In an alternative embodiment inflatable seal 40f (
After vehicle 6 is positioned at dock 2, engaged bumpers 10 (
In the illustrated embodiment, bumpers 10 are retracted after sealing system 14 has been activated/inflated. Furthermore, in the illustrated leveller 22 can be brought into loading/unloading position such that goods can be transferred between building 4 to cargo space 28 of vehicle 6. In the illustrated embodiment building 4 is provided with door recesses 24 that are configured to receive vehicle doors (not shown) of vehicle 6.
After goods have been loaded/unloaded from and/or to vehicle 6, leveller 22 is retracted and doors of vehicle 6 are closed. Seals 16, 18 and 20 are deactivated and/or retracted and vehicle 6 is allowed to ride away from dock 2.
The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022891 | Apr 2019 | NL | national |