GB2590703A

GB2590703A - Loading bay seals

Info

Publication number: GB2590703A
Application number: GB1919401.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aitken John
Original assignee: Fen Bay Services Ltd
Current assignee: Fen Bay Services Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-30
Filing date: 2019-12-30
Publication date: 2021-07-07
Also published as: GB201919401D0

Abstract

A loading bay seal comprises an elongate resiliently-deformable member mounted on a frame at least partially surrounding an opening to a loading bay. The member presents a first sealing face 6c parallel to the plane of the opening and a second sealing face 6d extending at an angle to the first sealing face 6c such that when the end of a vehicle body engages the first sealing face 6c to compress the member, the second sealing face 6d is caused to deflect into engagement with a side of the vehicle body. The angle between the first and second face may be obtuse, it may be less than 135 degrees. There may be a recess 50 at the junction between the first 6c and second 6d sealing faces, comprising a slot that bisects the angle extending less than fifty percent of the thickness of the member. The member may be mounted around the top and two sides of the loading bay frame.

Description

LOADING BAY SEALS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a loading bay seal, suitable for use in reducing heat transfer around a vehicle at a loading bay.

Background to the Invention

The distribution of goods, usually by road vehicles, typically involves goods being transferred into vehicles from, and out of vehicles into a building such as a distribution centre via loading bays. These are typically provided with a bay door with a shutter or other closure, the vehicle body being backed up to the opening. The building will either be heated or cooled, according to the type of goods and the external weather conditions, and leaving the bay closure in its open position during the loading operation allows heat transfer by airflow around the end of the vehicle.

In order to minimise heat transfer in this way, a bay door may be provided with a resiliently-compressible seal around the frame of the opening against which the rear opening of the vehicle abuts. Such seals are configured as rectangular-section strips of expanded plastics or rubber with a surface sealing layer of plastics or the like.

A problem with this type of seal is that, if the rear of the vehicle body is not all in the same plane, for example because a tail lift is fitted, a complete seal cannot readily be achieved, and there is a risk of damage to the seal coating layer through over-compression of the seal. A further problem is that the vehi-cle needs to be correctly aligned with the opening to achieve a seal.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a loading bay seal, comprising an elongate resiliently-deformable member mounted on a frame surrounding an opening to a loading bay, the member presenting a first sealing face parallel to the plane of the opening and a second sealing face extending at an angle to the first sealing face such that when the end of a vehicle body engages the first -2 -sealing face to compress the member, the second sealing face is caused to deflect into engagement with a side of the vehicle body.

The second sealing surface is preferably at an obtuse angle to the first sealing surface, suitably less than 120°.

The resiliently-deformable member preferably comprises an expanded elastomer with a continuous water-impermeable surface thereon.

In one embodiment, the member is provided with a recess at the junction of the first and second sealing faces. The recess is preferably in the form of a slot extending into the member. The slot may extend into the member to bisect the angle between the first and second sealing surfaces. The slot preferably extends for less than 50% of the thickness of the member beneath the first sealing surface.

The elongate member is typically mounted along the top of the frame and down the two sides; it is not usually practical to provide a seal along the lower edge of the opening.

The seal of the invention significantly reduces the passage of air around the end of a vehicle at a loading bay, thereby reducing energy losses through the escape of heat from a warmed environment or the ingress of heat to a cooled environment. The seal is simple to install and can be fitted as a re-placement for existing rectangular seals.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical loading bay with a seal accord-ing to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the seal shown in Figure Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to that of Figure 2, showing a vehicle body being brought into engagement with the seal; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 3, showing the effect of compression of the seal by the vehicle body; and -3 -Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an alternative configuration of seal to that of Figures 1 to 4.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, the loading bay comprises a dock 1 providing a loading surface 2 at the height of the deck in a lorry or trailer vehicle 7 and with an opening 3 into the warehouse, typically closable by a shutter. A seal structure 4 comprises a steel frame 5 surrounding three sides of the opening 3 with elongate strips 6 of resiliently-deformable material, for example an elastomer such as a silicone rubber, attached to the surface thereof, for example by adhe-sive. The seal structure 4 is configured to receive the end face of a vehicle body reversed into contact with it. As may be seen from Figure 2, the strips 6 have a broadly L-shaped profile, with a generally rectangular section base 6a and a flange 6b projecting forward from the base. The strip thus presents a first sealing face 6c on the base 6a and a second sealing face 6d on the flange 6b, with an obtuse angle between them, suitably of less than 135°, typically around 124°. The second sealing face 6d has at its end remote from the first sealing face 6c a thin flexible fin 6e upstanding therefrom and generally parallel to the first sealing face 6c, the fin 6e serving to enhance the seal with the side of the vehicle 7. The strip will typically project from the face of the frame by at least 200mm and may extend up to 1000mm.

The seal structure 4 is configured so as to receive the vehicle body 7 so that the flanges 6b are close to the vehicle body sides. Figure 3 shows in plan the vehicle body 7 being reversed towards the loading bay. The body then con-tacts the sealing strips 6, and as the base 6a of each strip is compressed by contact with the vehicle body 7, the flanges 6b are caused to bend inwardly so that the second sealing faces 6d move into contact with the vehicle sides, substantially closing off any air gaps between the vehicle body and the opening, as illustrated in Figure 4. A similar seal may, if required, be provided along the top of the frame 5 to seal with the top of the vehicle body 7.

The strips 6 are suitably formed by extrusion of expanded material and are provided with a layer of unexpanded plastics material on each external sur- -4 -face to ensure sealing contact with the vehicle and to protect the seals against damage and wear and the ingress of water.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified version of the seal in which an inwardly-directed slot 50 is formed at the junction between the first and second sealing 5 faces 6c and 6d to increase the tendency of the flange 6b to bend inwardly as the base 6a is compressed by contact with the vehicle body. -5 -

Claims

CLAIMS1. A loading bay seal, comprising an elongate resiliently-deformable member mounted on a frame at least partially surrounding an opening to a loading bay, the member presenting a first sealing face parallel to the plane of the opening and a second sealing face extending at an angle to the first sealing face such that when the end of a vehicle body engages the first sealing face to compress the member, the second sealing face is caused to deflect into engagement with a side of the vehicle body.
2. A loading bay seal according to Claim 1, wherein the second seal-ing surface is at an obtuse angle to the first sealing surface.
3. A loading bay seal according to Claim 2, wherein the obtuse angle is less than 135°.
4. A loading bay seal according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the resili- ently-deformable member comprises an elastomer with a continuous water-impermeable surface thereon.
5. A loading bay seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the member is provided with a recess at the junction of the first and second sealing faces.
6. A loading bay seal according to Claim 5, wherein the recess is in the form of a slot extending into the member.
7. A loading bay seal according to Claim 6, wherein the slot extend-ing into the member bisects the angle between the first and second sealing surfaces.
8. A loading bay seal according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the slot ex-tends for less than 50% of the thickness of the member beneath the first sealing surface.
9. A loading bay seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate member is mounted around the top and two sides of the frame.