IE86424B1

IE86424B1 - An automatic docking system for trailers

Info

Publication number: IE86424B1
Application number: IE20130046A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Aidan Lawler
Original assignee: Aidan Lawler
Priority date: 2013-02-13
Filing date: 2013-02-13
Publication date: 2014-08-13
Also published as: EP2956391A1; IE20130046A1; WO2014125040A1

Abstract

This invention relates to an automatic docking system for trailers at loading bays. In particular, the invention provides a moving platform to guide the trailer back into the loading bay, a locking arm which locks the trailer in position, a dock seal which adjusts automatically to suit different height trailers and a series of rollers and a central pivot on the dock seal which allows it to move up and down with the trailer when it is being loaded or unloaded. The central pivot allows the dock seal to move in and out at the top and the bottom so it will be parallel with the back of the trailer at all times. This will ensure that a better seal is obtained between the building and the trailer and also reduce wear on the dock seal. The advantage of this invention is that it provides a safe and automatic system for guiding trailers into the loading bay. <Figure 4>

Description

An Automatic Docking System for Trailers l he invention relates to an Automatic Docking System tor docking trailers at loading bays, All trailers arc loaded and unloaded at a loading bay. A typical loading bay consists of a Dock Leveller, Door and Dock Seal. The Dock Leveller sits on the rear of the trailer and allows the forklift to bring product in and out of the trailer. The dock seal is like a cushion around the door opening and forms a seal between the trailer and the .I· building. Please see Fig 1 for a typical loading bay.

To fully understand rriy Automatic docking System, I will need to demonstrate the standard operation procedure and the problems encountered at all loading bays at present. These are outlined below.

Operating procedure: (Ref FIG 1,) The truck backs into the loading bay and hits off the two rubber buffers (01) positioned beside the Dock Leveller (02). The truck also compresses the Dock Sett! (03) to form a seal between it and the building. The sectional door (04) is then opened by tlie operator and the adjustable head dock (05) seal is then lowered into the correct position by the operator. The dock leveller is then raised and the front lip (06) is raised. The dock leveller is then lowered onto the back of the trailer. The forklift can now load or unload the trailer.

Problems • Different height trailers. The rubber buffers (01, Fig 1) are generally positioned at a height of 13(JOmni. Some trailers or containers are 1400-1500mm high. This means that they will miss the buffers and hit tlie building instead • Damage to tire dock seal anti buffers. The dock seal (OS, Fig 2) can get damaged if the back of the trailer is not parallel to the dock seal. This means that the top or bottom of the seal will be compressed too much and this will cause damage to it. See Fig.2. The dock seal and buffers can also be damaged when the ibrkliff enters the trailer. When the extra weight goes onto the back of the trailer, it will bounce up and down. This motion will cause damage to both the dock seal and the buffers.

• Adjusting the dock seal. The head of the dock seal (05, Fig 1) is lowered by the operator to suit different height trailers. This is done manually but it does not give a perfect seal at the top of the trailer which means that water can get into the loading hay • Drive off. One of the main safety hazards associated with loading bays is when a truck driver drives away from the loading bay with the trailer attached to the truck even though it is not safe to do so. This means that tire forklift driver is in danger and a serious or fatal accident could happen. See Fig. 3.

It is the object of this invention to provide an Automatic Docking System which will eliminate the problems and hazards already associated with existing loading bays According to tire invention there is provided an Automatic Docking System that will lock the trailer in position,, guide the trailer into the loading bay, automatically adjust the head height of the dock seal and more important it will act as a wheel lock which prevents the trailer from pulling awray from tire loading bay unless it is safe to do so.

The method of operation ofthe Automatic Docking System for Trailers is as follows..-.

Refer to FIG 4. for details....

Refer to FIG 5. for a scaled view of die machine.,..

Refer to FIG ΰ. for details of the Dock Seal The truck and trailer (1) back into the loading bay as normal, when the traffic lights (2) are turned GREEN. The wheel guides (3) at both sides of tire machine assist the driver in locating the trailer in the correct position. Tire back wheels (4) of the trailer back up onto the platform (5) and hit the spring loaded mechanical stops (6) on tire machine platform. At this point the trailer is positioned approx 800mm from the loading bay. This activates a limit switch (7) which turns the traffic lights (2) RED and tells the driver to stop. This also turns on the flashing beacon (8) to indicate that the machine is now in operation and to stand clear. The locking cylinders (9) under the platform (5) extend wirich raise the locking mechanism (10) and locks both back wheels (4) and the trailer in position.

The two vertical cylinders (11) on the Dock Seal (12) retract which lower the seal until the arm (13) touches the top of the trailer (1). This indicates that the dock seal is in the correct position for this particular height of trailer. The Dock seal (12) is operated using a series of rollers (la) and pivot point (2a) as shown in FIG 6. The inner folded frame (3 a) moves up and down on the rollers (la) and the internal box section frame (4a) is allowed to swivel about the pivot point (2a). Tire Dock Seal is fixed to the external wall of the building by a folded steel section (5a) which acts as a support for the rollers (la). This al low's the dock seal (12) to move up and down with the trailer (I) and also to swivel in and out to make even contact with the back of the trailer.

The two horizontal cylinders (14) under the platform (5) now extend and this will move the trailer back into the loading bay (15), The platforms (5) are mounted on skates (i 6) which carry the weight of the trailer and allow the platform (5) to move freely. Each skate has a load capacity of 4000kg. The skates roll on two steel sections ¢23) which run the full length of the machine. This will support the load and allow the skates (16) to run smoothly. The two back wheels (4) on tire trailer (1) are locked on the platforms (5) but the other wheels are free to roll.

The horizontal cylinders (14) continue to guide the trader (1) into the loading bay (15) until the trailer compresses the dock seal (Ϊ 2) by the required amount. At tiris point the trailer activates a sensor (17) bulk into the dock seal (12) and this stops the power pack (18). The trailer (I) is now positioned correctly in the loading bay (15). The two vertical cylinders (11) on the dock seal (12) retract fully which will allow it Lo 11 oat up and down freely with the trailer. The pressure of the trailer against the foam dock seal (12) will keep the seal in position. The .Photo eyes (19) which ate located in front of the loading bay will provide added safety. If a person walks in between the truck (1) and tire Loading Bay (15) when the truck is moving towards the building, the power pack (18) will stop and prevent the trailer from hitting the person.

The trailer (1) is now locked in position in the loading bay. This system will also prevent the driver from driving away from the loading bay. The Sectional door (20) is now opened and the dock leveller engaged and the trailer can now be either loaded/unloaded.

When the loading/unloading is complete: The dock leveller (15) is disengaged and the door (20) is closed. Tire operator then presses a button on tire control panel ¢21) beside the door which extend the two vertical (11) cylinders on the dock seal (12) until they meet the ground. This will prevent the dock seal (12) from dropping when the trailer (1) pulls away. 'The two locking cylinders (9) retract which remove the locking mechanism (10) from in front of the two back wheels (4) of the trailer (I) and the traffic light (2) turns to GREEN, This tells the driver that it is now safe to drive away from tlie loading bay (15). The flashing beacon (8) turns on again to indicate that the machine is in operation. This button is interlocked with the door and tlie dock leveller which means that it will only operate when the dock leveller is in the parked position and the door is closed.

The driver cau now drive away safely. The two sets of photo eyes (22) which are located at each side of the trailer (1) will make contact because the trailer is gone.

This will turn the traffic light (2) back to RED to indicate that the loading bay ¢15) can not be used, 'l'hc two horizontal cylinders (14) will now retract and tire platforms (5) will start to move back into their original position. At this point the 2 vertical cylinders (11) on the dock seal (12) extend fully to raise the dock seal (12) up to the start position. When this is complete, the flashing beacons (8) turn off and the Traffic Γfight (2) turns to GREEN again.

'The Loading Bay (15) is now ready for operation again.

Claims

1. 5 Claims ]. An Automated Docking system lor trailers comprising of: 1 ¢) traffic lights to tell the drivers when it is safe to operate the machine; wheel guides to guide the driver correctly into the loading bay; a steel platform for the truck to back up on to; a spring loaded stop mechanism to stop the trailer when it is reversing into the loading hay, this mechanism will activate a sensor when the trailer is in the correct position; 20 a locking mechanism used to lock the back wheels of the trailer on the machine; a hydraulic power pack and control panel to operate the machine; 25 two hydraulic cylinders to raise the locking mechanism in from of the two back wheels of tbe trailer; a dock seal to act as a cushion between the trailer and the building; 30 two hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the dock seal to suit different height trailers; a series of rollers fitted to the dock seal to allow it to move up and down; a centre pivot on the dock seal to allow ii ro move in and out on the top and bottom so as to make perfect contact with the trailer if the trailer is off level an sensor to touch the top of the trailer and position the dock seal at the correct 5 height; two cylinders to move the platform and the trailer back into the loading bay and move the platforms back to the start position when the trailer is gone; 10 a series of skates to allow the carry tire w r eighL of the platforms and tire trailer and allow tire platforms to move freely; two steel sections that run the full length of the machine to support the skates; 15 a sensor in the dock seal to stop the trailer when it has compressed the sock seal sufficiently; a set of photo eyes to stop the machine if a person walks in behind the trailer when the machine is in operation; two sets of photo eyes to tell the machine when the trailer has pulled away from the loading bay anti to return the platforms to the start position.