Dock leveler safety supports

摘要

A dock leveler having safety supports includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, where a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the deck are proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position and the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position. A front edge of the deck is above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration. A first deck obstruction is movable relative to a deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position, where the first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration and the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration. The first deck obstruction extends farther beyond the outer perimeter of the deck when the first deck obstruction is in the secured position than when the first deck obstruction is in the unrestrained position.

主权项

1. A dock leveler installable at a loading dock having a platform, the platform defining a pit having a pit width as measured in a lateral direction, the dock leveler comprising:
a deck having an outer perimeter defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the rear edge being proximate the platform and the front edge being movable relative to the platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position, the deck residing at least partially in the pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position, the front edge being above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration; a first deck obstruction being movable relative to the deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position, the first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration, the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration, the first deck obstruction to extend farther beyond the outer perimeter of the deck when the first deck obstruction is in the secured position than when the first deck obstruction is in the unrestrained position; and an obstruction actuator operatively coupled to the first deck obstruction to move the first deck obstruction between the secured position and the unrestrained position.