Truck supporting device

Claim 2

A truck supporting device comprising: guide track means having an inner end and an outer end, at least one chock member reciprocable along said guide track between said outer end and said inner end, and means to reciprocate said at least one chock member along said guide track, said means to reciprocate comprising a piston rod assembly including a stationary piston and piston rod and a barrel slidably mounted on said piston rod assembly, said barrel having opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably mounted front sheave means at said barrel inner end and rotatably mounted rear sheave means at said cylinder outer end, a stationary chain mounting member, front chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said front sheave means, rear chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said rear sheave means, and means to slidably reciprocate said barrel on said piston rod assembly whereby said chock member is reciprocated in said guide means.

Claim 3

A truck leveller comprising: a support platform having an inner end, an outer end, and an upper support surface, hinge means at said outer end, means for pivotally moving said platform about said outer end, at least one chock member reciprocable along said platform between said outer end and said inner end, means to reciprocate said at least one chock member along said platform, well means in said platform at said outer end to receive said at least one chock member below said upper support surface, and guide means for said at least one chock member extending from said well means towards said inner end, said at least one chock member being pivotable relative to said well means between a lowered configuration in which it is housed in said well means below said support surface, and a raised configuration in which it projects above said support surface, said means to reciprocate being adapted to pivot said at least one chock member between said lowered configuration and said raised configuration, said means to reciprocate comprising a piston rod assembly including a stationary piston and piston rod and a barrel slidably mounted on said piston rod assembly, said barrel having opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably mounted front sheave means at said barrel inner end and rotatably mounted rear sheave means at said cylinder outer end, a stationary chain mounting member, front chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said front sheave means, rear chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said rear sheave means, and means to slidably reciprocate said barrel on said piston rod assembly whereby said chock member is reciprocated in said guide means.

Claim 4

A truck leveller comprising: a support platform having an inner end, an outer end, and an upper support surface, hinge means at said outer end, means for pivotally moving said platform about said outer end, at least one chock member reciprocable along said platform between said outer end and said inner end, means to reciprocate said at least one chock member along said platform, well means in said platform at said outer end to receive said at least one chock member below said upper support surface, and guide means for said at least one chock member extending from said well means towards said inner end, said at least one chock member being pivotable relative to said well means between a lowered configuration in which it is housed in said well means below said support surface, and a raised configuration in which it projects above said support surface, said means to reciprocate being adapted to pivot said at least one chock member between said lowered configuration and said raised configuration, said means to reciprocate comprising a piston rod assembly including a stationary piston and piston rod and a barrel slidably mounted on said piston rod assembly, said barrel having opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably mounted front sheave means at said barrel inner end and rotatably mounted rear sheave means at said cylinder outer end, a stationary chain mounting member, front chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said front sheave means, rear chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said rear sheave means, and means to slidably reciprocate said barrel on said piston rod assembly whereby said chock member is reciprocated in said guide means.

Claim 5

A truck leveller according to claim 2, further including: a frame for said support platform, said support platform being hingedly mounted to aid frame by said hinge means at said outer end, and said piston rod assembly and stationary chain mounting member being fixedly mounted to said platform.

Claim 6

A truck leveller according to claim 3, wherein said at least one chock member comprises a pair of chock members in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship and said guide means comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel guide tracks for said chock members, each chock member comprising a said piston rod assembly.

Claim 7

A platform assembly comprising: a support platform having an inner end, an outer end and an upper support surface, elongate guide means in said support platform extending between said inner and outer ends, a chock reciprocable in said guide means, a drive mechanism for said chock comprising a hydraulic cylinder assembly including a stationary piston rod assembly and a barrel slidably mounted on said piston rod assembly, said barrel having opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably mounted front sheave means at said barrel inner end and rotatably mounted rear sheave means at said barrel outer end, a stationary chain mounting member, front chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said front sheave means, rear chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said rear sheave means, and means to slidably reciprocate said barrel on said piston rod assembly whereby said chock member is reciprocated in said guide means.

Claim 8

A platform assembly comprising: a support platform having an inner end, an outer end and an upper support surface, elongate guide means in said support platform extending between said inner and outer ends, a chock reciprocable in said guide means, a drive mechanism for said chock comprising a hydraulic cylinder assembly including a stationary piston rod assembly and a barrel slidably mounted on said piston rod assembly, said barrel having opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably mounted front sheave means at said barrel inner end and rotatably mounted rear sheave means at said barrel outer end, a stationary chain mounting member, front chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said front sheave means, rear chain means extending between said stationary chain mounting member and said chock member in engagement with said rear sheave means, and means to slidably reciprocate said barrel on said piston rod assembly whereby said chock member is reciprocated in said guide means.

Claim 9

A platform assembly according to claim 5, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel guide tracks, and including a said chock member mounted for reciprocation in which guide track.

Claim 10

A platform assembly according to claim 6, including a said piston rod assembly associated with each chock, said stationary chain mounting member and the piston rod assemblies being fixedly mounted to said support platform.

Claim 11

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking a vehicle against outward movement away from said dock face and including guide track means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface, and an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly above said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle to prevent movement of said vehicle away from said dock face, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means comprising a fluid cylinder unit including a cylinder member and a piston member, said members being mounted for movement relative to each other, a first of said members being fixed relative to said guide track means and a second of said members being operably connected to said wheel chock means, said fluid cylinder unit being constructed and arranged such that movement of said second member relative to said first member will move said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions.

Claim 12

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking a vehicle against outward movement away from said dock face and including guide track means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface, and an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly above said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle to prevent movement of said vehicle away from said dock face, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means comprising a fluid cylinder unit including a cylinder member and a piston member, said members being mounted for movement relative to each other, a first of said members being fixed relative to said guide track means and a second of said members being operably connected to said wheel chock means, said fluid cylinder unit being constructed and arranged such that movement of said second member relative to said first member will move said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 8, wherein said fluid cylinder unit is mounted beneath the level of said supporting surface.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 8 or 9, and including pivot means for pivotally mounting said wheel chock means relative to said guide track means.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 10, and said drive means includes a flexible drive member being disposed in a loop configuration and connected to said wheel chock means, a portion of said flexible drive member being fixed to said guide track means, said second member being operably connected to said flexible drive member.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 11, wherein the connection of said flexible drive member to said wheel chock means is spaced from the axis of said pivot means.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 11, wherein said flexible drive member comprises a chain.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 8, 9, 11, 12 or 13, wherein said first member comprises said piston member and said second member comprises said cylinder member.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 11, and including first and second support elements mounted on said second member for supporting said flexible drive member in movement.

Claim 20

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking a vehicle against outward movement away from said dock face and including guide track means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface, and an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly above said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle to prevent movement of said vehicle away from said dock face, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means including a flexible drive member disposed in a generally endless configuration and attached to said wheel chock means, connecting means for connecting a portion of said flexible drive member to a fixed location, said drive means also including a fluid cylinder unit operably connected to said flexible drive member at a location spaced between said connecting means and the attachment of said drive member to said wheel chock means, said fluid cylinder unit being constructed and arranged such that operation of said cylinder unit will move

Claim 21

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking a vehicle against outward movement away from said dock face and including guide track means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface, and an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly above said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle to prevent movement of said vehicle away from said dock face, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means including a flexible drive member disposed in a generally endless configuration and attached to said wheel chock means, connecting means for connecting a portion of said flexible drive member to a fixed location, said drive means also including a fluid cylinder unit operably connected to said flexible drive member at a location spaced between said connecting means and the attachment of said drive member to said wheel chock means, said fluid cylinder unit being constructed and arranged such that operation of said cylinder unit will move

Claim 22

17 said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions. 17. In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a driveway extending outwardly from said dock face, said driveway having a recess therein, support means for supporting a vehicle and disposed in said recess, mounting means for mounting the support means for vertical movement in said recess, operating means for moving said support means vertically in said recess, guide track means in said support means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle across said support means and an operative position where said wheel chock means extend upwardly above said support means and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle located on said support means, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving the wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means including a first fluid cylinder unit comprising a cylinder member and a piston member, said members being mounted for movement relative to each other, a first of said members being connected to said support means and a second of said members being operably connected to said wheel chock means, said members being constructed and arranged such that relative movement of said members will move said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions.

Claim 23

17 said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions. 17. In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a driveway extending outwardly from said dock face, said driveway having a recess therein, support means for supporting a vehicle and disposed in said recess, mounting means for mounting the support means for vertical movement in said recess, operating means for moving said support means vertically in said recess, guide track means in said support means, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means between a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle across said support means and an operative position where said wheel chock means extend upwardly above said support means and is disposed to engage a wheel of a vehicle located on said support means, and drive means operably connected to said wheel chock means for moving the wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions, said drive means including a first fluid cylinder unit comprising a cylinder member and a piston member, said members being mounted for movement relative to each other, a first of said members being connected to said support means and a second of said members being operably connected to said wheel chock means, said members being constructed and arranged such that relative movement of said members will move said wheel chock means between the storage and operative positions.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 17, wherein said mounting means comprises pivot means for mounting said support means for pivotal movement in a vertical plane.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 18, wherein said pivot means is disposed at the end of said support means facing away from said dock face.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 17, 18 or 19, where4in said operating means comprises a second fluid cylinder unit intereconnecting said driveway and said support means.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 17, wherein said first fluid cylinder unit is carried by said support means.

Claim 28

The combination of claim 17, wherein said support means is provided with a recess to receive said wheel chock means when in said storage position, said guide track means extending from said recess toward said dock face.

Claim 29

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking the vehicle against outward movement from said dock face, guide track means carried by said supporting surface and extending longitudinally outward from said dock face, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means from a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface to an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly from said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of the vehicle, flexible drive means including a first section and second section, one end of said first section being connected to said wheel chock means and extending from said wheel chock means in a first direction toward said dock face and the opposite end of said first section being fixed, one end of said second section being connected to said wheel chock means and extending from said wheel chock means in a second direction away from said dock face and the opposite end of said second section being fixed, first support means for supporting said first section in movement, second support means for supporting said second section in movement, and drive means operably connected to said first and second support means for moving said first and second support means in unison to move said flexible drive means and thereby move said wheel chock means between said storage and operative positions.

Claim 30

In combination, a loading dock having a vertical dock face and a vehicle supporting surface extending outwardly from said dock face, vehicle locking means mounted on said supporting surface for locking the vehicle against outward movement from said dock face, guide track means carried by said supporting surface and extending longitudinally outward from said dock face, wheel chock means mounted for movement on said guide track means from a storage position where said wheel chock means will not obstruct movement of a vehicle on said supporting surface to an operative position where said wheel chock means extends upwardly from said supporting surface and is disposed to engage a wheel of the vehicle, flexible drive means including a first section and second section, one end of said first section being connected to said wheel chock means and extending from said wheel chock means in a first direction toward said dock face and the opposite end of said first section being fixed, one end of said second section being connected to said wheel chock means and extending from said wheel chock means in a second direction away from said dock face and the opposite end of said second section being fixed, first support means for supporting said first section in movement, second support means for supporting said second section in movement, and drive means operably connected to said first and second support means for moving said first and second support means in unison to move said flexible drive means and thereby move said wheel chock means between said storage and operative positions.