Loading dock vehicle ventilation system
First Claim
1. A loading dock vehicle ventilation system for ventilating a vehicle storage compartment part of a vehicle docking at loading dock, said vehicle storage compartment defining a vehicle platform, a pair of vehicle sidewalls extending from said vehicle platform, a vehicle front wall also extending from said vehicle platform and a vehicle rear opening positioned substantially opposite said vehicle front wall and leading into said vehicle storage compartment, said loading dock defining a dock platform having a docking edge, said loading dock also defining a dock ceiling and a dock wall extending from said dock platform adjacent said docking edge to said dock ceiling, said dock wall separating the interior environment of said loading dock from the exterior environment, said interior environment defining a dock upper section located substantially adjacent said dock ceiling and a dock lower section located substantially adjacent said dock platform, said dock wall being provided with a dock aperture extending therethrough, said dock aperture defining a pair of opposed dock aperture side peripheral edges and a dock aperture upper peripheral edge, the interior environment of said loading dock being filled with a volume of loading dock air, said ventilation system comprising:
- a blower component defining a blower inlet and a blower outlet for drawing a ventilating air volume of said volume of loading dock air through said blower inlet and blowing said ventilating air volume through said blower outlet;
an outlet duct in fluid communication with said blower outlet, said outlet duct defining a discharge end, said outlet duct being configured, sized and positioned so that said discharge end is positioned adjacent said dock aperture allowing said discharge end to discharge said ventilating air volume though said dock aperture.
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Abstract
A loading dock vehicle ventilation system for ventilating vehicles such as semi-trailer or the like docking at conventional loading docks. The ventilation system includes a blower component and an outlet duct in fluid communication with the blower outlet. The outlet duct defines a discharge end positioned adjacent the loading dock door allowing the discharge end to discharge air emanating from the loading dock area into though the loading dock door and into the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention at least two outlet ducts provided with corresponding outlet valves are connected to a single blower component for selectively ventilating vehicles docked at adjacent docking doors. Air inlet ducts provided with inlet valves are strategically positioned so as to allow for selective intake of air having specific properties.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A loading dock vehicle ventilation system for ventilating a vehicle storage compartment part of a vehicle docking at loading dock, said vehicle storage compartment defining a vehicle platform, a pair of vehicle sidewalls extending from said vehicle platform, a vehicle front wall also extending from said vehicle platform and a vehicle rear opening positioned substantially opposite said vehicle front wall and leading into said vehicle storage compartment, said loading dock defining a dock platform having a docking edge, said loading dock also defining a dock ceiling and a dock wall extending from said dock platform adjacent said docking edge to said dock ceiling, said dock wall separating the interior environment of said loading dock from the exterior environment, said interior environment defining a dock upper section located substantially adjacent said dock ceiling and a dock lower section located substantially adjacent said dock platform, said dock wall being provided with a dock aperture extending therethrough, said dock aperture defining a pair of opposed dock aperture side peripheral edges and a dock aperture upper peripheral edge, the interior environment of said loading dock being filled with a volume of loading dock air, said ventilation system comprising:
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a blower component defining a blower inlet and a blower outlet for drawing a ventilating air volume of said volume of loading dock air through said blower inlet and blowing said ventilating air volume through said blower outlet;
an outlet duct in fluid communication with said blower outlet, said outlet duct defining a discharge end, said outlet duct being configured, sized and positioned so that said discharge end is positioned adjacent said dock aperture allowing said discharge end to discharge said ventilating air volume though said dock aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20)
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16. A method for ventilating a vehicle storage compartment part of a vehicle docking at loading dock, said vehicle storage compartment defining a vehicle platform, a pair of vehicle sidewalls extending from said vehicle platform, a vehicle front wall also extending from said vehicle platform and a vehicle rear opening positioned substantially opposite said vehicle front wall and leading into said vehicle storage compartment, said loading dock defining a dock platform having a docking edge and a dock wall extending from said dock platform adjacent said docking edge, said dock wall separating the interior environment of said loading dock from the exterior environment, said dock wall being provided with a dock aperture extending therethrough, the interior environment of said loading dock being filled with a volume of loading dock air, said method comprising the step of:
drawing a ventilating air volume of said volume of loading dock air and blowing said ventilating air volume through said dock wall and through said vehicle rear opening when said vehicle is docked at said loading dock so as to discharge said ventilating air volume into said vehicle storage compartment.
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18. In combination with a loading dock defining a dock platform having a docking edge, said loading dock also defining a dock ceiling and a dock wall extending from said dock platform adjacent said docking edge to said dock ceiling, said dock wall separating the interior environment of said loading dock from the exterior environment, said interior environment defining a dock upper section located substantially adjacent said dock ceiling and a dock lower section located substantially adjacent said dock platform, said dock wall being provided with a dock aperture extending therethrough, said dock aperture defining a pair of opposed dock aperture side peripheral edges and a dock aperture upper peripheral edge, the interior environment of said loading dock being filled with a volume of loading dock air, a loading dock vehicle ventilation system for ventilating a vehicle storage compartment part of a vehicle docking at loading dock, said vehicle storage compartment defining a vehicle platform, a pair of vehicle sidewalls extending from said vehicle platform, a vehicle front wall also extending from said vehicle platform and a vehicle rear opening positioned substantially opposite said vehicle front wall and leading into said vehicle storage compartment, said ventilating system comprising:
- a blower component defining a blower inlet and a blower outlet for drawing a ventilating air volume of said volume of loading dock air through said blower inlet and blowing said ventilating air volume through said blower outlet;
an outlet duct in fluid communication with said blower outlet, said outlet duct defining a discharge end, said outlet duct being configured, sized and positioned so that said discharge end is positioned adjacent said dock aperture allowing said discharge end to discharge said ventilating air volume though said dock aperture.
- a blower component defining a blower inlet and a blower outlet for drawing a ventilating air volume of said volume of loading dock air through said blower inlet and blowing said ventilating air volume through said blower outlet;
Specification