Tire-detecting wheel chock apparatus

• US 20050226705A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hendrickson USA LLC (The Boler Company)
• Original Assignee: Hendrickson USA LLC (The Boler Company)
• Inventors: Wilson, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/401
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 3/00 Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/005 the means engaging at least one wheel of the vehicle

Abstract

A wheel chock apparatus includes a chock body for chocking a tire of a vehicle such as a semi-trailer prior to loading or unloading the trailer by a towmotor at a docking bay. When properly positioned, the chock body prevents movement of the vehicle away from the docking bay during the loading or unloading operation. Such movement poses a possible hazard to the cargo being loaded or unloaded, to the equipment performing the loading/unloading operations, and to the operator of such equipment. The chock body includes a sensor mounted on or embedded in the body, which is capable of detecting a properly chocked tire. The sensor is electrically connected to a microcontroller programmed to control an indicator, such as a visual light or audible alarm, that will alert an equipment operator on the docking bay as to whether the driver of the vehicle has properly chocked the tires.

Claims

1. At a docking bay for loading and unloading a heavy-duty vehicle, an apparatus for chocking at least one tire of said vehicle to prevent motion of the vehicle away from said docking bay during said loading and unloading, said apparatus including:

a) chock means for wedging between said tire and a surface on which the tire is resting, to block motion of said tire and a wheel on which the tire is mounted away from said docking bay;

b) sensor means mounted on said chock means for detecting a predetermined selected component of said vehicle;

c) a programmable microcontroller, said microcontroller being electrically connected to said sensor; and

d) indicator means electrically connected to said microcontroller for indicating a condition selected from the group consisting of, a properly positioned chock means and an improperly positioned chock means, so that at least an individual performing said loading and unloading is alerted to said condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said sensor means is an inductive proximity sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said inductive proximity sensor has a weld field immune range of about 50 millimeters;

and in which said sensor detects the steel belt of said tire being chocked.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said indicator means is at least one light visible to said individual performing said loading and unloading.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said indicator means indicates said selected condition by an alert selected from the group consisting of, a visual alert, an audible alert, and opening or closing a door of said docking bay to allow or prevent, respectively, said loading or unloading to occur.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said indicator means alerts a driver of said vehicle of said selected condition.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which an electrical cable electrically connects said sensor to said microcontroller;

and in which a substantial portion of said electrical cable is intertwined with a tether chain attached at one of its ends to said chock means and at the other of its ends to said docking bay.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which a pair of chock means prevents forward motion of said vehicle;

in which a sensor is mounted on each one of said chock means; and

in which each one of said sensors is electrically connected to said microcontroller.