VEHICLE ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS FOR LOADING DOCKS

• US 20160009177A1
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niagara Bottling, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Brooks, Andrew, Stone, Bradley J., Senfleben, Jason, Logic, Jeff, Sveum, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/006 Centring or aligning a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves

Abstract

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a sensor system to detect a surface of a vehicle, where the sensor system obtains a feedback signal representative of a spatial orientation of the detected surface relative to a reference as the vehicle approaches a doorway of the loading dock. A controller detects a threshold deviation in the spatial orientation of the detected surface of the vehicle relative to the reference based on the feedback signal. A display varies an output signal in response to the detected deviation in the spatial orientation of the detected surface relative to the reference.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A vehicle alignment system for monitoring a vehicle at a loading dock, the vehicle alignment system comprising:

a sensor system to detect a RIG of the vehicle, the sensor system to obtain a feedback signal representative of a lateral position of the RIG relative to a reference as the vehicle approaches a doorway of the loading dock;

a controller to detect a threshold deviation in the lateral position of the RIG relative to the reference based on the feedback signal; and

a display to generate an indication representative of the deviation in the lateral position of the RIG relative to the reference based on the feedback signal.

10. The vehicle alignment system of claim 9, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one sensor mounted to a device that follows a vertical height of the RIG.

11. The vehicle alignment system of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a vehicle restraint.

12. The vehicle alignment system of claim 9, wherein the sensor system includes at least one sensor having a variable elevation corresponding to changes in elevation of the RIG.

13. The vehicle alignment system of claim 9, wherein the controller is to:

compare the feedback signal to a lateral orientation threshold; and

vary a blinking frequency of a light of the display in response to an extent to which the lateral position of the RIG deviates from a lateral position threshold.

14. The vehicle alignment system of claim 9, wherein the controller is to:

compare the feedback signal to a lateral position threshold; and

vary in color a light of the display in response to an extent to which the lateral position deviates from the lateral position threshold.

15. The vehicle alignment system of claim 9, wherein the display includes a light to provide a visual illusion of movement that is to vary based on the lateral position of the RIG.

16-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method to monitor a vehicle at a loading dock, the method comprising:

detecting a RIG of a vehicle approaching a doorway of the loading dock;

providing a feedback signal in response to sensing the RIG;

communicating the feedback signal to a controller; and

determining, via the controller, at least one of an angular orientation of the RIG or a lateral position of the RIG relative to a reference, based on the feedback signal.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising comparing at least one of an angular orientation of the RIG or a lateral position of the RIG relative to the reference.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein based on the comparison, displaying a first signal indicating that the at least one of an angular orientation of RIG or the lateral position of the RIG is within an alignment threshold.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein based on the comparison, displaying a second signal indicating that the at least one of the angular orientation of the RIG or the lateral position of the RIG is outside the alignment threshold.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing the at least one of the angular orientation of the RIG or the lateral position of the RIG to the reference comprises comparing the feedback signal to a Cartesian coordinate axis to determine if the at least one of the angular orientation of the RIG or the lateral position of the RIG is outside an alignment threshold.

25. A vehicle alignment system for monitoring a vehicle at a loading dock, the vehicle alignment system comprising:

a sensor system to detect a RIG of the vehicle, the sensor system to obtain a feedback signal representative of an angular orientation of the RIG relative to a reference as the vehicle approaches a doorway of the loading dock;

a controller to detect a threshold deviation in the angular orientation of the RIG relative to the reference based on the feedback signal; and

a display to generate an indication representative of the deviation in the angular orientation of the RIG relative to the reference based on the feedback signal.

26. The vehicle alignment system of claim 25, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one sensor mounted to a device that follows a vertical height of the RIG.

27. The vehicle alignment system of claim 26, wherein the device comprises a vehicle restraint.

28. The vehicle alignment system of claim 25, wherein the sensor system includes at least one sensor having a variable elevation corresponding to changes in elevation of the RIG.

29. The vehicle alignment system of claim 25, wherein the controller is to:

compare the feedback signal to an angular orientation threshold; and

vary a blinking frequency of a light of the display in response to an extent to which the angular orientation of the RIG deviates from the angular orientation threshold.

30. The vehicle alignment system of claim 25, wherein the controller is to:

compare the feedback signal to an angular orientation threshold; and

vary in color a light of the display in response to an extent to which the angular orientation deviates from the angular orientation threshold.

31. The vehicle alignment system of claim 25, wherein the display includes a light to provide a visual illusion of movement that is to vary based on the angular orientation of the RIG.