Releasable locking device

• US 5,297,921 A
• Filed: 07/08/1993
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation (Rite-Hite Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Spence, David A., Springer, Scott L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEENAN, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US08/089,404
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 414/396, 414/401, 414/584, 410/7, 14/71.1, 14/71.7
• US Class Current: 414/401
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/003 Restraining movement of a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle

Abstract

A device for releasably locking a parked vehicle at a loading dock during loading and unloading thereof. The device is provided with a carriage mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the front wall of the dock and adapted to be yieldably engaged by a depending safety bar of the parked vehicle. A hook-like member is mounted on the carriage for independent rectilinear movement between an operative mode wherein the vehicle safety bar is lockingly engaged thereby and an inoperative safety bar-release mode. A power-actuated unit is mounted on the carriage and is connected by a linkage assembly to the hook-like member and effects movement thereof between the operative and inoperative modes. The linkage assembly includes a pair of pivotally connected links one of which has an end portion pivotally connected to the hook-like member and the other has an end portion pivotally connected to a lower portion of the carriage. One of the links is pivotally connected to a movable portion of the unit and when the latter is moving in one relative direction causes the linkage assembly to move the hook-like member to the operative mode. When the unit portion is moved in a second relative direction, the linkage assembly moves the hook-like member to the inoperative mode. A control assembly is operatively connected to the power-actuated unit and is adapted to selectively actuate and deactuate the power-actuated unit.

Claims

1. A releasable locking device for securing a parked vehicle to an adjacent structure, said device comprising a carriage having a first section adapted to be affixed to the adjacent structure, and a second section including an interior space and mounted for substantially vertical movement on said first section and biased to yieldably assume a predetermined elevated position, said second section being movable downwardly from said elevated position upon an external force of a predetermined magnitude being exerted on said second section;

a first means mounted on and carried with said carriage second section for relative substantially rectilinear movement with respect thereto between an operative vehicle-locking mode and an inoperative vehicle-release mode wherein said first means is housed within the interior space of the second section;

power-actuated second means mounted on, carried with, and housed within the interior space of said carriage second section for effecting movement of said first means between said operative and inoperative modes;

linkage assembly disposed on, carried with, and housed within the interior space of said carriage second section and interconnecting said first and second means, said assembly including a first linear link having one end portion thereof connected for pivotal movement with respect to said first means and depending therefrom, and a second linear link having one end portion thereof connected for pivotal movement with respect to a depending second end portion of said first linear link and having a second end portion connected for pivotal movement with respect to said carriage second section at a location spaced beneath said first means when the latter is in either of said modes, one of said links being connected intermediate said first and second ends to said second means, said connection providing pivotal movement with respect to said second means, said second means when actuated in one direction causing said links to assume and be retained in a predetermined angular relation whereby said first means is disposed in said operative mode; and

third means operatively connected to said second means for indicating the mode of said first means.

2. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the carriage second section projects outwardly from said first section in a direction towards the parked vehicle and said power-actuated second means has one end portion thereof connected for pivotal motion with respect to said second section and a second end portion connected for pivotal motion with respect to one of said linear links, said second means one end portion being outwardly and downwardly disposed relative to the second end portion thereof when the first means is in either mode.

3. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the carriage second section includes a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending plate members;

said power-actuated second means, said first means and said linkage assembly being disposed between said plate members.

4. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the third means includes a sensor member adjustably mounted on said first means;

when said first means is in said operative mode and in locking engagement with a depending safety bar mounted on the parked vehicle, said sensor member being adapted to be depressed by a safety bar of the parked vehicle and effect actuation of a signal means.

5. The releasable locking device of claim 4 wherein the third means includes a first switch means operatively connected to said signal means and actuated by said sensor member at least when said first means is in locking engagement with the vehicle safety bar.

6. The releasable locking device of claim 4 wherein said sensor member includes an elongate substantially horizontal segment adjustably mounted on said first means for depressing engagement with the vehicle safety bar when said first means is in the operative mode, said horizontal segment assuming a non-depressed raised position with respect to said first means when the latter is in an in operative mode;

and a second segment angularly disposed relative to said horizontal segment and proximate said carriage first section;

when said horizontal segment is in depressing engagement with the vehicle safety bar, said second segment is in activating engagement with a first switch carried on the carriage second section, said switch controlling a first operation of said signal means.

7. The releasable locking device of claim 6 wherein the horizontal and second segments of said sensor member are substantially integral with one another, when the horizontal segment is moved into depressing engagement by the vehicle safety bar, the second segment of said sensor member moves relative to said first means in a direction towards the carriage first section and into activating engagement with said switch.

8. The releasable locking device of claim 6 wherein said first means, when in an inoperative mode, engages a second switch carried on the carriage second section and spaced beneath said first switch;

said second switch being operative independently of said first switch and controlling a second operation of said signal means.

9. The releasable locking device of claim 4 wherein the third means includes a sensor member adjustably mounted on said first means to maintain a substantially parallel relation with respect to a top surface of the first means;

when said first means is in said operative mode and in locking engagement with a depending safety bar mounted on the parked vehicle, said sensor member being adapted to be depressed by a safety bar of the parked vehicle and effect actuation of a signal means.

10. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the power-actuated second means includes a piston-cylinder unit.

11. The releasable locking device of claim 10, wherein the piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder having one end thereof connected for pivotal movement with respect to a lower, outwardly extending segment of said carriage second section, and a piston rod projecting from a second end of said cylinder towards said carriage first section;

said rod having an exposed end portion connected for pivotal movement with respect to the first linear link of said linkage assembly.

12. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the carriage second section includes stop means engageable by said linkage assembly for limiting movement of said first means towards said operative mode.

13. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein the stop means is selectively adjustable relative to said carriage first section to effect variance of the limits of movement of said first means towards said operative mode.

14. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein the stop means limits the movement of said first means towards said inoperative mode.

15. The releasable locking device of claim 1 wherein the first means of the carriage second section includes a substantially hook-shaped member having an elongate first segment extending outwardly from said carriage first section;

said first segment having an exposed surface for engaging a depending safety bar of the parked vehicle when said first means is in said operative mode, said surface being substantially transverse to the direction of movement of section;

said hook-shaped member having a second segment extending in a substantially upright direction from a distal end portion of said first segment;

said second segment maintaining a substantially fixed distance from the carriage first section when said first means is moving between the operative and inoperative modes.