Abstract:
The invention relates to contact pins for providing an electrical connection between electronic devices. In one aspect the pin is adapted to be inserted into a hole of a circuit carrier and the pin comprises at least three portions; namely a contact termination portion, an electrical contact portion and a mechanical fastening portion. The mechanical fastening portion preferably allows a fastening of the contact pin without any soldering.
Abstract:
A hydraulic system for operating dock levelers, vehicle restraints, and other types of loading dock equipment includes one or more features that prolong the life of the hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic reservoir with a desiccant filled breather cap or a hermetically sealed pliable reservoir minimizes the hydraulic fluid's exposure to condensation and atmospheric moisture. The system can be used for prolonging the life of both biodegradable and- non-biodegradable hydraulic fluids. In some embodiments, the system includes an acceptably biodegradable fluid having a combination of properties that makes the fluid particularly suitable for loading dock equipment.
Abstract:
A closed loop reciprocating fluid circuit apparatus for mechanically powered and electromechanically powered dock levelers, which may be mounted at a forward edge of a dock leveler to selectively engage the dock leveler during pivotal downward movement of a deck, is provided. The apparatus may include a header extending from a fluid chamber (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder), where the header may selectively engage the deck, within the range of dock leveler heights, including below dock level and above dock level operating positions. The hydraulic cylinder may be vertically oriented and coupled to a fluid accumulation chamber, such that vertical movement of the header in response to the deck's downward movement causes fluid displacement into the accumulation chamber. That displacement may be in a horizontally oriented fluid chamber having a piston that reacts to the fluid transfer. Alternatively, that displacement may be into a resilient fluid chamber such as a bladder housed within a suitable container, or a fluid chamber such as a fluid reservoir with a breather, for air volume compensation. The hydraulic cylinder and header may be urged to the extended position, for example by extension springs acting on a piston within the fluid accumulation chamber, or by a pull chain or latch coupled to the cylinder and the upward movement of the deck. A flow control valve, e.g., a velocity fuse or solenoid valve, is connected between the cylinder and the fluid accumulation chamber to respond to free fall of the deck. Resetting to normal operation after free fall detection may occur after load removal from the deck and by movement of the cylinder to the opposite direction or by electrical control input to the control valve.
Abstract:
A wheel-activated vehicle restraint for use at a loading dock includes a wheel-blocking barrier that is selectively locked to a frame by a latching mechanism that engages an inverted gear rack. Components of the latching mechanism are arranged to prevent spreading apart upper and lower members of the frame members. The latching mechanism includes an alignment device that helps ensure that the teeth of a latching member positively engages the teeth of the gear rack, thus preventing the teeth from coming together peak-to-peak. An upper rail of the wheel restraint's frame includes a contoured leading edge that smoothly guides the lift of the wheel-blocking barrier from its stored position to its wheel-chocking position. A wheel support is used to prevent a vehicle's mud flap from getting pinched between the vehicle's wheel and a trigger assembly of the wheel restraint.
Abstract:
To permit below-dock level end-loading operations and to limit accidental freefalling of a dock leveler's deck, a dock leveler includes a unique support mechanism that employs one or more safety legs with an integral or operatively connected lip deflector. The support mechanism can be selectively moved to a deck-supporting position for freefall protection or moved to a lip-deflecting position for below dock level end-loading operations. In the deck-supporting position, the safety leg prevents the deck from falling an unsafe distance. In the lip-deflecting position, the lip deflector guides the descending motion of the dock leveler's lip extension plate so that the lip, while hanging pendant, can bypass and descend below a set of lip keepers.
Abstract:
An electrical connector containing one or more connector modules, each having at least one contact support and a multiplicity of contact elements connected to the contact support in a non-releasable manner. The contact elements are connected to the contact supports by way of plastic material injection molded around part of the contact elements.
Abstract:
A ferrule for optical waveguides comprises a plug housing (31) adapted to be mated with another plug housing in a direction of insertion (32). The plug housing (31) has at least one receiving portion (38) for receiving a multiple optical waveguide and is made from thermoplastic plastics material having elongate filler particles (47) admixed thereto. At least in a surrounding region of the receiving portion (38) the filler particles (47) are arranged such that their direction of longitudinal extension runs at least in part transversely to the direction of insertion (32).
Abstract:
A dock leveler for a truck loading dock includes a pivotal deck that is raised by an inflatable actuator. The actuator includes a pliable upper section that when inflated has a generally vertical cylindrical shape that can provide a heavy deck with substantial columnar support. The actuator also includes a relatively rigid base that is sealingly joined to the pliable upper section such that upper section and the rigid base define an inner chamber of air. A blower for inflating the actuator can be installed inside or outside the actuator. In some embodiments, a valve system reverses the airflow so that the blower can forcibly deflate and compress the actuator up against the bottom of the deck so that the area underneath the actuator can be cleaned.
Abstract:
A dock leveler or dock lift deck comprises two upper plates that are connected to create a permanently visible longitudinal joint that serves as a guideline for a forklift operator. In some cases the joint may have a variable width gap that helped in squaring up the deck during manufacturing. To draw attention to the guideline, the two upper plates may each have an embossed pattern that is shifted out of registry with each other.
Abstract:
The optical connector has a basic body formed with a coupling end face at which optical fibers terminate. At least one separate aligning element and the basic body are provided with mutually cooperating form-locking elements such that the aligning element latches in the basic body.