| (11) | EP 3 974 357 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LOADING AND UNLOADING PLATFORM WITH SUPPORT |
| (57) Loading platform with a support for a supporting structure for the platform, comprising a foot with a foot upper part and a supporting part with a supporting part lower part, whereby the supporting part lower part is provided onto the foot upper part, with on the upper side of the supporting part lower part a cover part, with in the cover part, supporting part lower part, and foot upper part a lead-through opening with a fastening means through it, whereby the lower side of the cover part, the upper side and the lower side of the supporting part lower part, and the upper side of the foot upper part are flat shaped, such that the supporting part lower part is slidable with respect to the cover part and the foot upper part, with the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part being substantially larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the foot upper part, such, that the fastening means limits the path of movement of the supporting part lower part relative to the foot upper part.
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[0002] A loading and unloading platform is a provision at or in the hall of a building, for example a distribution center, where a truck can load and unload. It comprises a platform with a bridge plate or dock leveller therein to bridge a difference in height and distance between a loading platform and the floor of a truck. Often the platform with the bridge plate or dock leveller is taken up within the hall of the building.
[0003] Sometimes it is not possible to install a loading and unloading platform within the hall of a building. In such a case the platform with the bridge plate can be positioned outside the building in front of the hall. A loading and unloading platform that is positioned outside in front of the hall can further be provided with two walls that are placed on platform parts at both sides of the bridge plate, a roof and at the front side a dock shelter. In such a case one speaks of a dock house.
[0004] A loading and unloading platform that is positioned outside in front of a building rests on two or more supports or legs, that are connected at the lower side onto the driveway by means of a foot and at the upper side are connected to or underneath the platform, or to or underneath a supporting structure onto which the platform with the bridge plate or dock leveller rests. The platform or the supporting structure in this way is fixedly connected onto the driveway.
[0005] It happens that the driveway is susceptible to movements relative to the building. This for example occurs with distribution centers provided with a storey, whereby the floor of the storey is susceptible to horizontal movements with respect to the building. In this situation it is not advisable to fasten the loading and unloading platform fixedly to the floor of the storey.
[0006] It is known to support, in that situation, the supporting structure of the loading and unloading platform, for example that of a dock house, by supports with feet that are provided with a steel plate, that is slidable onto an underground, by means of which the movements of the floor can be absorbed.
[0007] This construction has the drawback that the loading and unloading platform during strong wind or under vertical forces by a docked truck can be raised or "lifted".
[0009] The loading and unloading platform according to the invention to that end is characterized, in that one or more supports are provided, whereby the support is provided with a foot upper part having an upper side, and further comprises a supporting part, that is to be connected to or underneath the supporting structure, which supporting part is provided with a supporting part lower part having a lower side and an upper side, whereby the supporting part at the lower side of the supporting part lower part is mounted onto the upper side of the foot upper part of the foot, whereby onto the upper side of the supporting part lower part a cover part is provided, whereby in the cover part, the supporting part lower part, and in the foot upper part a lead-through opening is provided through which a fastening means is led, such as a bolt, and whereby the lower side of the cover part, the upper side and the lower side of the supporting part lower part, and the upper side of the foot upper part are flat, plate or disc shaped, such that the supporting part lower part is movable, shiftable or slidable with respect to the cover part and the foot upper part, whereby the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part is substantially larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the foot upper part, such, that the fastening means limits the path of movement of the supporting part lower part relative to the foot upper part.
[0010] According to a characteristic of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention, the diameter of the cover part is larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part.
[0011] According to another characteristic of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention the lower side of the supporting part lower part and/or the upper side of the foot upper part, and/or the lower side of the cover part and/or the upper side of the supporting part lower part are provided with a material that improves the possibility of the before-mentioned parts to shift or slide relative to each other.
[0012] According to a further characteristic of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention, the lower side of the supporting part lower part and/or the upper side of the foot upper part, and/or the lower side of the cover part and/or the upper side of the supporting part lower part, are provided with a Teflon layer.
[0013] According to another characteristic of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention in between the lower side of the supporting part lower part and the upper side of the foot upper part a plate or disc is provided with a lead-through opening for the fastening means, which is made from a material having a low friction coefficient, more in particular a Teflon material.
[0014] According to yet another characteristic of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention, the diameter of the lead-through opening in the plate or disc is larger than the one in the foot upper part, but substantially smaller than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part.
[0015] Further characteristics and features of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings of two examples of embodiments.
[0016] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a platform such as is part of a loading and unloading platform, whereby the platform is supported by a beam that is supported at both sides by an example of an embodiment of two supports according to the invention.
[0017] The figures 2a and 2b show a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a support as can be applied with the loading and unloading platform according to the invention, whereby, in figure 2b, the support is shown taken apart.
[0018] The figures 3a and 3b show a perspective view of a further example of an embodiment of a support as can be applied with the invention, whereby, in figure 3b, the support is shown taken apart.
[0019] The figures 4a and 4b show a side view, the figures 4c and 4d a front view, of an example of an embodiment of a support as applied with a loading and unloading platform according to the invention, with partially shown the supporting structure with supporting beam for the platform with bridge plate.
[0020] The figures 5a, 5b and 5c show in section a front view of an example of an embodiment of the support.
[0021] The figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e show in section a front view of the example of the embodiment of the support as applied with the invention, with in the figures 6a up to and including 6c partially taken apart views.
[0022] As can be seen in figure 1, the support 1 for the supporting onto an underground, such as a driveway 2 or a bridge road, of the supporting structure 3 of the platform 4 of the loading and unloading platform according to the invention comprises a foot 5 that is to be mounted onto the driveway 2. The foot 5 is formed by a base part 5a, which is fixedly mounted to the driveway, and a top part 5b that is to be adjusted at the site at the correct height and that is connected to the base part 5a by means of welding.
[0023] As can be seen in the example of an embodiment of the invention shown in figures 2a and 2b the foot 5 is provided with a foot upper part 6 with an upper side 7. It further comprises a supporting part 8, that is to be connected to or underneath the supporting structure. The supporting part 8 is provided with a supporting part lower part 9 having a lower side 10 and an upper side 11. The supporting part 8 at the lower side 10 of the supporting part lower part 9 is provided onto the upper side 7 of the foot upper part 6 of the foot 5 (figure 2b). As can be seen in figure 2b onto the upper side 11 of the supporting part lower part 9 a cover part 12 is provided. As can be seen in figure 2a in the cover part 12 a lead-through opening 13 is provided, in the supporting part lower part 9 a lead-through opening 14 is provided, and in the foot upper part 6 a lead-through opening 15 is provided, through all of which lead-through openings 13, 14, 15 a fastening means 17 is led, such as the bolt 17 with ring and nuts 18, by means of which the cover part 12, the supporting part lower part 9 and the foot upper part 6 are fastened to each other. The supporting part 8 at the upper side of the supporting part lower part 9 is provided with an upside down U-profile 21, onto which the support structure 3 of the platform rests (figure 1).
[0024] As can be seen in the figures 2a and 2b the lower side 16 of the cover part 12, the upper side 11 and the lower side 10 of the supporting part lower part 9, and the upper side 7 of the foot upper part 6 are flat or level shaped, such that the supporting part lower part 9 is shiftable or slidable with respect to the lower side 16 of the cover part 12 and the upper side 7 of the foot upper part 6. In a favourable manner to that end the lower side 10 of the supporting part lower part 9 and/or the upper side 7 of the foot upper part 6, and/or the lower side 16 of the cover part 12 and/or the upper side 11 of the supporting part lower part 9 are provided with a material, that improves the possibility of the before-mentioned sides to shift or slide relative to each other, such as a Teflon layer.
[0025] The diameter of the lead through opening 14 in the supporting part lower part 9 is substantially larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening 15 in the foot upper part 6, such, that the supporting part lower part 9 with the supporting part 8 is movable horizontally in all directions relative to the foot 5 and the cover part 12. Thereby the path of movement in these several horizontal directions of the supporting part lower part 9 relative to the foot upper part 6 and the cover part 12 is limited by the bolt 17.
[0026] In the figures 3a and 3b and following a further example of an embodiment of a support such as applied with the loading and unloading platform according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment in between the lower side 10 of the supporting part lower part 9 and the upper side 7 of the foot upper part 6 a Teflon disc 19 is provided. The disc 19 is provided with a lead-through opening 20 for the bolt 17. The diameter of the lead-through opening 20 in the disc 19 is substantially smaller than the diameter of the lead-through opening 14 in the supporting part lower part 9, such, that the supporting part lower part 9 with the supporting part 8 is movable horizontally in all directions relative to the disc 19, the foot 5 and the cover part 12.
[0027] The supporting part 8 at the upper side of the supporting part lower part 9 is provided with an upside down U-profile 21. The distance between the legs 22 of the profile 21 is larger than the diameter of the cover part 12. The back 23 of the U-profile is provided with openings 24 for the lead-through of means for the fastening of the U-profile 21 to the supporting structure 3 for the platform 4.
[0028] In the figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d it can be seen that the combination of the foot 5 with the cover part 12 and the Teflon disc 19 is movable horizontally in various directions relative to the combination of the supporting part lower part 9 with the supporting part 8 and the U-profile 21 and the support structure 3 of the loading and unloading platform.
[0029] By means of this movability in horizontal direction of the foot 5 , that is connected to the underground or driveway, relative to the supporting structure 3 with on it the platform 4 it is achieved, that possible movements of the driveway can take place without forcing the support structure 3 and with that the platform 4 to move along with it.
[0030] In the section views shown in figures 5a, 5b and 5c and in the figures 6d and 6e it can also be seen that the combination of the foot 5 and the cover part 12 with the Teflon disc 19, on the one hand, is, horizontally, movable from the starting position shown in figure 5a, to a position to the right with respect to the combination of the supporting part lower part 9 with the supporting part 8 with on it the U-profile 21, onto which the support structure 3 with the loading and unloading platform rests, as shown in figure 5b, and to a position to the left with respect to the combination of the supporting part lower part 9 with the supporting part 8 with on it the U-profile 21, as shown in figure 5c. With this it is achieved, that any possible movements in various directions of the driveway 2 relative to the building can be absorbed and neutralized.
[0031] By means of the cover part 12, which has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening 14 in the supporting part lower part 9 it is prevented that the support structure with the loading and unloading platform, for instance because of wind, is raised or "lifted" from the underground, such as the driveway.
[0032] As can be seen in the figures 3a and 3b, the figures 5a, 5b and 5c and the figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e the bolt 17 is led through the lead-through openings 13, 14, 20 respectively 15 in the cover part 12, the supporting part lower part 9, the disc 19 respectively the foot upper part 6. There are provided three separate nuts. Nut 18a (figure 6e) is welded tight. The bolt 17 is fastened in nut 18a. Nut 18b locks the bolt 17. There are two nuts 18c which provide for the disc 19 or sliding plate 19 to get just enough play to be able to slide, but to not be clamped.
1. Loading and unloading platform, more in particular a loading and unloading platform that can be positioned outside in front of a hall of a building, such as a dock house, comprising a platform with a bridge plate or dock leveller therein to bridge a difference in height and distance between a loading platform and the floor of a truck, provided with at least one support or leg for supporting of the platform or of a supporting structure for the platform onto an underground, such as a driveway or bridge road, which support comprises a base or foot that is to be mounted onto the driveway or bridge road, characterized in that this is provided with a foot upper part having an upper side, and further comprises a supporting part that is to be connected to or underneath the platform or the supporting structure, which supporting part is provided with a supporting part lower part having a lower side and an upper side, whereby the supporting part at the lower side of the supporting part lower part is provided onto the upper side of the foot upper part of the foot, whereby onto the upper side of the supporting part lower part a cover part is provided, whereby in the cover part, the supporting part lower part, and in the foot upper part a lead-through opening is provided through which a fastening means is led, such as a pin or bolt, and whereby the lower side of the cover part, the upper side and the lower side of the supporting part lower part, and the upper side of the foot upper part are flat, plate or disc shaped, such that the supporting part lower part is movable, slidable or shiftable with respect to the cover part and the foot upper part, whereby the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part is substantially larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the foot upper part, such, that the fastening means limits the path of movement of the supporting part lower part relative to the foot upper part.
2. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of the cover part is larger than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part.
3. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower side of the supporting part lower part and/or the upper side of the foot upper part and the lower side of the cover part and/or the upper side of the supporting part lower part are provided with a material, that improves the possibility of the before-mentioned parts to shift or slide relative to each other.
4. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lower side of the supporting part lower part and/or the upper side of the foot upper part, and/or the lower side of the cover part and/or the upper side of the supporting part lower part are provided with a Teflon layer.
5. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 1, characterized in that in between the lower side of the supporting part lower part and the upper side of the foot upper part a plate or disc is provided with a lead-through opening for the fastening means, which is made from a material having a low friction coefficient.
6. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 5, characterized in that the material is Teflon.
7. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the diameter of the lead-through opening in de plate or disc is larger than the one in the foot upper part, but is substantially smaller than the diameter of the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part.
8. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means is provided with at least one nut at the location of the lead-through opening in the disc, the height of which nut partially extends to into the lead-through opening in the supporting part lower part.
9. Loading and unloading platform according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting part at the upper side of the supporting part lower part is provided with an upside down U-profile, whereby the distance between the legs of the profile is larger than the diameter of the cover part.
10. Loading and unloading platform according to claim 10, characterized in that the back of the U-profile is provided with openings for the lead-through of means for the fastening of the back to the supporting structure.
11. Support suitable for application in a loading and unloading platform, more in particular a dock house.