Inflatable actuator for a dock leveler deck

An air operated dock leveler for use at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• an inflatable actuator disposed underneath the deck;
• and
• a blower disposed inside the inflatable actuator such that air discharged from the blower expands the inflatable actuator to push the deck upward.

An air operated dock leveler for use at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• an inflatable actuator disposed underneath the deck;
• a blower;
• and
• a valve system that places the blower in fluid communication with the inflatable actuator, the valve system being selectively operable in an inflate configuration and a deflate configuration such that the valve system in the inflate configuration enables the blower to discharge air into the inflatable actuator to push the deck upward, and the valve system in the deflate configuration enables the blower to withdraw air from within the inflatable actuator to forcibly collapse the inflatable actuator.

An air operated dock leveler for use at a loading dock, wherein the air operated dock leveler may be exposed to condensation, the air operated dock leveler comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• an inflatable actuator disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable actuator comprises a pliable upper section and contains an internal volume of air;
• a source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the internal volume of air such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable actuator to push the deck upward;
• and
• a drain coupled to the inflatable actuator, wherein the drain can be periodically opened to drain the condensate that may have collected inside of the inflatable actuator.