Dock leveler for loading dock with integral on-demand compressor and pneumatic actuator

A loading dock leveler comprising:

• a base having an inward end;
• and
• a deck with a top platform, the deck having an inward end hingedly mounted to the inward end of the base for movement between an upper position and a lower position;
• an air compressor with an electrically powered motor, the compressor having inlet in communication with a source of ambient air and a compressed air outlet, the air compressor having a compressor capacity defined as a predetermined volume of compressed air delivered at a predetermined pressure delivered during a predetermined time period;
• a pneumatic deck lift actuator, comprising a pneumatic cylinder pivotally connected to the base and to the deck for rotary movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the lift actuator having a lift chamber with a lift chamber volume, and an inlet port in direct communication with the compressor outlet, without a compressed air storage receiver tank, through an electric powered lift valve to the lift chamber, and having a vent valve in communication with the lift chamber;
• and
• the loading dock leveler further comprising:
• an electric user control interface having:
• an electric up/down switch in communication with the motor to conduct electric power to the motor and open the lift valve in an up position, and to prevent conduction of electric power to the motor and open the vent valve in a down position;
• wherein the compressor, motor, lift valve;
• vent valve and lift actuator are disposed between the base and the deck;
• and
• wherein the direct communication between the lift actuator inlet port and the compressor outlet, without a compressed air storage receiver tank, delivers compressed air directly from the compressor to the lift chamber at the compressor capacity within a lift actuation time period, and wherein the lift chamber volume divided by the compressor capacity equals the lift actuation time period.