Rotatable dock

A loading dock comprising:

• a. a stationary floor section;
• b. a movable floor section disposed at one edge of said dock, and meeting said stationary section along the arc of a circle;
• c. means for rotatably supporting said movable section;
• d. said movable section having an edge portion at the edge of said dock which is rotated to align a portion thereof with the loading opening in the body of a vehicle alongside said dock;
• e. power means, operably connected to said movable section for selectively rotating said movable section to said vehicle;
• f. said stationary floor section includes:
• 1. a semicircular recess into which said movable floor section is disposed;
• 2. a track disposed in said recess about its arcuate periphery;
• 3. a first central pivot member diposed at the center of said recess and affixed thereto, rotatably supporting said movable section;
• g. said movable floor section includes:
• 1. a frame for supporting said movable section;
• 2. a deck disposed on said frame to provide a surface for said movable section;
• 3. a second central pivot member affixed to said frame, and mating with said first central pivot member, for rotating said movable section;
• 4. a freewheeling roller which translates in said track and is rotatably mounted on said frame;
• 5. a drive roller which translates in said track, is rotatably mounted on said frame and is rotated by said power means so as to cause said movable section to rotate;
• h. safety means including:
• 1. means for controlling the rotation of said movable section whereby a torque of predetermined intensity will cause said rotation to cease;
• 2. a guard rail, removably attached to a portion of the arcuate periphery of said movable section for preventing the falling of persons and objects therefrom;
• and
• 3. an extendible guard rail, extending outwardly from the arcuate periphery of said movable section and along a portion thereof, one end of said extendible rail being attached to an immovable portion of said dock, for preventing the falling of persons and objects from said stationary section.

A loading dock comprising:

• a. a stationary floor section;
• b. a movable floor section disposed at one edge of said dock, and meeting said stationary section along the arc of a circle;
• c. means for rotatably supporting said movable section;
• d. said movable section having an edge portion at the edge of said dock which is rotated to align a portion thereof with the loading opening in the body of a vehicle alongside said dock;
• e. power means, operably connected to said movable section for selectively rotating said movable section to said vehicle;
• f. said stationary floor section includes:
• 1. a track extending about the semicircular arc of said circle, and attached to the surface of a floor in said loading dock for mounting said movable section therein;
• 2. a dock ramp attached at one edge thereof to the upper surface of said track and at the other edge thereof to said floor so as to form a gently inclined ramp between surfaces of said floor and said movable floor section;
• 3. a first central pivot member attached to said floor and disposed at the center of said circle, for rotating said movable section;
• g. said movable floor section includes:
• 1. a frame for supporting said movable section;
• 2. a deck disposed on said frame to provide a surface for said movable section;
• 3. a second central pivot member affixed to said frame, and mating with said first central pivot member, for rotating said movable section;
• 4. a freewheeling roller which translates in said track and is rotatably mounted to said frame;
• 5. a drive roller which translates in said track, is rotatably mounted to said frame and is rotated by said power means so as to cause said movable section to rotate;
• h. safety means including:
• 1. means for controlling the rotation of said movable section whereby a torque of predetermined intensity will cause said rotation to cease;
• 2. a guard rail, removably attached to a portion of the arcuate periphery of said movable section for preventing the falling of persons and objects therefrom;
• and
• 3. an extendible guard rail, extending outwardly from the arcuate periphery of said movable section and along a portion thereof, one end of said extendible rail being attached to an immovable portion of said dock, for preventing the falling of persons and objects from said stationary section.

A loading dock comprising:

• a. a stationary floor section;
• b. a movable floor section disposed at one edge of said dock, and meeting said stationary section along the arc of a circle;
• c. means for rotatably supporting said movable section;
• d. said movable section having an edge portion at the edge of said dock which is rotated to align a portion thereof with the loading opening in the body of a vehicle alongside said dock;
• e. power means, operably connected to said movable section for selectively rotating said movable section to said vehicle;
• f. said stationary floor section includes:
• 1. a track extending about the semicircular arc of said circle, and attached to the surface of a floor in said loading dock for mounting said movable section therein;
• 2. a dock ramp attached at one edge thereof to the upper surface of said track and at the other edge thereof to said floor so as to form a gently inclined ramp between surfaces of said floor and said movable floor section;
• 3. a first central pivot member attached to said floor and disposed at the center of said circle, for rotating said movable section;
• g. said movable floor section includes:
• 1. a frame for supporting said movable section;
• 2. a deck disposed on said frame to provide a surface for said movable section;
• 3. a second central pivot member affixed to said frame, and mating with said first central pivot member, for rotating said movable section;
• 4. a freewheeling roller which translates in said track and is rotatably mounted to said frame;
• and
• 5. a drive roller which translates in said track, is rotatably mounted to said frame and is rotated by said power means so as to cause said movable section to rotate.

A loading structure comprising:

• a. a building having a wall alongside of a drive for cargo carrying vehicles, said building having a floor approximately at normal dock heighth and a door opening in said wall;
• b. a dock platform generally semicircular in shape and having a straight edge adjacent to and substantially parallel to said building wall and a periphery inside and adjacent one side of said door opening, said dock platform having a radial dimension less than the width of the door opening;
• c. means mounting said dock platform in the building for rotation about an axis adjacent to the other side of said door opening with rotation of the dock platform moving a portion thereof outwardly through said door opening to a cantilevered position with a straight edge of the dock platform at an angle of as great as 90.degree. to the building wall and for substantially engaging a rear portion of a cargo vehicle positioned in the drive for loading and unloading;
• and
• d. power means operatively connected to said dock platform for selectively rotating same.