Electrically actuated dock leveler

Abstract

A dock leveler having a frame adapted to be fixedly mounted at a dock with a deck, pivotally mounted to the frame at one end thereof, and having a pivotable lip at the other end. A spring is mounted to the deck and the frame and supports the deck. An electric actuator is coupled to the deck and moves the deck from a generally horizontal stored position into an operative position. A control circuit is employed for controlling operation of the electrical actuator. A float member couples the actuator to the frame and carries a sensor. A limit switch is responsive to movement of the sensor so that power is terminated to the actuator when the deck reaches either an operative elevated position or a fully lowered position. In the operative elevated position float is provided by having the float member displaced from the frame to allow the electric actuator to move with the deck without being powered to reposition the system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.