Importance

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Abstract

A dock leveler comprises a deck pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement and having a lip mounted at the other end thereof. A safety leg assembly is pivotally mounted to an underside of said the and is biased into an extended position. A cam structure is carried by the safety leg assembly and pivotal therewith. A spring biases the cam in a direction to maintain the safety legs in the extended position. The cam structure has a slot into which a pin mounted on the safety legs engages. If the deck falls rapidly a surface on the cam engages a member on a stop block. This causes the cam to rapidly move but the spring attached to the pin cannot cause the legs to move as rapidly and it shifts in the slot. This exposes the safety leg supporting surfaces which contact a surface on the stop block to limit travel of the deck. If the deck moves slowly downward (second condition) the cam surface engages the member on the stop block gradually and thus the spring connected to the pin maintains the bias on the legs causing them to deflect with the cam and slowly retract.

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First Claim