Importance

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Abstract

A dock leveler lip extension mechanism includes a bellcrank pivotally mounted on the leveler ramp and connected to a pull chain, a pushrod for extending the lip and to a counterbalance spring assembly at spaced apart points on the bellcrank. The bellcrank is pivotally mounted on a compensating link connected to a member which is connected to the leveler frame. Upon raising the ramp to the inclined position, the pull chain rotates the bellcrank to extend the lip with the assistance of the counterbalance spring and the compensating link moves to maintain or increase the counterbalance spring force to compensate for changing lip extension force requirements. A lip latch includes a latch link pivotally mounted on a lip moment arm or on the underside of the leveler ramp and supporting a latch member which is yieldably biased into engagement with a latch pin when the lip is moved to the extended position to hold the lip in the extended position until it engages a vehicle loadbed. A bias spring interconnects the latch member with the latch link to allow the latch member to disengage from the latch pin if a substantial unwanted force is exerted on the lip.

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First Claim