SEALING ELEMENT FOR DOCKING PURPOSES

In connection with docking, gaskets of various kinds are used ^" between vehicles and buildings, for example, to prevent the ambient' weather from affecting to an excessive degree the climate it is desired to maintain in vehicles, buildings and the connection between them.

In connection with the transportation of foodstuffs it is consequently' important for the levels of temperature and r> hygiene to be maintained in the transition between buildings and vehicles. In other types of transportation the effects of damp may ^' be a critical factor. Numerous other examples could be given in regard to transportation systems, goods and environments.

Sealing elements, mainly of two designs, have been used for the purpose -of achieving the desired degree of sealing. One type is based on the principle of inflatable gaskets which are inserted between vehicle and building. The other type is designed as ^; a simple sealing lip which makes a connection between vehicle and building.

The disadvantages of the types of gaskets now in existence is that they are either extremely susceptible to damage to the sealing'portion or else, owing to their design, can easily cause damage to the vehicles which are brought into contact with them. Furthermore, extra equipment and separate operation are required for some types. The type of gasket Lwhich is based on the principle of inflatable segments

r requires extra equipment in the form of pneumatic and electric systems, which results in a delay before the sealing effect is attained. The design is susceptible to puncturing and is rendered completely unserviceable in the event- of such damage occurring. Repairs, mounting and maintenance work are sizeable. items of expenditure for this type of weather seal.

Apart from the drawback of an inferior sealing function to that of a hose-type gasket — compare, the known examples of window and door sealing mouldings — the simple sealing lip also has the characteristic that in cases where a soft seal¬ ing portion with a reasonably good sealing function is desired, the lip must be reinforced at a number of points in ^' order to retain its shape. These reinforcements or laths can easily cause damage to vehicles and, conversely, protruding components such as trim mouldings and lamps on the vehicle can easily fasten in the space between the laths and the sealing portion and rupture the gasket.

If, on the other hand, a more rigid type of material is chosen for the sealing lip it can be made self-supporting but the _/ n it will also have inferior sealing characteristics since the material will have a low degree of flexibility. The resultant hard edge on the sealing lip also constitutes a likely source of damage to vehicles.

The purpose of the present invention is to alleviate the drawbacks of the designs described above.

A sheet of flexible elastomer material — e.g. rubber or a suitable plastic — is used as the sealing device and may be

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rmanufactured with or without the inclusion of reinforcement material. Folded double, this sheet is mounted on the dock¬ ing opening in such a manner that the rounded fold comprises the surface that is in contact with the vehicle sides. _v

The majority of problems associated.with previously known designs are hereby eliminated.

The hose profile of the gasket is made self-supporting through a suitable choice and thickness of material and consequently requires no pneumatic device to achieve shape stability. Neither is it susceptible to puncturing. Sealing ability can be retained even if the material is damaged, since the gasket is of double-wall design.

No open spaces in the sealing portion between reinforcements- ^■ and sealing lip comprise traps for protruding components on the truck with the consequent danger of disrupting the seal¬ ing portion and ripping components off the vehicle.

Less friction when the truck is driven into the docking opening. ^■ Since the hose design in the gasket permits it to "roll"..with the side of the truck, the surfaces of both truck and gasket are spared unnecessary wear.

The flexible characteristics of the material are better utilized in a folded-double design than in a ≤ingl-e flap. This is made use of in such a manner that sealing becomes more effective against protruding components and irregular¬ ities in the sides of the truck with a hose-type gasket than with a flap gasket.

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One version of a gasket for docking purposes is clarified in a simple manner with the sketches 1-3.

Fig. 1 shows at the top a horizontal cross-section through a docking device. Under this can be seen a vertical view of the docking device.

Fi . 2 shows the reduced friction resulting when a vehicle is driven between the sealing elements.

Fig. 3 shows the difference in sealing ability between a hose-type gasket and a flap-type gasket.

In the version of the invention shown'On the drawing a docking opening b is arranged in a building. -The docking opening is designed to allow vehicle c to be driven through it for the purpose of loading or unloading. Arranged along the vertical sides of the docking opening are sealing pro¬ files a_ for the ^' purpose of sealing the opening between the building and the vehicle . A sealing profile _a of such type is arranged as a double-folded, flexible sheet which forms a self-supporting unit. The curved surface of sheet ji serves as a sealing surface in contact with vehicle c_.

When a vehicle c is driven through the docking opening (see Fig. 2), sealing profile a_ is caused to bend away from the vehicle while retaining contact with it. The curved surface of sealing profile comprises a comparatively broad area of contact against the vehicle, which results in a good seal ng function. The flexibility of the gasket permits it to be bent in the opposite direction when the vehicle is driv n Lout through the docking opening. This takes place with retention of the sealing function.

rThe folded surface of profile a_ makes an effective seal even when the vehicle has protrusions. The sealing function of a gasket according to the invention when the vehicle is fitted with a moulding e_ is clarified at. the top of Fig. 3. Compared with Jip seal d, which is shown in the lower part of Fig. 3, the gasket according to the invention obviously has a superior sealing function.