Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for relocating pallets and receptacles. A shipping motor vehicle has a weight sensor within a cargo area that measures a weight of a pallet or a receptacle. A location sensor located within the cargo area identifies available storage locations within the cargo area, and a computing device equipped with a processor computes a destination location within the cargo area for the pallet or receptacle based, at least in part, on the weight of the pallet or receptacle measured by the weight sensor. An internal conveyor system located within the shipping motor vehicle receives the pallet or receptacle from an external conveyor system and automatically relocates the pallet or receptacle to the destination location within the cargo area.

An apparatus and related method for a dock housing for a pre-existing loading dock. The dock housing includes a base with top and a bottom surfaces and front, back and opposed sidewalls. The front wall has integral fork pockets for interaction with forks on a fork truck for movement of the base into a desired location and the top surface has an opening to receive a dock leveler into such opening. Also included is a modular frame mounted onto the base in sections, the sections including a frame-front wall, opposed frame-sidewalls and a frame-top wall, the frame-front wall having a trailer-receiving opening to receive a trailer, the frame-sidewalls including a slotted-base attachment for securement of the base and sidewalls together. The dock housing is formed by securing the frame-sidewalls to a wall of a pre-existing building as well as securing the base, the frame-front wall and the frame-top wall together.

A modular loading dock with a mobile base includes an adjustable front section with front opposing adjustable leg members and middle opposing adjustable leg members, two adjustable feet connect each front leg member to a middle leg member, as well as an adjustable back section connected to the adjustable front section and including opposing rear adjustable leg members each having a grade plate. The mobile base has top and bottom surfaces, the top surface has an opening to receive a dock leveler into such opening, the dock leveler includes a lower end and an upper end, the upper end abuts a preexisting structure and the lower end has a lower edge having a lip, the lip being able to be activated between an extended/engaged position to contact a truck bed and a retracted/disengaged position.

The present disclosure provides dual deployment ramps (and related ramp systems) for a vehicle, the ramps comprising a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly comprising a mid-panel and a first and second end-panel, the end-panels pivotably attached to opposite ends of the mid-panel; a slide cable comprising a first and second end, the first end engaging the first end-panel and the second end engaging the second end-panel; opposing roller plate assemblies comprising one or more pulleys for engagement of the slide cable, the roller plate assemblies positioned below the ramp assembly and at each end thereof below the respective first and second end-panel; and a cable drum assembly positioned below the ramp assembly and between the opposing roller plate assemblies, the cable drum assembly comprising a cable drum engaging the slide cable to provide reversible movement to the slide cable for pulling one of the first and second end-panels to move the ramp assembly in one of opposing directions for providing dual deployment. The present disclosure also provides vehicles comprising the ramps and ramp systems described herein.

A dock leveler includes a frame. A deck plate is rotationally coupled to the frame at a deck hinge. A lip plate defines a lip plate lower surface and an edge. A lip hinge is coupled to the lip plate and a connection plate to provide relative pivotal movement of the lip plate and the deck plate. The connection plate is positioned below the deck plate. A support link extends from the lip plate to the connection plate. The support link is rotationally operable with respect to the lip plate and slidably operable with respect to the connection plate.

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

A dock leveler includes a frame. A deck plate is rotationally coupled to the frame at a deck hinge. A lip plate defines a lip plate lower surface and an edge. A lip hinge is coupled to the lip plate and a connection plate to provide relative pivotal movement of the lip plate and the deck plate. The connection plate is positioned below the deck plate. A support link extends from the lip plate to the connection plate. The support link is rotationally operable with respect to the lip plate and slidably operable with respect to the connection plate.

Systems and methods for processing earthen slurries such as slurries of earth cuttings and, in particular, systems and methods that involve two separation units for dewatering the slurry or that involve additive mixing units are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that removes slurry from a holding tank at which the material is dumped and toward the separation units to allow the material to be continuously processed and dumped into the holding tank.

Transfer systems for receiving and conveying material such as earthen slurries discharged from vacuum excavators are disclosed. The transfer system may include a holding tank and a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that extends into the tank to remove and convey material from the tank. The transfer system includes a hatch. The hatch is moveable from a closed position in which vehicles travel over the hatch to an open position in which the holding tank is open to receive material from the vacuum excavator.

Separation units for dewatering slurries such as flat-wire belt conveyors are disclosed. In some embodiments, the separation unit includes a tension pulley for maintaining tension in the flat-wire conveyor belt. The flat-wire conveyor belt is looped around the head pulley, tail pulley and tension pulley. In some embodiments, the head pulley and/or tail pulley include teeth for removing material from the mesh openings of the flat-wire belt conveyor.