The NOVA Truck Lock™ vehicle restraint keeps dock operations safe and secure during loading and unloading. Trucks and trailers are held firmly in place by a high-visibility barrier-style ram bar which can withstand a pullout force of over 30,000 pounds to prevent accidental separation from the loading dock during the cargo handling process.
The Cast-In style housing is designed to be embedded into the concrete drive—not attached to the dock wall. This will provide years of trouble free service without any damage to the building. The zinc plated housing is completely self-contained and is designed to handle the harshest of loading dock environments.
Features and Benefits
- 10″ retracted height
- Non-impact design
- Manual or powered versions
- LED inside and outside light communication package
- Can withstand over 30,000 pounds of pull-away force
- Ram bar yield strength of 100,000 psi
- Zinc-plated finish provides exceptional corrosion resistance
- All activation components mounted inside the building
- Low maintenance design, very few moving parts
- Installs at more nontraditional dock types
- Small foot print
After the truck/trailer backs into position against the dock bumpers, the dock attendant switches the Truck Lock™ to the RESTRAIN position activating the restraint. The outside light turns red and inside light turns green, and after verifying the ram bar is above the Rear Impact Guard (RIG), the attendant may enter the trailer. When the attendant has completed the loading/unloading process, switch the Truck Lock™ to the release position deactivating the restraint and lowering the ram bar. The outside light turns green and inside light turns red.
The restraint is activated by turning a switch or moving a slide bar on the control console to the RESTRAIN position. Ram bar is raised by a high strength nylon coated stainless steel aircraft grade cable and guided over heavy duty pulleys with shielded bearings. The switch controls a pneumatic cylinder that actuates the cable and is located inside the building within a powder coated steel enclosure. The mechanical version uses a slide bar located inside the building within a powder coated steel enclosure to actuate the cable. The powered system requires air be supplied from plant system or by small compressor. Air must be minimum of 80 psi and maximum of 130 psi. Air must be dry and clean. Air usage is approximately 0.015 cubic feet per operation. Duration of normal power stroke is about two seconds.
The housing is constructed from ASTM A500 Grade B rectangular steel tubing, 6 × 3 × 1/4 inches thick, capped with ram sheath cast of 55,000 psi minimum yield strength steel and fully welded to the housing tube. Half-inch thick truck side gussets composed of 36,000 psi minimum yield steel is welded to and reinforces the housing tube and ram sheath. The ram bar vertical barrier is made from 4 5∕16 inches wide × 1 inch thick ASTM A-514 Grade B plate with a minimum yield strength of 100,000 psi. The housing is embedded into the approach 21 inches with 4,000 psi minimum concrete.
The control box comes with a 6-foot power cord factory installed. The drop cord can be plugged into any 120VAC 60Hz outlet and only draws 0.5 amps. All components are UL listed or recognized for industrial use. All LED lights (interior and exterior) operate on a 12V circuit. A qualified electrician is not required to install a Truck Lock™ as they are considered low voltage, however, always follow local ordinances and codes to determine actual site requirements.
- Outside: constant flashing red or green LED lights and signage instruct the truck driver when it is safe to back into or pull away from the loading dock.
- Inside: constant flashing red or green LED lights with signs help the dock attendant know when it is safe to perform loading/unloading operations.
- Audible Alarm: in addition to the flashing red light, an inside alarm warns the dock attendant when a RIG has not been properly engaged.
- Audible Alarm Override: a push-button allows personnel to override the audible alarm. When the audible alarm is in override the inside red and green lights continue to flash simultaneously while the outside light flashes red and the audible alarm is silenced.
- LED Lights: standard LED lights provide long life and reduced electrical power consumption.
- Full communication package with signage and inside/outside red/green LED lights in opposing mode
- Audible alarm built into the control panel alerts the dock attendant to potentially unsafe conditions
- Compressor/wall bracket
- Truck sensor
- Interconnect with leveler or door
- Open dock stanchion
- Metal building mount kit
- Asphalt kit for asphalt or non-concrete approach applications (Cast-In style housing only)
- Swivel brackets for unique applications