1 Barrier operating device The invention generally relates to a device for operating barriers. In particular, the invention relates to a device for opening and closing barriers such as gates. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to use on gates, however it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that application only. Conventionally, devices for automatically opening and closing swinging doors and gates have mechanical arms that require space for the elbow as it folds. Such mechanisms are typically located on a gate post near the hinge of the gate that is opened and closed. These conventional systems are not applicable to all situations and are problematic in that they require a substantial gate post on which to secure the motor and mechanical arm. In domestic use upon garage doors, gate openers with mechanical arms are not suitable because the doors open outwards and this would involve the motor and arm being attached to the outside of the garage offering an unsightly solution, with obstructive protrusions into the driveway. Larger swinging gates are also difficult to automate with current technology because they present the force close to the pivoting point of the gate, providing a force vector which is not aligned with the operating arc of the gate. Such conventional mechanisms are also costly and time consuming to install. A further type of known device is that described in United States patent number 4,550,592. This device attaches directly to the gate or barrier to be opened or closed and involves the use of a mechanised wheel. This known device differs fundamentally from the present invention in employing a parallel arm hinge assembly to support the wheel and also employs a set of pulleys, belt, gears and a chain to direct power to the wheel. This known device is problematic in assembly and installation of the complex drive system, also the necessity to maintain and fine tune such components. It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.
2 It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an automated device for opening and closing barriers such as gates over uneven ground and other variable surfaces. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In one aspect, the present invention provides a barrier operating device, including: a mounting means fastenable to a barrier, the mounting means including a sleeve; an insert which is slideably movable within the sleeve, the insert having a motorised wheel assembly mounted to one end; and a fastener which is attached to the insert and which is releasably engageable with the sleeve to allow the insert to be moved from a siding configuration to a fixed configuration when the assembly is pulled upwards by a user; wherein, in the sliding configuration in use along a surface, the wheel of the assembly maintains contact with the surface under the force of gravity alone and the insert slides within the sleeve to accommodate variations in the height of the surface as the barrier moves between an open and closed position, and in the fixed configuration, the wheel is held clear of the surface to allow non-frictional movement of the barrier by the user. In essence, the present invention stems from the realisation that movement of a barrier or gate over an uneven surface can be achieved by providing a mounting means that allows for vertical travel of the motor and wheel assembly over surface variations, with pressure upon, and therefore frictional engagement with, the travelling surface delivered by the weight of the assembly only.
3 The invention is therefore advantageous in that it allows the travel of a barrier over an undulating surface, it does not require installation upon a barrier support post and also is relatively cheap and simple to install and maintain. Other features and advantages of one or more preferred- embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following written description with reference to and, used in conjunction with, the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG 1 is a side view of a barrier operating device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG 2 is a frontal view of a barrier operating device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG 3 is aerial view of a barrier operating device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG 4 is a side view of two devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, used on a common 2-door gate system. FIG 5 is a aerial view of two devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, used on a common 2-door gate system, with the system in the closed position. FIG 6 is an aerial view of two devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, used on a common 2-door gate system, with the system in the open position. It will be convenient to further describe the present invention with respect to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to each the drawings, FIGs 1, 2 and 3 show a barrier operating device 10. Wheel 11 is attached directly to the spindle 19 of the motor 12 which is attached to the motor mounting plate 13 by three mounting screws 14. The motor mounting plate 13 is attached to the sliding insert 15. The sliding insert 15 is able to move freely in a telescopic fashion within the sleeve 16, which is attached to the barrier by the gate mounting plate 17.
4 The length of the sliding insert 15 and sleeve 16 may be adjusted to accommodate varying inclines in the travelling surface to be covered by the wheel. The gate mounting plate 17 may similarly be varied in size, or more than one plate may be included to accommodate a longer sleeve 16. Physical attachment of the plate 17 to the barrier may be by any practical fastening arrangement, such as a plurality of bolts (not shown) FIG 1 further shows tapered washers 18 used to secure the motor mounting plate 13 to the sliding insert 15 at an angle of less than 90 degrees to allow the wheel 11 to travel on a line which is tangential to the arc of the barrier. The tapered washers 18 may be modified to provide for any angle less than 90 degrees, according to the arc of the barrier, as necessary. FIG 1 further shows a fastener in the form of a disengaging spring clip 20 fitting into accommodating slot 21 when the motorised wheel assembly is pulled upwards to be disengaged for manual operation of the barrier door or gate. The skilled addressee will appreciate that each of the above described mounting plates may be constructed from any suitable material, preferably non-corrosive metal. Equally, wheel 11 and motor 12 may be of variable sizes according to the size of the barrier to be moved and also according to the type of surface over which the barrier operating device must travel between open and closed positions. Equally, the spring clip 20 and its relationship with accommodating slot 21 may be replaced with any fastener to effect the same function. In reference to FIG 4, two devices 10 are shown attached to barrier doors 23a and 23b, which are hinged to mounting posts 22a and 22b. Also shown is control box 25 for electronic control of both devices 10 via limit switches 26a and 26b, which have a default setting of closed. Control by the user is upon the control box 25, by either direct physical interaction or via remote control. The user may 5 control the movement of the barrier(s) between the open and closed position, as shown in FIGs 5 and 6 respectively. In typical use, a barrier will be in the closed position and the user will activate the control box 25, directly or remotely to cause electrical current will pass to the motor 12 of device 10, via limit switch 26. Motor 12 will then cause wheel 11 to turn until the barrier reaches the selected open position, as predetermined by the limit switch 26. During travel of the device 10 from the closed to open position, the motorised wheel assembly will typically travel in a position substantially horizontal to the travelling surface, but also in a vertical fashion as necessary to traverse an undulating, varied travelling surface, with vertical travel provided by movement of sliding insert 15 within sleeve 16. As required, the device 10 is controlled to move back to the closed position in a reverse movement, by control by the user over necessary electrical signals, as delivered by the control box 25. The above description is provided for the purposes of exemplification only and it will be understood by the person skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the invention.