AU2006100131A4

AU2006100131A4 - Self-retracting Piston to be used in sliding bolt latch systems

Info

Publication number: AU2006100131A4
Application number: AU2006100131A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Adrian Noetzli; Jack Zeljko Saban
Original assignee: JACK SABAN
Current assignee: Williams Janet
Priority date: 2006-02-21
Filing date: 2006-02-21
Publication date: 2006-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-21

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SELF-RETRACTING PISTON TO BE USED IN SLIDING BOLT LATCH

SYSTEMS

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known by us: SELF-RETRACTING PISTON TO BE USED IN SLIDING BOLT LATCH SYSTEMS Many gates have a latch system that consists of a sliding bolt that is inserted into a hollow metal pipe to secure the gate and prevent it from opening. The sliding bolt is usually lowered from the gate into the hollow metal pipe, which is buried in the ground. With time the metal pipe can become clogged with small pebbles, sand, dirt, dust and grime, and eventually this latch system becomes difficult or impossible to use. The present invention overcomes this problem by preventing debris from falling into the self retracting piston when it is not in use and by pushing debris out of the pipe after the piston has been compressed, for example by a sliding bolt.

Detailed description of the self retracting piston In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the self retracting piston in its open state.

Figure 2 shows the self retracting piston in its compressed state. The compression is caused by a sliding bolt that pushes against the piston head.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the self retracting piston.

Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the self retracting piston.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the self retracting piston.

Figure 6 shows the self retracting piston in components.

Figure 7 shows a sliding bolt secured onto a gate and pushing against the self retracting piston which has been installed in the ground.

Referring to figure 1 and figure 6 it can be seen that our self retracting piston consists of a pipe 3 that is open at one end and closed at the other end a piston head 1 that is domed or flat on one end a rubber'O' ring 2 a coil compression spring 4 Referring to figure 1 and figure 6 the self retracting piston consists of a coil compression spring 4 which rests against the closed end of the pipe 3. There are various ways to close one end of the pipe such as, but not limited to, welding a plug onto one open end. Resting on top of the coil compression spring 4 is a piston head 1. The piston head 1 has a domed top (figure 1) so that dirt, dust, sand, grit, stones and other debris will slide off easier, but the self retracting piston (figure 1) would also work with a flat top piston head. The outside diameter of the piston head 1 is less than the inside diameter of the pipe 3 to allow for expansion and contraction of all the materials under normal operating temperatures. There is a groove near the top of the piston head 1 into which a rubber ring 2 is inserted. The outside diameter of the rubber ring 2 is the same as the inside diameter of the pipe 3. The rubber ring 2 forms a tight seal with the pipe 3, which stops dirt and sand from sliding between the piston head 1 and the pipe 4.

The various components of the self retracting piston should be manufactured from high quality materials such as high grade stainless steel, heavy duty plastics, brass, and/or other materials.

Operation of the self retracting piston The self retracting piston is installed directly into ground. Only the piston head 1 is visible from the ground. If dirt, dust, sand, pebbles and debris covers the piston head it can be brushed aside. The piston head 1 stops pebbles, sand, dirt, dust and debris from going into the pipe 3.

Figure 1 demonstrates the self-retracting piston in its open position. The piston head and sliding bolt are at ground level. The piston becomes compressed when the sliding bolt is pushed against the piston head 1, which secures the sliding bolt below surface level (figure 2) and hence prevents the gate from opening. With the sliding bolt firmly secured below ground level the gate is now secured and cannot be opened until the sliding bolt is released from its hook.

The gate can be opened once the sliding bolt has been released from the hook. The force of the compressed spring pushes the sliding bolt out.

The invention is particularly useful for areas where there is a lot of dirt that can block a pipe, such as gates that use a sliding bolt in farming and industrial areas and animal transportation vehicles and trailers. The invention can be used in currently installed latch systems that have a sliding bolt which is pushed into a pipe. The pipe is replaced with the invention to stop the problem of pebbles, dirt, grime, dust, sand, rocks and other materials clogging up the pipe.

Claims

1. Our self retracting piston consists of 0 a pipe that is open at one end and closed at the other end a piston head that is domed or flat on one end a rubber'0' ring a coil compression spring

2. The self retracting piston of claim 1 should be made of components that are hard, durable, rust-free materials such as, but not limited to stainless steel, rubber or hard plastics.

3. The self retracting piston of claim 1 has a piston head that has an outside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe.

4. The self retracting piston of claim 1 has a rubber ring that has an outside diameter that is the same as the inside diameter of the pipe.

5. The self retracting piston of claim 1 has a pipe that is open at one end and closed at the other end by, but not limited to, blocking a hollow pipe with a plug or by other means of manufacture.

6. A self retracting piston can substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings. JACK ZELJKO SABAN AND ADRIAN NOTZLI 15 th FEBRUARY 2006