AU2012100483A4 - A gate gudgeon - Google Patents

Abstract

A gate gudgeon assembly having an L shape member with integral vertical and horizontal arms, an elongated horizontal threaded member, a collar member having a vertical bore to accept the vertical arm of the L shaped 5 member and a lateral threaded bore wherein a distal end of the elongated horizontal threaded member can be threaded through said lateral threaded bore so as to be rotatable into a clamping position up against the vertical arm thereby fixing the collar, L shaped member and the elongated horizontal threaded member together into a single piece; and a resilient bush locatable 10 over the vertical arm of said L shaped member and retainable upon an upper skirting of said collar. (0 c.'j 0o cu' C"' C', co C'Jj 0 C'J .......... . ...

Description

A GATE GUDGEON TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD [001] This invention relates to an improved gate gudgeon and more particularly to a gate gudgeon assembly wherein the various components and 5 parts of the gudgeon that provide the support mechanism between a gate and a post can be done without the requisite requirement of welding the individual parts together. [002] BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION [003] Some conventional gate gudgeons are made up of, for the most part, a 10 vertical member connected to a secondary anti-twist horizontal member that is inserted into a predrilled hole in the post. A collar provides support for a bush locatable about the vertical member that is adapted for a reasonably close fit between the bush and an upright tubular gate member. In certain arrangements these collars are machined down so the collar and the vertical 15 member are one piece, and the secondary anti-twist horizontal member was welded thereafter underneath. [004] The primary threaded horizontal member, adapted for engagement within a further pre-drilled bore hole in the gate post which the gate is connected thereto, was also then welded to the collar. 20 [005] Given these types of configurations of the gate gudgeon it is particularly troublesome to be able to use various kinds of automation such as robotics and so forth to complete the task of welding these individual parts together. [006] If the welding is done individually as is to be appreciated the costs and 25 arguably skill involved in producing such gudgeons that use welding and/or machining to bring together all the relevant parts so that the requisite functionality of the gate gudgeon can be presented to provide a relevant support between the gate post and the gate will be expensive and time consuming. 1 [007] Still further, once a gate gudgeon has had its components welded together the overall degree of resiliency is limited. For example, as the joints holding together the individually welded together parts are fused together there is very little give and take. 5 [008] Therefore if there is any slack or slight misalignment when the primary threaded horizontal member and the secondary anti-twist horizontal member are placed within the pre-drilled holes in the gate post the inherent ability of welded together parts makes it difficult to overcome such situations, unless of course brute force is applied which often sees loss of structural integrity, 10 bending and damage to the gate gudgeon which results ultimately in an inferior support arrangement between the gate post and the gate. [009} It would therefore be particularly advantageous if one was able to provide a gate gudgeon wherein the individual features that provide the requisite functionality of the gate gudgeon need not be welded together. 15 [010] Accordingly in one form of the invention there is a gate gudgeon assembly, said assembly including; [011] an L shape member having integral vertical and horizontal arms; [012] an elongated horizontal threaded member; [013] a collar member having a vertical bore to accept the vertical arm of the 20 L shaped member and a lateral threaded bore wherein a distal end of the elongated horizontal threaded member can be threaded through said lateral threaded bore so as to be rotatable into a clamping position up against the vertical arm of the L shaped member thereby fixing the collar, L shaped member and the elongated horizontal threaded member into a single piece; 25 and [014] a bush adapted to be inserted into a tubular column of a gate locatable over the vertical arm of said L shaped member and retainable upon an upper skirting of said collar. 2 [015] An advantage of such an arrangement is that each of parts of the gudgeon assembly can be brought together in a fixed relationship without the requiring of any welding and so forth. [016] Advantageously the L shaped member, rather than being two separate 5 pieces, wherein the vertical member acted as the spigot so that the bush could be located thereabout and to which previously the collar had to be machined down upon the vertical spigot to make it one piece with the bottom horizontal spike then welded underneath, this has all been avoided by having the unique arrangement of the integral L shaped member bringing together 10 the vertical arm and the horizontal arm both incorporating the vertical spigot and the horizontal anti-twist member which then uniquely through the use of the collar which includes the vertical hold to accept the vertical arm of the L shaped member and then the introduction of the lateral threaded hole to accept the elongated horizontal threaded member at one end means that all 15 the pieces can come together without the requirement for welding. [017] In preference the vertical arm of the L shaped member includes a counter-sunk hole and at the threadable engageable end of the elongated horizontal threaded member there is a corresponding configured point to assist in locating the elongated horizontal threaded member within the collar. 20 [018] The pointed end of the elongated horizontal threaded member and the counter sunk hole on the vertical arm of the L shaped member provides advantageously a small amount of adjustment before final tightening to allow for any variations caused by the holes not being drilled in the post in exact position. 25 [019] In preference the horizontal arm of the L shaped member has a pointed tip. [020] An advantage of such an arrangement is that when the pre-drilled bore hole for receiving the elongated horizontal threaded member is made the pointed tip of the horizontal arm can provide a marking point relative to the 30 bore hole for the elongated horizontal threaded member so that it can be positioned in correct alignment so that upon installation of both the main 3 elongated horizontal threaded member and the horizontal arm of the L shaped member which provides added support and prevents the gudgeon from twisting, can the appropriately aligned. [021] In preference the elongated horizontal threaded member at the distal 5 end opposite the distal end engaging the collar includes opposing flattened out shoulders. [022] An advantage of such an arrangement is that these flattened out shoulders or faces at the distal end, allow a spanner for assembling and tightening the parts together accordingly. 10 [023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [024] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a preferred embodiment will be presented with the assistance of the following illustrations. [025] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the gate gudgeon assembly in a preferred embodiment of the invention. 15 [026] Figure 2 is an exploded version of the gate gudgeon looking from one side. [027] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the perspective view of Figure 1 looking from the other side to that of Figure 2. [028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 20 [029] Referring to the drawings now in greater detail where there is provided a gate gudgeon assembly shown generally as (10). [030] The gate gudgeon assembly includes an integral L shaped member (12) which includes an upright vertical arm (14) and a horizontal arm (16). The vertical arm (14) of the L shaped member (12) includes a counter-sunk hole 25 (18) 4 [031] There is a horizontal elongated threaded member (22) which at one distal end (24) ends in a pointed configuration wherein at the opposing distal end at (26) ends in two flat sides or shoulders (26). [032] Nuts (28A) and (28B) and associated washers (30A) and (30B) assist 5 in securing the elongated horizontal threaded member (22) within the pre drilled bore hole of the gate post. [033] Collar (32) includes a vertical hole which is adapted to receive the vertical arm (14) of the L shaped member (12) and which when extending through the hole (34) of the collar (32) acts as a vertical spigot to which the 10 bush (40) is able to be located there over in the corresponding bore hole (44) and to wherein upon the upper surface or skirting (38) of the collar (32) the bush at its bottom rim (42) is able to be retained thereupon. [034] The use of the unique collar (32) and the combining together of the vertical arm and the horizontal arm into a integral single piece means that the 15 respective components of the gudgeon can be all fastened together and supported within the required functionality without the requirement of welding. [035] The collar (32) is able to accept the vertical arm (14) wherein the collar (32) can be positioned about the sunken hole (18) and to wherein the pointed tip (24) of the elongated horizontal threaded member provides a location and 20 locking of the respective parts together when tightened in the collar. [036] Advantageously the elongated horizontal threaded member (22) and the L shaped member are fixed in place through the unique use of the collar (32) as the collar (32), elongated horizontal threaded member (22) and L shaped member (12) can all be fixed in place by the threaded engagement 25 between the elongated horizontal threaded member and the L shaped member (12) through the collar (32). [037] As introduced above assistance is further provided by the pointed tip (20) on the horizontal arm (16) of the L shaped member (12) to assist in providing a marking so that the hole that will accommodate this horizontal arm 30 can be reference to the main elongated horizontal threaded member hole. 5 [038] Advantageously again as referred to above the pointed end (24) of the elongated horizontal threaded member (22) and the counter-sunk (18) on the vertical arm (14) of the L shaped member (12) provides a small amount of adjustability before tightening to allow for any variations caused by the holes 5 not being drilled in the post in the exact position. 6

Claims (5)

1. A gate gudgeon assembly, said assembly including; an L shape member having integral vertical and horizontal arms; an elongated horizontal threaded member; 5 a collar member having a vertical bore to accept the vertical arm of the L shaped member and a lateral threaded bore wherein a distal end of the elongated horizontal threaded member can be threaded through said lateral threaded bore so as to be rotatable into a clamping position up against the vertical arm of the L shaped member thereby fixing the collar, L shaped 10 member and the elongated horizontal threaded member together into a single piece; and a bush adapted to be inserted into a tubular column of a gate locatable over the vertical arm of said L shaped member and retainable upon an upper skirting of said collar. 15

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the vertical arm of the L shaped member includes a counter-sunk hole and at the threadable engageable end of the elongated horizontal threaded member there is a corresponding configured point to assist in locating the elongated horizontal threaded member within the collar. 20

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the horizontal arm of the L shaped member has a pointed tip.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated horizontal threaded member at the distal end opposite the distal end engaging the collar includes opposing flattened out shoulders. 25

5. A gate gudgeon assembly as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrations. 7