AU2023266243A1 - Self-levelling support for cantilevered sliding gate - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-levelling support for a cantilevered sliding gate is provided. The self-levelling support is a carriage assembly for a cantilever slidable gate, the gate being of the type provided with a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction, the carriage assembly comprising: a wheel carrier structure; a vertical support component; and one or more articulated joints (e.g. ball joint or Heim joint) configured to connect the wheel carrier structure with the vertical support, wherein the one or more articulated joints is configured to facilitate relative movement of the wheel carrier structure in the pitch, roll and yaw axes. The application of which provides better alignment of each carriage, ensures each wheel shares a balanced load and consequently reduces wear or failure caused by substantial transverse forces. 20 30 Figure 1 20 30 Figure 2

Description

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Self-levelling support for cantilevered sliding gate

Field of application The present invention relates to the field of gates, and more particularly to the field of cantilevered sliding gates with at least one guide track with which a gate support profile runs on rollers of at least one support bracket.

Background The slidable cantilever gates, of known type, traditionally comprise a support framework having a lower crossbar with a longitudinal rail fixed on its lower part, such rail substantially extending for the entire length of the gate. Below the rail, two gate support gate carriages s are provided, whose load-bearing structure is rigidly anchored to the ground in spaced positions, aligned in the sliding direction of the gate.

Movement of the gate may manual or may be of the automatic type such as by a motor housed in a column placed alongside the gate and is connected by means of transmission connected with the gate framework.

On the load-bearing structure of each gate carriages, idle wheels are mounted and rotate inside the rail placed below the gate to guide the gate during its opening and closing movement. Each gate carriages is provided with support wheels, with substantially horizontal rotation axis, on which the weight of the gate rests, and at least one guide wheel with substantially vertical rotation axis, which is interposed between the two support wheel pairs and is typically located at the top of the gate for leverage purposes. The guide wheels of the two gate carriages s cooperate with each other to avoid transverse swerves of the gate during its movement.

At least one pair of the support wheels of each gate can be regulated and its vertical position can be adjusted to vary the height of the gate once the latter is placed entirely projecting in a cantilever manner. For such purpose, vertical adjustment means are provided which move the rotation pin of the aforesaid pair of adjustable support wheels.

The quality of the gate function is strongly influenced by the manufacturing precision of the gate carriages s, since even minimal deviation from the foundations or defects in the load bearing body can lead to a malfunctioning of the gate or give rise to annoying noise. The complex production modes currently employed in gate manufacture do not lead to a final precise and easy installation of the gates, any misalignment between the support trollies will create wear on moving parts which may lead to premature failure of the gate hardware.

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art up to today, providing a gate carriage for a slidable cantilever gate which addresses issues of installation precision and misalignment of the support trollies to simplify installation and improve the longevity of the gate. A further object is to provide the public with a useful choice.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Summary of the invention In one broad aspect the invention comprises a carriage assembly for a cantilever slidable gate, the gate being of the type provided with a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction, the carriage assembly comprising: a wheel carrier structure; a vertical support component; and one or more articulated joints configured to connect the wheel carrier structure with the vertical support, wherein the one or more articulated joints is configured to facilitate relative movement of the wheel carrier structure in the pitch, roll and yaw axes.

In some embodiments, the carriage assembly further comprises a base component adapted to connect with the vertical support component. In some embodiments, the one or more articulated joints comprises a ball joint or Heim joint. In some embodiments, the one or more articulated joints comprises a bearing. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier structure comprises a central aperture adapted to receive the articulated ball joint. In some embodiments, the central aperture of the wheel carrier structure is of a size configured to arrest the movement of the ball joint to a predefined limit. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier structure comprises two or more wheel-pairs adapted for engagement with the guide rail of the gate. In some embodiments, the vertical support is configured to provide vertical height adjustment of the wheel carrier structure.

In some embodiments, the assembly further comprises a collar component adapted for rotational containment within the base plate, and adapted to receive the vertical support. In some embodiments, rotation of the vertical support within the collar component causes vertical height adjustment of the vertical support.

In another broad aspect the invention comprises a cantilever slidable gate assembly comprising: a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction; a carriage assembly adapted to engage with the guide rail and support the gate, the carriage assembly comprising: a wheel carrier structure; a vertical support component; and one or more articulated joints configured to connect the wheel carrier structure with the vertical support, wherein the one or more articulated joints is configured to facilitate relative movement of the wheel carrier structure in the pitch, roll and yaw axes.

In one embodiment, the carriage assembly further comprises a base component adapted to connect with the vertical support component. In one embodiment, the one or more articulated joints comprises a ball joint or Heim joint. In one embodiment, the one or more articulated joints comprises a bearing. In one embodiment, the wheel carrier structure comprises a central and axially aligned aperture adapted to receive the articulated ball joint. In one embodiment, the central aperture of the wheel carrier component is configured to partially enclose the joint and of a size such that the partial enclosure is configured to arrest the movement of the joint to a predefined limit of angular displacement. In one embodiment, the wheel carrier component comprises two or more wheel-pairs adapted for engagement with the guide rail of the gate. In one embodiment, the two or more wheel pairs are aligned along the advancement direction of the gate, and supported by an axle extending though the wheel carrier component. In one embodiment, the vertical support component is configured to provide vertical height adjustment of the wheel carrier component. In one embodiment, the assembly further comprises a collar component adapted for rotational containment within the base plate, and to receive the vertical support component. In one embodiment, axial rotation of the vertical support within the collar component causes vertical height adjustment of the vertical support. In one embodiment, the guide rail comprises an inner profile having one or more surfaces adapted to engage with the wheel carrier structure of the carriage assembly.

In one embodiment, each wheel pair comprises two laterally spaced wheels, each wheel comprising a surface with an annular groove, and the wheel engaging surfaces of the inner profile of the guide rail comprises inwardly extending formations, aligned with the alignment of each wheel pair, and having a profile substantially complementary to the annular groove of each wheel.

In another broad aspect the invention comprises a method of constructing a cantilever slidable gate assembly comprising: providing two or more of the carriage assemblies of any one of the above statements; providing a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction for each carriage assembly, providing a base component adapted to connect with the vertical support component; attaching each base component to a foundation; attaching a carriage assembly to each base component; and attaching the guide rail to each carriage assembly by articulation of each carriage assembly in the pitch, roll and yaw directions.

The following embodiments may relate to any of the above aspects. Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used in this specification, the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Brief description of the drawings The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforesaid objects, are clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims; the advantages of the same are more evident from the following descriptions, given with reference to the attached drawings which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment 10 of a slidable cantilever gate 30 with supporting two gate carriages 20. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a rail profile of gate for engagement with a plurality of idle wheels of a gate carriage. Figure 3 shows a hollow profile of gate for engaged with a plurality of idle wheels of a gate carriage. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 5 shows a top view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 6 shows a side view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 7 shows an end view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 9 shows a perspective view and indicates axis of movement.

Detailed description Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment 10 of a slidable cantilever gate 30 with supporting two gate carriages 20, the object of the present invention, on its lower part.

With the term gate it will be intended, without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, any one obstruction, such as a main outside door or gate, susceptible for sliding between two opening and closing positions to carry out the traditional function of controlling a carriageable or pedestrian access passage to a property, construction site, company, building or garden.

The gate 30 is provided with a support framework having a predominant extension along the advancing direction of the gate. Such support framework is formed by a metal frame, that is by a plurality of uprights and crossbars, and is usually closed by darkening cover panels or, gratings or bars.

The gate 30 is slidably supported between the two closed and open positions along an advancing direction by the two gate carriages 30, which are spaced from each other and substantially aligned along the aforesaid advancing direction.

Both gate carriages 30 are placed outside the dimensions of the access passage and are placed at a distance such to permit supporting the gate in a cantilever manner, by operating in a per se traditional manner: one gate carriage in traction and the other in abutment depending on whether the gate is in open or closed position.

To support the mechanical stresses transmitted by the gate, each gate carriage 20 is rigidly constrained to the ground by supporting hardware which is in turn anchored to a foundation 50.

To support the gate from tilting transversely about the lower gate carriages 20, a further support 40 is located at the top region of the gate. The support 40 is ideally attached to framework supported by the gate foundation. The further support may be in the form of one or more rollers or guide surfaces arranged support the upper region of the gate.

A mechanism to move the gate in the advancement direction usually comprise a rack fixed to the framework of the gate 30 and a fixed motor placed in a pillar on the side of the gate or to the foundation, which engages with a pinion in the rack for transmitting the movement to the gate.

On the lower part of the gate 30, a rail is fixed by means of welding or mechanical coupling and/or fixing fasteners. Such a rail is substantially extended for the entire length of the gate and defines a lengthened hollow profile within which a plurality of idle wheels on a support structure are engaged, as is generally shown in Figure 2, and will be discussed below in detail. In some embodiments, the hollow profile is a section of extrusion. Such idle wheels are adapted to guide the gate along the advancing direction between the open and closed positions.

Each gate carriage 20 comprises a support structure formed by a support base, intended to be fixed to the foundations made in the ground, and by a load-bearing body, fixed to the support base, on which the weight of the gate 30 is unloaded. The load-bearing body of structure of a gate carriage has two pairs of support wheels rotatably mounted, (the support wheel pairs are preferably two in number but could also be one or three), which are free to rotate with substantially horizontal rotation axis within the rail, and a guide wheel, which is free to rotate with substantially vertical rotation axis within the rail.

Functionally, the two pairs of support wheels receive the weight of the gate 30 and have the task of rotating in the rail to make the gate 30 move, while the guide wheel cooperates with the other gate carriages in order to oppose deviations of the same gate 30 transverse to its advancing direction.

For such purpose, as can be appreciated in Figure 2 and Figure 3, the hollow profile of the rail has a tubular shape, which is open on its lower part with a longitudinal slit, and is provided with opposite, lateral, substantially vertical walls, and substantially horizontal upper and lower opposite walls, on which the two pairs of support wheels rest.

In some embodiments, the internal region of the hollow profile has a guiding prostitution 31 which spans the advancement direction, and the wheels of the roller a complementary profile 21 to causing a guiding engagement between these parts.

According to the idea underlying the present invention, each gate carriage has a support structure 60 provided by a gate carriage assembly and will be discussed in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 9. In particular, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 5 shows a top view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 6 shows a side view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 7 shows an end view of the gate carriage assembly, Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the gate carriage assembly, and Figure 9 shows a perspective view and indicates axis of movement. The gate carriage assembly comprises a base plate 70, a vertical support structure 82, and a wheel carrier structure 80.

The base plate 70 adapted for support of each gate carriage 20 and attachment to the ground such as the foundation 50. The base plate features apertures 71 to allow the pass through of fasteners to anchor the plate and ground.

The vertical support structure 82 further comprises a vertical support shaft 82 adapted to allow adjustment of the height of the wheel carrier structure 80 from the ground. In some embodiments, the vertical adjustment is provided by a threaded shaft engaging in a captive nut in the base plate. In some embodiments, the captive nut is swaged into the base plate. Adjustment of the height of the wheel carrier is undertaken by rotation of the threaded shaft and/or captive nut to increase or decrease the length of the threaded shaft. One or more nuts 83 are located on the threaded shaft to lock the shaft into a desired position.

The wheel carrier structure 80 is adapted to support the wheels 21 which engage with the hollow profile of the gate. The carrier structure is configured to engage with the top of the vertical support structure. The carrier structure comprises a central region adapted to engage with the vertical support structure, and outer regions which extend from the central region and engage with the wheels 21. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier structure is adapted to support the wheels 21 by an axle shaft which extends through the carrier structure and through each wheel in a conventional manner. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier structure comprises a body component which may be cast, machined, or folded from metal. In some embodiments, the body component comprises a unitary part. In other embodiments, the body component comprises multiple parts, such as to allow encapsulation of bearings and axle shafts which support the wheels.

The vertical support structure 82 further comprises an articulated joint configured to connect the support shaft with the wheel carrier component 80. The articulated joint is configured to facilitate movement of the wheel carrier relative to the base plate with at least three degrees of freedom - pitch roll and yaw. In some embodiments the joint is provided by a ball and socket joint such as a Heim joint (rod end), ball joint or partially encapsulated spherical bearing. In some embodiments, the joint comprises a combination of multiple articulating joints and in other embodiments, a single joint. In each embodiment, it is envisaged three degrees of freedom are provided. In some embodiments, an adjustable vertical height is also provided. However, height adjustment may be provided by other means such as shims beneath the mounting plate 70 or similar.

Figures 2-9 generally depicts an embodiment comprising a single joint which offers three degrees of freedom in the pitch, roll and yaw directions as indicated by Figure 9. In this embodiment, a ball joint is located at the top of the vertical support structure 82 to thereby pivotably support wheel carrier structure 80. The depicted embodiment further shows a wheel carrier structure 80 composing a central aperture adapted to receive and partially enclose the ball joint. The ball joint is secured by passthrough of an axle 84 which also passes through the walls of the aperture in the wheel carrier 80.

The wheel carrier structure 80 may take many forms, however it is desirable for the ball joint to be centrally located between the wheels 21 which support the gate. This ensures the load of the gate is substantially equally supported by each set of wheels. In one form, the wheel carrier structure 80 comprises at least a pair of opposing and load-bearing sidewalls with axles passing therethrough to support gate carriage wheels, and a support shaft for one or more a ball joint. In some embodiments, axles are secured by circlips in complementary grooves in the axle shafts. Other means of securing the axles are possible, such as encapsulation of the axle end within a supporting journal. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier structure may define one or more openings to receive one or more bearings for rotatable support of other components such as the pair of gate carriage wheels 21.

The central region of wheel carrier structure 80 has an open space to allow movement of the ball joint in at least the roll and pitch axes. Further, in some embodiments, the open central region is sized to arrest movement of the ball joint such at that the roll and/or pitch angles are restricted or confined to with predetermined and predetermined limitations. In this way, stability of the gate carriage 20 is provided which may aid with installation and setup of the gate. The predefined limit is caused by abutment of the joint and/or vertical support with the housing of the wheel carrier component.

Figure 8 shows a detailed exploded view of one embodiment, including the foundation mounting plate 70 having a raised central region, and an aperture in that raised region adapted to receive the vertical support shaft 81. A threaded lower region of the vertical support shaft 81 extends through the mounting plate 70 and is secured to the plate by a nut 87 and washer 89 on the underside of the plate. A collar component 88 is also located on the vertical shaft 80 on the upper side of the plate and acts to provide easy height adjustment by attachment of a spanner or similar tool. The collar component 88 is supported by a nut 83 and washer 87 which together with the lower nut 89, set the position of the vertical support 82 relative to the mounting plate 70 and thereby sets the overall height of the wheel carrier structure 80 and clamp the vertical height adjustment components together when the desired height has been set. The nuts 83, 89 may be locking nuts or be assisted with locking washers. Operatively, the height position of the gate carriage 20 is adjusted by operating with the wrench on the collar component 88 of the threaded vertical support 82, so as to make it axially move, screwing it or unscrewing it. Thus, the wheel carrier structure 80 is moved which supports the pair of support wheels 21 until the desired position is reached.

In some embodiments, the collar component 88 is adapted for rotational containment within the base plate and adapted to receive the vertical support. For example, the collar component may be swaged or staked into the base plate to allow rotation while being vertically captive. Other methods of combining these parts, such as welding, is also possible. Rotation of the vertical support within the collar component (or vice versa) causes vertical height adjustment of the vertical support.

The wheel carrier structure 80 engages with a ball joint 81 located at the top of the vertical support structure. A pin 84 serves to span between the wheel carrier structure 80 and the ball joint 81. The pin is held in place by circlips 85 on each end of the pin 84.

The wheel carrier structure 80 is adapted to support two wheel-pairs at opposing ends of the structure and equidistant from the ball joint. A pair of axles 25 extend from the wheel carrier structure 80 and are adapted to engage with a wheel. A bearing 24 is located within each wheel 21 and for engagement with the extending axle. The wheels may be attached to the bearing by a mechanical engagement. The bearings 24 are secured on the axle by engagement of a retaining screw 23 and retaining washer 22, but may also be retained by a circlip.

In operation, the gate carriages pitch around the horizontal axis that is at right angles to the face of the gate. In this sense align with each other in a horizontal plane when installed inside the gate profile where the carriages travel, but they require both a manual yaw alignment and a manual roll alignment. If these adjustments aren't made the wheels can experience larger than normal loads leading to premature failure of the bearings. This can be quite difficult on a site where a foundation (typically concrete) hasn't been laid flat or level.

Typically, the base plate is mounted on anchoring fasteners that are fixed into the concrete. Nuts and washers sandwich the base plate top and bottom to establish the height of the carriage assembly, then adjustment to level the carriages with one another and the gate is performed. Advantageously, the fasteners may be placed into the foundation after the foundation is prepared and no special preparation of the foundation, such as levelling of the surface, is required.

To construct a cantilever slidable gate assembly, two or more of the carriage assemblies 30 are provided for attachment to a foundation, such as a concrete pad. The base of each carriage assembly is attached to the foundation by fasteners which may be set into the foundation or secured later. The guide rail of the gate is used to align the carriage assemblies in the advancement direction of the gate. That is, to ensure the yaw axis of each carriage assembly is substantially aligned. The moveable joint of each carriage assembly permits rotation about the yaw axis during this process. Further, each carriage assembly is permitted some movement in the roll and pitch axes which is often necessary to account for any installation misalignment, or misalignment caused by unevenness in the foundation itself. The movement in the roll and pitch axes further ensures substantial alignment between each carriage. The resulting alignment of each carriage in each of the roll, pitch and yaw axes ensures alignment with the advancement direction of the gate. This in turn ensures that the wheel of each carriage shares a substantially balanced load, and that there are substantially no transverse forces applied to any wheel - an issue that has often led to premature wear or failure of carriages in the prior art.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the disclosure.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth. Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. A carriage assembly for a cantilever slidable gate, the gate being of the type provided with a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and to extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction, the carriage assembly comprising: a wheel carrier component; a vertical support component; and an articulated joint configured to connect the wheel carrier component with the vertical support component, wherein the one or more articulated joints is configured to facilitate relative movement of the wheel carrier component in the pitch, roll and yaw axes.
2. 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a base component adapted to connect with the vertical support component.
3. 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the articulated joint comprises a ball joint or Heim joint.
4. 4. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the articulated joint comprises a bearing.
5. 5. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wheel carrier component comprises a central and vertically aligned aperture adapted to receive the articulated joint.
6. 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central aperture of the wheel carrier component is configured to partially enclose the joint and of a size such that the partial enclosure is configured to arrest the movement of the joint to a predefined limit of angular displacement by abutment of the joint or vertical support component with the carrier component.
7. 7. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wheel carrier component comprises two or more wheel-pairs adapted for engagement with the guide rail of the gate.
8. 8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two or more wheel pairs are aligned along the advancement direction of the gate, and supported by an axle extending though the wheel carrier component.
9. 9. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vertical support component is configured to provide vertical height adjustment of the wheel carrier component.
10. 10. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the assembly further comprises a collar component adapted for rotational containment within the base plate, and to receive the vertical support component.
11. 11. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein axial rotation of the vertical support within the collar component causes vertical height adjustment of the vertical support.
12. 12. A cantilever slidable gate assembly comprising: a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and arranged to extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction of the gate; and a carriage assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.
13. 13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide rail comprises an inner profile having one or more surfaces adapted to engage with the wheel carrier component of the carriage assembly.
14. 14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein each wheel pair comprises two laterally spaced wheels, each wheel comprising a surface with an annular groove, and the wheel engaging surfaces of the inner profile of the guide rail comprises inwardly extending formations, aligned with the alignment of each wheel pair, and having a profile substantially complementary to the annular groove of each wheel.
15. 15. A method of constructing a cantilever slidable gate assembly comprising: providing two or more of the carriage assemblies of any one of claims 1 to 11; providing a guide rail fixed to a barrier framework and extend longitudinally according to an advancement direction; for each carriage assembly, providing a base component adapted to connect with the vertical support component; fastening each base component to a foundation; attaching a carriage assembly to each base component; and attaching the guide rail to each carriage assembly by articulation of each carriage assembly in the pitch, roll and yaw directions.

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