AU703787B2 - Starting gate hold and release mechanism - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a starting gate opening mechanism and in particular to a starting gate hold and release mechanism.

BACKGROUND

This specification relates generally to starting gate mechanisms and by way of example only a horse race starting gate will be described.

A horse race starting gate assembly typically comprises a framework forming a plurality of bays to be occupied by horses and their riders. Before the commencement of a race, the rear and front gate of each bay, are closed off to restrain the horse until the front gates are opened to allow the horse to begin its race.

It is important that each of the gates at the front of each bay are opened at the same time so that no competitor is disadvantaged.

Typically, the front gates for a bay comprise a pair of half gates which are biased to move rapidly to an opened position and latched in a closed position. Each half gate is forced by hand against the opening bias and latched into their closed positions.

20 Operating the latch releases the half gates and the bias quickly opens each half of the gate to allow the horse within the bay to commence its race.

To ensure that all the front gates are unlatched simultaneously a number of mechanical and electro-mechanical arrangements have been devised. One common 25 arrangement for releasing the latch comprises a mechanical linkage between the latch located at the abutment of the closed half gates and a continuous rotatable shaft which is supported on the framework above the gates. When the shaft is rotated each linkage associated with each pair of half gates is operated to release the latch and consequently the gates are opened.

Typically, however, these purely mechanical arrangements cannot be reliably extended to the location of the race starter's position which is usually remote from the starting gate framework. Such an extension requires the framework to be enlarged and adequate expertise to properly set up the mechanical arrangements.

Furthermore, when one framework is located adjacent another, each having say bays a mechanical linkage is required between the frameworks. Failure of these extensions and linkages result in unintentional opening causing false starts.

Electro-mechanical arrangements include energising large electro-magnetic coils which hold-in the starting gate release mechanism. Even though electrical extension for remotely releasing the gates is easily provided the large power consumption requirements of the electro-magnetic coils necessitate the provision of large capacity storage batteries and adequate storage room. These batteries are required to be charged on a regular basis, maintained and charged fully prior to use.

However, the state and reliability of large capacity batteries is difficult to test and monitor and it has been found that batteries required to supply large current over prolonged periods of time are not reliably monitored.

t. •Thus unfortunately when battery power is depleted the starting gates open 0 too. unexpectedly necessitating a reversion to the old mechanical release arrangements until the race meeting has been completed.

6:960: As described, a lack of power may result in a false start (caused by the premature too. release of the gates) or the inability to properly set the start of the race o°°4* (because the gates cannot be kept closed until the electrical problem is identified).

Furthermore, when more than one framework is brought together, the correct electrical connection of these bays is very important. Some arrangements disconnect the electrical system of one bay and rely on the remaining bays' electrical system.

Some systems run the electrical systems in parallel but incorrect connection can cause major problems such as false starts, wiring burn-out because of crossed wires and unreliable operation.

A further problem is the reliance on a bias means located at one end of a shaft of quite substantial length to uniformly rotate the full length of the shaft. As a result non-uniform rotation may result which translates into some gates being unlatched to open later than others.

The invention disclosed in this specification mechanically releases each of the gates in much the same way as has been done in the past. However, the means to maintain the gates latched provided by this invention overcomes the prior problems while the release mechanism employed maintains the convenient feature of manual or electromagnetic release arrangements as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In its broadest aspect the starting gate comprises a framework having a plurality of bays each having at least one gate adapted to close off said bay to the forward movement of a said competitor in said bay, bias means associated with each of said gates to bias said gate open, latch means associated with each gate to maintain said gate in a closed s position and operable to be unlatched and allow said gate to open, 20 a rotatable shaft assembly supported by said framework and located along the *:see length of said framework, mechanical linkage means attached between each said latch means and said shaft assembly arranged so that rotation of said shaft assembly unlatches said latch means associated with each gate, .25 a bias means arranged to bias said rotatable shaft so as to unlatch said latch means, characterised in that said starting gate further comprises a rotatable shaft holding means for holding said rotatable shaft against said bias means such that said latch means remains latched, said holding means comprising a pneumatic ram, and a shaft holding release means comprising a quick exhaust valve associated with said pneumatic ram such that when said quick exhaust valve is operated said shaft holding means no longer restrains rotation of said shaft allowing said shaft to rotate and thereby unlatch said latch means which in turn allows said gates to open.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures. This embodiment is illustrative but not restrictive of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig 1 depicts a prior art starting gate framework and a plurality of bays and associated gates; Fig 2 depicts a side view of the shaft and a portion of the linkage to the latch mechanism; and :•Fig 3 is a starting gate according to the invention incorporating an air operated starting gate hold and release mechanism.

oooo** DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Fig 1 depicts a conventional starting gate arrangement which is not typically Sinstalled in a permanent location. Typically starting gates are fitted to a transportable framework. The starting gate arrangement depicted comprises a framework **forming bays between columns 12 for the location of horses before the commencement of a race. At the front of each bay 14 there is at least one gate and in S this embodiment two half gates 16 and 18 which swing on hinges attached to the columns 12 and close off the front of the bay 14 to the forward movement of the horse. Each half gate is biased with bias means 20 towards an open position such that the horse may be ridden out of the bay to commence the race when the gate is opened by the bias means. In this arrangement each bias means is located between a column 12 and a leading portion of an adjacent half gate (16 or 18) as depicted.

The half gates are retained in their closed state by a latch mechanism shown generally as 22. The detail of the latch mechanism is not very great since these mechanisms are well known and a great variety of alternatives are possible. In the arrangement depicted a rod 24 forms part of a preferred latch mechanism which extends across the face of the half gate 18 to the column 12 and is connected to a linkage rod 26 which rises above the half gates 16 and 18 to the vicinity of a rotatable shaft assembly 28 and is connected thereto by being passed through an aperture 32 of tab 30 which is fixed to the rotatable shaft. This is one of many ways in which a pivoting connection between the linkage rod 26 and the rotatable shaft assembly 28 can be made.

As the shaft assembly 28 rotates, as is shown pictorially in Fig 2, the tab 30 rotates and the linkage rod 26 is raised or lowered depending on the direction of rotation.

The rod 24 is then lifted to operate the latch mechanism 22 which in this arrangement allows the half gates 16 and 18 to open. The shaft assembly 28 is preferably a single rod as long as the framework but may also comprise two or more shafts fitted end to end along the length of the framework and will be referred to as a shaft in the remainder of the specification.

.ooooi ooo• The particular mechanical linkage arrangement described is only one of many ways by which the latch mechanism can be released.

o°•0° The rotatable shaft 28 is supported on the framework 10 in a way which allows it to rotate about its longitudinal axis. As depicted in Fig 1 tab 34 is shown at one end of the shaft 28 and a bias means 36, comprising in this example a spring, is fixed at one end to the tab 34 and at its other end to a portion of the frame 38 for providing a bias to the shaft so as to unlatch the latch means and allow the gates to open.

Also attached to the tab 34 is a rod 39 which extends downwards to a starter operable electro-magnetically operated coil 42. When the shaft is rotated to engage the latch means 22 the shaft 28 is lowered to a position such that it enters the field of the electro-magnetic coil 42 which when energised attracts the plate 44 on the end of the rod 39 and maintains the rod in its lowered position and thereby maintains the rotation of the shaft against the action of the bias spring 36.

When power to the electro-magnetic coil is removed the magnetic attraction between the coil 42 and the plate 44 ceases and the rod 38 rises with the assistance of the bias spring 36 thereby rotating the shaft 28 which actuates each of the mechanical linkages pivotally attached to the shaft to ends connected to a latch mechanism thereby allowing the half gates to open with the assistance of their respective bias means When and if electro-magnetic energy cannot be provided by the electro-magnetic coil 42 because of the absence of a power source or other electrical problem, then a starter's operable latch 40 can be engaged to retain the plate 34 in a lowered position until the starter is ready to commence the race. When the starter's operable latch is rotated the rod 39 rises and as described previously, the gates 16 and 18 are unlatched and allowed to open.

A remote starting facility is not shown but may comprise a pair of wires with a switch operable to make and break the power circuit to the otherwise continually energised coil 42 so as to maintain the plate 44 adjacent to the coil. The starter may with the use of the remote starting facility be positioned remote from the starting Sgate framework 10 and able to operate a switch to break the power circuit to the coil and thereby allow the gates to open.

o°0oo After the bays have been vacated by their respective horses the gates may be closed again and latched closed with the latching mechanism 22. While the rod 39 is lowered such that the plate 44 is adjacent the electro-magnetic coil 42 and the circuit is made again the gates can be latched closed until the commencement of the next race.

As described previously a major problem with this arrangement is the requirement to continuously supply current to energise the electro-magnetic coil 42 which is used to retain the shaft 28 in an appropriate position for gate latch engagement. A loss of power may result in the premature release of the latch mechanisms since all the bias means are arranged to open the half gates upon rotation of the shaft 28. When power failure occurs, the manual use of the starter's operable latch 40 is necessary but at considerable inconvenience to the starter.

Fig 3 depicts much the same starting gate apparatus as described in Fig 1 and like elements are identified by the same numerals but with additional elements which comprise a novel combination which overcome or reduce the identified problems in a convenient and fail safe way.

The rod 39 is still used in the alternative starting gate hold and release mechanism of the invention since it provides a mechanical fall back should there be any untoward problem with the operation of the invention.

The primary bias means which in this embodiment are springs 46 and 48 is located to the centre of the plurality of bays along the framework *•99o.

Since the illustration is limited in size the central location is illustrative only but typically, as many as twenty bays may be provided on any single framework and the primary bias means 46 and 48 is therefore preferably located in the vicinity of the Stenth or eleventh bay of such an arrangement.

The advantage of relocating the bias springs to the central location as opposed to locating the bias spring at one of its ends is to ensure that torsional forces along the shaft 28 are similar along its length. Location of the primary bias means 46 and 48 to a central position in this embodiment is a preferred way of more effectively distributing the torsional forces along the shaft 28.

Springs 46 and 48 are attached at one of their ends to a tab 50 located on the shaft 28 and at their other end to the framework 10. The springs are provided in a like manner to that of spring 36, therefore when the shaft is rotated by the bias force of the springs the latch means is operated via the mechanical linkages as previously described.

In the prior arrangement, the starter or starting gate personnel manually draw the rod 38 downwards into the vicinity of the electro-magnetic coil 42 as depicted in Fig 1 the invention utilises a shaft holding means 52 which in this embodiment is an air operated single action ram.

This ram is located such that at one end it is fixed to the framework 10 and at its other end attached to the tab 50 located on the rotatable shaft 28. Upon actuation of the ram 52 the piston rod 54 of the ram is extended longitudinally from the ram 52 and forces the shaft 28 to rotate against the bias provided by springs 46 and 48 as well as spring 36.

In this embodiment the shaft holding means is an air operated ram and a supply of compressed air is provided from a compressed air holding vessel 56. The compressed air holding vessel is pre-charged with compressed air to a desired capacity determined by its volume and pressure rating. The volume of compressed air is sufficient to operate the ram 52 a very large number of times desirably at least sufficient times for operation of the starting gate during several race meetings, which may require actuation of the ram 8-10 times per meeting. The compressed air holding vessel is provided with a pressure gauge which is easily read by the starting O gate personnel which assists in ensuring that an adequate supply of compressed air 0: for operation of the starting gate hold and release mechanism is maintained.

A further advantage of the use of a holding means of this type is that the shaft position and associated latches can be maintained in a latching and latched position for very long periods of time (ie between race meetings weeks apart) and no energy is expended and the store of compressed air is not depleted.

A valve 58 is preferably electrically controllable to release compressed air into the air operated ram 52 to actuate the piston therein each time the starting gate holding means is required. The operation of the valve 58 can be controlled from anywhere an appropriate switch is located on the framework or alternatively a remotely controlled switch may be placed in parallel with a manual valve operating switch so that starting gate personnel may control its actuation from anywhere in the vicinity of the starting gates. Wireless control would also be possible as long as it was at least as reliable as the wired system.

When the air operated ram has been actuated it is necessary for there to be means by which the shaft may be released from its held position and in this embodiment this is achieved by providing a quick exhaust valve 60 on the air operated ram to provide the facility to quickly evacuate compressed air from the ram and allow bias means 46 and 48 to rotate the shaft 28 to effect the release of the latch means 22 and thereby allow the gates 16 and 18 to open.

The quick exhaust valve 60 is sized appropriately to the volume of compressed air in the air operated ram 52 and exhausts quickly enough to ensure rotation of the shaft as quickly as the bias means can function.

Control of the quick exhaust valve is achieved from any location suitable to the starter of the race and is shown in one example as a switch 62 located adjacent the a starter's operable latch 40. However, as described previously, it is important that the starter be able to position themselves at any location which is convenient to perform otheir duties. A remote control facility can be provided between the quick exhaust valve 60 and the starter's preferred position by various means.

The means of achieving remote control in this embodiment of the invention may rely on a variety of known technologies such as radio frequency links, using appropriate modulation techniques, modulation coding techniques to lessen the likelihood of false remote control triggering and use of various electro-magnetic wireless transmission mediums between the remote controller and the master unit associated with the quick exhaust valve 60 and the valve 58.

To further support the aim of providing a starting gate arrangement with minimum maintenance requirements and the electronics associated with the control valves and 58, the remote controls may be provided by battery powered electronic circuitry. Preferably the battery is of the rechargeable type which is charged from solar panels or like power generating devices located on the framework and which self regulate the battery charging apparatus. Signals indicating the need for maintenance can be generated by the control electronics and various known sensors, to alert starting gate personnel to actual and potential problems associated with the starting gate apparatus or its associated control devices.

Since only a small amount of current to actuate the relay-like device and the remote control circuitry is required, battery capacity and reliability in this application has been found to be much more easily catered for than prior arrangements.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described and neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or :ooo features described herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be °°ooo made without departing from the principles of the invention, therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

°go o° o° *o THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A starting gate for use in a racing contest between competitors comprising a framework having a plurality of bays each having at least one gate adapted to close off said bay to the forward movement of a said competitor in said bay, bias means associated with each of said gates to bias said gate open, latch means associated with each gate to maintain said gate in a closed position and operable to be unlatched and allow said gate to open, a rotatable shaft assembly supported by said framework and located along the length of said framework, mechanical linkage means attached between each said latch means and said shaft assembly arranged so that rotation of said shaft assembly unlatches said latch means associated with each gate, a bias means arranged to bias said rotatable shaft so as to unlatch said latch means, characterised in that said starting gate further comprises 4a rotatable shaft holding means for holding said rotatable shaft against said bias means such that said latch means remains latched, said holding means comprising an pneumatic ram, and a shaft holding release means comprising a quick exhaust valve associated 4 with said pneumatic ram such that when said quick exhaust valve is operated said 9*€ Sshaft holding means no longer restrains rotation of said shaft allowing said shaft to rotate and thereby unlatch said latch means which in turn allows said gates to open.

9..

2. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said shaft holding means is located intermediate said shaft assembly.

3. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said bias means comprises springs attached at one end to said rotatable shaft assembly and at another end to said framework.

Claims (6)

1. 4. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said pneumatic ram is air operated. A starting gate according to claim 4 further comprising a compressed air storage vessel located on said framework adapted to supply compressed air to said air operated ram to reset said latch means.
2. 6. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said pneumatic ram is operable by remote control to reset said latch means.
3. 7. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said quick exhaust valve is operable by remote control so as to allow said gates to open.
4. 8. A starting gate according to claims 6 and 7 wherein said remote control is powered from self contained solar rechargeable power source.
5. 9. A starting gate according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable shaft is adapted to be manually operable. 4 41
6. 10. A starting gate substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in accompanying Figure 3. V* Dated this 8th day of November 1996 ACLIS PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS 0 i; ii;i ABSTRACT A starting gate of the type for restraining the forward motion of contestants until the commencement of a racing contest is described. The starting gate comprises a plurality of bays formed with the use of a framework (10) in which the contestants are placed before the start of the race, each bay having a moveable gate (16,18) across its front biased to open at all times. A latch mechanism (22) is used to restrain each gate from opening. A linkage (26) is made between each latch (22) and a rotatable shaft (28) which runs the length of the framework (10) and which is biased to rotate so as to unlatch each latch and thereby allow each gate (16,18) to open at the same time. A starting gate of the invention also includes a pneumatic ram (52) preferably air operated, which is operable to retain said rotatable shaft (28) so that said latches remain latched. The air operated ram has a quick exhaust valve (60) which is operable to allow the ram to retract and thereby allow the shaft to rotate and unlatch the latch associated with each gate simultaneously. The pneumatic ram can hold the shaft so as to latch the gates for long periods of time without expending any energy o*o20 and can be actuated to reset the latches by releasing air from a source of pneumatic energy which can also remain charged for long periods of time. The actuation of the various valves can be controlled remotely or manually.