SG187273A1 - A barrier adapted for an access gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a barrier adapted for an access gate, permitting 5 or restricting a user to enter an area or space. The barrier comprising a metal base frame; a motor assembly mounted on the metal base frame, wherein the motor assembly includes an electric motor and a gear assembly, the motor assembly having an integrated control unit for controlling the electric motor; a barrier flap with a wing-like shape flap pivotally mounted on the metal base frame at a lower end, wherein the 10 barrier flap is operationally actuated by the motor assembly to pivot about the lower end along a horizontal axis between the opened and closed positions, the barrier flap is connected to the motor assembly through a primary bar and a secondary bar in a multi-bar linkage; and a guiding support extended from the metal base frame upwardly towards an upper end of the barrier flap and engaging it thereto, the guiding support 15 having a guide rail for supporting and guiding the upper end of the barrier flap along the horizontal axis, wherein the primary bar is directly driven by the motor assembly at one end and the secondary bar is connected between the primary bar and the barrier flap.

Description

A Barrier Adapted For An Access Gate

Field of the Invention {0001] The present invention relates to a barrier adapted for an access gate. In particular, the present invention relates to an access gate with an improved sensory feature of the barrier flap that prevents injuries implicated on users utilizing the access gate, and an improved reduction in the noise induced by the barrier, and yet, prevents forced entry by trespassers.

Background

[0002] Various applications of a gate allow a specific point of entry that is limited to a space or a moderately sized opening. A gate may prevent or control the entry or exit to an area. An access gate may be used as a form of gate that enforces a one-way traffic of users, therefore allowing only one user to pass through the gate at a time. Further, passage through the access gate may be restricted to users only when a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar, is inserted, and may be automated or acknowledged by a system operating the access gate.

[0003] The access gate may have different types of barrier elements implemented to restrict or permit entry of users through the gates. Some examples common in the market today are the turnstile bars and the sliding, swinging or revolving flaps.

[0004] The access gate may be used in various settings. It may be used as a barrier for the purpose of permitting only paid access (using the coins or pre-paid ticket), or as a restricted barrier to the area that only permits authorized users. Such access gates are commonly found in places like mass transit stations, office lobbies or stadiums, just to name a few,

[0005] Places that utilize such access gates may experience a large number of traffic flow. The movement of the barrier element has to be able to permit access of the authorized users quickly, and yet close as quickly should an unauthorized person attempts to pass the access gates. As such, it is important that the access gates operate with speed and efficiency, with its barrier elements opening and closing without any injuries implicated on the users.

[0006] With the large scale of traffic flow, it is also likely that the noise level induced from such high frequency of the movement of the barrier elements will be high. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the noise that may be induced by the constant movement of the barrier elements,

Summary

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier adapted for an access gate, permitting or restricting a user to enter an area or space. The barrier comprising a metal base frame; a motor assembly mounted on the metal base frame, wherein the motor assembly includes an electric motor and a gear assembly, the motor assembly having an integrated control unit for controlling the electric motor; a barrier flap with a wing-like shape flap pivotally mounted on the metal base frame at a lower end, wherein the barrier flap is operationally actuated by the motor assembly to pivot about the lower end along a horizontal axis between the opened and closed positions, the barrier flap is connected to the motor assembly through a primary bar and a secondary bar in a multi-bar linkage; and a guiding support extended from the metal base frame upwardly towards an upper end of the barrier flap and engaging it thereto, the guiding support having a guide rail for supporting and guiding the upper end of the barrier flap along the horizontal axis, wherein the primary bar is directly driven by the motor assembly at one end and the secondary bar is connected between the primary bar and the barrier flap.

[0008] In one embodiment, the electric motor may include any one of a brushless DC motor, a brushed DC motor, a brushless AC motor and etc.

[0009] In another embodiment, the multi-bar linkage is a four-bar linkage.

[0010] In one embodiment, the barrier flap is a telescopic structure having an outer shell and at least one inner core flap, the outer shell flap and the inner core flap are individually supported by a respective tertiary bar, and each respective tertiary bar is pivoted on the metal base frame. The two tertiary bar supporting the outer shell and the inner core flap are pivoted on a same pivot joint. Further, each of the tertiary bar is 16 connected to the primary bar via a respective secondary bar,

[0041] In another embodiment, the tertiary bar connected to the inner core flap is adapted to move faster than the outer shell. The tertiary bar connected to the inner core flap is adapted to move differentially in accordance with its stroke length.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, the barrier further comprises at least one stopper for limiting rotation of the primary bar to a predefined curvature. The barrier further comprises a resilient member, wherein the resilient member provides a returning force against the barrier flap when the barrier is in its closed position.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor assembly is oriented perpendicularly on the metal base frame.

[0014] In another embodiment, the gear assembly further comprises a planetary gear and a bevel gear. The planetary gear provides stability and even distribution of the load from the electric motor. The bevel gear further comprises a miter gear, adapted to change a driving direction at 90° or right angle, angularly driving the flap lever joint,

[0015] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the motor assembly is configured to drive the primary bar to actuate the barrier flap bidirectional only. The integrated controller is configured to detect if there is an obstruction against the barrier flap. The barrier flap is retracted immediately when the obstruction is detected.

[00186] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is an access gate comprising a barrier. The access gate comprises a pair of opposing configured barrier.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a barrier comprising a barrier flap in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the barrier comprising the barrier flap in an opened position;

[0020] FIG. 3A illustrates a close perspective view of the various components provided for the barrier as shown in FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 3B provides a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a barrier comprising a telescopic flap in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the barrier comprising the telescopic 5 flap in an opened position;

[0024] FIG. 6A illustrates a close perspective view of the various components provided for the barrier as shown in FIG. 4;

[0025] FIG. 6B provides a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage when the barrier (as shown in FIG, 4) is in its opened position; and

[0026] FIG. 6C provides a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage when the barrier (as shown in FIG. 4) is in its closed position.

Detailed Description

[0027] The following descriptions of a number of specific and alternative embodiments are provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention,

It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described in length so as to not obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to same or similar features common to the figures.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a barrier 100 comprising a barrier flap 102 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The barrier 100 is built within a housing (not shown). Typically, two of these barriers 100 when placed along the same horizontal axis, positioned alongside mirroring each other, form an access gate. The access gate permits or restricts a user to enter an area or space, which may require any form of authorization to open the access gate. The system and method adapted for providing and authorizing access through the access gate is well known in the art, and therefore, no further illustrations are provided herewith.

[0029] The barrier 100 comprises a motor assembly 101, the barrier flap 102, a bearing support 103, an adjustable bar 104, a flap lever joint 105, a resilient member (not shown), a guiding support 107 and a metal base frame 108. The motor assembly 101, the barrier flap 102, the bearing support 103, the adjustable bar 104, the flap lever joint 108, the resilient member and the guiding support 107 in the barrier 100 will be compacted within the housing (not shown) of the access gates. In one embodiment, the resilient member may be a puller spring or a tension spring, such as a helical spring,

[0030] The motor assembly 101 is a motor assembly with an integrated control 16 unit (not shown). The barrier flap 102 is a type of barricade used in the access gate, which leaves the barrier 100 in an opened or closed position, pivoting in a to and fro movement on the metal base frame 108. For avoidance of doubt, the barrier 100 is in the opened position when the barrier flap 102 is retracted towards the motor assembly 101, and the barrier 100 is in the closed position when the barrier flap 102 is pivoted away from the motor assembly101. The barrier flap 102 is attached to and being supported by a metal bar 110 that is pivoted on the metal base frame 108 through the bearing support 103. The bearing support 103 lessens the friction and reduces the noise induced in the pivoting movement of the barrier flap 102. The adjustable bar 104 has one end connected to a proximal end of the metal bar 110 supporting the barrier flap

102 and the other end connected to the flap lever joint 105. The adjustable bar 104 is adjustable in length for controlling the stroke length of the barrier flap 102. The metal bar 110 is pivoted to the bearing support 103 at one lower distal end and is supported at the upper distal end by the guiding support 107, wherein the upper distal end swivels along the guiding support 107. The flap lever joint 105 is substantially a L-shaped connector with the angled corner attaching to the motor assembly 101. The motor assembly 110 drives the flap lever joint 105 to operationally rotate about the angled corner in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.

The other distal end of the flap level joint 103 is pivotally connected to the adjustable bar 104 as mentioned above.

The other end of the flap level joint 105 that is extended out from the angled corner serves as a stopper arm to limit the rotations of the flap level joint 105. The adjustable bar 104, the flap lever joint 105 and the metal bar 110 together with the metal base frame 108 that supports the metal bar 110 and the flap lever joint 105 are connected one to another in a loop to forms a four-bar linkage, which will be further described below in details.

The guiding support 107 guides the stroke of the opening or closing movement of the barrier flap 102 in the barrier 100. {0031] The barrier flap 102 pivots about the bearing support 103 only in the to and fro or bidirectional movement between the barrier’s 100 opened and closed positions, The resilient member has one end attached to the metal bar 110 and another end attached to the base frame 108. It extends when the barrier flap 102 is in its closed position on the barrier 100. But it pulls back the barrier flap 102 to the opened position when the motor assembly 101 looses power to drive the barrier flap 102 back.

Further, the type of barrier flap 102 in the present invention is a wing-like shape flap with its outer length following a curvature arc. In the barrier 100, only a single piece of the wing-like shape flap is utilized as the barrier flap 102.

[0032] Still referring to FIG. 1, the motor assembly 101 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises an integrated control unit. The motor assembly 101 further includes an electric motor and a gear assembly that drives the flap lever joint 105. For space saving, the motor assembly 101 is orientated perpendicularly on the metal base frame 108, such that the flap lever joint 105 is driven horizontally.

Accordingly, the gear assembly is adapted to convert the vertical driving force to a horizontal one. The motor assembly 101 controls the barrier 100 in both to and fro direction, i.e. retracting the barrier flap 102 inward in the barrier’s 100 opened position, or driving the barrier flap 102 outward in the barrier’s 100 closed position,

[0033] The integrated control unit in the motor assembly 101 reduces the number of wires required in the barrier 100, making the barrier 100 simpler and easy to maintain, and reducing the overall structure’s footprint of the barrier 100. Additionally, the integrated control unit controls the motor assembly 101 that drives the flap lever joint 105. The integrated control unit switches the phase of the current in the electric motor continuously as the electric motor drives the flap lever joint 105 forward and backward in a single axis. The forward movement of the flap lever joint 105 extends the barrier flap 102 outwards, and the backward movement of the flap lever joint 105 retracts the barrier flap 102 inwards.

[0034] The motor assembly 101 is adapted to angularly drive the flap lever joint 105 through the gear assembly. The gear assembly comprises a planetary gear followed by a bevel gear. The planetary gear reduces backlash of the motor assembly 101,

providing better overall efficiency. Backlash is the amount of lost motion due to clearance or slackness when movement is reversed and contact is re-established.

Backlash occurs in the barrier 100 due to the pivoting movement of the barrier flap 102. The planetary gear provides greater stability in the motor assembly 101, providing even distribution of the load from the electric motor. The type of bevel gear utilized in the gear assembly can be a miter gear. The miter gear is a pair of bevel gear, adapted to change a driving direction at a 90° or right angle. The miter gear therefore is adapted to angularly drive the flap lever joint 105.

[0035] Therefore, the configuration of the gear assembly together with the electric motor, provide a more space effective configuration as compared to a conventional DC motor for driving access gate that is placed horizontally. The gear assembly of the motor assembly 101 is fixated on the metal frame 108, where the bevel gear in the gear assembly is connected to the flap lever joint 105. The motor assembly 101 drives the flap lever joint 105 forward in the single axis when the barrier flap 102 18 is extended outwards. When the barrier flap 102 is retracted inwards, the motor assembly 101 drives the flap lever joint 105 backward in the same single axis.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the motor assembly 101 may include any suitable electric motor for driving the barrier flap 102 operationally. The electric motor may include any one of a brushless DC motor, a brushed DC motor, a brushless AC motor and etc.

[0037] The barrier flap 102 moves bi-directionally as it pivots about in the barrier’s 100 opened and closed position, pivoting about the bearing support 103 in one horizontal axis. With a higher traffic flow of users utilizing the access gate, the barrier

100 needs to be able to withstand a large amount of frictional force induced by the constant movement. Therefore, the bearing support 103 is provided as one embodiment in the present invention, to lessen the friction caused by the constant movements in the barrier 100. Additionally, the noise induced by the barrier flap’s 102 movement (as it moves into the opened or closed position), is reduced due to the bearing support 103.

[0038] The adjustable bar 104 has one end mounted to the metal bar 110 of the barrier flap 102. The length of the adjustable bar 104 controls the stroke length of the barrier flap 102, providing the overall stroke length of the barrier flap 102 adapted for the barrier 100. When two of the barrier 100 are placed mirroring each other along the same horizontal axis, the overall stroke length of the barrier flap 102 provides a form of barricade to permit or restrict a user to access through. The adjustability in the overall stroke length of the barrier flap 102 does not limit the distance between the position of the two mirroring barrier 100. {0039] Further, the other end of the adjustable bar 104 is mounted to the flap lever joint 105 that is operationally driven by the motor assembly 101. Therefore, the flap lever joint 105 drives the adjustable bar 104 to pivot about the metal bar 110 of the barrier flap 102. Additionally, the flap lever joint 105 adapts in a manner to provide a self-locking mechanism, preventing the flap lever joint 105 to move in any other direction other than about its pivot point.

[0040] The guiding support 107 guides the stroke of the pivot movement of the barrier flap 102. The guiding support 107 reduces the sideway vibration produced by the opening and closing movement of the barrier flap 102. Therefore, the guiding support 107 increases the stability of the overall movement of the barrier flap 102 in the barrier 100. Further, the guiding support 107 improves the radial load factor of the barrier 100. The radial load factor affects the overall force due to the torque (force) transmitted by the gear assembly. Improving the radial load factor provides essential support for the barrier 100 to withstand external load (up to 100I) enforced upon the barrier flap 102 and yet maintain the barrier’s 100 functionality. This also allows the metal bar 110 that is mounted to the barrier flap 102 to be lighter and thinner as compared with conventional designs. Conventional designs require a heavier or steadier metal bar mounted to the barrier flap 102 to prevent forced entry through the access gates.

[0041] As FIG. 1 illustrates the barrier 100 when it is in the closed position, the resilient member is extended as barrier flap 102 is driven outwards. The extension in the resilient member depends on the length of the adjustable bar 104 mounted to the flap lever joint 105. The longer the length of the adjustable bar 104, the further the barrier flap 102 can be extended outwards, hence extending the resilient member longer. The resilient member also provides a returning force against the barrier flap 102 as the motor assembly 101 drives it outwards, hence making the barrier 100 difficult to be forced apart. Additionally, with the aid of the guiding support 107, the barrier flap 102 is forced to move only along the guide rail, further preventing the barrier flap 102 to be forced opened.

[0042] The resilient member is mounted to the barrier flap 102 and extends in length when the barrier 100 is in the closed position. In an incident when the power supply or any other possible emergency situation occurs, the barrier 100 ceases operation, and hence, the resilient member returns the barrier flap 102 back to the barrier’s 100 opened position. This allows the users utilizing the access gate to pass through the gates rapidly. In scenarios when the resilient member remains extended (in case of malfunction in the resilient member), the user may be able to force the barrier flap 162 inwards into the housing, to pass through the access gate.

[0043] In an incident when the barrier flap 102 extends outwards while a user is passing through the barrier 100 and hits the user, therefore obstructing the pivoting movement of the barrier flap 102. The integrated control unit in the motor assembly 101 monitors the time taken for the barrier flap 102 to be fully extended outwards or fully retracted inwards. When the timing taken for the barrier flap 102 to be fully extended outwards or fully retracted inwards is delayed, the integrated control unit triggers an obstruction detection function. When the obstruction detection function is triggered, the integrated control unit controls the motor assembly 101 to fully retract the barrier flap 102 inwards. This reduces the chances of implicating injuries on the user.

[0044] In another scenario when a trespasser or an unauthorized user attempts 16 to force the barrier 100 open, the motor assembly 101 is also operable to provide the driving force to withstand any opposing force on the barrier flap 102 from the trespassers or the unauthorized users attempting to utilize the access gates. The integrated control unit in the motor assembly 101 controls the current set to the electric motor, therefore controlling the amount of force delivered by the electric motor to the barrier flap 102.

[0045] The metal base frame 108 supports the components that the barrier 100 comprises of, with the base fixated to the ground for a steady infrastructure of the barrier 100. The bearing support 103 is mounted onto the metal base frame 108, along the same vertical axis as the inner portion of the barrier flap 102, where the metal bar 110 of the barrier flap 102 pivots about the bearing support 103 in one horizontal axis positioning the barrier’s 100 opened and closed position. The metal base frame 108 extends upwards from its base and supports the length of the metal bar 110 of the barrier flap 102. The guiding support 107 is mounted on the upper frame of the metal base frame 108, at a distal end opposing the bearing support 103. In the middle of the metal bar 110 of the barrier flap 102, mounted to one end of the adjustable bar 104. The other end of the adjustable bar 104 is mounted to the flap lever joint 105, and the flap lever joint 105 is mounted to the gear assembly of the motor assembly 101. The motor assembly 101 drives the flap lever joint 105; therefore driving the adjustable bar 104 to pivot the barrier flap 102 outwards. The flap lever joint 105 is specifically placed in between the motor assembly 101 and the extended metal base frame 108. Further, the motor assembly 101 is mounted on the inner corner of the metal base frame 108 beside the bearing support 103,

[0046] The barrier flap 102, the adjustable bar 104 and the flap lever joint 105 when mounted together onto the metal base frame 108 forms a similar configuration of a four-bar linkage. Description for the configuration of the various components will be further elaborated in FIG. 3A-3B below.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the barrier 100 in an opened position. In the opened position, the barrier flap 102 is retracted inwards into the housing of the barrier 100. The integrated control unit in the motor assembly 10% operationally switches the phase of the current in the electric motor, to retract the barrier flap 102 inwards in the opened position.

[0048] The placement of the various components in the barrier 100 allows the entire structure including the barrier flap 102 to fit into the housing (not shown) when the barrier 100 is in the opened position, As the resilient member (not shown) returns to its original length, the barrier flap 102 is guided inwards along the guiding support 107.

[0049] FIG. 3A illustrates the constructs of the barrier 100 as shown in FIG. 1.

The constructs of the barrier 100 are generally a four-bar linkage 300 that swivels the barrier flap 102 about the bearing support 103. In the four-bar linkage 300, the flap lever joint 105 that is mounted to the motor assembly 101 at a static location on the metal base frame 108 is acted as a primary bar 302. The adjustable bar 104 is further pivoted on the flap lever joint 105 at the other end as a secondary bar 303. Following that, the metal bar 110 holding the barrier flap 102 is pivotally supported on the metal base frame 108 at the lower distal end and further mounted to the other end of the adjustable bar 104 along the center of the metal bar 110. The metal bar 110 acts as a tertiary bar 304 of the four bar linkage 300. The metal base frame 108 supporting the bearing support 103 and the flap lever joint 105 (through the motor assembly 101 mounted thereon) forms a base bar 301 of the four-bar linkage 300. foo50] The base bar 301 comprises two fixed points in the four-bar linkage 300.

One end of the base bar 301 is the bearing support 103 that is mounted onto the metal base frame 108. The other end of the base bar 301 is the static location of the primary bar 302 that is mounted to the motor assembly 101.

[0051] The primary bar 302 is provided as a crank to rock the tertiary bar 304 through the secondary bar 303. Two stoppers 305 are mounted on the metal base frame 108 to limit the primary bar 302 to rotate freely about the motor shaft. In particular, the primary bar 302 is limited to swivel in a limited stroke length. The stroke length of the primary bar 302 is predetermined based on a stroke length required for the tertiary bar 304.

[0052] One end of the secondary bar 303 is mounied to the primary bar 301 and the other end is mounted to the center of the tertiary bar 304. The secondary bar 303 is adjustable in length, which may be used to adjust the overall stroke length of tertiary bar 304 when desired.

[0053] In the tertiary bar 304 at a proximal distance from the point where one end of the secondary bar 303 is mounted to, a spring connector 307 is provided, The spring connector 307 allows one end of the resilient member as mentioned in FIG. 1 in the barrier 100 to be mounted on the tertiary bar 304. The other end of the resilient member is mounted to a corner of the primary bar 302 to another spring connector 307.

[0054] In the present embodiment, the four-bar linkage 300 is essentially a crank-rocker linkage, where the primary bar 302 is the shortest in length to rock the tertiary bar 304 in a curvature arc 309. It is well known in the art that the various lengths and connection points of the four bars may control the movement of the four- bar linkage 300.

[0055] FIG. 3B provides a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage 300 of the barrier 100 of FIG. 3A, comprising the base bar 301; the primary bar 302; the secondary bar 303 and the tertiary bar 304.

[0056] Each end of the base bar 301 is denoted with a circle to illustrate the fixed points of the base bar 301. A first fixed point 308 of the base bar 301 is the bearing support 103 and a second fixed point 310 is the static location of the flap lever joint 105. The base bar 301 is the only bar in the four-bar linkage 300 that remains in its static location and does not pivot about or swivel about in any direction.

[0057] The primary bar 302 is the shortest in length in the four-bar linkage 300.

It is the flap lever joint 105 that is mounted to the motor assembly 101 and to the adjustable bar 104 as shown in FIG. 3A. One end of the primary bar 302 is mounted to the second fixed point 310 of the base bar 301 and the other end of the primary bar 302 is mounted to one end of the secondary bar 303. The primary bar 302 swivels about along the same axis, following a miniature curvature arc 306. The rotation of the primary bar 302 that pivots about the second fixed point 310 is limited by the stoppers 305.

[0058] The secondary bar 303 is the adjustable bar 104 as shown in FIG. 3A.

The other end of the secondary bar 303 is mounted to one end of the tertiary bar 304.

The other end of the tertiary bar 304 is pivoted to the first fixed point 308 of the base bar 301.

[0059] When the barrier 100 is in the opened position, the barrier flap 102 retracts inwards within the housing of the barrier 100. When the barrier 100 moves from its opened position to the closed position, the barrier flap 102 extends outwards, A point A denotes the point where the secondary bar 303 and the tertiary bar 304 are mounted together, when the barrier 100 is in the opened position. A point B denotes the point where the same secondary bar 303 and the same tertiary bar 304 are mounted together, when the barrier 100 is in its closed position.

[0060] As the barrier 100 moves from its opened position to its closed position, the barrier flap 102 extends outwards. The primary bar 302 rocks the tertiary bar 304 through the secondary bar 303 simultaneously. The tertiary bar 304 or more specifically, the barrier flap 102 moves from Point A to Point B, following the curvature arc 309.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a barrier 400 comprising a telescopic flap 401 in a closed position in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The barrier 400 comprises the telescopic flap 401, a motor assembly 402, a guiding support 403, a bearing support 404, a telescopic flap lever joint 405, a lever bar 406, a resilient member (not shown) and a metal base frame 407. The difference between the barrier 400 in FIG. 4 and the barrier 100 in FIG. 1 lies in the type of flap lever joint (the flap lever joint 105 and the telescopic flap lever joint 405), the type of barricade (the barrier flap 102 and the telescopic flap 401) and the configuration of the integrated control unit in the motor assembly (the integrated 16 control unit in the motor assembly 101 and the integrated control unit in the motor assembly 402). Other components including the guiding support 403, the bearing support 404 and the resilient member remains essentially the same. The resilient member also extends as the telescopic flap 401 extends outwards,

[0062] The telescopic flap 401 in the barrier 400 differs from the barrier {lap 102 in the barrier 100, as the barrier 400 comprises the telescopic flap 401 having an outer shell 408 and an inner core flap 409. Such configuration of the telescopic flap 401 allows a wider gap (as compared to the barrier 100) between the two mirroring barriers 400. Such configuration of the telescopic flap 401 also allows a wider area of protection, allowing wider objects to pass through between the two mirroring barriers

400 or the access gate when authorized. The telescopic flap 401 extends outwards when the barrier 400 is in its closed position, and retracts inwards when the barrier 400 is in its opened position.

[0063] In another embodiment, the telescopic flap 401 may include a plurality of inner core flaps 409.

[0084] The outer shell 408 and the inner core flap 409 of the telescopic flap 401 are both supported by their respective lever arm 410. The respective lever arms 410 are independently pivoted on the bearing support 404, i.e. pivoted on a same pivot joint,

The upper distal end of the lever arm 410 for supporting the outer shell 408 is further moveably supported by the guiding support 403, wherein the upper distal end operationally trails along the guiding support 403. The guiding support 403 is adapted with a guiding rail allowing the lever arm 410 to swivel about the pivot and trail along the guiding rail. The telescopic flap 401 retracts inwards or extends outwards in the same single axis. As the telescopic flap 401 retracts inwards, the inner core flap 409 16 simultaneously retracts within the outer shell 408.

[0065] One lever bar 406 has one end connected to the center of the outer shell’s 408 lever arm 410 and the other end connected to the telescopic flap lever joint 405. Another lever bar 406 has one end connected at a proximal distance from the bearing support 404 to the inner core flap’s 409 lever arm 410 and the other end connected to the telescopic flap lever joint 405. The lever bar 406 connected to the inner core flap’s 409 lever arm 410 is longer in length as compared to the lever bar 406 connected to the outer shell’s 408 lever arm 410. This allows the speed of the inner core flap 409 to be driven outwards or retracted inwards faster. As the inner core flap

409 moves at a faster speed as compared to the outer shell 408, the inner core flap 409 extends outwards or retracts inwards simultaneously with the outer shell 408.

[0066] The telescopic flap lever joint 405 is substantially a L-shaped connector with the angled corner aftaching to the motor assembly 402. The distal end of the telescopic flap lever joint 405 is pivotally connected to the two lever bars 406 as mentioned above. The other end of the telescopic flap lever joint 405 that is extended out from the angled corner serves as a stopper arm to limit the rotation of the telescopic flap lever joint 405, 10067] Similar to the flap lever joint 105 as shown in FIG. 1, the motor assembly 402 drives the telescopic flap lever joint 405 to operationally rotate about the angled corner in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. As both lever bars 406 are pivotally connected together to the distal end of the telescopic flap lever joint 405, the telescopic flap lever joint 408 drives both lever bars 406 simultaneously in a single axis, and cannot be moved in any other way or directions. This further improves a security feature of the barrier 400 as it prevents the telescopic flap 401 from pivoting about in other directions other than the driving moment of the telescopic flap lever joint 405,

[0068] The motor assembly 402 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, comprises an integrated control unit. The motor assembly 402 includes an electric motor and a gear assembly that angularly drives the telescopic flap lever joint 405.

[0069] The integrated control unit of the motor assembly 402 differs from the integrated control unit of the motor assembly 101 as shown in FIG. 1, as the force required to drive the telescopic flap lever joint 405 is greater. A greater force is required as the inner core flap 409 of the telescopic flap 401 has to be driven outwards simultaneously at a faster speed as compared to the outer shell 408. The integrated control unit in the motor assembly 402 controls the force required to drive the telescopic flap lever joint 405.

[0070] The gear assembly of the motor assembly 402 comprises a planetary gear and a bevel gear. Configurations and description of the gear assembly are similar to the gear assembly of the motor assembly 101 of FIG. 1. Similarly, the telescopic flap lever joint 405 is mounted to the gear assembly.

[0071] Similar to FIG. 1, the metal base frame 407 supports the components comprising the barrier 400 with the base fixated to the ground for a steady infrastructure of the barrier 400. The bearing support 404 is mounted onto the metal base frame 407.

[0072] The guiding support 403 is mounted in the middle of the upper portion of the metal base frame 407, at a distal end opposing the bearing support 404, which forces the lever arm 410 supporting the outer shell 408 to move along the guide rail.

The bearing support 404 is mounted on one corner of the base of the metal base frame 407. One lever bar 406 is connected to the middle of the lever arm 410 of the outer shell 408. At a proximal distance from the bearing support 404, the other lever bar 406 is connected to the lever arm 410 of the inner core flap 409. The telescopic flap lever joint 405 is mounted together to the gear assembly of the motor assembly 402. The motor assembly 402 is mounted to the middle portion of the metal base frame 407, a distal length above the base unlike the motor assembly 101 in the barrier 100 of FIG. 1.

[0073] The telescopic flap 401, the telescopic flap lever joint 405 and the lever bars 406 when mounted together onto the metal base frame 407 forms a similar configuration of a four-bar linkage. Description of the configuration of the various components will be further elaborated in FIG. 6 A-6C below.

[0074] FIG. 5 show a perspective view of the barrier 400 of FIG. 4 that comprises the telescopic flap 401 in an opened position. Both the outer shell 408 and the inner core flap 409 are retracted inwards by the motor assembly 402. The placement of the various components in the barrier 400 allows the entire structure including the telescopic flap 401 to fit into the housing (not shown). [0075} FIG. 6A illustrates the constructs of the barrier 400 of FIG. 4. The constructs of the barrier 400, is generally a four-bar linkage 600 for controlling the outer shell 408 and the inner core flap 409 in a telescopic motion, FIG. 6B illustrates a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage when the barrier 400 is in its opened position. FIG. 6C illustrates a schematic drawing of the four-bar linkage when the barrier 400 is in its closed position.

[0076] The four-bar linkage 600 comprises a base bar 601, a primary bar 602, an outer-shell-secondary bar 603, an inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604, an outer-shell- tertiary bar 605, and an inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606.

[0077] The telescopic flap lever joint 405 acts as the primary bar 602 of the four-bar linkage 600. The lever bars 406 connected to the lever arms 410 of the corresponding outer shell 408 and inner core flap 409, acts as the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 and the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 respectively. The lever arm 410 of the outer shell 408 acts as the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 and the lever arm 410 of the inner core flap 409 acts as the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606. The base bar 601 comprises two fixed points. The outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 and the inner-core-flap- tertiary bar 606 pivots about a first fixed point 612 of the base bar 601. The primary bar 602 that rotates about a second fixed point 613 of the base bar 601.

[0078] The primary bar 602 is provided as a crank to rock the outer-shell- tertiary bar 60S and the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 concurrently through the outer- shell-secondary bar 603 and the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 respectively. A stopper 607 is mounted on the metal base frame 407 to limit the primary bar 602 from rotating freely about the gear assembly of the motor assembly 402. In particular, the primary bar 602 is limited to swivel in a limited stroke length. The stroke length of the primary bar 602 is predetermined based on a stroke length required for telescopic flap 401.

[0079] One side of the primary bar 602 also has a spring connector 609 attached on its end. The spring connector 609 allows one end of the resilient member in the barrier 400 to be connected thereon. The other end of the resilient member may be connected to another spring connector 609 mounted on the base of the metal base frame 407.

[0080] One end of the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 and one end of the inner- core-flap-secondary bar 604 is mounted together to the longer side of the primary bar 602. The primary bar 602 is sandwiched between the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 and the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604. The other end of the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 is mounted to the center of the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605. The other end of the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is attached near to the bearing support 404, to the wider end of the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606.

[0081] The outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 supports the outer shell 408 of the telescopic flap 401. One end (wider end) pivots about the bearing support 404. The other end of the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 is connected to the guiding support 403.

The outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 moves along the guiding support 403 when the four-bar linkage 600 is operable, bringing the outer shell 408 of the telescopic flap 401 in the bidirectional movement as the barrier 400 is in its opened or closed position,

[0082] Similarly, the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 supports the inner core flap 409 of the telescopic flap 401 with the wider end pivoting about the bearing support 404. The inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 shares the same pivot point as the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605.

[0083] The inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is mounted to the inner-core- flap-tertiary bar 606 at a close distance from the bearing support 404. The inner-core- flap-secondary bar 404 is longer in length as compared to the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 as the speed required for the inner core flap 409 of the telescopic flap 401 to retract inwards or extend outwards has to move differentially in accordance with the inner core flap’s 401 stroke length. It is desired that the speed of the inner core flap 401 is faster than that speed required for the outer shell 408 of the telescopic flap 401. This allows the inner core flap 409 and the outer shell 408 to retract and extend concurrently, and to act as a barricade for the barrier 400.

[0084] The four-bar linkage 608 is similar to the four-bar linkage 300 of FIG. 3 but comprises two configurations of the crank-rocker type linkage. The first crank-

rocker type linkage comprises the base bar 601, the primary bar 602, the outer-shell- secondary bar 603, and the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605. The second crank-rocker type linkage comprises the base bar 601, the primary bar 602, the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604, and the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606. Similarly, the primary bar 602 is the shortest in length to rock the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 and the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 in a curvature arc 610. It is well known in the art that the various lengths and connection points of the various configurations of the bar controls the movement of the four-bar linkage 600.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 6B, each end of the base bar 601 is denoted with a circle to illustrate the first fixed point 612 and the second fixed point 613 of the base bar 601. The base bar 601 is the only bar in the four-bar linkage 600 that remains in its static location and does pivot about or swivel about in any direction.

[0086] The primary bar 602 is the shortest in length in the four-bar linkage 600.

The one side of the primary bar 602 is mounted together with one end of the outer- shell-secondary bar 603 and the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 at a point A. The spring connector 609 on the primary bar 602 allows one end a resilient member 411 to be connected. The other end of the resilient member 411 may be connected to another spring connector mounted to the metal base frame 407. The primary bar 602 swivels about along the same axis, following a miniature curvature arc 611.

[0087] The other end of the outer-shell-secondary bar 603 is mounted to one end of the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 (which is actually the telescopic flap lever joint 405 mounted to the center of the lever arm 410 supporting the outer shell 408 of FIG. 6A) at Point B. The other end of the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is mounted to one end of the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 (which is actually the telescopic flap lever joint 405 mounted to the lever arm 410 supporting the inner core flap 409 of FIG. 6A) at Point C. The schematic drawing of the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is longer in length as compared to the outer-shell-secondary bar 603, 0088] The other end of both the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605 and the inner-core- flap-tertiary bar 606 is mounted to one end of the base bar 601 (more specifically to the bearing support 404). The schematic drawing of the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 is shorter in length as compared to the outer-shell-tertiary bar 605.

[0089] The schematic drawing of the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is longer as the speed required for the inner core flap 409 to retract inwards or extends outwards needs to be faster than the speed required for the outer shell 408. Further, the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 is mounted at a close distance to the bearing support 404, hence providing a shorter in length schematic drawing of the inner-core-flap- tertiary bar 606.

[0090] Point A swivels along the miniature curvature arc 611 as the barrier 400 moves from its opened position to its closed position or vice versa. Similarly, Point B and Point C swivels and follow the curvature arc 610 concurrently.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 6C, the telescopic flap 401 extends outwards as the barrier 400 is in its closed position. The primary bar 601 drives both the outer-shell- tertiary bar 605 and the inner-core-flap-tertiary bar 606 through the outer-shell- secondary bar 603 and the inner-core-flap-secondary bar 604 concurrently. Point A swivels along the miniature curvature arc 611 to a Point D. Point B and Point C follows the curvature arc 610 to a Point E and Point F respectively. Similarly, the first fixed point 612 and the second fixed point 613 of the base bar 601 remains in the same static location as shown in FIG. 6B.

[0092] In the above embodiments, a four-bar linkage is provided by way of illustrations only, not limitations. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible that the four-bar linkage to be replaced by any mechanical linkage or multi-bar linkage system. Through the mechanical linkage or the multi-bar linkage system, the stroke, the velocity, acceleration of the flaps can be easily controlled, altered, modified by minimal modifications on the multi-bar linkage system or the mechanical linkage.

[0093] The above description illustrates various embodiments of the present invention along with examples of how aspects of the present invention may be implemented. While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated it is understood that many charges, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above examples, embodiments, instructions semantics, and drawings should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by the following claims:

Claims (20)

Claims

1. A barrier for an access gate, permitting or restricting a user to enter an area or space, the barrier comprising: a metal base frame; a motor assembly mounted on the metal base frame, wherein the motor assembly includes an electric motor and a gear assembly, the motor assembly having an integrated control unit for controlling the electric motor; a barrier flap with a wing-like shape flap pivotally mounted on the metal base frame at a lower end, wherein the barrier flap is operationally actuated by the motor assembly to pivot about the lower end along a horizontal axis between the opened and closed positions, the barrier flap is connected to the motor assembly through a primary bar and a secondary bar in a multi-bar linkage; and a guiding support extended from the metal base frame upwardly towards an upper end of the barrier flap and engaging it thereto, the guiding support having a guide rail for supporting and guiding the upper end of the barrier flap along the horizontal axis, wherein the primary bar is directly driven by the motor assembly at one end and the secondary bar is connected between the primary bar and the barrier flap.

2. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a brushless DC motor.

3. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a brushed DC motor or a brushless AC motor.

4. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the multi-bar linkage is a four-bar linkage.

5. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the barrier flap is a telescopic structure having an outer shell and at least one inner core flap, the outer shell and the inner core flap are individually supported by a respective tertiary bar, and each respective tertiary bar is pivoted on the metal base frame.

6. The barrier according to claim 5, wherein the two tertiary bar supporting the outer shell and the inner core flap are pivoted on a same pivot joint.

7. The barrier according to claim 5, wherein each of the tertiary bar is connected to the primary bar via a respective secondary bar.

8. The barrier according to claim 5, wherein the tertiary bar connected to the inner core flap is adapted to move faster than the outer shell.

9. The barrier according to claim 8, wherein the tertiary bar connected to the inner core flap is adapted to move differentially in accordance with its stroke length.

10. The barrier according to claim 1, further comprises at least one stopper for limiting rotation of the primary bar to a predefined curvature.

il. The barrier according to claim 1, further comprises a resilient member, wherein the resilient member provides a returning force against the barrier flap when the barrier is in its closed position.

12. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the motor assembly is oriented perpendicularly on the metal base frame.

13. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the gear assembly further comprises a planetary gear and a bevel gear.

14. The barrier according to claim 13, wherein the planetary gear provides stability and even distribution of the load from the electric motor.

15. The barrier according to claim 13, wherein the bevel gear further comprises a miter gear, adapted to change a driving direction at 90° or right angle, angularly driving the flap lever joint.

16. The barrier according to claim 1, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the primary bar to actuate the barrier flap bidirectional only.

17. The barrier according to claim 16, wherein the integrated control unit is configured to detect if there is an obstruction against the barrier flap.

18. The barrier according to claim 17, wherein the barrier flap is retracted immediately when the obstruction is detected.

19. An access gate comprising a barrier in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

20. An access gate comprising a pair of opposing configured barrier in accordance with any one of the claims 1-13,