US1476963A - Vehicle gate - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1923.

J. W GIBBONS VEHICLE GATE Filed June 14. 1922 2 Shrets-Sheet 1 aw (in IN VEN TOR.

W. Gibbon/s A TTORNE Y Dec. 11, 1923.

J. W. GIBBONS VEHICLE GATE Filed June 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR. John W. Gibboius BYQ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. GIBBO'NS, OF MEBGED FALLS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 TIMOTHY CARLON, OF LA GRANGE, CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE GATE.

Application filed June 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. GIBBoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merced Falls, county of Merced, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Gates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in road-gates, and particularly to a type adapted to be interposed in a fence-line running across the roads leading through farms and similar enclosed areas, and from which it is either desired to exclude livestock, or prevent their wandering therefrom.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a gate structure adapted to be automatically opened by the'weight of an oncoming vehicle, particularly an automobile, and. which will be also automatically closed when the vehicle has moved beyond the gate, thereby eliminating the necessity of the occupants ofthe vehicle dismounting therefrom to manipulate the gate.

The gate may also be arranged to be opened by horse-drawn vehicles as well as automobiles, and in either case is absolutely positive in action.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gate, closed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of certain of the co-operating and movable parts of the structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section 'of one of the weight units.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modi' fled form of gate structure.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes two pairs of posts, each Serial No. 568,314.

pair being longitudinally spaced with re spect to the road, and spaced transversely of the road with respect to each other. These posts are surmounted and connected by a cap 2.

Slidable between each pair of posts and extending therebetween is a rigid bar 3, preferably circular, on which is hung, between the posts, the gate or closure structure t extending from the bar to the ground, made of link-chain forming a net, which will han vertically and yet fold up into a small space when the bar 3 is lowered, a small transverse trough 5 being cut in the road under the net to receive the same when the bar is lowered.

The bar is normally held raised by means of counterweights 6, from each pair of which a cable 7- passes. around pulleys 7 supported by the posts 1 and thence around a pulley 3 on the cross bar 3. The counterweights are preferably guided by and concealed in, vertically disposed tubes 8, mounted alongside the outer faces of the posts.

Additional weights 6 are supported in the tubes 8 above the weights 6, these being orificed to allow the cables to pass freely therethrough, and are positioned to be engaged and raised by the main weights 6 when the gate has been lowered a predetermined distance.

By reason of this'feature, the lowering of the gate from this point on takes place more gradually than before, owing to the increase in weight thus had which offsets to a certain extent the weight of the vehicle tendingto cause the gate to be lowered with a rush..

Laid on the ground inwardly of the posts and extending longitudinally of the road for.

a certain distance on each side of the posts are trough or channel members 9, spaced apart so as to receive the wheels of a vehicle therein, which are about all of a standard gauge.- Hinged in these channels adjacent their outer ends and adapted to lie therein are other channels 10 and 11, independent of each other, to and under the free ends of which are secured fiat bars 12 and 13 respectively which project beyond the channels and rest on rollers 14 provided on the bar 3, and project therebeyond. Preferably, one bar 12 is provided on each channel 10, and two on each channel 11, which two straddle the single bar, as shown in Fig. 1.

Hinged in each channel 10 adjacent its lower and hinged end is another channel 15, which projects beyond the posts 1, having cross bar means 16 hearing against the "face of the farthest These channels 15 are normally held so that their bar l6 is above the bar 3 (thus providing additional gate means above the main gate) by reason of said channels resting on rollers 17, projecting from and fixed to the ends of the bars 13 (see Fig. 2).

The counterweights 6 are of course of sufficient weight to not only support the netgate or curtain, but also the weight of the channel members resting on the bar 3.

In operatiom'a vehicle is driven toward the structure from either end so that its wheels will ride in the channels 9. Any further movement of the vehicle then causes its front wheels to enter and throw their weight onto the adjacent channels 10 or 11, which causes the same to be lowered, at the same time lowering the bar 3 and curtain 1-, which folds down into its trough 5. The opposite channels will oi course be lowered at the same time, dropping by i since the supporting bar 3 is lowered there under.

The channels 10 and 11 will then lie horizontally in the main channels 9, providing a flat and obstructed path for the passage of the vehicle wheels thereover.

At the same time,-tlie channels 15 are of course also lowered, since the upper end of the bars 14:, which normally support the same, are lowered from thereunder, and the channels 15 then drop of their own weight.

When the channel structure'is completely flattened v out by the weight of the car thereon (which will be almostas soon as the front wheels strike the channels 10 or 11) the channels 15 bridge the distance between the adjacent ends of the channels 10 and 11, thus providing continuous wheelengaging or'track means from one end of the'structure to the other.

When the rear wheels of the vehicle leave the further channels 10 or .11, and the weight of the vehicle isremoved therefrom the gate and. channels at once raise to their normal position, due to the act-ion ofthe counterweights.

The structure as shown is particularly adapted for use with motor vehicles, which have but very little projection ahead of their wheels.

For horse drawn .vehicles however, in which the length of the animals isahead ofthe wheels, additional channel-extension as shown at 18 in Fig. 1, would be pr0- vided b'eyondthe channels 10 and 11 and would normally set at an angle and bear thereon. above their hinged ends, so that the channels 10 'andll would be depressed when the wheels of the'vehicle struck the farther end of the extensions 18, so that the gate would open by the time the animals arrive at that point.

In the type of device shown in Fig. ii, the main features have been retained, but the auxiliary channels and the upper cross bar have been replaced by a her if) slidable between the s and also through op posed slotted ar 2 pivoted onto the ad- "acen; ends at the channels Ill, or there abouts.

The slotted arms, with. the cross bar hcll therebetween, are suppo ted by the gate crossbar b means oi drm'nwardly projecting extensions on the arms 20. which rest at all times on said bar. These exlcnsions are so angled with respect to the aim; to which they are scrurcd ihat the bar #l is lowered. the. a l lIQMlriQ lowered. the bar 19 lower u the same lime by rev.- son of its own Wei 1, unt l when the tracks or channels lie horizon on the main channels 9, the arms 20 also he horimutallr alongside the mum.

is the bar 3 is raised, the arms 20 are raised also, the cross bar In being): o l' cou se forced upwardly therewith.

From the toregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a. device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of: the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to se cure by Letters Patent. is

1. A vehicle gate comprising a rigid bar arranged for guided vertical movement, a 'foldable curtain structure depending from the bar, means acting to hold the bar raised, and track means for the wheels o t a vehicle flexibly mounted adjacent the ground bcyond the curtain, and extending on both sides thereof, the upper ends of said track means crossing each other and resting on the bar, and an auxiliary track member hinged to one of said track members and projecting beyond the upper end of the other track means and being normally supported thereby.

2..A vehicle gate comprising a rigid bar arranged for guided vertical movement, a. toldable curtain structure depending from the bar, means acting to hold the bar raised, track means for the transversely spaced wheels of a vehicle flexibly mounted adjacent the ground beyond the curtain and on both sides thereof. the upper end of said tracks crossing each other and resting on the bar, auxiliary track members hinged in corresponding ones of the first named tracks and extending beyond the upper ends of the other pair of first named tracks and being normally supported thereby, and a bar connecting said auxiliary tracks in a plane above the first named bar.

3. A. vehicle gate includin a rigid bar arranged for vertical guided movement, a closure member suspended thereunder, means acting to hold the bar raised, means for lowering the same, an auxiliary cross bar spaced above the first named bar when the latter is raised, and means whereby as said first named bar is lowered the auxiliary bar will be lowered also and through a greater distance in the same period of time.

4:. A vehicle gate including a rigid bar arranged for vertical guided movement, a

closure member suspended thereunder, means acting to hold the bar raised, means for lovvering the same, an auxiliary cross bar spaced above the first named bar when the latter is raised, and means supporting said auxiliary bar from the gate-bar, whereby as the latter is lowered the auxiliary bar will be lowered also.

5. A vehicle gate including a rigid bar arranged for vertical guided movement, a closure member suspended thereunder, means acting to hold the bar raised, means for lowering the same, an auxiliary cross bar spaced above the first named bar when the latter is raised, means supporting said auxiliary bar from the main gate-bar, and means whereby vertical movement of the gate bar will cause a relatively greater movement of the auxiliary bar.

6. A vehicle gate including a rigid bar arranged for vertical guided movement, a closure member suspended thereunder, means acting to hold the bar raised, means for lowering the same, an auxiliary cross bar spaced above the first named bar when the latter is raised, and means controlled by the lowering of the gate-bar for causing the auxiliary bar to be lowered to the level of the gate bar when the latter reaches its lowermost position.

7. A vehicle gate comprising a rigid bar arranged for vertical guided movement, a closure member suspended therefrom, means acting to hold the bar raised, and tracks for the wheels of a vehicle hinged adjacent the ground beyond and on both sides of the closure member, the upper ends of said tracks resting on the bar, and the upper end of one track being horizontally forked while the adjacent end of the complementary track is narrowed to seat between the forks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. GIBBONS.

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