US2154421A - Collapsible gate - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. A. w, CUNNINGHAMv CQLLAPSIBLE GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 4, 1938 E 5 W EUA//V//VGHAM I I l l I IJ.

.vinti l|||1 I Il April 18, 1939. A, w CUNNINGHAM COLLAPSIBLE GATE 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed April 4, 1958 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT IOFFICE 2,154,421 coLLAPsIBLE GATE Arthur W. Cunningham, Dayton, Ohio Application April 4, 193s,` serial No. 199,838 looiaiipp. (ci. .2o-19) This invention relates to a collapsible gate and is designed primarily for use with elevators. It is common practice toprovide the doorways of I elevator shafts, particularly the shafts of freight ITF fait' elevators, with vertically movable gates but these gates, for the most part at least, havey been/of such a character as rto require a large overhead clearance to permit the gat-e to move to its upper or open position. In many buildings the ceilings of the rooms with which the elevator shaft communicates are so low that only a small overhead clearance is available.- thus preventing the use of such a gate without making the same of such ka narrow vertical width or height that it will not adequately close the doorway.

One object of the present invention is to provide a gate of such acharacter that when in its normal or closed position it will adequately close the doorway but which may be collapsed to a narrow width so that it will occupy a relatively small space above the doorway when moved to its open position.

Afurtherobject of the invention is to provide a gate' comprising a plurality of Vsections which are so connected that they may be moved in unison andmay also be moved with relation one to the other into overlapping positions.

y A further object of the invention is to provide such a gate in which the sections may be quickly and easily `moved into and out of their overlapping positions. l

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide such a gate with means for positively limiting the movement of the sections from their overlapping positions. n

A further object of the invention is to provide such a gate with means for automatically accommodating the same to variations in the distance between upright guides.

Afurther object of the invention is to provider such a gate which will be of simple inexpensive construction and in which the various parts will belofl such a character that they will not be easily disarranged so as to render the apparatus inoperative.

Other objectsof the invention may appear asr an enlarged section taken on the linef3--3 lof Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail View of the automatically adjustableslide block; Fig. 5 is 'a section taken* on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a similar vview showing the sections in their extended positions.

In these 4drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as installed in an elevator shaft having a doorway I0 and having on opposite sides of the doorway frame members or vertical posts II which are provided with upright guides, such as slide bars i2. The gate comprises a plurality of sections which are so connected one to the other that they may be moved in unison or may be moved with relation one to the other into overlapping positions so as to collapse the gate to a relatively narrow width. The gate comprises three sections I3, I4 and I5 and in the arrangement here shown the upper and lower sections I3 and I5 are movable rwith relation to the intermediate section I4 so that they may be brought into overlapping positions with relation thereto, it being understood that the three sections of the gate are arranged in separate but adjacent planes.

The several sections may be supported and connected one to the other in any suitable manner. In the particular construction illustrated elongate members I 6 are secured to the respective ends of the intermediate section I4 and are provided with means for slidably connecting the saine with the upright guides I2. The elongate members may be of any suitable character and are preferably of such a length thatr they extend from points near the upper edge of the intermediate section to points a substantial distance below the lower edge of that section. Each elongate member is here shown as formed of two angle irons I'l rigidly secured to the intermediate section I4 by straps I8 and having parallel flanges I9 extending inwardly'in spaced relation to the straps to points spaced short distances from the outer ends of Ithe gate sections. In the present construction each elongate member I6 is connected with the intermediate gate section at two points and said intermediate section is provided at Yearch end with a relatively narrow downwardly extend.-` ing part I4 to which the lower straps I8k are secured, as shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 6. The means for slidably connecting the elongate members with the upright guides may take various forms and it is preferably of such acharacter as to automatically accommodate the gate to any minor variations in the dstance'between the two laterally spaced upright guides. For this purpose each elongate member is provided with one or more supporting members, each member being here shown as comprising a pair of outwardly extending flanges or plates 20 rigidly secured to the elongate member and spaced apart to receive between them a slide block 2| having its outer edge grooved as at 22 to receive the edge of the adjacent slide bar I2. The supporting members are provided with downwardly and outwardly inclined slots 23 and the slide block is provided with parts, such as pins 24, which extend into and are freely slidable in the slots 23 so that when unrestrained the slide block will move downwardly and outwardly by gravity and when inward pressure is exerted upon the slide block it will move upwardly and inwardly. In this manner the slide blocks at the opposite ends of the intermediate section of the gate will automatically accommodate themselves to any variations in the 'distance between the slide bars I2. Cables25 are connected with the respective elongate members I6, extend upwardly about pulleys 2S near the upper ends of the posts II and are connected at their other ends with weights 21 which counterbalance the weight of the gate as a whole. In the arrangement shown each cable 25 extends between the straps I3 at the adjacent end of the intermediate section and is con- Y nected with a plate 28 secured to the lower edges of those straps. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

The lower gate section I5 is provided at each end with one or more slide blocks 29 which, in the present instance, are formed integral with straps 30 rigidly secured to the respective ends of the gate section, each slide block having a groove 3| to receive the adjacent fiange I9 of the elongate member I6, which forms a guide the-refor.- The upper gate section has at each end thereof a downwardly extending part or arm 32 to which is rigidly secured a slide block 33 which is also grooved to receive the edge of the adjacent flange I9 of the elongate member. Secured to each end of the upper portion of the upper section is an outwardly extending bent arm 34, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which is provided with a slide block 35 grooved to receive the edge of the upright guide I2, so that this upper gate section is slidably connected both with the elongate members I6 and with the fixed upright guides I2. By so mounting the upper and lower gate sections they may be moved simultaneously into positions alongside of the intermediate gate section.

The upper and lower gate sections may be connected with the elongate members I6 and the intermediate gate section I4 in any suitable manner which will cause the .upper and lower sections to move with the elongate members and intermediate section but will permit the same to have movement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping the intermediate section. In the particular construction illustrated the intermediate section I4, see Fig. 6, has mounted thereon near each end thereof a guide or pulley 36 about which extends a flexible member or chain 3l which is secured at one end to the adjacent arm 32 of the upper section I3 and at its lower end to the upper portion of the lower section I5. In this manner the upper and lower sections are caused to move with the intermediate section when vertical movement is imparted to the latter and the upper and lower sections are caused to move simultaneously in opposite directions, movement imparted to either of these members being transmitted through the chain 31 to the other member. This form of connection also serves as a counterbalancing connection between the upperA and lower sections so that one will substantially counterbalance the weight of the other and the sections can be very easily moved from one position to another.

If the upper and lower gates are moved from their collapsed positions to their extended positions in a violent manner there is danger of the slide blocks being carried beyond the ends of the guides and to prevent such an occurrence I have provided means for positively limiting the movement of the upper and lower sections from their overlapping positions. In the form illustrated in Figs. 'l and 8 this means comprises a strap 3B secured to the lower section I5 near the upper edge thereof, extending about the lower edge of the intermediate section I4 and connected with the upper section near the lower edge thereof, the strap being of such a length as to positively interrupt the movement of the sections before the guide blocks can move out of engagement with their guides; When the sections are in their collapsed and elevated positions an intermediate portion of the strap 38 will extend below the gate, see Figs. 2 and 7, and thus form a hand grip .which may be grasped by the operator to lower the gate.

The operation of the gate will be readily under- -stood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that when the gate is in its normal or closed position the three sections thereof are arranged one above the other, as shown in Fig. 1. When the gate is to be opened the upper or lower section is moved toward its overlapping position with relation to the intermediate section, thereby causing the other movable section to be simultaneously moved toward its overlapping position. After the gate has been collapsed, orY during the movement of the upper and lower sections to their overlapping positions, the intermediate section and therefore the gate as a whole is moved upwardly, so that the gate` as a whole is moved in a collapsed condition into the space above the doorway I0, and because of the relatively narrow width of the gate when collapsed only a small clearance above'the doorway is required to accommodate `the same. Due to the construction andarrangement of the parts the operation of the gate may be very easily effected with but little effort von the part of the operator and there is little or no danger of the several parts being disarranged or broken so as to render the gate inoperative. Y

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art. f Y

Y Having now fully described myjinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A gate of the character described comprising an intermediate section, upper and lower sections, means for supporting said Vupper and lower sections on said intermediate section for simultaneous movement to or from positions overlapping said intermediate section, means separate from and independent of said supporting means for connecting said upper and lower sections one tothe other to positively limit their movements from said overlapping positions, and means for mounting the` several sections-for simultaneous movement toward or from an elevated position.

2. A gate of the character described comprising `an intermediate section, upper and lower sections mounted for simultaneous movement to or from positions overlapping said intermediate section, a exible member connected at one end with the upper portion of said lower section, extending about the lower edge of said intermediate section and connected at its other end with the lower portion of said upper section, and means for mounting the several sections for simultaneous movement toward or from an elevated position.

3. A gate of the character described comprising an intermedi-ate section, upper and lower sections mounted for simultaneous movement to or from positions overlapping said intermediate section, a ilexible member connected at one end with the upper portion of said lower section, extending about the lower edge of said intermediate section and connected at its other end with the lower portion of said upper section, and means for mounting the several sections for simultaneous movement toward or from Van elevated position, said exible member being arranged to extend below all of said sections and form a hand grip when said sections are in their overlapping positions.

4. A gate of the character described comprising a laterally spaced upright guides, elongate members connected with the respective guides for movement lengthwise thereof, an intermediate gate section arranged between and connected Withsaid elongate members for movement therewith, and upper and lower gate sections connectedwith said elongate members for movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping said intermediate section.

5. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced upright guides, elongate members slidably supported on the respective guides, an intermediate gate section secured. to said elongate members for movement therewith, a lower gate section slidably connected withr said elongate members, an upper gate section having means at its upper portion for slidably connecting the same with said upright guides and having downwardly extending parts slidably connected with said elongate members, and means for connecting said upper and lower sections with said intermediate section for movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto.

6. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced upright guides, a gate section arranged between said upright guides and having at its ends supporting member provided with inclined guideways, and slide blocks engaging s-aid upright guides and having parts movably mounted in the respective guideways of said supporting members.

'1. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced upright guides, a gate sectional'- ranged between said guides, elongate members secured to and spaced outwardly from the respective ends oi said gate section and having parts slidably engaging said upright guides, each elongate member having flanges extending inwardly on opposite sides of said gate section, other gate sections arranged on opposite sides of the rst mentioned section and having parts slidably engaging the respective anges, and means for connecting the last mentioned gate sections with the iirst mentioned gate section for movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping said first mentioned gate section.

8. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced upright guides, a gate Section arranged between said guides, elongate members secured to and spaced outwardly from the respective ends of said gate section and having parts slidably engaging said upright guides, each elongate member having at least one pair of supporting members provided with inclined slots, slide blocks movably mounted in the respective pairs of supporting members, having sliding engagement with said upright guides yand having parts extending into said slots, each elongate member also having flanges extending inwardly on opposite sides of said gate section, other gate sections arranged on opposite sides of the rst mentioned section and having parts slidably engaging the respective flanges, and means for connecting the last mentioned gate sections with the first mentioned gate section for movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping said first mentioned gate section.

9. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced upright guides, an intermediate gate section, means for connecting said gate section with said guides for movement lengthwise thereof, upper and lower gate sections, means carried by said intermediate section for movably supporting said upper and lower sections thereon in counterbalancing relation one to the other and to cause the same to move in unison with relation to said intermediate section, and means carried by said intermediate section to guide said upper and lower sections in their movement with relation to said intermediate section.

10. A gate of the character described comprising a single pair of laterally spaced guides, elongate members slidably supported on the respective guides, an intermediate gate section having a downwardly extending part at each end thereof, means for rigidly securing each elongate member to the adjacent end and downwardly extending part of said intermediate section, upper and lower gate sections slidably connected with said elongate members, and means for connecting said upper and lower sections with said intermediate sections for movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping said intermediate sections.

ARTHUR W. CUNNINGHAM.

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