US2800877A - Staggered starting racing gate - Google Patents

Description

July 30, 1957 P. A. YOUNG STAGGERED STARTING RACING GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYS 3 1957' P. A. YOUNG 2,800,877

STAGGERED STARTING RACING GATE Filed Aug. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. a

ay/,4. Wan a United States Patent STAGGERED STARTING RACING GATE Paul A. Young, Waynesfield, Ohio Application August 31, 1955, Serial No. 531,725

1 Claim. (Cl. 119-155) This invention relates to starting gates for race tracks and particularly tracks for harness races Where a horse at the outside of a track is a greater distance from the first turn than the horse at the inner rail of the track; and in particular, this invention includes a gate positioned on a radius from the first turn so that the starting points of all horses participating in a race are spaced equally from the first turn of a track.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for starting all horses of a race the same distance from the first turn whereby all horses have an equal chance of ob taining a position at the inside rail of a race track.

Gates of race tracks are positioned perpendicular to side rails thereof so that the horse at the inner rail is closer to the first turn than the end horse at the outside of the track and, under general racing conditions, it would be impossible for the horse at the outside of the track to gain a position at the inside rail at the first turn. Consequently, the horse at the outside falls in behind the horses starting at the inner points of the track. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a gate positioned on a radius with the center from which the radius is described positioned at the first turn of a race track whereby the positions of all horses starting behind the gate are equally spaced from the first turn.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a gate of a race track whereby all horses participating in a race start the same distance from the first turn.

Another object of the invention is to provide an off center gate for a race track in which the gate is adapted to be readily closed so that it may be readily transported to a position at one side of the track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate for a race track in which the gate is described on a radius from the first turn of the track in which the gate is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a race track gate including two sections with each section pivotally mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle and with both sections adapted to be quickly closed to positions on the side of the vehicle, the sections being positioned on a radius the center of which is positioned at the first turn of a race track.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view showing a section of a race track illustrating the position of the arcuate gate, all portions of which are equally spaced from the first turn of the track, on the track.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the arcuate gate positioned on the rear of a motor vehicle.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of a motor vehicle on which the sections of the gate are pivotally mounted showing the sections in extended positions.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram showing controls and stops for operating parts of the gate.

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Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a typical arrangement of the mechanical details of the operating elements of the gate showing the sections of the gate closed in full lines and extended in broken lines, the foreparts of the vehicle on which the gate is mounted being broken away.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, taken on line 66 of Figure 5, illustrating a method of operating a traveler with which the sections of the gate are actuated, parts of the device being broken away and the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 is a cross section through the operating mechanism of the gate, taken on line 7--7 of Figure 5, also showing the traveler and track upon which the traveler is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved race track gate of this invention includes gates 10 and 11 suspended from sleeves 12'and 13 pivotally mounted on posts 14 and 15, respectively, and suitable mounting and operating instrumentalities including bell cranks having longitudinally disposed arms 16 and 17 and transversely disposed sections 18 and 19 pivotally mountedon pins 20 and 21, respectively, rods 22 and 23 connecting the bell cranks to a slider 24, similar rods 25 and 26 connecting the bell cranks to arms 27 and 28 extended from lower ends of the sleeves 12 and 13, respectively, a motor 29 and a gear reduction unit or housing 30.

The gates 10 and 11 include upper rails 31 and 32, lower rails 33 and 34, connecting struts 35 and 36 and wire mesh number retaining panels 37 and 38. The outer ends of the rails 31 and 33 are connected with an end section 39 and the inner ends are secured, such as by welding, to the sleeve 12. The gate is supported with a diagonally disposed brace 40 that is secured to the lower rail 33 at one end, and to the lower end of the sleeve 12, as shown in Figure 3, at the other. The outer ends of the rails 32 and 34 are connected with an end section 41 and the gate 11, which includes the rails 32 and 34 is supported with a diagonally disposed brace 42, similar to the brace 40.

The arms 27 and 28 are integral with and extend from the lower ends of the sleeves 12 and 13, respectively, and the sleeves are pivotally mounted on the posts 14 and 15 which are mounted at the ends of a transversely disposed frame including an upper bar 43, end bars 44 and 45, vertically spaced bars 46 and diagonal braces 47. The upper ends of the posts 14 and 15 are retained by bearings 48 and 49 mounted on the bar 43 of the transversely disposed frame and the lower ends are mounted in extensions 50 and 51 at the end of a transversely disposed member 52. The transversely disposed frame is also supported with diagonal braces 53 and 54 that extend from the upper bar 43 of the frame to mounting brackets 55 and 56 on a body 57 of a vehicle upon which the gate is mounted.

The rods 22, 23, 25, and 26 are provided with threaded ends and yokes 57, threaded on the ends of the rods, are securedin adjusted positions with lock nuts 58. The yokes at one of the ends of the rods 25 and 26 are pivotally connected by pins 59 and 60 to the arms 27 and 28 and the yokes on the opposite ends are pivotally connected by pins 61 and 62 to the sections 18 and 19 of the bell cranks. The arms 16 and 17 of the bell cranks are con-. nected by pins 63 and 64 to yokes on the ends of the rods 22 and 23 and the yokes on the opposite ends of the rods 22 and 23 are connected by pins 65 and 66 to the traveler or slider 24 of the operating mechanism.

The slider 24 includes a flat bar having a U-shaped intermediate portion 67 that is positioned to travel on a T-bar or body member 68, the bar 24 having depending ears 3 sprocket 74 being mounted on a head shaft 75 providing a driving sprocket and the sprocket 73, which is mounted on a shaft 76 being an idler sprocket. The shaft 76 is rotatably mounted in frame members 77 and? 78 and the shaft 75, which is rotatably mounted in bearings '79 and- 80 is positioned with one end extended into the gear housing 30 whereby a gear 81 is secured thereon. The gear 81 meshes with a pinion 82 on a shaft 83 and one end of the shaft 83, which extends from the'gear housing, is provided with a pulley 84 over which a belt 85 which extends from a pulley 86 onthe motor 29 is trained.

With the parts in the positions shown in full'lines in Figure 5, the motor 29 is started and the slider 24rnoves from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in broken lines wherein the gates 10 and ll are extended to the positions shown in broken lines. Although the rails or beams '77 and 78 are illustrated as being I-bearns,'

which the shafts are rotatably mounted, however, it will be understood that the ends of the rails or beams may be connected with other suitable means.

The electrical circuits to operate the gateare connected to a battery 92, one terminal 93 of which is connected by a wire 94 to a ground 95 and the opposite terminal of which is connected by a wire 96 to button actuated switches 97 and 98 on the instrument panel or dashboard of the vehicle.

The motor 29 for actuating the gate sections to ex-' tended or folded positions, selectively, is controlled by a circuit, as illustrated in Figure 4, wherein with the gates nested or folded against the sides of the vehicle, as illustrated in Figure 5, the sections are extended by pressing a button 99 inwardly, closing the switch 97 and completing a circuit from the ground 95 through the battery 92 and the wire 96 to one terminal of the switch 97 and from the opposite terminal of the switch through a. wire 100 to a relay 101 which closes a switch 102, one side of which is connected by a wire 103 to a wire 104 which is connected to the battery 92. The opposite side of the switch 102 is connected by a wire 105 to a switch 106,-which being closed by a relay 107 completes a circuit to one terminal of the motor 29 through a wire 108 whereby the motor is actuated to move the slider 24 from the position shown in full lines in Figure to that shown in broken lines wherein the gates and 11 are extended. The relay 107 is connected by a wire 109 to one terminal of a switch 110, the opposite terminal of the switch being connected by a wire 111 to the wire 104 extended from the battery 92, the opposite terminal of the relay 107 being grounded, as shown at a point 112.

By this means a circuit is completed to the motor 29 to swing the gates outwardly to extended positions, as

shown in Figure 3, and as the gates reach extreme positions, parts thereof engage the limit switch 110 breaking the circuit to the relay and consequently the circuit to the motor.

With the gates extended, and when it is desired to fold or retract the gates against the sides of the vehicle, a button 113 of the switch 98 is actuated whereby a circuit is completed from the battery 92 through the wire 96 to a terminal 114 of the switch and from the opposite terminal of the switch a circuit is completed to a ground'115 through .a relay 116 through a wire 7. With the relay 117 energized by closing a limit switch 118, a switch 119 is closed whereby a circuit is completed from the battery 92 through the wire 104 to one side of a switch 120 and the opposite side of the switch 120 is connected by a wire 121 to a switch 122, closed by the relay 117, the opposite terminal of the switch 122 being connected by a wire 123 to a terminal 124 of the motor 29. By this means the motor will continue to operate, withdrawing the gates, or moving the slider 24 from the position shown in broken lines in Figure 5 to that shown in full lines wherein the gates 10 and 11 are nested against the sides of the vehicle. As the gates 10 and 11 reach the positions shown in Figure 5, at the sides of the vehicle, the limit switch 1.18 is opened whereby a circuit from the battery 92 through the wires 96, 125, and 126 to the relay 117 is broken, and with the circuit to the relay broken the switch 122 opens, breaking'the circuit to the motor' and, consequently, stopping the folding movement of the gate sections.

With the parts designed and assembled'as illustrated and described and with the gate formed on a radius, such as the radius 127 describedfrom a center 128 on a first turn 129 of a race track 130, the posts 14 and 15 will be positioned whereby the distance of the post 15 from a line 131, perpendicular to the track 130 is greater than the distance of the post 14 from the line, as illustrated in Figure l, and with the line 131 at a starting point 132 a section or gate for each horse will be positioned the same distance from the center 128 or first turn or bend of the track.

After circling the track with the gate sections extended, as illustrated in Figure 2, and upon reaching the position of the vehicle 57, shown in Figure l, and upon sounding of the starting signal, the gates are folded instantly and the speed of the vehicle increased whereby the vehicle is moved out of the path of the racing horses and each horse has an equal chance of making the rail at the first turn.

It will be understood that the gate sections may be opened and closed by other means and other modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a race track starting device, a movable vehicle support, first and second posts mounted on the rear of said support, sleeves pivotally mounted on said posts, gates secured to said sleeves, pins extending upwardly from said support, bell cranks pivotally connected to said pins, arms extending from the lower ends of said sleeves and secured thereto, first rod connecting said arms to one end of the bell crank, second rods connected to the other ends of said bell cranks, a slider connected to said pair of second rods and including a U-shaped intermediate portion, a body member for slidably supporting said in termediate portion, ears depending from said slider, a chain connected to said ears, a motor for driving said chain, electrical circuit means for controlling actuation of said motor, one of said posts being arranged forwardly of the other post with respect to the direction of travel of the support so that when the gates are opened, the gates will be arranged in a substantially arcuate direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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