US2804704A - Automatic type vehicle operated gate - Google Patents

Description

P 3, '1957 s. M. HUERTA 2,804,704

AUTOMATIC TYPE VEHICLE OPERATED GATE Filed Nov. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Salvador M. Huerta INVENTOR.

Sept. 3, 1957 s. M. HUERTA AUTOMATIC TYPE VEHICLE OPERATED GATE 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 1, 1955 INVENTOR Q (may Em Salvador M, Huerta United States Patent AUTOMATIC TYPE VEHICLE OPERATED GATE Salvador M. Huerta, Pixley, Calif. Application November 1, 1955, Serial No. 544,294

4 Claims. (Cl. 39-22) This invention generally relates to a gate construction and more specifically provides a gate in an opening in a fence which will be automatically opened by the approach of a vehicle and will automatically close after the vehicle has passed through the opening in the fence.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gate construction employing a vertical post pivotally supporting a gate member together with actuating means depressible by an approaching vehicle whereby the gate will be swung to an open position by depression of the actuating means to permit passage of the vehicle through the gate opening after which the gate will automatically return to a closed position. i

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gate in accordance with the preceding object in which the gate opens away from the vehicle as it approaches thereby permitting a compact construction utilizing a relatively small area.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a gate construction employing a pair of depressible plates disposed on opposite sides of the gate wherein the plates not only are depressed but are longitudinally moved by their particular supporting construction so that a cable interconnecting the gate and the plates will actuate the gate in the desired manner.

Other important objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, automatic opening and closing feature and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and installation cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the gate construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the gate positioned in an opening in a fence;

Figure 3 is an elongated longitudinal, vertical sectional view illustrating the construction of the depressible and movable plates for actuating the gate;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view taken substantially upon a plane passing along reference line 4-4 of Figure 3 illustrating the relationship of the various elements of the gate actuating mechanism; and,

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating the mounting construction of the depressible and longitudinally movable plates.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the gate of the present invention for positioning between a pair of vertical posts 12 and 14 which define an opening in a fence 16. A gate member generally designated by the numeral 18 is pivotally attached to the vertical post 14 by a pair of brackets 20 pivotally receiving projecting pins 22 on a side rail 24 2,804,704 Patented Sept.-3, 1957 of the gate 18. Longitudinal rails 26 interconnect the side or end rails 24 for forming a rigid gate member 18 swingable from a position in alignment with the fence 16 to a position in perpendicular relation thereto for per: mitting a vehicle or persons to proceed through the opening in the fence 16. A friction latch mechanism gen erally designated by the numeral 28 is provided in the vertical post 12 for engagement with the end of the gate 18 remote from the pivot brackets 20 and the latch mechanism includes a roller 30 mounted on the gate 18 and a 7 star wheel'32 rotatably mounted on the post 12 for engagement with the roller 30 for frictionally retaining the roller in between adjacent projections on the star wheel 32 for retaining the gate 18 in closed position.

An elongated base member 34 is provided on each side i of the fence 16 within the opening defined by the posts 12 and 14 and each end of the base 34 is provided with an inclined approach ramp 36 so that a vehicle may procenter thereof is an inverted U-shaped supporting member 40 having outwardly extending free ends 42 pivotally received within the base 34. A pair of'elongated plate members 44 and 46 are mounted in the groove 38 and the inner ends of the plates 44 and 46 are provided with hinge eyes 48 which are interdigitated forming a hinge bar for receiving the bight portion of the inverted U- shaped member 40 thereby supporting the plates 44 and 46 in centralized position under the gate 18.

A compression coil spring 50 is mounted on a support 52 having a socket 54 in the upper end thereof for receiving the lower end of the spring 50 and the upper end of the spring 50 engages the undersurface of the hinge eye 48 on the plate 44 wherein the spring 50 will normally urge the inverted U-shaped member 40 to a vertical upstanding position and also urge the hinge eyes 48 and the plate members 44 and 46 to their uppermost position. For supporting the outer ends of the plates 44 and 46, a plurality of transverse rods 56 are provided extending across the groove or recess 38 and these rods 56 are provided with rollers 58 thereon for permitting longitudinal movement of the plate members 44 and 46 when the plate members 44 and 46 are depressed and the U- shaped member 40 is pivoted about the axis formed by r the outwardly extending ends 42 which will move the plates 44 and 46 longitudinally.

An elongated tension coil spring 60 is disposed between each of the plates 44 and 46 and the central supporting base member 52 for returning the plates 44 and 46 to their normal position which is centralized in relation to the base 34.

The base 34 is provided with a recessed portion 62 on each side of the post 14 for journaling a pulley 64 therein and the lower end of the gate 18 is provided with a depending pin 66 in spaced relation to the hinge axis formed by the hinge pins 22. A flexible line 68 is connected to the hinge pin 66 and extends oppositely for passing over the pulleys 64 and is terminally secured to the respective plates 44 and 46 so that movement of the plates 44 and 46 in one longitudinal direction will move the flexible line 68 a corresponding amount thereby moving the pin 66 and the gate 18 about the vertical hinge axis formed by the hinge pins 22. A tensioning device in the form of a small pulley 70, a bracket '72 and adjustment means 74 is provided on a portion of the flexible cable 68 thereby retaining the cable 68 in a taut condition to assure proper operation of the gate 18.

In operation, a vehicle or a person or animal walking approaches the gate 1% and engages either the plate 46' or the plate 44 thereby depressing and pushing the plate generally in the direction of travel of the vehicle or person: This-is necessarily truerin respect'to aivehieleinas= muclr as the plates 44 and 46-are upwardlrihclined towards-the center-sothat any weightplacedthereon' will move the inner endofthe plate downwardly-man arcuate mannerabout the axisformed bythe free ends 42 oftl1e' inverted U-shaped member'40p The corresponding'lon gitudinal-mov'ement of' the plates 44 and 46 willcause' a corresponding linear movement ofthe cable 68' thereby urgingthe gateIS- to an open positionby movement of the pin 66 about the vertical axis formedf by-the hinge pins2 2 1 As long as-the plates 44' and4 6 are retained in depressedcondition, the gate will be retained open. However, as soon as weight is released from 1116 plate members 44 and-46, thespring 50 inconjnnetion'with the springs fitl'will' return the plates 44' and 46 to their normal position thereby-returning the gate 18 to its'normal closed position; This will assure that the gate will open andremain open during the entire" passage of a vehicle therethroughand no closing movementwill occur until the vehicle has completely left the base 34; Due to the particular orientation of the cable and the plate members, the gate 18* will always swing away from the approaching vehicle thereby permitting the base member 34 tob'e constructedrelatively'short since the gate always swingsaway from the approaching vehicle.

The: foregoingis considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention; Furthersince numerous modifications' and-changes will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art; it i's'not desired'to limit the invention to the exact construction andoperation-shown' anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modificationsandequivalents may be resorted to; falling within-the-scope ofthe'invention as-claimedz- 'Wh'at-iselaimed-as new is as follows:

li- A gate construction comprising a base, a vertical post; agatepivotally mountedon said post, said base having an elongated recessextending beyond eachside of the gate,- an inverted U-shaped member pivotally mounted in-sai'd recess, apair of plates pivotally attachedto the bight portion of the U-shapedmember and extending outwardly in said recess; a cable-connected to each of said plates, each of said cables being attached'to'the, gate, said plates being depressible by a vehicle approaching the gate whereby the plates will movelongitudinally'away from the vehicle for opening the gate away from' the Vehicle asthe" inner ends of the plates swing arcuately downwardly.

2; A gate construction comprising abase; a vertical post, a gate pivotally mounted on said post, said base having an elongated groove extending beyond each side of the gate, an upstanding inverted U-shaped member pivotally mounted in said groove, a pair of inclined plates pivotally attached to the bight portion of the U-shaped member and extending outwardly in said groove thereby forming a ramp for a vehicle wheel, a cable connected to each of said plates, each of said cables having a free end attached to the gate, saidplates being depressible by a vehicle approaching the gate whereby the plates will move longitudinally away from: the vehicle as the U- shaped. member pivots towards a horizontal position for opening the gate away from the vehicle, and spring means urging said inverted; U-shapedv member to a vertical position thereby returning the gate to a normal closed position.

3. A gate construction comprising a vertical support, a gate member pivotally. mounted on said support and normally forming a closure for an opening adjacentv the support, and means automatically opening and closing.

said galtememben, said" means. including a pair of elongated pressure plates extending to opposite sides of the gate in downwardly inclined'relation thereby forming inclined approach ramps, means rollingly supporting the outer ends of the plates from a supporting surface, an inverted U shape'd' member pivotalIy supported from the supporting surface, the bight portion of the U-shaped member pivotally interconnecting the inner ends of the pressure platesand supporting the same in elevated position, spring means urging the U-shaped'member to an upstanding position, a flexible line extending between each pressure plate andthe gate member for swinging the gate member in response to linear movement of the line, the inner endsof the pressure plates moving arcuately down! wardly when pressure is applied to the upper surface thereof for moving the. pressure plates longitudinally thereby iinpartinglinear movement to the line for openingthe gateimember, said spring means returning the U-shaped member and the pressure plates to a normal position after pressure is removed from the plates thereby returning-the gate member to" a closed position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein stop means is provided under the inner ends of the pressureplates for ,limiting' the downward movement of the pressure plates.

References Citedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,867 Robinson May 5, 1908 902,095: Lister Oct. 27, 1908 1 860571- Bauer May 31, 1932 2,301,278 Hicks Nov. 10, 1942

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