WO2005073491A1

WO2005073491A1 - Opening and closing operating apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2005073491A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Chappel
Original assignee: Hydragate Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-28
Filing date: 2005-01-28
Publication date: 2005-08-11

Abstract

An opening and closing apparatus adapted to remotely open or close a gate or door, the apparatus including at least one double acting hydraulic ram adapted to receive and be operated on by water at pressure, a fluid controller which has at least three positions; a first of which will effect a supply of water into the ram to effect an opening action of the ram, a second position which will effect a retraction of the ram and a third position in which the supply of liquid both into and out from at least a one of the ends of the hydraulic ram is locked so as to effect a lock of the hydraulic ram's position.

Description

TITLE

OPENING AND CLOSING OPERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an opening and closing operating apparatus and method, and in particular to such an apparatus and method where the apparatus and method use water at pressure as a power supply.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to use hydraulic rams to effect opening and closing of members such as gates or doors.

The supply of hydraulic fluid at pressure can require expensive ancillary equipment and it has been discovered that there is advantage in using water as the hydraulic fluid where the water is available at pressure, for instance from a reticulated supply, or from a supply in a storage vessel or reservoir, and where the water can be discarded harmlessly and cheaply subsequent to use.

One of the advantages of using water at pressure as the effective supply of power is that there does not need then to be a substantial supply of electrical power in a typical instance, which will require expensive installation.

However, for a commercially effective apparatus for applications such as gate or door closures, a supply of power albeit with relatively low power demands is still required.

The problem to which this invention is directed then is to provide an arrangement and offer a method where water at pressure can be used as the main power supply for operating an opening and closing effect, but where electrical control can be effected with minimal power demands, but which will still provide appropriate controls for the purpose.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention then, it can be said to reside in an opening and closing apparatus including at least one double acting hydraulic ram adapted to receive and be operated on by water at pressure, and a fluid controller adapted to selectively effect each of:

a supply of water into the ram to effect an extension of the ram;

a supply of water into the ram to effect a retraction of the ram; and

a locking of the ram's position.

Preferably, the fluid controller is actuated by an electrical supply, and the fluid controller being such that without electrical supply it effects a locking of the ram's position.

Preferably, the water is sourced from a reticulated supply.

In a further form, the water is sourced from a storage vessel or reservoir.

Preferably, the fluid controller has at least three positions; a first of which will effect the supply of water into the ram to effect an opening action of the ram, a second position which will effect the retraction of the ram and a third position in which the supply of liquid both into and out from at least a one of the ends of the hydraulic ram is locked so as to effect a lock of the hydraulic ram's position.

Preferably, there is an electrical controller adapted to effect, upon an initiating signal, a change in relative position of the fluid controller from said third position to either of the first or second positions for a selected period of time, after which the fluid controller is arranged to return to its third position.

Preferably, the fluid controller is a small valve in which the valve has a spool where a third position is a central position, and where the first and second positions are at respective end positions of the spool within the controller.

From the above, it will be seen that by having a normally closed fluid controller, ongoing power demands are kept to a minimum and a supply of power for instance that might be provided by a battery supply will only be required for a sufficient time to effect a closing or opening stroke of the ram.

In preference, where the ram is a double acting ram, the fluid controller is arranged so that when the fluid controller is in a first position, then while connecting a one end of the ram to the pressure supply of water, the other end is opened to exhaust where the water otherwise in that end will then be available to be exhausted either to waste, or to a storage for subsequent use, or for direct application to another purpose, for instance use for irrigation.

One of the difficulties with such an arrangement can be that, upon an initiation of an opening or closing action, there will be caused a substantial force on the member to be opened or closed and such a force will continue for a sufficient period so that at the least, the member has been then fully opened or closed.

However, the actual period that the ram will be kept under pressure will normally be greater than that actually needed for the closing and opening action to be fully effected.

This will mean that the inertia created by such opening or closing action will continue and in effect slam open or slam shut the member being opened or closed, which firstly may not be appealing to users, but secondly, may cause substantial impact stresses on the members and associated equipment.

In preference then, there are provided means within the ram such that there will be effected a higher resistance for entry of liquid into the respective operating chamber of the cylinder as it comes close to its fully extended or fully contracted position.

This can be achieved for instance by having a portion of the piston within the double acting ram incorporating a portion that will effect either a partial or changing closure status of liquid, either into or out from the respective chamber within the ram, so as to effect, at the end of the stroke, this cushioning effect.

If the application is a door or gate, or perhaps in some cases a pair of gates or other installations, it is of relevance that at least in its fully open or fully closed position, that this position should be then able to be maintained so that in effect, a gate or gates is then maintained in a locked position against deliberate or even accidental unwanted intrusion.

For instance, if the application is for a security gate, what is not wanted is the ability for someone to come along and to be able to easily push the gate into an open position.

This is assisted by having independent power supplies which of themselves can be placed in a secure position or can be made separately difficult to access, but it has been found that it is of advantage firstly that the controller will in its normally resting state, be in a closed position and effectively close supply to or from the double acting ram.

Further however, it is of advantage that conduits supplying liquid at pressure from the fluid controller to the rams or away from the rams, should also provide either a relatively small or negligible resiliency, at least to a sufficient extent so as to restrict then subsequent opening or closing pressure in respect of the ram which might be achieved by having conduits that would resiliently expand or contract under such pressure sufficient to allow, for instance a partial opening or closing of the gate.

In preference, a power supply for the electrical controller can be effected by a battery supply which can either be directly supplemented by a solar arrays or it can be solely supplied by a battery which can be replaced from time to time, and there would then be appropriate monitoring facilities to ensure that the battery, when it is in need of recharge or replacement, effects a signal to a potential operator.

Preferably, there is a first post, to which a gate or door is pivotally attached, the ram being attached to the post at the first end, and to the gate at a second end.

In a further form of the invention, it may be said to reside in an opening and closing apparatus including a gatepost, to which a gate is pivotally attached, and a second post spaced apart from the gatepost, the ram being attached to the second post at the first end, and to the gate at a second end. Preferably, the fluid controller, electrical controller and electrical supply are attached to the post to which the ram is pivotally attached.

Preferably operation of the apparatus can be remotely controlled and monitored using hardwire, wireless or biological technologies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of this invention, it will now be described with relation to a preferred embodiment, which shall be described with the assistance of drawings;

Wherein figure 1 is a view of a pair of gates using the embodiment where there is shown a hydraulic ram operating with each respective gate of a pair of gates and there are means shown where there are controllers and associated electrical controls;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the controller including a spool and spool valve arrangement;

Figure 3 is an electronic hydraulic circuit illustrating the way in which there can be effected an initiating signal, which then can ensure maintenance of such effective control of the fluid controller from a central locking third position to either a first or second position for a predetermined time;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a double acting ram used in this embodiment, which includes an arrangement effecting buffering for the action of the ram at respective ends of its stroke;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through an alternative double acting ram which could be used in this application;

Figure 6 is a top view of a further form of the opening and closing apparatus; and

Figure 7 is a front view of the opening and closing apparatus in Figure 5. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring in detail to the drawings there is a pair of gates 1 and 2, which are controlled by a hydraulic ram 3 in the one case and 4 in the other, where for instance in the case of 3, there is a cylindrical body 5 and rod 6 where the cylindrical body 5 is secured to a ground anchor position 7 with a pivotal connection 8 and the rod 6 is connected to a portion of the gate 1 again through a vertical axis pivot 9.

The position of the ground anchor is offset so that with the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 3 through its full stroke, there will be then effected an opening and closing of the gate 1 (the same can be said for gate 2 and its associated control equipment).

In this case, there is a supply of reticulated water at pressure as is conventionally available in a large number of places around the world.

In this case, the supply of reticulated water is first supplied though a filter 10 and then into appropriate conduits which are connected to fluid controller 11 , which is a spool valve with a spool 12 of a type such that in a central position, the spool 12 blocks passage of water both from the reticulated supply and also to and from the respective chambers 13 and 14 of the hydraulic ram 3.

In this way, the spool is maintained while there is no outside activating influence, so that this then effectively blocks the gate 1 in either respectively its fully open or fully closed position.

In this particular case, the spool valve has been found to be an apparatus, which is available as a pneumatic controller, but it has not previously been considered to be useful for liquid controllers.

A discovery is that such a controller is firstly extremely useful for this application and, provided that there is filtering of the reticulated water supply, given that there will be passage of water through the valve, and further that the nature of a commercially available spool valve is such that it can handle without corrosion or long term deterioration, water, then this makes for a very efficient, and in practice very effective, controller.

The respective operations are such that there is an electrical circuit which is adapted to receive an initiating signal from either a radio source or an electrical source of some sort, or indeed a mechanical activation of electrical contacts or the like. Upon receiving the initiation signal, the electrical controller 15 will effect a supply of current from the power source 18, which is a battery in this case, to a respective solenoid valve 16 or 17 in the controller so as to maintain the spool valve in a first position, and effect the passage of water into a first of the chambers of the cylinder, and effect an opening for the discharge outlet of the other of the chambers of the hydraulic cylinder, for instance in hydraulic cylinder 3, and maintain this full activation signal for a predetermined time, which might in this case be around 15 seconds.

This time is selected and can be controlled by the controller such that there will be an adequate period for the operation of the ram to reach either a fully extended or fully contracted position depending upon whether the first or second position of the controller is used. Thereafter, the spool valve goes into its third position, which is a locking position, and it then maintains the position without requiring external electrical activation and therefore use of a power supply.

There can however be ongoing activation of the electrical circuit to the extent that it is able to respond to an initiation signal, but this can be kept at a very low power demand status.

Such retention of a full power operating mode however, over a period, means that there will be a developed inertia when a ram is being driven to a full stroke position, and it is here that there is advantage in providing a cushioning effect in relation to the closing or opening of the ram as it approaches its fully extended or fully contracted position.

This is achieved in this case, by having a tapered portion 20 in one case and 21 in the other attached to the piston 22, where the respective portions, when they approach the respective ends, will effect by reason of this tapering outer surface cause increasing restriction in flow of liquid into the respective chambers or out from the respective chambers the closer they get to the full stroke position.

This then has the effect of providing a controlled cushioning and it allows for the method of control in this case to be used effectively.

Referring in detail now to Figures 6 and 7, where there is a gatepost 50, to which a gate 52 is pivotally attached by a hinge 54. There is also a second post 56 located, and cemented into the ground a short distance away from the gatepost 50, in a position perpendicular to the position of the closed gate.

There is now then a double acting hydraulic ram 58 having a first post end A, and a distal second gate end B, the ram being attached to the second post 51 at a first end A, and to the gate 52 at a second end B.

The control system for the ram is then attached to the second post. The control system includes the fluid controller 60 and the electrical controller 62.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the inherent mechanical advantage is increased. That is, the geometry of the arrangement increases the force normal to the gate 52 applied at point B initially by the ram 58. As a result, a smaller ram can be used.

A further advantage of this arrangement is that the ram 58, and the fluid 60 and electrical 62 controllers can be attached to or otherwise incorporated in the second post 56. This means that the bulk of assembly required can be carried out in a workshop or indeed on a production line remote from the site of the gate. This has the added advantage then that the apparatus can be quickly and easily installed at the site of the gate 52, or indeed it can be easily retro fitted to a pre existing gate as the case may be.

Yet a further advantage of this arrangement is that the second post 56 can be designed to incorporate a water reservoir and pump to supply the water at pressure. This then allows the invention to be utillised in remote areas, where there is no access to a reticulated water supply either. Operation of the apparatus can be initiated by any one or more of time clocks, day-night switching, integrated computer memory, auxiliary inputs and outputs, keypads and smartcard optional controls. The apparatus can be controlled and monitored remotely by hardwire or wireless technologies and be part of a total domestic, organization, company, agriculture or aquaculture management system.

While the description has been given in relation to a gate, and a pair of gates is shown, it is not intended that the invention should be limited to such an application.

In at least its broadest concept, it can apply to any apparatus where are an opening or closing action is usefully required and a sliding door or covering shutters over light wells, or the operation of valves for irrigation purposes at remote locations might be considered as further appropriate applications.

Throughout this specification the purpose has been to illustrate the invention and not to limit this.

Claims

1. An opening and closing apparatus including at least one double acting hydraulic ram adapted to receive and be operated on by water at pressure, and a fluid controller adapted to selectively effect each of: a supply of water into the ram to effect an extension of the ram; a supply of water into the ram to effect a retraction of the ram; and a locking of the ram's position.

2. The opening and closing apparatus as in the immediately preceding claim further characterized in that the fluid controller is actuated by an electrical supply, and the fluid controller being such that without electrical supply it effects a locking of the ram's position.

3. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the water is sourced from a reticulated supply.

4. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of claims 1 to 2 further characterized in that the water is sourced from a storage vessel or reservoir

5. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the fluid controller has at least three positions; a first of which will effect the supply of water into the ram to effect an opening action of the ram, a second position which will effect the retraction of the ram and a third position in which the supply of liquid both into and out from at least a one of the ends of the hydraulic ram is locked so as to effect a lock of the hydraulic ram's position.

6. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that there is an electrical controller adapted to effect, upon an initiating signal, a change in relative position of the fluid controller from said third position to either of the first or second positions for a selected period of time, after which the fluid controller is arranged to return to its third position.

7. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the fluid controller is a small valve in which the valve has a spool where a third position is a central position, and where the first and second positions are at respective end positions of the spool within the controller.

8. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the ram has first and second ends, and the fluid controller is arranged so that when the fluid controller is in the first position, it connects one end of the ram to the pressure supply of water, and the other end is opened to exhaust.

9. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that there are provided means within the ram such that there will be effected a higher resistance for entry of liquid into the respective operating chamber of the cylinder as it comes close to its fully extended or fully retracted position.

10. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the electrical supply for the electrical controller is effected by a battery supply, which is directly supplemented by a solar array or solely supplied by the battery, which can be replaced from time to time.

11. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that there is a first post, to which a gate or door is pivotally attached, the ram being attached to the post at the first end, and to the gate at a second end.

12. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one claims 1 to 10 further characterized in that there is a gate post, to which a gate is pivotally attached, and a second post spaced apart from the gate post, the ram being attached to the second post at the first end, and to the gate at a second end.

13. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that the fluid controller, electrical controller and electrical supply is attached to the post to which the ram is pivotally attached.

14. The opening and closing apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that its operation can be remotely controlled and monitored using hardwire, wireless or biological technologies.

15. An opening and closing apparatus as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying representations.