WO2008031151A1

WO2008031151A1 - Dual sliding gate mechanism and method

Info

Publication number: WO2008031151A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001345
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grant Leigh Meffan
Original assignee: Grant Leigh Meffan
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-12
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: AU2007295942A1; AU2007295942B2; NZ576004A

Abstract

A double sliding gate arrangement, actuator mechanism and drive method are disclosed. A drive gate (21) is connected to a slave gate (22) by an actuator link (33). A carriage (34) reciprocal along a rail (31) carries the actuator link (33) and is driven by a loop of cable (50). Opposite ends (51, 52) of the cable are connected to a moveable support (39, 40) driven by a motor (25). The slave gate (22) moves at twice the speed of the driven gate (21). The width of the effective vehicular access (Z) is a much greater percentage of the width of the carriageway (Y) than in the prior art.

Description

DUAL SLIDNG GATEMECHANISMAND METHOD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gates, and in particular, to sliding gates such as those used to close off driveways which permit vehicular access to properties, and the like.

Background Art

Such sliding or rolling gates have a significant problem in that the gate in the open position occupies a significant portion of the total width of the carriageway. This either restricts the width of vehicles able to access the property or obliges the maximum width of the carriageway to be increased. Generally this results in a larger carriageway having to be set aside in order that a suitable width be provided to enable most vehicles to access the property.

Alternatively if a broad carriageway cannot be provided, a sliding gate cannot be used and a swing gate or gates must be used instead.

Genesis of the Invention The genesis of the present invention is a desire to, if possible, more effectively utilise the available width of such carriageways.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a double sliding gate arrangement comprising a slave gate and a drive gate which are each able to reciprocate along a corresponding track between an open and a closed position, said gates in said open position being substantially parallel and standing in side-by-side arrangement, said gates in said closed position having a minimal overlap, said drive gate being movable between its said open and closed position by an external force, and said gates being interconnected via an actuator mechanism which comprises a rail extending along said drive gate, an actuator link interconnecting said slave gate and a carriage which is reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which extends around a pair of pulleys each located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends fixed to a stationary support for said drive gate and also being secured to said carriage, whereby travel of said drive gate relative to said stationary support drives said loop around said pulleys to thereby drive said carriage and said actuator link and cause said slave gate to travel in the same direction as said drive gate.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a sliding gate actuator mechanism for use in reciprocating a slave gate by a drive gate, said actuator mechanism comprising a rail adapted to extend along said drive gate, an actuator link to interconnect said slave gate to a carriage adapted to be reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which is adapted to extend around a pair of pulleys each of which is adapted to be located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends being connectable to a stationary support for said drive gate and said loop being connectable to said carriage.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of driving a slave gate by a drive gate in a double sliding gate arrangement comprising said slave gate and said drive gate each of which is able to reciprocate along a corresponding track between an open and a closed position, said gates in said open position being substantially parallel and standing in side-by-side arrangement and said gates in said closed position having a minimal overlap, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) applying an external force to said drive gate to move same between said positions, (ii) interconnecting said gates with an actuator mechanism which comprises a rail extending along said drive gate, an actuator link interconnecting said slave gate and a carriage which is reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which extends around a pair of pulleys each located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends fixed to a stationary support for said drive gate and also being secured to said carriage, and

(iii) utilizing the travel of said drive gate relative to said stationary support to drive said loop around said pulleys to thereby drive said carriage and said actuator link and cause said slave gate to travel in the same direction as said drive gate. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a prior art single sliding gate, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carriageway in which the prior art gate of Fig. 1 is installed,

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the double sliding gate of the preferred embodiment,

Fig. 4 is an elevational view looking from the rear of the gate Fig. 3 and illustrating the gate of in its closed position,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the actuator mechanism of the preferred embodiment, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the actuator mechanism of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the actuator mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6,

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the actuator mechanism of Figs. 5-7, Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the carriage or slide utilised in the mechanism of Figs. 5-8, and

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively perspective views of a modified pulley arrangement for opposite ends of the actuator mechanism of Figs. 5-7.

Detailed Description

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional sliding gate 1 has wheels 2 and slides along a track 3. The track 3 can be a metal rail or merely the locus over which the wheel passes. A support post 4 is provided on which a motor 5 is mounted. Also mounted on the support post 4 is an L-shaped stub axle 7 for a roller 8 indicated in phantom in Fig. 1 because it is obscured by means of a guide channel 10.

Fig. 2, illustrates how the gate 1 is movable between a closed position illustrated by solid lines in Fig. 2, and an open position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 2. In the closed position the gate 1 abuts a carriage post 12 to which the gate may be locked by means of any conventional locking device (not illustrated). The gate 1 is mounted in a carriageway 13 part of which is blocked off by means of a wall 14. The motor 5 typically includes a cog which engages a rack formed on the underside of the gate and which permits the gate to be reciprocated as indicated by the double headed arrow in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that of the potential maximum width Y of the carriageway 13, only a small percentage is actually available for vehicle access, this being indicated by X. Typically if X is 3 metres to permit large vehicles to enter the premises, then Y is approximately 7 metres. As a consequence, the ratio X/ Y is approximately 0.43 and so the sliding gate arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 is very wasteful of carriageway width.

Turning now to Figs. 3 and 4, a double sliding gate arrangement of the preferred embodiment will now described in which like parts have a designation number increased by twenty in magnitude. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4 there is a drive gate 21 and a slave gate 22 each of which run on wheels (not illustrated). A support post 24 is as before and a motor 25 enables the drive gate 21 to be reciprocated in the same fashion as the prior art gate 1 of Fig. 1. The wall 14 is provided as before to obscure from the front view the gates 21, 22 in the open position illustrated by broken lines in Figs. 3 and 4. In this position the gates 21, 22 are substantially parallel and stand in side-by-side arrangement. However, in the closed position the gates 21, 22 whilst still substantially parallel are only overlapped to a minimal extent as seen in Fig. 3.

However, as is clear from Fig. 3 the width Z of the vehicular access (being the distance between the carriage post 12 and support post 24 approximately) is a substantial percentage of the total width Y of the carriageway 13. In the preferred embodiment if the width Z of the vehicular access is again 3 meters, the total width of the carriageway 13 can be reduced to 4.8 meters approximately so the ratio Z/Y is 0.625 which is much more efficient.

In Figs. 5-9, an actuator mechanism 30 is illustrated which takes the form of a rail 31 which is mounted above an inverted U-shaped channel 32. Reciprocally mounted on the rail 31 is a carriage 34 to which is connected an actuator link 33 which, as seen in Fig. 3, extends between the two gates 21, 22. As seen in Fig. 4, the channel 32 of the actuator mechanism 30 is mounted in a substantially similar position to that of the guide channel 10 of the prior art gate 1 of Fig. 1.

As best seen in Fig. 8, a roller 38 is mounted within the channel 32 on a vertical axle 39 which is connected by means of a bar 40 to the support post 24 (not illustrated in Figs. 5-9). The roller 38 performs the same function as the roller 8 of Fig. 1 and thus ensures that the drive gate 21 is able to be reciprocated between the open and closed positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by means of the motor 25 without toppling over to either side.

As best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the carriage 34 is longitudinally split and includes a longitudinally split cylindrical nylon sleeve 35 which enables the carriage 34 to slide up and down the rail 31 and yet clear the vertical supports 36 (Fig. 6)which interconnect the rail 31 and channel 32.

As best seen in Figs. 5 and 7, mounted at each end of the channel 32 is a corresponding one of a pair of pulley wheels 41, 42 each of which is mounted on a corresponding axle 43, 44.

As best illustrated in Fig. 9, the carriage 34 is provided with a tube 47 and grub screws 48. A braided steel cable 50 is formed into a loop and has opposite ends connected to the axle 39. Thus the cable 50 is essentially fixed to the stationary support post 24. The cable 50 is looped around the pulley wheels 41, 42 and passes through the tube 47 where it is clamped by means of the grub screws 48 so as to set the position of the carriage 34 relative to the support post 24.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when the motor 25 drives the drive gate 21, then the channel 32 moves relative to the roller 38. This motion of the channel 32 relative to the cable 50 causes the carriage 34 to be driven along the rail 31. As seen in Fig. 3, the two extremes of this motion have the carriage 34, and hence the actuator link 33, at the left hand end of the drive gate 21 when it is in the closed position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 3, and at the right hand end of the drive gate 21 when it is in the open position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 3.

The consequence of the movement of the carriage 34 and actuator link 33 is to transfer motion imparted to the drive gate 21 by the motor 25, to the slave gate 22 so as to drive it in the same direction as the drive gate 21 is being moved. Because of the doubling of the cable 50 around the pulley wheels 41, 42, the carriage 34 (and hence the slave gate 22) are driven at twice the speed at which the drive gate 21 is driven by the motor 25. In this connection it will be apparent from Fig. 3 that the slave gate 22 is obliged to travel twice the distance that the drive gate 21 moves, in order to move between the open and closed positions illustrated in Fig. 3.

Rather than mount the pulley wheels 41 and 42 on the axles 43 and 44 respectively as illustrated in Fig. 7, it is possible to provide the pulley wheels 41 and 42 on mounting blocks 61, 62 which push into the ends of the channel 32 after it has been cut to length to suit the length of the drive gate 21. This alternative arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.

The foregoing describes only some arrangements of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the gate mounting arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the cable 50 although preferably made from braided metal, can also be fabricated from elastomers such as rubber. The cable 50 is preferably provided with a turnbuckle or similar tensioning device. In addition, the carriage 34 instead of arranging to slide on the cylindrical rail 31 can be provided with wheels which run on the upper surface of the channel 32, for example.

Furthermore, the loop of cable 50 can be replaced by a loop of bicycle chain, for example, in which case the pulleys are likewise replaced by sprocket wheels. The term "pulley" as used herein is intended to embrace such equivalents. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of.

Claims

1. A double sliding gate arrangement comprising a slave gate and a drive gate which are each able to reciprocate along a corresponding track between an open and a closed position, said gates in said open position being substantially parallel and standing in side-by-side arrangement, said gates in said closed position having a minimal overlap, said drive gate being movable between its said open and closed position by an external force, and said gates being interconnected via an actuator mechanism which comprises a rail extending along said drive gate, an actuator link interconnecting said slave gate and a carriage which is reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which extends around a pair of pulleys each located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends fixed to a stationary support for said drive gate and also being secured to said carriage, whereby travel of said drive gate relative to said stationary support drives said loop around said pulleys to thereby drive said carriage and said actuator link and cause said slave gate to travel in the same direction as said drive gate.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein a roller is mounted on said stationary support and engages a groove associated with said rail.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said groove comprises a channel which extends alongside said rail.

4. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein said external force is generated by a motor associated with said stationary support.

5. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein said loop is selected from the group consisting of a metal cable, an elastomeric cable, and a chain.

6. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein said carriage comprises a slide which slides along said rail.

7. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 wherein said loop is adjustably secured to said carriage.

8. A sliding gate actuator mechanism for use in reciprocating a slave gate by a drive gate, said actuator mechanism comprising a rail adapted to extend along said drive gate, an actuator link to interconnect said slave gate to a carriage adapted to be reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which is adapted to extend around a pair of pulleys each of which is adapted to be located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends being connectable to a stationary support for said drive gate and said loop being connectable to said carriage.

9. The mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein a roller is adapted to be mounted on said stationary support and engage a groove associated with said rail.

10. The mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein said groove comprises a channel which extends alongside said rail.

11. The mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 8-10 including a motor associated with said stationary support.

12. The mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 8-11 wherein said loop is selected from the group consisting of a metal cable, an elastomeric cable, and a chain.

13. The mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 8-12 wherein said carriage comprises a slide which slides along said rail.

14. The mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 8-13 wherein said loop is adjustably secured to said carriage.

15. A method of driving a slave gate by a drive gate in a double sliding gate arrangement comprising said slave gate and said drive gate each of which is able to reciprocate along a corresponding track between an open and a closed position, said gates in said open position being substantially parallel and standing in side-by-side arrangement and said gates in said closed position being substantially parallel and having a minimal overlap, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) applying an external force to said drive gate to move same between said positions,

(ii) interconnecting said gates with an actuator mechanism which comprises a rail extending along said drive gate, an actuator link interconnecting said slave gate and a carriage which is reciprocally mounted on said rail, and a substantially inextensible flexible loop which extends around a pair of pulleys each located adjacent to a corresponding end of said rail, said loop having both its ends fixed to a stationary support for said drive gate and also being secured to said carriage, and (iii) utilizing the travel of said drive gate relative to said stationary support to drive said loop around said pulleys to thereby drive said carriage and said actuator link and cause said slave gate to travel in the same direction as said drive gate.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 including the further step of: (iv) driving said drive gate with a stationary motor.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 or 16 including the further step of: (v) adjusting the position of interconnection between said loop and said carriage to set the rest positions of said gates.