AU640821B2 - Self-closing gate assembly - Google Patents

Description

1 64021

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: HERBERT JOHN BALDOCK and LYNETTE MARY BALDOCK *0

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01 9I *9 or Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: HERBERT JOHN BALDOCK CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

"SELF-CLOSING GATE ASSEMBLY" Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PK2346 and PK6724 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: THIS I1YVENTION relates to a self-closing gate assembly and particularly relates to a self-closing gate assembly suitable for use for rural or urban gates.

Gates are necessary in many situations to allow passage of pedestrians, vehicles or animals from one side of a fence to the other side. A disadvantage with most gates is that they are required to be manually opened which means that a person wishing to drive a vehicle through the gate must stop the vehicle, exit the vehicle, open the gate, enter the p 10 vehicle, drive the vehicle through the gate, stop the vehicle, exit the vehicle, close the gate and then proceed. Clearly, p' this situation is troublesome and results in many people not bothering to close the gate behind them.

To overcome this disadvantage, it is known to provide gates which either automatically open or automatically pp close doing away with the need for a person to leave the 4 vehicle.

For instance, Australian Patent 144032 discloses a 9 I wire collapsible gate formed from flexible chains which can be collapsed by the weight of a vehicle driving over an operating U member. In an alternative embodiment, a gate is provided having rigid vertical posts which can move vertically into tubular sockets located below the ground surface. A disadvantage with a flexible gate is its inherent lack of strength and a disadvantage with a gate which moves vertically into sockets is the problem of debris falling into the sockets which will interfere with the efficient operation of the gate.

Australian Patent 239682 describes a mechanical gate assembly which is pivotable about a horizontal axis by the use of a mechanically actuated operating mechanism including tension springs. Reference is also made to hydraulic or pneumatic clamping cylinders which function as dashpots to prevent the gate from rising to a dangerous level between the passage of front and rear wheels of a vehicle after the vehicle has impacted the gate to open the gate against the bias of the tension springs.

I t Australian Patent 283025 describes a self-closing

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gate which operates on a similar principle to Patent 239682 wherein the gate can either be of the conventional swinging type or of a lay-down type. In either case, the gate can be automatically moved to its closed position by a cantilevered link and spring arrangement. Reference is also made to a dashpot mechanism including hydraulically operated damping cylinders which function in conjunction with the cantilevered link and spring arrangement to return the gate to a closed position. A disadvantage with this gate assembly is its manufacturing cost and the inability of the gate to move back to the closed position in a controlled fashion such that the gate does not scrape along an undersurface of a vehicle travelling over the gate in an open position.

Australian Patent 402625 describes a vehicle operated gate which pivots between an upright closed position and an open horizontal position and is biased by springs to return back to the upright position. The gate is initially pushed open by a vehicle and then is maintained in its open 4 position by a lock-down plate. This is necessary as the gate does not have any controlled movement in the absence of the lock-down plate.

Australian Patent Application 77275/81 discloses a pivoting gate assembly having a weighted member located below the pivot point to return the gate to its upright position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a selfclosing gate assembly which will allow the gate when in an open position to move to its closed position in a controlled 1o.. fashion thereby minimising contact of the gate against the lower portion of the vehicle traversing over the gate.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a 00c0 self-closing gate assembly which may overcome the 0 abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a self-closing Goo.0 gate assembly comprising a gate member pivotally movable about a lower portion thereof between a closed position where the gate member is in a substantially upright orientation and an open position where the gate member is adjacent a ground surface; (ii) a fluid activated operating assembly to 9 operatively pivot the gate member from the open position to the closed position in the absence of any ancillary mechanical operating mechanism, said fluid activated operating assembly comprising at least one tubular member; a counterweight slidably movable in said at least one tubular member; and connecting means connecting the counterweight to the gate member whereby in operation said gate member may move to the open position upon impact by a travelling vehicle.

The fluid actuated operating assembly may be hydraulically operated or pneumatically operated. The latter is preferred although either method of operation will suitably include a non return valve or one way valve associated with the tubular member.

ia,° There may be provided in regard to either a hydraulically operated assembly or a pneumatically operated assembly control means whereby fluid flow past the °°o counterweight in the at least one tubular member may be 00 controlled. This may be achieved by suitable manipulation of the respective cross sectional areas of the counterweight and the at least one tubular member eg. by provision of an 0°°oo S0 appropriate sealing means. There may also be included a one 0000 o° way valve to inhibit fluid from exiting the at least one 00 tubular member when the gate member approaches the closed position.

9,49 There may also be provided controlled fluid outlet means to facilitate controlled release of fluid from the at least one tubular member upon movement of the gate member to the closed position.

A hydraulically actuated operating assembly which may be used in the present invention may include movement of the or each counterweight in a fluid such as oil which has lubricant and anti rust functions which fluid has a viscosity which may provide a suitable reduction in the downward velocity of the or each counterweight. In this embodiment the controlled fluid outlet means may comprise a bleed hole associated with the one way valve.

A preferred pneumatically actuated operating system may include the one way valve which may be associated with air inlet means.

The one way valve in this arrangement may be in fluid communication with an internal bore of the tubular member at a position between the counterweight and a lower end e S of the tubular member to allow air to pass into the tubular 0** S member upon movement of the counterweight towards an upper end S thereof.

*oe* 000o° The controlled fluid outlet means in the case of the pileumatically actuated operating system may be in fluid communication with an internal bore of the tubular member at a ooo o S position between the counterweight and the lower end to allow controlled release of air from the tubular member upon S- movement of the counterweight towards the lower end thereby allowing the gate member to move to its closed position at a controlled rate.

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The gate member may comprise a substantially planar partition or barrier member. The gate member may be substantially solid or may comprise a mesh, frame or grid-like arrangement. Suitably, the gate member is substantially rigid in construction.

The pivot means may comprise a pivot pin extending from the gate member or a recess in the gate member to accommodate a pivot pin associated with the pivot support.

Suitably, each side of the gate member is provided with pivot means.

Suitably a pair of tubular members may be provided with each tubular member being located adjacent opposed sides of the gate member and the gate member may be pivotally coupled to each of the pair of tubular members.

Alternatively, the gate member may be pivotally coupled to a separate pivot support member which may be positioned between the gate member and the tubular member.

The tubular member may be vertically orientated to maximise the efficiency of movement of the counterweight along .0CC the tubular member. It should be appreciated however that the tubular member may also be inclined to the vertical although this is not preferred.

The tubular member may be partially located below s ,o S the ground surface. Suitably, the upper end of the tubular

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member is positioned slightly above an upper surface of the gate member and the lower end of the tubular member is positioned below a lower surface of the gate member.

The internal bore of the tubular member may be suitably substantially circular in cross-section to allow sliding movement of a cylindrical counterweight. However, the internal bore may be configurations other than circular and for these configurations, it is preferred that the counterweight is of a complementary shape to allow it to slide within the tubular member.

The counterweight suitably comprises a weighted body. A suitable weighted body would be a solid body of a heavy material such as metal, or concrete encased with metal.

The counterweight is suitably cylindrical in configuration to enable it to slide through a tubular member having a circular internal configuration. Suitably, the counterweight has an attachment portion located on an upper end to allow it to be connected to the connecting means. It is envisaged that a plurality of counterweights may be attached either to each other or to the connecting means if desired.

There also may be provided the abovementioned sealing means especially in a pneumatically actuated operating assembly which suitably allows the counterweight to slide along the tubular member while sealingly engaging an internal e@ surface thereof. A suitable sealing means may comprise one or more sealing rings located about the counterweight to sealingly engage with the internal walls of the tubular member. Alternatively, the counterweight may be precisely dimensioned to sealingly engage within the tubular member.

The connecting means suitably comprises a flexible member connecting the counterweight to the gate member.

Suitably, the flexible member is substantially inextensible and a suitable inextensible member would comprise a line 4 member such as a cord, wire or chain. The connecting means may pass through an upper portion of the tubular member and preferably passes through the upper end thereof through a suitable opening. The connecting means may couple to the gate member adjacent an upper portion thereof spaced from the pivot means.

Suitably, the connecting means is supported by one or more guide members such as pulleys to assist in movement of the connecting means and to minimise wear and tear.

The air inlet means suitably comprises an inlet conduit located adjacent the tubular member and communicating with the internal bore of the tubular member to allow air to flow into the tubular member. The one way valve may be fitted to the inlet conduit to allow air to pass into the tubular member up'/Ji movement of the counterweight towards the upper ioo,: end but to prevent air from flowing from the tubular member 0 through the valve.

V An air filter may be associated with the conduit to filter air as it passes therethrough and into the tubular member.

The controlled air outlet means may comprise an outlet conduit located adjacent the tubular member. The outlet conduit may be associated with a controlled release valve. The controlled release valve may be adjustable to control the passage of air through the valve upon movement of the counterweight to the lower end of the tubular member.

Suitably, the inlet conduit and outlet conduit are formed from a single conduit to which may be fitted the nonreturn valve and controlled release valve.

The self-closing gate assembly may be associated with a reloasable locking clip assembly to allow the gate member to be releasably locked in the open position. The releasably locking clip assembly may comprise a first component secured to the gate member and a second component disposed adjacent the ground surface. The first component may comprise a rotatable member having extending locking projections and the second component may comprise an upright portion having retaining projections.

The invention will be better understood by reference to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which FIG 1 is a view of a self-closing gate assembly according to a pneumatically actuated embodiment of the invention; 0 FIG 2 is a part view of an operating assembly; FIG 3 is a view of an air inlet and air outlet see: means;

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FIG 4 is an end view of a self-closing gate assembly according to an embodiment of the invention showing the gate pivoting to its various positions.

°FIGS 5A-5E are views of a releasable locking clip assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG 6 is a view of a self closing gate assembly according to a hydraulically actuated embodiment of tr,invention; ard FIG 7 is a view similar to FIG 6 and showing the 9 self closing gate assembly in an operational mode.

Referring to the drawings and especially Fig 1 there is shown a self-closing gate assembly. The gate assembly comprises a gate member 10 which is pivotally mounted about a pair of lower pivot pins 11, 12 to enable it to pivot between an upright closed position (as shown in Fig 1) and a substantially horizontal open position (more clearly shown in Fig Gate member 10 includes an uppe 'dge 13, a lower edge 14 and opposed side edges 15 and 16.

A pair of operating assemblies 17, 18 are located adjacent each side edge 15, 16 of gate member 10. In the embodiment, the pair of operating assemblies also function as support posts for a fence line 19, Onerating assembly 18 is shown in greater detail with reference to Fig 2.

lI...t Referring to Fig 2, there is shown an operating e*g assembly 18 having a tubular member 21 extending vertically above a ground surface 22 and embedded partially therein.

Tubular member 21 comprises a cylindrical tubular member having an internal cylindrical passageway or bore 23.

Tubular member 21 has an upper end 24 and a lower end S* A counterweight 26 is slidingly movable along S passageway 23 in tubular member 21. Counterweight 26 *o comprises a cylindrical weighted body preferably formed from iron or concrete encased with sheet metal. An upper part of counterweight 26 has an attachment portion 27 to allow it to be attached to a connecting means 28.

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Counterweight 26 is sealingly engageable with the walls of passageway 23 by a sealing means in the form of a pair of rings 29 which are located adjacent each end of a counterweight 26 and extend thereabout.

Connecting means 28 in the embodiment is in the form of a wire cable which connects at one end to attachment portion 27 and passes about guide members 30, 31 in the form of pulleys and about guide member 32 in the form of a pulley located on side edge 15 of gate member 10 and then connects to a suitable attachment point 33 on tubular member 21.

Air inlet means 34 comprises a conduit extending from adjacent lower end 25 to a position spaced above ground surface 22 as shown. Conduit 34 may be coupled to a one way or non-return valve 35 (more clearly shown in Fig 3).

Controlled air outlet means in the embodiment also comprises conduit 34 to which is coupled a controlled release a a valve 36 (better shown in Fig 3).

The operation of the gate will now be described with reference to the drawings. Initially, the gate is in an e upright position as shown in Fig 1 and Fig 2. In this upright (closed) position counterweight 26 is located near the bottom of tubular member 21.

see*: A vehicle or person may then abut against gate a.* member 10 (which may be provided with soft abutment points to *0 prevent damage to the vehicle) and upon further movement of the vehicle, gate member 10 will begin to pivot to its open position as shown in Fig 4. Upon such pivoting movement, counterweight 26 is caused to move towards upper end 24 of 9 tubular member 21 which in turn causes air to be drawn into passageway 23 between counterweight 26 and end wall Once gate member 10 is in its open position, it will move back to its closed position at a rate determined by the rate of air passing through controlled release valve 36 (which may be adjusted). Thus, once gate member 10 is in its open 13 position, the weight of counterweight 26 will cause gate member 10 to move back to its closed (upright) position the rate of closure being determined by the rate of movement of counter member 26 down tubular member 21. The rate of movement of counter member 26 is in turn determined by the amount of air which is permitted to flow through control release valve 36.

As shown in the drawings, gate member 10 can pivot each way without any change in design being necessary to the I various parts of the assembly.

a If desired, gate member 10 can be locked in its open position to prevent it from moving to its closed position.

This may be in the form of a releasable locking clip assembly C*o° as shown in Figs 5A-5E. The releasable locking clip assembly may comprise a first component 40 which is attached to a side edge of gate member 10. First component 40 comprises a a a rotatable member 41 having a pair of opposed locking projections 42, 43. Rotatable member 42 rotates within a housing 44. A pair of first components 40 may be located one on each side of gate member a The clip assembly includes a second component 50 of generally L-shapad configuration having a horizontal portion 51 attached to the ground surface and a vertical portion 52 containing a retaining projection 53.

Fig 5A shows a side elevation of second component and Fig 5B shows an end view of second component Figs 5D and 5E show the functioning of the releasable locking clip assembly. Upon movement of gate 14 member 10 to its open position, first component 40 is caused to locate within a recess 54 on second component 50 Recess 54 has a shoulder portion 55 which causes rotatable member 41 to rotate as it enters into recess 54 and strikes shoulder portion 55. Gate 10 will then begin to move to its closed upright position but will be prevented from doing so as locking projections 42, 43 will now engage with side walls of recess 54 and retaining projection 53. This will cause gate member 10 to be locked in its open position.

Thereafter, a further depression of gate member will result in rotatable member 41 being forced to bottom wall 56 of recess 54. This in turn will again rotate rotatable member 41 to a free position where it can exit recess 52 *s l B thereby allowing gate member 10 to return to its closed position.

In use, the front wheels of a vehicle will run over gate member 10 causing it to lock within the releasable locking clip assembly. Gate member 10 will then begin to move a to its closed position but will be prevented to do so by the locking clip assembly which will adopt the configuration as se.0, shown in Fig 5E. Upon the rear wheels of the vehicle being driven across gate member 10, gate member 10 will again be fully depressed causing rotatable member 41 to move to end wall 56 which in turn will rotate to the free position whereafter the gate is free to move to its closed position.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for gates of low heights where a gate can be positioned between the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle but not in contact with the wheels. In the absence of such a releasable locking clip assembly) the gate may in some circumstances begin to move to its closed position and scrape up against the rear of the vehicle.

In FIGS 6 and 7 there is shown a schematic view of a hydraulically actuated self closing gate of the invention.

The gate member 10 is pivotally attached at 11A to tubular member 21A. The gate member 10A is also connected by a connection cable 28A which passes over pulleys 30 and 31 to id.«.a counterweight 26A which is provided with seals 29A. The o tubular member 29A is also in fluid communication with an adjacent tubular column 29B which functions as a hydraulic fluid reservoir which has a top connection conduit 57 which B. functions as an air breaker conduit and base connection conduit 58. There is also provided in conduit 58 a one way valve or non return valve 59 possessing a bleed hole In operation FIG 6 shows gate member 10A in a closed a position with counterweight 26A in a lower location in tubular member 21A. Tubular column 21B is filled with hydraulic fluid (not shown) and may gain access to tubular column 21A through 0,1 one way valve 59 in conduit 58. In operation when a vehicle contacts gate member 10A to pivot gate member 10A to an open 9 substantially horizontal attitude shown in FIG 7 in phantom this causes counterweight 26A to reach a top location shown in full outline in FIG 7. Counterweight 26A is also shown in an intermediate location in phantom at 61 which corresponds to position 62 of gate member 10A also shown in phantom. The upward travel of counterweight 26A enables fluid to gain 16 access to tubular member 21A through one way valve 59.

However after passage of the vehicle over gate member fluid may gradually escape to column 21B from column 21A through bleed hole 60 thereby ensuring a gradual and progressive closure of gate member 10A to the closed position shown in FIG 6.

Thus it can be seen that the self-closing gate assembly according to the invention is simple in its construction and allows the gate to move from its open 1o...S position to its closed position at a controlled rate which will be sufficient to allow a vehicle to pass over the gate before the gate begins to move to its closed position. This in turn minimises or eliminates the problems associated with

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the gate scraping along the underbody of the vehicle.

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Claims (8)

1. A self closing gate assembly including a gate member pivotally movable about a lower portion thereof between a closed position where the gate member is in a substantially upright orientation and an open position where the gate member is adjacent a ground surface; (ii) a fluid actuated operating assembly to pivot the gate member from the open position to the closed position in the absence of any ancillary mechanical operating mechanism, said fluid actuated operating asse\\ /Jmef esm comprising at least one tubular member; a counterweight slidably movable in said at least one tubular member; and connecting means connecting the counterweight to the gate member whereby in operation the gate member may move to the open position upon impact by a travelling vehicle.

2. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the operating assembly includes control means for controlling the rate of fluid travelling past the counterweight in said least one tubular member.

3. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the control means comprises suitable manipulation of the cross sectional areas of the counterweight and said at least one tubular member. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the control means comprises sealing means associated with the counterweight so as to prevent fluid travelling past the counterweight in said at least one tubular member. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the control means also includes a one way valve to inhibit fluid from exiting said at least ore tubular member when the gate member approaches the closed position.

6. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in any Is preceding claim wherein there also providea controlled fluid outlet means to facilitate controlled release of fluid from the said at least one tubular member upon movement of the gate member to the closed position. i 7. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the operating assembly is hydraulically actuated and said controlled fluid outlet means includes a bleed hole I S* associated with the one way valve.

8. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in claim 6 i wherein the operating assembly is pneumatically operated and said controlled fluid outlet means includes an outlet valve associated with said at least one tubular member to facilitate controlled release of air from the said at least one tubular 0 member during movement of the gate member to the closed position.

9. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in claim 8 jva;e the one way valve is associated with an air inlet means which functions to allow air to pass into the tubular member upon movement of the counterweight towards an upper end of the 19 tubular member but prevents air from exiting from said at least one tubular member during said movement. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is provided a pair of tubular members on either side of the gate member each having a respective counterweight slidably movable therein.

11. A self closing gate assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connection means includes a flexible line member interconnecting the or each counterweight *e ls to the gate member.

12. A self closing gate assembly substantially as herein o e described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 18 day of September, 1991. 6* HERBERT JOHN BALDOCK and LYNETTE MARY BALDOCK By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. *see 0 as 1 O 9 S ABSTRACT A self closing gate assembly including a gate member 10A) pivotally movable about a lower portion thereof between a closed position where the gate member (10, 10A) is in a substantially upright orientation and an open position where the gate member (10, 10A) is adjacent a ground surface a fluid actuated operating assembly (18) to pivot the gate member (10, 10A) from the open position to the closed position in the absence of any ancillary mechanical operating mechanism, said fluid actuated operating mechanism (18) comprising at least one tubular member (21, 21A); a counterweight (26, 26A) slidably movable in said at least one tubular member (21, 21A); and connecting means (28) connecting the counterweight (26, 26A) to the gate member (10, whereby in operation the gate member (10, O1A) may move to the 0 o. open position upon impact by a travelling vehicle. There also may be provided control means for controlling the rate of fluid travelling past the counterweight (26, 26A) such as sealing means in the form of O-rings (29, 29A). The fluid actuated operating assembly (18) may be pneumatically operated or hydraulically operated. There is also included a one way valve (35, 59) and controlled fluid outlet means (36,