Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GATE ASSEMBLY FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING
AN OPENING IN A STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gate assemblies for selectively
closing openings in wall structures such as conduits or pipes for sewage or
supply water and water canals.
o BACKGROUND
A common problem encountered in the manufacturing of water gates
resides in the need for good waterproof characteristics without long-term
wear of the resilient joints used. Generally, gates with good waterproof
qualities rely upon the use of a waterproof joint that is in constant friction
is with the sealing surface, the joint being subjected to wear every time the
gate is closed or opened. In addition, this friction effect increases the
operative force needed to manoeuvre the gate.
Known in the art is U.S. Patent no. 4,832,527 (BACHMANN),
disclosing a vertically reciprocable gate assembly for the control of liquid
2o media. The gate assembly has a fixed frame around the port, a vertically
movable actuating member and a gate standing therebetween. The gate and
actuating member are connected together by links. To close the gate, the
actuating member is lowered until the lower side of the gate abuts on a
stop, and further lowering of the actuating member results in pushing the
25 gate toward the fixed frame through the effect of the links until it seals
the
port. However, this assembly has several drawbacks that limit its
applicability in the field. The actuating member and the gate both having to
be moved, the assembly is hard to operate and to manufacture. This also
causes design restrictions on the possible reinforcements of the gate, which
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limits its resistance to pressure and therefore prevents the building of large
gates with this system.
s SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a gate assembly that
closes and opens without wearing out the resilient joint, which is easier to
operate and is suitable for large scale applications.
The present invention provides a gate assembly for selectively closing
io an opening in a structure. The gate assembly comprises a first frame having
a rear side and a front side. The rear side is sealingly affixable against the
structure around the opening. A blocking member projects from the front
side of the first frame.
A second frame is movably mounted in front of and substantially
is parallel to the first frame, so that a lateral displacement of the second
frame
in a given direction causes the second frame to move closer to the first
frame.
A hatch is slidably mounted on the second frame. The hatch is
movable between three positions, a first position where it is out of registry
2o with the opening, a second position where it is substantially in registry
with
the opening and has a peripheral side in abutment with the blocking
member, and a third position where it sealingly engages the front side of the
first frame and closes the opening.
An actuating device is mounted between the hatch and the second
2s frame for urging the hatch into the third position. In operation, the hatch
moves from the first to the second position, and so as a result of the hatch
being then in abutment with the blocking member, the actuating device
causes the second frame to move closer to the first frame, thereby bringing
the hatch into the third position.
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Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better
understood upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of
embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate assembly according to a first
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 2A and 2B are front views of the gate assembly of figure 1,
respectively showing the hatch opened and closed.
to Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are side views of the gate assembly of figure
1 respectively showing the hatch in the first, second and third positions.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along lines IV-IV of figure 2B.
Figure 5 is a front view of a gate assembly according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
~5 Figures 6A and 6B are side views of the gate assembly of figure 5,
respectively showing the hatch in the second and third positions.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a hatch according to a further
embodiment of the invention.
2o DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figures 1 to 4, there is shown a gate assembly 10 for
selectively closing an opening in a structure (not shown in the figures),
according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. It should be
understood that the structure and its opening referred to may be of any
2s kind, such as conduits, ducts or pipes through which sewage or drinking
water is channelled.
Referring to figure 1, the assembly 10 has a first frame 12, having a
rear side 14 which, in use, is sealingly affixed against the structure, around
the opening to be controlled. A blocking member 18 projects from the front
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side 16 of the first frame 12, preferably extending horizontally along the
lower edge thereof.
The assembly 10 also has a second frame 20 movably mounted in
front of the first frame 12. The second frame 20 extends substantially
s parallel to the first frame 12 and is mounted in such a manner that a
lateral
displacement of this second frame 20 causes it to move closer to the first
frame 12. For this purpose, the first and second frames 12 and 20 are
preferably fastened to each other by connecting members extending
between them, such as, for example, a distribution of elongated joining
1o members 22 each having first and second ends 24 and 26 pivotally
connected to the first and the second frames 12 and 20, respectively. The
elongated joining members 22 are preferably provided on each side of the
second frame 20 in pairs, their second ends 26 of each pair extending on
opposite outer sides of the second frame 20.
is Referring to figures 2A and 2B, a hatch 28 is slidably mounted on the
second frame 20. The hatch 28 is preferably made of structurally reinforced
material so that it may support water pressure against it. The second frame
20 preferably includes a pair of spaced-apart elongated side rails 36 along
which the hatch 28 extends and is guided. A top transverse structural
2o member 38 extends between the upper ends 40 of the side rails 36. An
actuating device, for example in the form of a threaded stem 42 or a worm
screw, is mounted between the hatch 28 and the second frame 20. The
upper end 44 of the stem 42 is in screwing engagement with the top
transverse structural member 38, and its lower end 46 is secured to the
2s hatch 28. In this manner, a vertical force may be applied between the hatch
28 and the second frame 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the stem 42 is
operated through a gearbox 47, provided with a crank 48, mounted onto
the top structural member 38 (see figures 3A, 3B,and 3Cy. Of course, any
other appropriate type of operator may alternatively be used, such as a
3o hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, an electric actuator, etc.
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Referring to figures 3A, 3B and 3C, there is shown that the hatch 28
is movable between three positions. In the first position (figure 3A), the
hatch 28 is out of registry with the opening, which should be located
behind the first frame 12 and therefore the gate assembly 10 is opened for
5 free water circulation. In the second position (figure 3B), the hatch 28 is
substantially in registry with the opening and has a peripheral side 30 in
abutment with the blocking member 18. Finally, in the third position (figure
3C), the hatch 28 sealingly engages the front side 16 of the first frame 12,
closing the opening. To close the gate, the actuating device is operated and,
o as a result, the hatch 28 is lowered from the first to the second position,
where it abuts on the blocking member 18. At this point, the actuator
applies a downward force 32 on the hatch 28. As a result, since the
actuator is mounted between the hatch 28 and the second frame 20, an
opposed upward force 34 is applied on the second frame 20. The
movement of the second frame 20 being restricted by the connecting
members 22, the force causes the second frame 20 to move closer to the
first frame 12, thereby bringing the hatch 28 into the third position where
the gate assembly 10 is in a closed state.
A peripheral seal 70 is preferably provided on the rear side of the
2o hatch 28 which faces the first frame 12, the seal 70 making contact with
the first frame 12 around the opening when the hatch 28 is in the third
position. As it may be seen in figures 3B and 3C, the seal 70 has a
predetermined thickness for compression against the first frame 12 when
the hatch 28 is in the third position. The seal 70 is preferably made of
extruded synthetic rubber and is welded by injection at the corners of the
hatch 28.
Referring to figure 4, there is shown a more detailed view of an
elongated joining member 22. The joining member 22 has a central portion
23 extending between the first and second ends 24 and 26. As explained
3o above, the first end 24 is attached to the first frame 12, and the second
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end 26 is attached to the second frame 20. Each of the first and second
ends 24 and 26 has a transversal hole 50 through which a pin 52 extends,
each pin 52 being firmly attached to the corresponding frame 12 or 20. The
ends 24, 26 of the elongated joining member 22 are rotatable around the
respective pins 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion 23 is
made of brass and the pins 52 are made of stainless steel, and grease is
preferably provided between their respective surfaces to facilitate the
rotation of the elongated joining member 22. O-rings 54 may also be
provided to prevent any displacement of the grease away from the contact
1o area. An axial displacement of the joining member 22 is prevented at each
end by blocking plates 56 and bolts 58.
Referring to figures 5, 6A and 6B, there is shown a second
embodiment of the present invention where the connecting members are
formed by a distribution of sliding assemblies 60. Each sliding assembly 60
~s has a sliding track 62, which has an end 64 secured to the first frame 12.
The sliding track 62 extends slantingly between the first and second frames
12 and 20. In each assembly 60, a guided moving element 66 is secured to
the second frame 20 and guided by the corresponding sliding track 62. The
guided moving elements 66 are preferably secured on opposite sides of the
2o second frame 20. As with the elongated joining members 22 of the first
embodiment, the sliding assemblies 60 are preferably provided in pairs and
on each side of the second frame 20.
Referring to figure 7, there is shown a hatch 28 according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention. The hatch 28 preferably has
2s opposite outer side channels 68 cooperating with the side rails 36 of the
second frame 20 (see figure 1 ). Preferably, sliding bearing channels 69
made of ultra high molecular weight polyurethane (UHMWPE) are located
inside the side channels 68.
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While embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those
skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications
s or variations are believed to be within the scope of the invention as
defined
by the claims appended hereto.
