DRIVE-OVER GATE

BARRIERE DOUBLE DE CONTROLE DES VOITURES DANS DEUX DIRECTIONS

English Abstract

A drive-over gate includes an elongate enclosure adapted to receive a motor vehicle having a first gate positioned at a first end and a second gate positioned at a second end. Cable linkages extend between the first gate and the second gate. When the motor vehicle drives in a first direction through the enclosure, it forces the first gate into the horizontal position and causes the cable linkage to pull the second gate to the upright position behind the motor vehicle. When the motor vehicle drives in a second direction through the enclosure, it forces the second gate into the horizontal position and causes the cable linkage to pull the first gate to the upright position behind the motor vehicle.

French Abstract

Barrière de contrôle de véhicule comprenant une enceinte allongée conçue pour recevoir un véhicule automobile et dotée d'une première barrière à une première extrémité et d'une seconde barrière à une seconde extrémité. Des câbles s'étendent entre la première barrière et la seconde barrière. Lorsque l'automobile avance dans une première direction dans l'enceinte, elle fait déplacer la première barrière jusqu'à une position horizontale et amène les câbles à tirer la seconde barrière jusqu'à une position verticale derrière l'automobile. Lorsque l'automobile avance dans une seconde direction dans l'enceinte, elle fait déplacer la seconde barrière jusqu'à une position horizontale et amène le câble à tirer la première barrière jusqu'à une position verticale derrière l'automobile.

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A drive-over gate, comprising:
an elongate enclosure adapted to receive a motor vehicle,
the enclosure having a first end and a second end;
a first gate positioned at the first end of the enclosure
for pivotal movement about a first horizontal pivot axis
between an upright position and a horizontal position;
a second gate positioned at the second end of the
enclosure for pivotal movement about a second horizontal pivot
axis between an upright position and a horizontal position,
the second gate being in the upright position when the first
gate is in the horizontal position; and
cable linkages connecting the first gate and the second
gate, such that when the motor vehicle drives in a first
direction through the enclosure it forces the first gate into
the horizontal position and causes the cable linkages to pull
the second gate to the upright position behind the motor
vehicle, and when the motor vehicle drives in a second
direction through the enclosure it forces the second gate into
the horizontal position and causes the cable linkages to pull
the first gate to the upright position behind the motor
vehicle.
2.The drive-over gate, as defined in Claim 1, wherein means
are provided for shortening the cable linkages as the cable
linkages stretch through use.
3. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 2, wherein the
means for shortening the cable linkages are turnbuckles.
4. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 1, wherein cable
guides are used to protect the cable linkages from fraying.

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5. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 4, wherein the
cable guides are in the form of bushings.
6. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 1, wherein each of
the cable linkages has opposed ends, at least one of the
opposed ends being detachably secured to one of the first
gate and the second gate, thereby allowing the cable linkages
to be temporarily detached from one of the gates to enable
the first gate and the second gate to be moved
contemporaneously to the horizontal position.
7. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 1, wherein means
are provided for temporarily securing each of the first gate
and the second gate in the upright position, such that the
enclosure may be used confine livestock.
8. The drive-over gate as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
enclosure is capable of accommodating a tractor pulling a
wagon.

Description

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1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Drive-over gate
FIET~D OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drive-over gate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drive-over gates pivot about a horizontal pivot axis
between an upright position and a horizontal position. A
force exerted by a motor vehicle, moves t:ne gate from the
upright position to the horizontal posii~ion. After the motor
vehicle has passed, a force exerted by either a bs_asing
spring or a counter-weight moves the gate back to the upright
position.
5
It has long been recognized that problems can arise if
the biasing spring or counter-weight returns the gate to the
upright position too quickly. The gate can damage the under-
carriage of the motor vehicle, or present a hazard to
pedestrians. For this reason, hydraulic cylinders are used
to slow the motion of the gate as it moves from the
horizontal position back to the upright position.
SU'N~IARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an alternative
construction of drive-over gate.
According to the present invention there is provided a
drive-over gate which includes an elongate enclosure adapted
to receive a motor vehicle. The enclosure having a firsi: end
and a second end. A first gate positioned at. the first end
of the enclosure for pivotal movement about a first
horizontal pivot axis between an upright position and a
horizontal position. A second gate positioned at the second
end of the enclosure for pivotal movement about a second

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horizontal pivot axis between an upright. position and a
horizontal position. The second gate is in ~_he upright
position when the first gate is in the horizontal position.
Cable linkages extenc. between the first gate and the second
gate. When the motor vehicle drives in a first direction
through the enclosure, it forces the first g<~te into the
horizontal position and causes the cable lineage to pull the
second gate to the upright position behind the motor vehicle.
T~~hen the motor vehicle drives in a second direction through
1C the enclosure, it forces the second gate into the horizontal
position and causes the cable linkage to pul=L the first gate
to the upright position behind the motor vehicle.
The drive-over gate, as described above, is of simple
~_5 construction and operates without biasing springs, counter-
weights, or hydraulic cylinders. There are some additional
features which can be added to enhance t:he performance of the
drive-over gate and expand its functionality, as will
hereinafter be further described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will k>ecome
more apparent from the following description in which
reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are
for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to
in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular
embodiment or embodiments shown, whereinm
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a drive-over gate
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view in detail of a cable
linkage for the drive-over gate illustrated in FIGURE 5..
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the drive-over gate

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illustrated in FIGURE 1 with a vehicle entering.
FIGURE 4 is a sv_de elevation view of the drive-over gate
illustrated in FIGURE 1 with a vehicle exiting.
FIGURE 5 is a s~_de elevation view of the drive-over_ gate
illustrated in FIGURE 1. with both gates down.
FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the drive-over_ gate
illustrated in FIGURE. Z with both gates up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EhIBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a drive-over gate generally
~i0 identified by reference numeral 10, will now be des<:ribed
with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6.
Structure and Relationship of Partt
Referring to FIGURE 1 drive-over gate 10 has an elongate
enclosure 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16 and
which is adapted to receive a motor vehicle. A first gate
18, positioned at first end 14 of enclosure 12, is adapted
for pivotal movement about a first horizontal pivot axis 20
between an upright position and a horizontal position.. In
the illustrated embodiment, first date 18 is in the
horizontal position. A second gate 22, positioned at second
end 16 of enclosure 1.2, is adapted for pivotal movement about
a second horizontal pivot axis 24 between an upright position
and a horizontal position. In the illustrated embodiment,
second gate 22 is in the vertical position. Cable linkages
26 having opposed ends 28 link first gate 18 and second gate
22. It should be app>reciated that there may be variations in
the mode of construction and the means by which cable
linkages 26 may be routed. In the i7_lust:rated embodiment,
drive-over gate 10 is made of steel tubing and cable linkages
26 run within a top rail 29 of enclosure 12. Means may be
provided to adjust the length of cable linkages 26. In the
illustrated embodiment, at least one turnbuckle 30 is
included as part of cable linkages 26. Referring to FIGURE

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2, means may also be provided for guiding cable linkages 26"
In the illustrated embodiment, bushings 32 are positioned to
guide cable linkages 26 toward the other gate. Means may
further be provided for detachably securing at least one of
opposed ends 28 of cable linkages 26 from either first gate
18 or second gate 22. In the illustrated embodiment, an end
hook 34 is adapted to engage one end of turnbuckle 30. It
will be appreciated that other means of adjusting, guiding
and detachably securing cable linkages 26 may be used.
Referring to FIGURE 1~ chain hooks 36 are also provided to
hook on to and hold upright first gate .L8 and second gate 22.
Referring to FIGURE ~, stops 37 are provided to cushion gate
closure. Referring to FIGURE 3~ cable linkages 26 are adapted
such that where a vehicle 38 enters first end 14 of ctrive-
over gate 10, first gate 18 is in a hor_zontal position,
whereas second gate 22 is in a vertical position. Inversely,
referring to FIGURE ~4, where vehicle 38 exits second end 16
of drive-over gate 10, second gate 22 moves to a horio;ontal
position as first gate 18 moves to a vertical position. It
will be appreciated that vehicle 38 may also enter second end
16 with second gate 22 beginning in a horizontal position and
exit first end 14 with first gate 18 moving to a hori~;ontal
position as second gate 22 moves to a vertical position.
Referring to FIGURE 5, in the illustrated embodiment, end
hook 34 (not shown) and chain hooks 36 are disengaged
allowing both first gate 18 and second gate 22 to be in the
horizontal position. Referring to FIGURE C, chain hooks 36
engage first gate 18 and second gate 22 causing both first
gate 18 and second gate 22 to be in the vertical position.
Referring to FIGURE 1, in order to reinforce wider drive
through gates, reinforcements 40 may be added to increase
strength.

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Operation:
The use and operation of drive-over gate 10 will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6~ Referring
to FIGURE 1, movement of first gate 18 and second gate 22 of
5 drive-over gate 10 are tied in a master-:lave relationship
by cable linkages 26. Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, where
traffic moves from one area to another and security between
the two areas is required, drive-over gate 10 is positioned
such that when motor vehicle 38 drives through enclosure 12
~~0 (first end 14 to second end 16 as illustrated), it forces
second gate 22 into the horizontal position and causes cable
linkage 26 to pull first gate 18 into the upright position
behind motor vehicle 38, thereby securing passage between
the two areas. When the vehicle returns, second gate 22 is
in the horizontal position ready to receive vehicle 38 and
the actuating of the gates happens in the opposite order:
first gate 18 moves to the horizontal position and second
gate 22 is pulled to the vertical position as vehicle 38
drives in the opposite direction. Where large vehicles like
a tractor and trailer are driven, dri~ae-over gate 10 may be
sized to accommodate the desired traffic (approximately 36
feet in length). Referring to FIGURE 5, where security is
not an issue and a free flow of trafvfic is desired, cable
linkages 26 may be temporarily detached from one of first
gate 18 or second gate 22 to position both gates in the
horizontal position. Referring to FIGURE ~, where enclosure
12 is required to contain livestock o:r facilitate any other
secured enclosure, each of chain hooks 36 may be secured
such that first gate 18 and second gate 22 are both in the
upright position. Referring to FIGURE. 1, in the event that
cable linkages 26 stretch or otherwise come to be out of
adjustment, turnbuckle 30 may be tightened to restore the
desired tension in c<~ble linkages 26.

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In this patent document, the word "comprising°° i~~ used
in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the
word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are
not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite
article °'a" does not exclude the possi_bilii~y that more than
one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one ski_Lled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing