Pivoting breakaway coupling system
First Claim
1. A breakaway gate arm coupling system, for mounting to a gate arm control system having a support member which is controllably raised and lowered, said gate arm coupling system comprising:
- (A) a mounting adapter assembly securable to the support member of the control system and incorporating(a) two supporting shelf portions(1) formed on the underside of the mounting assembly,(2) lying in substantially the same plane, and(3) spaced apart from each other,(b) a first pivot-defining member positioned between the two shelf portions,(c) at least one, first aperture extending through the mounting assembly;
(B) a breakaway pivot assembly securely mountable to one end of the gate arm and incorporating a pivot bar having(a) a second pivot-defining member adapted for cooperative interengagement with the first pivot-defining member for smooth, arcuate sliding engagement therewith,(b) at least one second aperture extending through the pivot bar and alignable with the first aperture of the mounting assembly, and(c) an overall length dimensioned for secure, supporting engagement with the shelf portions of the mounting assembly at opposed ends of the pivot bar when the first and second pivot-defining members are engaged and said first and second apertures are aligned; and
(C) shear bolt means(a) positionable through the aligned first and second apertures and securable therein, for fastening the pivot bar to the mounting assembly, and(b) having a shear stress limit above which said bolt splits along a shear plane transversely disposed to the central axis of the bolt, and(c) responsive to a shear force produced by contact with the second aperture of the pivot bar when the pivot bar attempts to rotate;
whereby the gate arm is securely retained in its normal position during normal use, while being capable of freely dropping from the mounting assembly under breakaway force exceeding a predetermined level which causes the pivot bar to pivot about its pivot axis, shearing the shear bolt, and allowing the pivot bar to become disengaged from the shelf portions of the mounting assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
By securely holding a gate arm connected pivot bar in a retaining and supporting assembly which supportingly holds the pivot bar in one position and allows the pivot bar to drop free when the bar has arcuately rotated into a second position, a universally applicable, pivoting breakaway coupling system is achieved which assures controlled, repeatable, impact breakaway of a roadway crossing gate arm from the control system. The universally applicable, breakaway coupling system of the present invention incorporates a crossing gate arm having a breakaway adapter securely mounted to one end thereof, with the breakaway adapter incorporating a pivot bar which is quickly and easily securely positioned in the retaining assembly for secure, supporting retention thereon when in a first position. Also, the breakaway coupling system preferably incorporates a pivot pin, about which the pivot bar rotates, and two support ledges, aligned with each other and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the pivot pin, thereby assuring supporting retention of the gate arm in its first position, and complete disconnection when rotated into a second position.
20 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A breakaway gate arm coupling system, for mounting to a gate arm control system having a support member which is controllably raised and lowered, said gate arm coupling system comprising:
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(A) a mounting adapter assembly securable to the support member of the control system and incorporating (a) two supporting shelf portions (1) formed on the underside of the mounting assembly, (2) lying in substantially the same plane, and (3) spaced apart from each other, (b) a first pivot-defining member positioned between the two shelf portions, (c) at least one, first aperture extending through the mounting assembly; (B) a breakaway pivot assembly securely mountable to one end of the gate arm and incorporating a pivot bar having (a) a second pivot-defining member adapted for cooperative interengagement with the first pivot-defining member for smooth, arcuate sliding engagement therewith, (b) at least one second aperture extending through the pivot bar and alignable with the first aperture of the mounting assembly, and (c) an overall length dimensioned for secure, supporting engagement with the shelf portions of the mounting assembly at opposed ends of the pivot bar when the first and second pivot-defining members are engaged and said first and second apertures are aligned; and (C) shear bolt means (a) positionable through the aligned first and second apertures and securable therein, for fastening the pivot bar to the mounting assembly, and (b) having a shear stress limit above which said bolt splits along a shear plane transversely disposed to the central axis of the bolt, and (c) responsive to a shear force produced by contact with the second aperture of the pivot bar when the pivot bar attempts to rotate; whereby the gate arm is securely retained in its normal position during normal use, while being capable of freely dropping from the mounting assembly under breakaway force exceeding a predetermined level which causes the pivot bar to pivot about its pivot axis, shearing the shear bolt, and allowing the pivot bar to become disengaged from the shelf portions of the mounting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification