Gate regulator

• US 6,996,935 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meyer Mfg Corporation
• Original Assignee: Meyer Mfg Corporation
• Inventors: Decker, Daniel J., Ingersoll, Kelly L.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US10/601,987
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 491/38, 491/39, 493/39, 493/40, 493/44, 296/50, 296/56, 296/57.1, 298/23.M, 298/23.MD, 298/23.S
• US Class Current: 49/340
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/54 for opening both inwards and outwards
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/24 shifting the wing by pivotally-connected members (moving) in a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/04 with liquid piston brakes rotary type E05F3/14

Abstract

A gate regulator increases the productivity of unloading agricultural material from forage boxes. The gate regulator enables a box gate to swing open without restriction, but the gate is controlled for slow swinging closed. At a gate release position, the gate regulator releases control of the gate such that it swings freely by gravity from the release position to the closed position. The freely swinging gate has enough momentum to automatically relatch the gate closed. In one embodiment, the gate regulator includes a fluid cylinder with a cylinder pin that is received in an L-shaped slot on the gate. During controlled swinging closed, the cylinder pin is within one of the slots of the L-shaped slot. At the gate release position, the junction of the two slots is at the cylinder pin, which then has room to move freely in the other slot and thereby release the slot from the cylinder pin.

Claims

1. A gate regulator for controlling swinging of a gate relative to a stationary wall, said gate regulator comprising:

a. a regulator bracket for mounting to the stationary wall;

b. a mounting plate for fastening to the gate, the gate swingable between first and second positions relative to the wall; and

c. means for controlling the gate to swing about a horizontal gate axis without restriction in a first direction from the first position toward the second position, and to swing with restriction in a second direction from the second position toward the first position;

d. wherein the means for controlling the gate comprises;

a fluid cylinder having a first member pivotally connected to the regulator bracket, and a second member connected to the mounting plate;

means for cooperating with the fluid cylinder to control the gate to swing without restriction in the first direction, and to swing with restriction in the second direction; and

e. the means for cooperating with the fluid cylinder comprising;

a fluid reservoir;

first and second lines connecting the fluid reservoir to the cylinder;

means for permitting unrestricted flow of fluid between the reservoir and the cylinder when the gate is swinging in the first direction and for resisting flow of the fluid between the reservoir and the cylinder with the gate is swinging in the second direction; and

f. means for overriding the means for controlling the gate when the gate swings in the second direction and reaches a gate third position to enable the gate to swing without restriction from the third position to the first position; and

g. wherein the means for overriding comprises;

a cylinder pin on the fluid cylinder second member;

a lug on the mounting plate that defines a generally L-shaped slot that receives the cylinder pin, the L-shaped slot having first and second slots that meet at a junction, a selected one of the first and second slots receiving the cylinder pin when the gate is swinging in the second direction; and

means for releasing the selected slot from the cylinder pin when the gate is swinging in the second direction and is at the gate third position,

so that the gate swings without restriction in the second direction from the third position to the first position.

2. The gate regulator of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first slot receives the cylinder pin when the gate is at the first position, the junction receives the cylinder pin when the gate is swinging in the first direction, and the second slot receives the cylinder pin when the gate is swinging in the second direction; and

b. the means for releasing the selected slot releases the second slot from the cylinder pin when the gate is at the third position thereof.

3. The gate regulator of claim 2 wherein the means for releasing the second slot comprises:

a. a trip arm rotatable on the cylinder pin; and

b. a cable cooperating with the trip arm to slide the cylinder pin along the second slot of the L-shaped slot to the junction when the gate is at the third position thereof and thereby release the lug from the cylinder pin.

4. The gate regulator of claim 3 wherein the cable is adjustable on the trip arm.

5. The gate regulator of claim 3 wherein:

a. the trip arm has first and second beams;

b. the cable has a first end that is immovable relative to the stationary wall, and a second end connected to the trip arm second beam; and

c. the cable rotates the trip arm on the cylinder pin and the fist beam acts as a fulcrum on the mounting plate to slide the cylinder pin along the second slot when the gate is at the third position thereof.

6. The gate regulator of claim 5 further comprising means for adjusting the cable on the trip arm second beam and thereby adjusting the gate third position.

7. The gate regulator of claim 1 wherein the means for releasing the selected slot of the L-shaped slot comprises:

a. a trip lever on the cylinder pin; and

b. a stop arm on the cylinder pin that cooperates with the trip lever to slide the cylinder pin along the selected slot to the junction and release the selected slot from the cylinder pin when the gate is the third position thereof.

8. The gate regulator of claim 7 wherein:

a. the trip lever is in contact with the stationary wall when the gate is at the third position thereof;

b. the stop arm is in contact with the mounting plate when the gate is at the third position thereof;

c. the stop arm and the trip lever cooperate to hold the cylinder pin stationary relative to the stationary wall as the gate swings in the second direction from the second position thereof toward the third position; and

d. the selected slot of the L-shaped slot slides over the cylinder pin until the junction is at the cylinder pin to thereby release the second slot from the cylinder pin.