Patent ID: 6263803
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B61D

Abstract:
A gate assembly having a discharge outlet defined by a frame, a door mounted for sliding movement on said frame for closing said outlet, and a drive mechanism for selectively interconnecting said door to an operating shaft assembly mounted on said frame for rotation about a fixed axis, said drive mechanism including a rack and pinion assembly and a manually operated apparatus including a control member extending generally parallel to operating shaft assembly, and wherein said manually operated apparatus embodies a lost motion connection for permitting racks of said rack and pinion assembly to linearly move in response to rotation of said operating shaft assembly without corresponding movement of said door thereby allowing for a predetermined rotation of said operating shaft assembly in a direction to open the door during collapse of the lost motion connection upon which a relatively high impactual opening force is applied to said door to enhance opening of the door while thereafter effecting simultaneous rotation of the shaft and linear movement of the door.