Patent GB-417074-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to automatic gate and door opening apparatus
IPC: E05F13/04
Filed: 1933-05-18
Abstract: 417,074. Door and like operating-apparatus ; fastenings. STAPLES, E. H., Compton Leigh, Otford, Kent. May 18, 1933, Nos. 14430/33 and 13113/34. [Classes 44 and 65 (i).] Apparatus for operating doors, gates, roller shutters, or the like by vehicles comprises a disc or other member, connected to the doors or the like so as to open them by movement in one direction and close them by the reverse movement, and a sliding bar, arranged to be moved on approach of a vehicle, having projections to engage one or other of two members, carried by the disc or the like and lying on either side of the bar, to produce the required operation of the doors. Means are provided for fastening the doors open and closed, and for releasing the fastening means before commencing the movement of the doors. Apparatus for operating double swinging doors 11, 12 is shown, the doors being hung so that the right-hand one 11 opens in an anti-clockwise direction in plan. The doors are connected in a manner described later, to arms 16, 15 integral with or connected to a disc 14 pivotally mounted on a fixed plate 10, the arrangement being such that the doors are opened by anticlockwise motion of the disc through about 90‹ and closed by the return motion. Attached to the disc are two hook members 21, 22, the ends of which are drawn together by a spring but held apart by a link 26 having a slotted connection with the hooks 22. The hooks lie on either side of a bar 17, slidably guided on the plate 10, which is moved downwards and then upwards again on the passage of a vehicle over a treadle of any suitable form, or electrically on the interception of a light ray by the vehicle. The bar 17 is provided on each side with a projection to engage the hook members 21, 22; in the position shown, movement of the bar will cause movement of the hook 21 to open the doors, the hook 22 being moved clear of the projection on the bar by link 26, while on the return movement of the bar the hook 22 will ride over the bar projection, to be engaged thereby on the next operation of the bar. The arm 16 is connected to one arm of a crank 33 pivoted on the front of the door 11, the other arm of the crank passing through an aperture in the door having some clearance, so that initial movement of the crank has no effect on the door, but the arm of the crank then engages the edge of the aperture and the door is opened or closed. The initial movement of the crank is employed to release the fastening devices, which are actually on the inside of the doors although shown outside. The crank is connected by a rod 36 to another crank 39 which, when moved in an anti-clockwise direction, operates a smaller crank 43 to withdraw a spring bolt 46 which holds the door closed ; this movement of the crank 39 also slackens a cable 47 to allow a bolt at the lower edge of the door to snap into a socket when the door reaches its open position. At the commencement of the closing movement the crank 39 is returned to the position shown, the lower bolt being withdrawn and the bolt 46 allowed to protrude. The door 12, the edge of which overlaps the door 11 when closed, is operated through a tube 51 which has a spring connection with the arm 15, this connection yielding to some extent to a pull on the rod so that the door 12 lags behind the other door in closing, but including an abutment which prevents lost motion in opening the door. The tube 51 is pivoted at its lower end to the door 12 and is attached to the upper end of a lever 54 which is connected to a crank 56 acting in the same way as the crank 33 on the door 11 ; the door 12 is provided with a bolt for holding it open, but has no fastening shown for securing it in the closed position. In a modification, the doors may be held open by a lug on the disc 14 engaging behind an abutment on the sliding bar 17. The sliding bar 17 and associated mechanism may be arranged vertically, as shown, inside or outside the doors, or horizontally on or under the ground. For operating roller shutters, the disc 14 is connected through suitable gearing to the shaft of the shutter roller ; the shutter may be counterbalanced by weights or springs. Specifications 360,644 and 373,224 are referred to.