Improvements in Gates.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
Improvements in Gates.
I, STANSBURY JACOB SMITH, of Paris, in the County of Lamar, and State of
Texas, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to improvements in gates.
The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of sliding
gates and to provide a simple and inexpensive one which will be positive and
reliable in its operation, and which may be opened and closed a distance from it
approaching it in either direction, without dismounting or leaving a vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to prevent any liability of chickens, hogs or
the like passing through the gate when the same is closed.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement
of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and
pointed out in the claim hereto appended.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gate constructed in accordance with this
invention, and shown closed.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lower portion of the gate, showing the pivoted gate
bar or rail.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
1 designates a gate having vertically extended end bars 2, suspended by hangers 3
from a narrow frame 4, which is provided with rollers 5 arranged to run on a track 6
supported by uprights 7. The track 6 and uprights 7 form a supporting frame and
the rollers are journaled in longitudinal slots of rectangular bearing frames 8 which
are constructed of suitable metal, and which are connected by parallel horizontal
bars to form the narrow frame. The hangers, which may be of any suitable
construction, preferably pass over the top of the narrow frame at the ends thereof,
and have their depending sides secured to opposite sides of the end bars of
the gate.
The gate is provided with upward and outward oppositely inclined track bars 9
which are adapted to be engaged by a roller 10 of oscillating levers 11, which are
fulcrumed at their lower ends on a stud 11ª, and are disposed at opposite sides
of the gate, and serve to guide the gate and prevent any lateral movement thereof.
The levers 11 are provided with a transverse pin 12, located between the adjacent
rails of the gate and adapted to engage alternately pivoted blocks 13 mounted on
the gate at opposite ends thereof, and forming stops, which lic in the path of the
pin 12 of the levers.
The pivoted blocks have their inner ends downwardly-beveled toward their
outer ends; at the first opening movement of the oscillating levers they are
engaged, one or the other, according to the direction in which the gate is being
moved, by the pin 12, which slightly raises the block, but as the gate advances in
its movement, the block drops back to continue the pushing or operating action of
the pin 12.
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The roller then engages one of the inclined tracks and continues and completes
the movement of the gate.
The oscillating levers are actuated by operating levers 14 fulcrumed on a
transverse frame 15 forming a portion of the supporting frame; they have a vertical

page_text: movement, and a limited lateral movement, and their inner ends are connected by
rods 16 with the oscillating lever.
In order to close the opening, which must be necessarily provided in the gate
for the transverse pin 12 when the gate is shut, a pivoted bar 17 is mounted on
the gate at the bottom thereof and has an upward extending end 13 located rearward
beyond the center of the gate in position to be engaged by the transverse pin 12
when the gate is closed, whereby the front portion of the bar 17 will be thrown
upward diagonally across the said open space of the gate. This construction
effectually prevents the passage of hogs, chickens and the like when the gate is
closed.
The oppositely-inclined track bars are preferably formed each of two pieces as
shown, and between those at the front portion of the gate is arranged a pivoted
latch 19 adapted to engage the roller of the oscillating levers when the gate is
closed. The gate is provided at its front end with a lug or projection 20 adapted
to engage an opening or socket 21 of the front upright of the supporting frame,
to prevent any lateral movement of the gate when closed.
The oscillating levers which are located at opposite sides of the gate being
connected at their upper and lower ends, form a rectangular frame, which receives
the panel portion of the gate and greatly supports the latter, especially against
lateral strain.
It will be seen that the gate is simple and comparatively inexpensive in con-
struction, that it is positive and reliable in operation, and that it may be readily
opened and closed without necessitating a person dismounting from a horse or
leaving a vehicle.
It will also be seen that the gate is securely braced and held against lateral
movement both while in operation and when closed.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination of a supporting frame having a track, a sliding gate suspended
from the track and provided with rollers arranged on the track, the opposite
inclined tracks arranged on the gate, the oscillating levers fulcrumed at their lower
ends located at opposite sides of the gate and adapted to engage the inclined tracks,
the opposite pivoted blocks mounted on the gate and arranged in advance and in
rear of the oscillating levers, a transverse pin mounted on the oscillating levers
and arranged to engage the pivoted blocks, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a supporting frame having a track, a gate provided with
oppositely inclined track bars and suspended from the supporting frame aud
provided with rollers arranged on the track bar thereof, the oscillating levers
located on opposite sides of the gate fulcrumed at their lower ends and provided
at their upper ends with a roller arranged to engage the inclined tracks, the
opposite pivoted blocks mounted on the gate and having their inner ends inclined,
a transverse pin mounted on the oscillating levers and arranged to engage the
blocks, and means for operating the oscillating levers, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a supporting frame having a track, a sliding gate suspended
therefrom and having rollers arranged thereon and provided with oppositely
inclined tracks, oscillating levers arranged at opposite sides of the gate and adapted
to engage the tracks thereof, the opposite pivoted blocks mounted on the gate, the
bar pivotally mounted on the gate at the bottom thereof and having an upward
extending portion arranged at the rear portion of the gate and a transverse pin
carried by the oscillating levers and adapted to engage the blocks in opening and
closing the gate and to engage the rear portion of the pivoted bar when the gate is
closed, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination of a sliding gate provided with oppositely inclined tracks
arranged at the front and back of the gate, pivoted blocks mounted on the gate at
the bottom thereof, oscillating levers arranged at opposite sides of the gate and
provided at their upper ends with a roller and carrying a pin for engaging said
blocks, and a pivoted latch mounted on the inclined track at the front of the gate
and adapted to engage the roller when the gate is closed, substantially as described.
5. In a sliding gate, the combination with the superimposed track bar, the
supporting posts, the hangers, and rollers mounted on the track bar, of the depending
standards, a series of panel rails connecting the same and forming a gate, the
opposite stops mounted on the gate, the inclined oppositely disposed track bars
extending upward from the center of the gate to the standards, a stud below the
gate, a pair of swinging levers pivoted to the stud and embracing the gate and
arranged to engage said stops, a roller arranged between the upper ends of the
levers and adapted to operate upon the inclined track bars, and operating levers at
opposite sides of the gate connected with the swinging levers and fulcrumed at
opposite sides of the gate, substantially as described.
6. In a sliding gate, the combination with opposite posts, the superimposed track,
the rollers arranged thereon, and the depending hangers of the gate provided with
oppositely inclined track bars, the opposite stops mounted on the gate, the swinging
levers embracing the gate and pivoted below the same, a roller arranged near the
upper ends of the swinging levers and adapted to operate against either of the
inclined track bars, the operating levers fulcrumed between their ends, and connecting
rods between the operating levers, and swinging levers, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of November 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.