Improvements in Gates.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gates.
I, CHARLES D. BROWN, of Ames, in the County of Story, and State of Iowa,
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 :-
This invention relates to gates, and the object of the same is to effect improve-
ments thereon.
To this end the invention consists of a gate constructed as hereinafter more
fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings wherein :
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this gate closed.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same open.
Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section showing the gate closed.
Referring to the said drawings, the letter P designates the latch-post, P¹ P¹ the
supporting-posts, and P P other posts located at one side of the roadway
considerably remote from the gate. Between the supporting-posts on a main
bolt B is pivoted the main bar M which extends along the top of the gate, as
shown. Rising from this bar at its pivotal point and extending slightly forward
therefrom is a pair of uprights U between whose upper ends is pivoted a weight W.
The main bar M is preferably composed of two members, as seen in Fig. 1,
connected at suitable points and having a heavy weight W₁ at their rear ends and
truss-wires T extend from said rear ends over the upper ends of the uprights
to the front ends of said members. These truss-wires are preferably used where
the main bar is of considerable length, although they are not absolutely
essential; but they are obviously for the purpose of preventing the bending of said
main bar.
The gate proper comprises end bars E pivoted at their upper ends between and
depending from the members of the main bar, the lower ends of which end bars are
pivotally connected by a lower bar S.
The end bars may be connected pivotally by plain or barbed wires or panels.
An inclined block I is located at the base of the supporting-posts, which when the
gate is open is struck by the weight W₁ Fig. 2, and down whose front face the
inner end of the sill S slides as the gate is closed. This block also prevents
the swinging of the gate between the supporting posts, which might occur if an
animal pushed his nose between the outer end bar and the latch-post.
The upper end of the latch-post is reduced, as at forming shoulders, as at pl
Fig. 1, and upon these shoulders rest the outer ends of the members of the main
bar when the gate is closed.
Upon the inner face of the extension p, just mentioned, is located a wedge J,
having a flat lower end, and secured to the outer end bar is a spring-catch C, whose
upper end springs normally outward and engages this wedge when the gate is
closed.
Although this is the form of latch I preferably use, experience may teach me
that some other form of latch which will operate in substantially the same way will
be cheaper, more durable, or less likely to get out of order, to the detriment of the
successful operation of the gate as a whole.
The posts P³ are located along the side of the roadway remote from the gate,
and from the upper end of each post rises a curved rod V having an eye i, in its
free end. His a handle, preferably slightly weighted, from which leads a rope R
through said eye, through a smooth opening O in the upper end of the nearest

page_text: supporting-post, through a staple A in the nearest upright, and through a hole
in the outer end bar E to the upper end of the catch C. A similar rope is arranged
at the other side of the gate and which is not seen in Fig. 3.
Although I have not illustrated it, it will be understood that there may be more
than one of the remote posts P' at each side of the gate, all carrying rods V,
having eyes i, and the ropes R may be led through these eyes to points con-
siderably distant from the gate, in order that the latter may be opened by the
driver of several horses or pairs hitched tandem and travelling forward of the
driver.
In operation, the gate being closed and a team approaching, the driver draws
sharply downward on the nearest handle H. This motion imparts tension to the
nearest rope R, disengages the catch C from the wedge J, and then raises the gate
about its pivot bolt B to the position shown in Fig. 2. The team then passes
through and the driver pulls upon the handle H at that side of the gate. This
motion draws upon the other rope R; but as the uprights U have passed between
the upper ends of the posts P1, the rope R, when pulled upon, draws these uprights
forwardly and causes the gate to fall. As it does so the catch C rides down the
wedge J until the ends of the members of the main bar M strike upon the
shoulders p¹ of the post P, when the upper end of the catch springs beneath
the lower end of the latch and the gate is locked.
A gate of this character is very serviceable and ornamental and may be cheaply
built at points where needed. The inclined block I serves an important function
by guiding the sill as it slides down the same in the closing of the gate, thereby
causing the folded gate to open as it descends, and by leading the ropes from the
uprights U through the front end to the catch C the gate is caused to fold when it
opens as shown, and does not extend into the roadway when elevated.
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. In a gate, the combination with the supporting-posts, a main bar consisting of
two members mounted on a pivot-bolt between said posts, uprights rising from said
main bar and extending obliquely forward from its pivot and having staples and a
gate having a spring-operated catch on its front end bar, of ropes leading from remote
points through eyes in the upper ends of the supporting-posts and through said
staples to the catch, a latch-post having a reduced upper end providing shoulders
upon which the free ends of said members rest when the gate is closed, and a wedge
upon the reduced portion of said latch-post with which said catch engages,
substantially as described.
2. In a gate, the combination with the supporting-posts, a main bar mounted on
a pivot-bolt between said posts, uprights rising from said main bar and extending
obliquely forward and having staples and a gate having a spring-operated catch on
its front end bar, of ropes leading from remote points through the upper ends of the
supporting-posts and through said staples to the catch, a latch-post, and a wedge
with which said catch engages, substantially as described.
3. In a gate, the combination with the supporting-posts, an inclined block at the
base thereof, and a latch-post, of a main bar pivoted between said supporting-posts
and engaging said latch-post when the gate is closed, a swinging gate depending
from said main bar and resting against the face of said block when the gate is
closed, the rear end of said main bar extending beyond its pivot being provided
with a counterbalancing weight and engaging the rear side of said block when the
gate is opened, forwardly-inclined uprights rising from said main bar, a swinging
weight pivoted between their upper ends, and means for raising and lowering the
gate, all substantially as herein before described.
4. In a gate, the supporting-posts, the gate proper hinged at the inner upper
corner to the posts, said gate being composed of pivoted panels or bars, which are

page_text: adapted to be contracted or extended by contact with a part of the supporting-
posts in raising or lowering the gate, and a pivoted pendulum-weight W pivoted in
advance of the pivot-point of the gate, as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of September 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.