Patent ID: 7021005

Claim:
A gate operator for moving a gate over an irregular surface above which the gate is suspended, the operator comprising: an enclosure having an upper closure portion and an open bottom; a wheel mounted for rotation about an axle, the wheel depending below the bottom of the enclosure, the axle journaled to a drive deck vertically movable within the enclosure; a reversible motor mounted on the drive deck in driving relation to the wheel; at least one clamping member for clamping the enclosure to the gate; and a spring suspension disposed between the drive deck and the upper closure portion of the enclosure, the spring suspension comprising: a vertically oriented jack screw journaled within the upper closure portion for rotation therewithin; a screw follower threadably coupled to the jack screw and slidably received within a vertically oriented tubular member fixedly attached to the drive deck; and a spring disposed between the screw follower and the drive deck, the spring acting to bias the wheel downward, so that when the operator is used, the wheel is adapted to be forced into contact with the irregular surface beneath the gate.