GB2151683A - Gate - Google Patents

Abstract

A gate of the lazy tongs type comprises pairs of spaced uprights 1a, 1b connected by a lattice work of diagonal members 3, 4 located between the members of each pair of uprights. The diagonal members 3, 4 are pivotably connected at a fixed position to uprights 1a and slidingly connected to uprights 1b. Uprights 1b have a channel shaped configuration with re- entrant flanges 5 on the side walls thereof. The diagonal members are slidingly connected to uprights 1b by pins 16 carrying cylindrical nylon bushes 17 of H-shape cross-section, which engage the flanges 5. Washers 15 separate the crossing diagonals. The diagonals 3, 4 are tubular and of lazy-S or ogee shape. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gate The present invention relates to gates of lazy tongs type. Such gates generally comprise a series of uprights connected by a lattice work of diagonally arranged, solid straight members, which lattice work is pivotally connected to alternate uprights at the crossing points of the lattice, and the apieces of the lattice are slidable on the intermediate uprights.

The present invention provides a gate of lazy tongs type in which diagonals of a lattice work are slidingly connected to uprights of the gate, wherein said uprights are of substantially channel-shaped cross-section having re-entrant flanges on the sidewalls of the channel, said diagonals being pivotally connected by means adapted to be sildingly engaged behind the re-entrant flanges in the channels of the uprights.

Very preferably the means slidingly engage both sides of the re-entrant flanges. Preferably the means comprises a pin having on the ends thereof bushes of H-shape cross-section transverse to the pin, preferably the bushes are cylindrical for engaging the re-entrant flanges. Preferably washers are provided separating the diagonal members.

Preferably each diagonal is slidingly connected to two uprights, and pivotably connected at a fixed height to a third upright, intermediate the two uprights. The connection to the intermediate upright is preferably by means of a pin and bush connection.

Preferably each upright is formed by a pair of parallel spaced uprights positioned opposite one another. Three layers of diagonals may be provided between the uprights.

Very preferably all the diagonals crossing in each respective direction are parallel, the diagonals remaining parallel during opening and closing of the gate.

A plurality of lattice works may be provided. The intermediate uprights may be common to each lattice work, or the intermediate uprights of one lattice work may be used as the uprights of another.

The lattice work connecting uprights of the gate may be formed from curved members. Preferably the members, or at least a portion thereof, are of lazy-S or ogee shape. An advantage of such a configuration is that it reduces the tendency for fingers to become trapped between the lattice work members as the gate is opened.

When the lattice work connecting uprights of the gate is formed from three layers of diagonal members, the first and third layers are comprised from pairs of substantially parallel diagonal members, and the second intermediate layer comprises diagonal members pivotally connected to the members of the first and third layer to form a lazy tongs lattice. Such an arrangement provides for increased rigidity of the lattice work and the gate and enables smoother relative movement of the diagonals.

Preferably the washers and bushes are of nylon or other plastics material. The washers provide for easier relative movement of the members and also reduce noise when the gate is opened or closed. the lattice work connecting the uprights of the gate is preferably formed from diagonal members of tubular configuration. Preferably the members are of hollow, rectangular or square cross-section. This provides for enhanced rigidity of the diagonal members and/or reduced weight, providing a stronger, lighter gate, with a reduction of material costs.

Very preferably the uprights and all the diagonal members are of the same width. This reduces noise caused during opening and closing of the gate and also minimises the space occupied by the gate in its fully open position.

It will be understood that the invention has been defined with reference of a vertical gate which is to be opened sideways, but the gate may be used in other orientations, in which case the term upright is to be interpreted accordingly.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the gate according to the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are part-sectional views from above and to one side respectively of the section marked B in Fig. 1; Figs 4 or 5 are part sectional views from above and to one side respectively of the section marked A in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a gate according to the invention comprising uprights 1 joined by a lattice work 2 comprised of hollow diagonal members 3 and 4.

Alternate upright members 1 b are formed from generally channel shaped steel sections having reentrant flanges 5, 6. Intermediate upright members 1 a are formed from rectangular section steel tube.

The uprights 1 are in pairs, see Fig. 2 and the uprights of a pair are pinned in position opposite one another by pins 19 and located either side of upper and lower horizontal bars 7, 8. The uprights may be carried by the lower and/or upper bars 7, 8, preferably by means of rollers 9. The gate of Fig. 1 is provided with end upright members 10 fitted with a handle and a lock.

The pairs of uprights 1 are connected together by three lattice works 2 of diagonal members 3, 4. Ends of the lattice works 2 are connected respectively to a fixed upright 13 and the end upright members 10.

The diagonals 3, 4 of each lattice work are pivotally pinned midway along their length at fixed positions on the intermediate upright members 1 a. The end members of the lattice works are of half length and pivotally pinned at their ends to fixed positions on the end uprights 10, 13.

Referring to Figs 2 to 5 it can be seen that the lattice works 2 are formed from three layers of diagonal members, a central layer of members 3 running from N.W. to S.E. in Fig. 1,and outer layers of members 4 running from N.E. to S.W. in Fig. 1.

The crossing members 3, 4 are pivotally connected to one another and to a fixed position on the uprights 1a by pins 14. The members are separated from one another and the uprights la by nylon washers 15. Bushes may be provided where the pins 15 penetrate the uprights la.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the ends of diagonal members 3, 4 are pivotally connected by pins 16 and the adjacent members are separated by nylon washers 15. Ends of the pins 16 are provided with cylindrical nylon bushes 17 each of H cross-section forming an annular recess 18 which slidingly engages around the re-entrant flanges 5, 6 of a respective upright ib. The bushes 17 will slide vertically in the uprights 1 b, guided by the re-entrant flanges 5, 6 and so the ends of the diagonal members 3, 4 are slidingly located on the uprights 1 b. The bushes 17 are held on the pins 16 by metal washers 20, the ends of the pins 16 being swaged over to hold the washers 20.

The diagonal members 3, 4 are of a lazy S or ogee shape formed from rectangular cross-section steel tube. As shown in the drawings, the members 3, 4 each join only three uprights, however the members 3, 4 may be of longer length, spanning a greater number of diagonals. It can be seen that the members 3, 4 must be pivotally located to only one part of opposed uprights 1a and slidably connected to any subsequent uprights, unless provision is made for such uprights to be vertically movable.

It is preferred that the diagonal members span only three uprights. This reduces the amount of material in the gate and provides for a simpler construction. Sufficient strength and ease of operation in the gate is obtained by the structural arrangement set forth above.

As the gate is opened, i.e. the end members 10 are pulled to the left in Fig. 1, the diagonal members 3, 4 will pivot about the connections to the uprights 1 a, in a lazy tongs manner, and the ends of the members will slide vertically on the uprights 1 b.

Causing all of the uprights to move to the left with the spacing between the uprights being kept constant. As shown in the drawings, the width of the uprights and the diagonal members 3, 4 are the same, hence, when the gate is fully opened the uprights will abut one another and completely hide the diagonal members 3, 4.

The lattice works 2 may be displaced relative to one another from left to right as seen in Fig. 6. For example, the central lattice work 2 may be arranged so that it is pivotably connected in a fixed position to uprights 1 b, the ends of the diagonal members 3, 4 being slidably connected to the uprights 1 a. For this purpose, both types of uprights la and 1 b may be of channel cross section having re-entrant flanges. The pins 14, where the diagonals 3, 4 are fixed in position on the respective uprights 1 a or 1 b, penetrating the outer wall of the uprights.

Claims (15)

1. A gate of lazy tongs type in which diagonals of a lattice work are connected to uprights of the gate, a said diagonal being pivotaly connected in a fixed position to a first upright and slidingly and pivotably connected to a second upright, wherein at least said second upright is of substantially channel shaped cross-section and has re-entrant flanges on the side wails thereof, and means connection said diagonal to said upright slidingly engages behind a re-entrant flange, in the channel.

2. A gate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means engages behind both re-entrant flanges.

3. A gate as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting means is provided with a recess which receives the re-entrant flange or flanges.

4. A gate as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting means comprises a pin which extends through the diagonal and which has on an end thereof a bush of H-shape cross-section transverse to the axis of the pin, the uprights of said H-shape cross-section engaging on either side of the flanges.

5. A gate as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bush is cylindrical.

6. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said diagonal is connected to said first upright by a pin extending through said diagonal and said upright, said pin having a bush where it penetrates said upright.

7. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, having overlapping diagonals which are separated from one another by means of washers mounted on pins connecting the uprights.

8. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein each upright is formed by a pair of spaced apart parallel uprights and the or each lattice work comprises three layers of diagonal members located between the opposed uprights.

9. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said diagonal members are of lazy-S or ogee shape.

10. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said diagonal members are tubular.

11. A gate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said uprights and said diagonal members are of substantially the same width when viewed from the front of the gate.

12. A gate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A gate of lazy tongs type in which a lattice work connecting upright of the gate is formed from curved members, preferably of lazy-S or ogee shape.

14. A gate of lazy tongs type in which a lattice work connecting the uprights of the gate is formed from three layers of diagonal members, the first and third layers being comprised of pairs of substantially opposed parallel members, and the second intermediate layer comprising diagonal members pivotably connected to the members of the first and third layers to form a lazy tongs lattice.

15. A gate of lazy tongs type in which a lattice work connecting the uprights of the gate is formed from diagonal members of tubular configuration.