USRE23308E - Starting gate for harness horses - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1950 s. s. PHILLIPS STARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES Original Filed July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVE NTOR BY dm & ATTQRNE:

Dec. 19, 1950 8.6. PHILLIPS STARTING cm: FOR HARNESS HORSES Original Filed July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 19, 1950 s. G. PHILLIPS STARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 18, 1946 TOR Illlill'li! I iiiiL Dec. 19, 1950 s. G. PHILLIPS STARTING cm: FOR HARNESS HORSES Original Filed July 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Dec. 19, 1950 s. cs. PHILLIPS STARTING cm: FOR HARNESS uoaszs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 18, 1946 Reissued Dec. 19, 1950 STARTING GATE FOR HARNESS HORSES Stephen G. Phillips, Garden City, N. Y.

Original No. 2,497,370, dated February 14, 1950, Serial No. 684,584, July 18, 1946. Application for reissue May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,346

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue Claims.

This invention relates to a starting gate for harness horses. The object of the invention is to provide a device in the form of a barrier or gate for use in lining up the horses in harness racing events so that when they reach the starting line they will be properly alined for an even start of a race.

The invention is embodied in an automobile provided with foldable gate wings. When not in use the wings are folded against the body of the automobile. When used for training, exercising or for the alining of the horses in a race the wings are swung outward from the automobile to form a straight barrier or gate at the rear of the automobile across the raceway.

The operation of the gate wings is controlled by the starter who rides in the automobile facing the rear. He also controls the speed of the automobile, the latter otherwise being driven by a chauffeur. The wings carry number plates whereby the starter may direct the movements of a particular horse by calling its number to the driver of that horse. The numbers may be illuminated for use when visibility is poor or when racing at twilight.

The starting gate according to this invention is of great importance and advantage in the sport of harness racing. It provides a convenient practical means for alining the horses before a race. It is also of advantage in training and exercising horses by compelling them to run at an even selected speed.

The invention is disclosed in a starting gate arranged and constructed as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the automobile showing the wings folded, details bei-ng omitted.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the automobile showing the gate wings partly unfolded.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one half of the gate in gate forming position with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of cables which are used to operate the gate wings.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the gate wings, with parts broken away. The section is taken on 1ine 5-45 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of'a part shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail bottom view of the outer wing hinge.

Fig. 9 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the operating mechanism for moving the gate wings.

Fig. 11 is an outline view showing parts of Fig. 10 in folded position.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a fender lock for locking the wings to the automobile when not in use as a gate.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a number plate taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 14 and 15 are power diagrams.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the starting gate according to this invention includes an automobile I having a motor 2 and all the other usual automobile operating elements, not shown. The drivers seat is indicated at 3 behind the steering wheel. The motor drives an air compressor 4 which supplies air pressure to an air cylinder 5. In the latter moves a piston 6 with a stem I to which is secured a double faced rack 8 which engages two idler gears 9, 9, one on each side. Each gear 9 drives a gear quadrant l0 which operates the inner gate wing around an inner hinge H. To the hinge H there is secured an inner gate wing [2 having an outer hinge l3 upon which is pivoted an outer gate wing 14. With the wings in closed position as in Figure 1, the gate wings are folded, one within the other, against the automobile. When air pressure is admitted to the air cylinder 5, the rack 8 moves out from the cylinder to unfold the gate wings at the rear of the automobile, see Figure 2, until the two wings on each side are in alinement, Figures 3 and 4. When thus alined the four gate wings, two on each side of the medial line of the automobile, form a starting gate at a right angle to the racing direction. The inner wing l2 consists of an upper and a lower tubular member l5 and IT, respectively. The outer wing consists of upper and lower tubular members l8 and 19, respectively.

The wings are moved by an operatingmechanism shown in Figures 5 through 12. As shown in Figure 6 the inner wing members I 6 and I! are carried by upper and lower housing 22 and 23 respectively. The housings are connected to rotate together by a vertical hollow driving tube shaft 24 to which the housings are connected as by key lugs indicated at 25, 25 in dotted lines. The upper housing 22 fits upward against a housing 25 on a brace l5 which extends between the hinges l l for support. The lower housing 23 is hollow and made in two parts, one upper and one lower. Within the housing 23 there is mounted a cable pulley 21 which is keyed to a vertical shaft 28. The latter extends from the chassis 3!) of the automobile upwards through the drive shaft 24. The upper end of the shaft 28 is bolted at 3| to the housing 25 on the brace 15. The pulley 2'1 and the shaft 28 are non-rotatable and fixed, whereas the two Wing housings 22 and 23 connected through the driving shaft 24 are rotatable around the shaft 28. when the quadrant Ill, which is boltedto the housing23, is operated. "The entire housing 23 is rotated by the gear quadrant IE! and through the connection 24, the upper housing 22 rotates with the lower housing. The two housing halves at 23 are bolted together-asindicated:

at 33. Within the housing 23 ,is..also.. mounted a double idler pulley 35.

The large pulley 21 carries two -,cab1e: tension disks 3% and 3?. Each disk'isseparately rotatable by a worm gear 38 and wormia39. 'fy'z'Ihe ends'a'of the cables which operate the outerwings are secured to the cable disks and by rotating'the .slatter by means of, the worm, gear -and worm the tension of the cables may be adjusted. Access to the two worms 39, only one is shown, is

#h t ough: epeninga4l-4fi in the ;housing; 23.

The cables will be explainedbelow.

'1 Theiouter endsqof .theq-innerwing members i5 and :l l.--suppor.t shooter-hinge pim 45;=Figure-.6,

in housing 5 and M, respectively. .Within.-the

-.lower housing 4T the-hinge pin carries; :a pulley 48. A double idler pulley A9 is. also "mounted, -,-in the housin il. Thethinge pin is-pr-ovided'with from Figures 7 -to=9 that when theinnerand mutenwingsareeunfolded r-to form the gate, the

movements of the outer. wings .-sis "arrested when the noseszfifl-abut the tubes 62 and thewingsare .-then alined. w The construction-of ithe wings (and. shin-gee -of--- course alike on- -both-.- sides of. the sautomobile; though-only :one side is shown.

'The': gate'-\Vings areoperated by means of cables, :see diagram in---Figu1=e 5. One-cable 11-0 has its;;inner end secured to the tensiondisleSB. 1 The --cable. then; passes around-the. larger-pulley :21, overfithe --idler-. pulieys M35 and. 49;- and ...then .-:twice: around the outer hinge pulleyi-zda where the outer end of the cable lomissecured to; the

g-pulley-at ii I. Anothercable12 has its inner-end -secured to; the other cabledisk fi L -passes then =over tth8;1$2tid ddIer'pul-Ieysand twice around the outer hinge pulley 18 where the outerwe-ndeof 'Ehe', .cables run When the doublefacedvrack; -8 -isymved ;in-

:wardly )in the 1 air cylinder 5, the gears- .19 s and quadrants H! :areactuated ,;to swing the inner :aving pl2'through an angleof ninety-de rees from :gaterpositionas ;in ----IF;ig,ure. .10, to folded r-position, r :as in.--E :g\1re'1l. *Fig: 5 the *cables,'.diSks1sand ":pulleys areshow-n in wing-uni'olded -position-cor wresponding to Fig. 10. --When thenwings are 'gf01d6dd3h856 parts are movedw-througlr anqang-le -of=ninetydegrees upwardly to theleftinEig. 5. 'Hence: the distances between $116 tension '1' disks :"3 6,-.-3l ;on.-the one hand; and the pulleys. 3.5,, 49 candithezcablesecuring points ."Ll El 2; on the other :ha-nd; .are increased; as 1may,be.-seen .irom the zdottedigeositionof 3131 16373 35. .fllheturnswf the It. will be, clear {lo-moved in the :opposite directions and the wings are unfolded into gate forming position. The cables-pass through the tubular wing members i i]. :Thehousings are bored to provide passage fonthe cablesqasrindicated at 14 in Figure 6.

siwheuthezrwings are folded as in Figure 1 they are, locked to the automobile by a fender locl,"*Fi'gure 12. To the fender i5 is secured a hollow housing" 16 forming a fixed overhanging hook H which contains a rubber cushion 18. In the housing is pivoted at 59 a hook 80 having a -tail 8| .to which is, attached a spring 82. .As the ,.inner. wing. Swings -towards. ,the automobile. the slower vwing member .l 7 moves in over. the movable shook BlLdepressing the sarneand-ccmesto, rest .-.against.the rubber cushion 1.8..as.shownthe'hook .8-..h eing. moved up behind thamember .I 1 by .the spring 82 as will be understood to lock the .Wing tome-automobile. The .wingis released bymeans pita depending release. lever. 85. pivotedat. 1.9. -Tyh6-1QV1rhaS8v catch 8$which engages the ,tail B i-.to-,lower.the110011.36 to release thawing. .A Jeull rod S'Loperates the-lever.

wings carryilluminated number ,platesas shown inFigurelS. Each platecomprises a housin 99 suitably attached tothe Win T.he.hous- ,ing-..is. ,cut outtoiorm the "number .it .is to repre- .sent. and the ,cut out .portions are .on the. inside coveredwith transparent material .91. Thusithe numbers face bothways. and are illuminated by .co electric lamps 92. Thewires to the lampsare .vnotshown but are .connectedto.thelighting systemqrof. the automobile .in an. .obvioussnfihher. Th.e.outer .tips..of .the outer wings .are removable -as=at-95 .to-adjuststhe length of. the gate. As :5 shown in Fig. 3 the ends of thawings are...in.the dormof loops .95 which areslidably- .held in the tubes 18, .19 .of the frame so thatthe loops may ,bewmoved in orv out.

The operation .ofthe starting gate is controlled (if). by the starter. who .mayhave a seat. ill!) .inv the .automobilein front of a control box .Iill. "The starter faces the horses. For the .purposeof .un- .derstanding. the invention-it suffices to refer to ,the-operation -of the. wings. and the control of rthe-speedof the automobile. Thelatter control is indicated diagrammatically in Figure'l. jjThe .control box. hasa handle 1H2 .operatiyeiyconnested, as :-.by..a flexible shaft 1&3 or. ilike .means, -.to;.the gas control .valve .Ifiiwhich regulates;;the

co supply of :fue1.. -gas.to ..the .motor. 2..'in. .the;;.usual .manner. ,The starter. therefor byv manipulating the handle. 152 controls the gas supplyand the speed of the automobile. .Whenheputs, thehan- ,dle .in. neutral, position the car. is controlled by of. the chaufieur. The controlbox has a two. way valve operated Joya handle; LE5. The .valveiis showninFigures l4 and 1.5 .at-tilfi andhas .two ports [Bland J98. Figure 14 showscthe wing dosing. power cycle.

fie rlllith the valve. in. the position. .shownair pressure from a storage tank condenserllflilcpasses to .the valve d135, ,through port ,LfiB-andpipe M2 tosthc air cylinder 5. The storage tank is provided with .,a --pressure-;gage Lil); and .safetycvalve HA. :The :5 piston 6 is then mdvedrinward to .cause .the .rack

8 to close the gate wings, compare Figure 11. The exhaust pressure from the cylinder 5 passes through pipes [I4 and H5 to valve port I01 and out. through a muffler H6. The power rack 8 carries a cam III! for closing a cam valve H9 in the pipe I5 near the end of the stroke. A pressure reducing valve I is provided in the reduced pressure pipe I2 I. At the end of the piston stroke the cam IIB closes the cam valve H9 and the reduced exhaust pressure leaks through the reducing valve I20. Thus an air cushion is created within the air cylinder in front of the piston to cushion the closing stroke operation. During the closing operation check valve I38 in the pipe I2I is open and check valve I24 in pipe H2 is open. The closing pressure is shown on the gage I25 and handle valve I26 is used for regulating the pressure.

Figure 15 shows the gate opening power cycle. When the valve I06 is moved to opening position, air pressure passes from the tank I09 to valve port I00 and through pipe I28 with open check valve I34 to the air cylinder. The piston then moves outward to open the gate, compare Figure 10. The exhaust pressure passes from the air cylinder through a reducing valve I32 through pipes I with open check valve I33 to the valve port ID! to muflier I I6 and out. During the opening operation the check valves I33 and I34 are open.

In addition to the foregoing mechanisms the starting gate device may be provided with a loud speaker system, not shown. During the lining up of the horses the starter issues his directions to obtain a perfect alinement. When the starting line has been reached, the automobile drives away and the race begins. Usually the horses will begin running to the starting line a couple of hundred yards behind the same.

I claim:

1. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination an automobile, a pair of gate forming wing members on each side of the automobile, each pair of wing members consisting of A Starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination an automobile, a pair of folda'ble wings on each side of the automobile, each pair consisting of an inner wing pivotally supported on the automobile and an outer wing pivotally supported in the free end of the inner wing,

means on said inner wing for moving the latter from a folded position alongside the automobile to an unfolded gateforming position at a right angle to the automobile and back again, mechanism in the automobile for actuating said inner wing moving means, cooperating means in each of said inner wings for automatically moving the outer wings from a folded position alongside the inner wings to a gate forming position in alinement with the inner wings when the latter are moved as aforesaid and back again, and cooperating means on said wings for alining the same in gate forming position.

3. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination an automobile, foldable wing members consisting of an inner wing pivotally supported on each side of the automobile at the rear end thereof and adapted to be folded into an inactive position alongside the automobile and unfolded into a starting gate forming position at right angles to the automobile, mechanism in the latter for operating Said inner wings, an outer wing pivotally supported in the free end of each of said inner wings and adapted to be folded against the latter into an inactive position and unfolded therefrom into a gate forming position in alinement with the inner wings, cable power means in the inner wings automatically operable to move the outer wings as aforesaid when the inner wings are operated and means on the automobile for locking the folded wings thereto.

4. A race track. starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination an automobile, a starting gate member on each side of the automobile, means pivotally connecting said gate members to the automobile to swing toward the same into a position alongside thereof and to swing away from the automobile into an outward perpendicular position relative thereto while the automobile is moved along a race track, gearing means on each of said members and a power actuated mechanism on said automobile permanently engaging said gearing means to simultaneously swingably operate the said gate member as aforesaid.

5. A starting gate for harness horses comprising in combination an automobile, a gate forming member on each side thereof, means pivotally connecting said gate members to the automobile to swing toward the same into a position alongside thereof and to swing away from the automobile to an outward perpendicular position relatine thereto in a horizontal plane spaced above a race track while the automobile moves thereon, cooperating mechanisms on the automobile and on each of the said gate forming members operable at will to simultaneously swing the said gate forming members as aforesaid, means in said cooperating mechanisms to maintain the said gate forming members in their said outward position for a predetermined period of time and locking means on the automobile to automatically loclc said gate members thereto in their said alongside position.

STEPHEN G. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,166 Stedeker Apr. 10, 1900 673,997 Chapman May 14, 1901 939,703 Jones Nov. 9, 1909 1,822,080 Cassidy Sept. 8, 1931 1,876,839 Birtwistle et a1. Sept. 13, 1932 1,916,951 Healy July 4, 1933 2,200,230 Hojnowski May 7, 1940 2,319,420 Macksoud May 18, 1943 2,410,543 Kester Nov. 5, 1946

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