Gates for overhead lifting rails

A gate system for an overhead lifting rail system, comprising:

• a first gate, and a second gate, each gate comprising:
• a rail portion for suspending a lifting carriage;
• a locking pin movable between a first position and a second position,
• wherein in the first position the lifting carriage is blocked from traversing the rail portion, and in the second position the lifting carriage is able to traverse the rail portion;
• a locking pin magnetic portion coupled to the locking pin;
• and
• a gate magnetic portion fixed relative to the rail portion;
• wherein, at least one of the locking pin magnetic portion and the gate magnetic portion is a permanent magnet,
• upon the first gate engaging with the second gate, the locking pin magnetic portion of the first gate engages with the gate magnetic portion of the second gate, and the locking pin of the second gate engages with the gate magnetic portion of the first gate such that, upon the rail portions being substantially aligned, each locking pin is moved from the first position to the second position.

A gate system for an overhead lifting rail system, comprising:

• a first gate comprising:
• a rail portion for supporting a lifting carriage;
• and
• a bridging element pivotally coupled adjacent a proximal end to the rail portion;
• and
• a second gate comprising:
• a rail portion for suspending a lifting carriage;
• and
• a bridging element support portion;
• wherein:
• upon the first gate engaging with the second gate, a distal end of the bridging element of the first gate engages with the bridging element support portion of the second gate to form a bridge between the first gate and the second gate;
• and
• the distal end of the bridging element and the bridging element support portion are configured such that ends of the bridging element are substantially aligned with the respective ends of the rail portions of the first and second gates,
• wherein the first gate and the second gate each further comprises:
• a locking pin movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the lifting carriage is blocked from traversing the rail portion, and in the second position the lifting carriage is able to traverse the rail portion;
• a locking pin magnet coupled to the locking pin;
• and
• a gate magnet fixed relative to the rail portion;
• and
• upon the first gate engaging with the second gate the locking pin magnet of the first gate engages with the gate magnet of the second gate, and vice versa, such that, upon the rail portion of the first gate being substantially aligned with the rail portion of the second gate, each locking pin is moved from the first position to the second position.