# US 2014/0190084 A1 · Gate with variable gate control for handling agricultural granular materials

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- Number: US 2014/0190084 A1
- Document ID: US20140190084A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/148,090
- Filed: 2014-01-06
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: Schlagel, Inc.
- Applicants: Schlagel, Inc.
- Inventors: Bill Schlagel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190084A1

## CPC

- B65D 90/48: Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
- B65D 88/54: characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
- B65D 90/587: {having a linear motion}
- B65D 2590/0083: Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
- E05F 15/40: Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING

## Abstract

A variable gate with control for grain elevator applications utilizes a sliding gate panel. Two proximity sensors are arranged to provide full sensing and control functions of the gate remotely located. A first proximity sensor confirms gate is shut, and a second proximity sensor outputs a serial pulse train signal for detecting movement of the gate panel. The second proximity sensor can be operatively coupled with gear teeth inherent to the drive mechanism (e.g., rack and pinion mechanism), or with a passive device such as a free sprocket on the motor shaft to sense the passage of each sprocket teeth, or may be placed at a linear portion that moves with the gate that has sequential indicating positions, such as metal or no metal positions. In one embodiment, the controller tracks the direction of the gate as pulses are receive, allowing the subsequent positioning of the gate.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

A variable gate assembly, comprising:
a gate frame that defines an opening, said opening being adapted for flow of a granular agricultural material therethrough;
a gate panel slidably mounted within a gate frame, said gate panel being adapted for translation to a static position, said static position being intermediate between a fully closed position and a fully open position within said gate frame;
a drive mechanism operatively coupled with said gate panel;
a mobilization source operatively coupled with said drive mechanism;
a mobility sensor configured for detecting a translational movement of said gate panel and generating a serial pulse train signal in response thereto;
a gate panel proximity sensor positioned for detecting when said gate panel is in one of said fully open position and said fully closed position; and
a central controller adapted to selectively control said mobilization source for selective translation of said gate panel in a first direction and a second direction, said central controller being adapted to receive said pulse train signal from said mobility sensor and said gate panel proximity sensor,
wherein a fraction of said opening that is obstructed by said gate panel is resolved based only on signals generated by said mobility sensor and said gate panel proximity sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, wherein said gate frame is adapted for installation on a grain elevator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, wherein said mobility sensor and said gate panel proximity sensor are inductive sensors.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, wherein said gate panel proximity sensor is a gate-closed sensor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, wherein said drive mechanism includes a rack and pinion mechanism coupled to said gate panel, said rack and pinion mechanism including a pinion and a gear rack, and a drive shaft including a distal end operatively coupled with said pinion.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The variable gate assembly of claim 20, wherein said mobility sensor is operatively coupled with a plurality of teeth and a respective plurality of gaps defined by said plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth and said respective plurality of gaps being defined by one of said pinion and said gear rack, said mobility sensor being arranged to sense each tooth of said plurality of teeth and each gap of said respective plurality of gaps as said plurality of teeth and said respective plurality of gaps pass proximate said inductive mobility sensor to generate said pulse train.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, further comprising a sprocket that includes a plurality of teeth and a respective plurality of gaps defined by said plurality of teeth, said sprocket being operatively coupled with said drive mechanism, said mobility sensor being arranged to sense each tooth of said plurality of teeth and each gap of said respective plurality of gaps as said plurality of teeth and said respective plurality of gaps pass proximate said mobility sensor to generate said pulse train.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The variable gate assembly of claim 16, wherein said mobilization source is an electric motor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The variable gate assembly of claim 23, further comprising:
an inverter motor controller operatively coupled with said central controller and said electric motor, said central controller controlling said electric motor through said inverter motor controller.

### Claim 25

A method for configuring a gate assembly to operate as a variable position gate, said gate assembly including a mobilization source coupled with a drive shaft, said drive shaft being coupled to a rack and pinion mechanism, said rack and pinion mechanism being coupled to a gate panel, said gate panel being slidably mounted within a gate frame, said gate panel being adapted for translation to a static position, said static position being intermediate between a fully closed position and a fully open position within said gate frame, the method comprising:
providing a kit comprising a central controller, a mobility sensor, and a set of installation instructions on a tangible medium, said installation instructions being non-transitory and including:
operatively coupling said mobility sensor with a plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth and said gate panel of said gate assembly being configured for simultaneous mobilization, said mobility sensor being arranged to generate a pulse as each tooth of said plurality of teeth passes proximate said mobility sensor during mobilization;
operatively coupling said mobility sensor to said central controller; and
operatively coupling said central controller with said mobilization source.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein said mobilization source is an electric motor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein said central controller provided in the step of providing a kit includes:
a central processing unit (CPU), a display panel, a status register and a computer-readable memory, said CPU being operatively coupled with said display panel and said computer-readable memory;
a first switch for initiating closure of said gate panel with said variable gate assembly;
a second switch for initiating opening of said gate panel within said variable gate assembly; and
an analog potentiometer configured to output a minimum reference signal value when in a first orientation, a maximum reference signal value when in a second orientation, and intermittent signal values between said minimum reference signal value and said maximum reference signal value, said intermittent signal values corresponding to intermittent orientations of said analog potentiometer between said first orientation and said second orientation.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein said computer readable memory includes a set of non-transitory operating instructions for execution by said CPU, said non-transitory operating instructions including:
detecting an intermittent signal value output by said analog potentiometer;
calculating a desired fractional position of said gate assembly, said desired fractional position having a numerator and a denominator, said numerator being representative of said intermittent signal value, said denominator being representative of said maximum reference signal value;
establishing a maximum number of pulses generated by said mobility sensor when said gate panel is mobilized from said fully closed position to said fully open position;
initiating a rotation of said drive shaft with said mobilization source, said rotation being in a first rotational direction if said actual fractional position of said gate panel is greater than said desired fractional position of said gate panel, said rotation being in a second rotational direction if said actual fractional position is less than said desired fractional position; and
detecting pulses generated by said mobility sensor after the step of initiating said rotation of said drive shaft;
after detection of each pulse in the step of detecting pulses, updating an actual fractional position of said gate assembly based on a number of pulses received from said mobility sensor;
comparing said actual fractional position with said desired fractional position; and
stopping said mobilization source when said desired fractional position equals said actual fractional position.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein said actual fractional position and said desired fractional position are open fractions of said gate assembly.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein said set of non-transitory operating instructions further comprises:
calculating an updated actual fractional position of said gate assembly while said drive shaft is being rotated;
presenting a first bar graph on said display panel, said first bar graph representing said desired fractional position of said gate panel;
presenting a second bar graph on said display panel, said second bar graph representing one of said updated actual fractional position and a complement of said updated actual fractional position.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein said first switch and said second switch are configured for manual operation.

### Claim 32 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein:
said kit provided in the step of providing a kit includes a gate panel proximity sensor;
said installation instructions include operatively coupling said gate panel proximity sensor with said CPU and operatively coupling said gate panel proximity sensor with said gate panel for detecting when said gate panel is in one of said fully closed position and said fully open position.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the step of establishing said maximum number of pulses generated by said mobility sensor when said gate panel is mobilized from said fully closed position to said fully open position includes:
if said gate panel of said gate assembly is not in the fully closed position, rotating said electric motor in said first rotational direction until said gate panel proximity sensor indicates that said gate panel of said gate assembly is in said fully closed position;
rotating said motor in said second rotational direction until said gate assembly is in said fully opened position after said gate panel is in said fully closed position; and
counting said maximum number of pulses generated by said mobility sensor while said gate panel is translated from said fully closed position of said gate assembly to said fully open position of said gate assembly.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein said fully opened position of said gate assembly is detected when said mobility sensor fails to generate a pulse for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 35

A method for configuring a gate assembly to operate as a variable position gate, said gate assembly including an electric motor coupled with a drive shaft, said drive shaft being coupled to a rack and pinion mechanism, said rack and pinion mechanism being coupled to a gate panel, said gate panel being slidably mounted within a gate frame, said gate panel being adapted for translation to a static position, said static position being between a fully closed position and a fully open position within said gate frame, the method comprising:
providing a mobility sensor;
providing a central controller adapted to selectively control said electric motor in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, said central controller being adapted to receive a pulse train signal from said mobility sensor;
operatively coupling said mobility sensor with a plurality of teeth and a respective plurality of gaps defined by said plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth and said gate panel of said gate assembly being mobilized simultaneously, said mobility sensor being arranged to sense each tooth of said plurality of teeth and each gap of said respective plurality of gaps as said plurality of teeth and said respective plurality of gaps pass proximate said mobility sensor;
operatively coupling said mobility sensor to said central controller; and
operatively coupling said central controller with said electric motor,
wherein said central controller is adapted to statically position said gate panel at a position between said fully closed position and said fully opened position based on said pulse train signal received from said mobility sensor.

### Claim at position 22

-43. (canceled)