# US 2014/0191145 A1 · Actuation and Valve Mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191145 A1 - Document ID: US20140191145A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/009,331 - Filed: 2012-03-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-01 - Assignees: Rubicon Research Pty Ltd. - Applicants: Rubicon Research Pty Ltd - Inventors: David John Aughton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191145A1 ## CPC - E02B 13/02: Closures for irrigation conduits - E02B 7/42: Gates of segmental or sector-like shape with horizontal axis - E02B 7/54: Sealings for gates - F16H 19/06: comprising {flexible members, e.g. an} endless flexible member - F16K 1/2007: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)} - F16K 1/2021: {with a plurality of valve members} - F16K 31/502: {actuating pivotable valve members} - F16K 31/506: {with plural sets of thread, e.g. with different pitch} - F16L 55/1018: {Pivoting closing devices} - F16H 2019/0668: {with open loop, e.g. with the free ends of the flexible member fixed to the casing, e.g. when the drive means are arranged on the carriage} - Y10T 74/18832: including flexible drive connector [e.g., belt, chain, strand, etc.] - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) - F16H: GEARING - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention provides a cable drive device (10) including a linear drive member (12), and a cable drum (14) attached to a support bracket (30, 32) adapted to be affixed to a surface. The cable drum (14) has an axle (26) supported by the support bracket (30, 32) to allow rotation of the cable drum (14). The cable drum (14) has a cable (42) affixed at either end of said linear drive member (12) and tautly wrapped around the cable drum (14). The cable drum (14) is located between the ends of the linear drive member (12) to, in use, allow the linear drive member (12) to be guided through the bracket (30, 32) to move the linear drive member (12) longitudinally when the axle (26) is rotated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe through which fluid is contained, a frame member is mounted on said end of said pipe, a bi-foldable barrier member closes said end of said pipe, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, said hinge pinned to said frame member or said pipe and a pair of lifting means attached to each of said plates to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid control barrier of claim 1, wherein said pair of lifting means include respective struts pivotally mounted at one end to a respective plate, and pivotally mounted at the other end to a movable member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid control barrier of claim 2, wherein said movable member includes a screw attached to said frame member and a journal threadably attached thereto with said struts pivotally attached to said journal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fluid control barrier of claim 2, wherein said struts comprise a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated; and said movable member comprising a drive means to rotate said axle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The fluid control barrier of claim 2, wherein said movable member comprises a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated, said support bracket being secured to said frame member and the other ends of said struts are pivotally mounted to one end of said linear drive member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The fluid control barrier of claim 2, wherein said movable member comprises a shaft fitted to said frame member and divided into a pair of opposing threads, a pair of threaded journals respectively mounted on each opposing thread which will move along said threads when said shaft is rotated, respective pivotable journals attached to each plate and each pivotable journal having a pair of struts pivotally coupled thereto with each strut coupled to a respective threaded journal to allow longitudinal movement of said threaded journals to open and close said plates. ### Claim 7 A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted inside a pipe through which a fluid flows, a bi-foldable barrier member is provided to control fluid flow through said pipe, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, said hinge pinned to said pipe and a pair of lifting means attached to each of said plates to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fluid control barrier of claim 7, wherein said pipe has an inner lip to provide sealing with said plates. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The fluid control barrier of claim 7, wherein said pair of lifting means include respective struts pivotally mounted at one end to a respective plate, and pivotally mounted at the other end to a movable member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid control barrier of claim 9, wherein said movable member comprises a cable drive device, said cable device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated, said axle passing through said pipe and for coupling to a rotation member and the other ends of said struts are pivotally mounted to one end of said linear drive member. ### Claim 11 A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe or inside said pipe through which fluid is contained or inside a pipe through which fluid flows, a bi-foldable barrier member controls movement of said fluid, said bi-foldable barrier member having a pair of plates with a hinge along their straight edges to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier, at least one pair of struts pivotally mounted to said plates at one end and pivotally attached to a fixed position shaft or cross member at the other end thereof, said struts mounted to said plates along or near to the centroidal axes of said plates to minimize the force required to open or close said bi-foldable barrier member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fluid control barrier of claim 11, wherein an actuation member is attached to said hinge to provide a push and pull movement of said hinge to allow said bi-foldable barrier member to be opened and closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fluid control barrier of claim 1, wherein said plates are semi-circular. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fluid control barrier of claim 1, wherein, in use, a symmetrical flow profile is generated perpendicular to said hinge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid control barrier of claim 14, further including a flow meter located immediately upstream of said bi-foldable barrier member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid control barrier of claim 15, wherein said flow meter uses ultrasonic transit time flow measurement techniques. ### Claim 17 A cable drive device including a linear drive member, a cable drum attached to a support bracket adapted to be affixed to a surface, said cable drum having an axle supported by said support bracket to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of said linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said linear drive member to, in use, allow said linear drive member to be guided through said bracket to move said linear drive member longitudinally when said axle is rotated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The cable drive device of claim 6, wherein one of said ends of said linear drive member is pivotally attached to an opening member. ### Claim 19 A cable drive device including an arcuate segment drive member, a cable drum having an axle to allow rotation of said cable drum, said cable drum having a cable affixed at either end of an arcuate section of said arcuate segment drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said arcuate section of said arcuate segment drive member to, in use, allow said arcuate segment drive member to be moved when said axle is rotated. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The cable drive device of claim 19, wherein said cable is located in a groove in said arcuate section and a part of said cable drum extends into said groove. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The cable drive device of claim 19, wherein a support bracket supports said axle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The cable drive device of claim 17, wherein said cable drum is provided with a hole through which said cable passes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The cable drive device of claim 17, further including a second linear drive member located diametrically opposed to said linear drive member, said cable drum having a second cable affixed at either end of said further linear drive member and tautly wrapped around said cable drum, said cable drum located between said ends of said second linear drive member to, in use, allow said second linear drive member to be guided through a second bracket to move said linear drive member and said second linear drive member longitudinally in opposing directions when said axle is rotated. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A control gate adapted to be installed across a flow channel for liquids, said control gate having a barrier member that is pivotally mounted at or adjacent a base of said flow channel and at least one drive means to raise and lower said barrier member, said at least one drive means comprising a cable drive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said ends of said linear drive member is pivotally attached to said barrier member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The control gate of claim 24, wherein a pair of side members are provided on opposing sides of said barrier member and said side members are flexible or rigid. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The control gate of claim 24, wherein a plurality of said at least one drive means is provided. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The control gate of claim 24, further including a frame member adapted to be secured to said flow channel to which each support bracket is attached. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) A fluid control barrier adapted to be fitted to an end of a pipe through which fluid is contained, said fluid control barrier having a frame member mounted on said end of said pipe, a barrier member is pivotally mounted on a first edge to said frame member to allow for opening and closing of said fluid control barrier and at least one cable drive device as claimed in claim 17 is fixed to said frame member and said barrier member to allow said barrier member to be opened and closed. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fluid control barrier of claim 28, wherein a plurality of said at least one cable drive devices is provided.