Spring assisted barrier rams and methods of operating the same
OwnerMatthew Owensinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A barrier ram includes a frame and a barrier pivotably coupled to the frame. Two springs provide a combined torque very close to the torque provided on the barrier gate by gravity at all barrier positions relative to the frame. A method of operating such barrier is also provided.
Claims27
A barrier ram comprising:
- a frame;
- a barrier rotatable relative to the frame about a pivot axis between a first closed position to a second open position;
- a first spring rotatably coupled to the frame and the barrier;
- and
- a second spring rotatably coupled to the frame and the barrier, wherein the first and second springs are compressed when the barrier is in the closed position, and wherein said first and second spring together provide a first torque to the barrier about the pivot axis and wherein a second torque acts on the barrier about the pivot axis due to gravity in the opposite direction from the first torque, wherein the difference between the first torque and second torque is no greater than 25% of one of the first torque and the second torque when the barrier is at any position from the closed position to the open position.
A barrier ram comprising:
- a frame;
- a barrier rotatable relative to the frame about a pivot axis between a first closed position and a second open position;
- a first spring rotatably coupled to the frame and the barrier, the first spring compressing and extending along a first spring axis;
- and
- a second spring rotatably coupled to the frame and the barrier, wherein the second spring compresses and extends along a second spring axis, wherein when the second spring axis intersects the pivot axis it is an intersecting orientation, and wherein when the barrier is in the closed position the second spring axis is within 25 degrees of the intersecting orientation or intersects the pivot axis, wherein the first and second springs are compressed when the barrier is in the closed position, and wherein said two springs together provide a first torque to the barrier about the pivot axis and wherein a second torque about the pivot axis acts on the barrier due to gravity in an opposite direction from the first torque.
A method of operating a barrier comprising a frame and a barrier rotatable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position relative to the frame, a first spring, and a second spring, wherein as the barrier opens and closes and it is exposed to a torque due to gravity about the pivot axis, said method comprising:
- providing a first torque with a first spring on the barrier about the pivot axis opposite the torque provided by gravity;
- and
- providing a second torque with the second spring on the barrier about the pivot axis opposite the torque provided by gravity, wherein the combined first and second torque at all positions between the open and closed positions is within 25% of the torque provided by gravity.
A method of operating a barrier comprising a frame and a barrier rotatable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position relative to the frame, a first spring, and a second spring, wherein as the barrier opens and closes it is exposed to a torque about the pivot axis due to gravity:
- providing a first torque with a first spring on the barrier about the pivot axis opposite the torque provided by gravity;
- providing a second torque with the second spring on the barrier about the pivot axis opposite the torque provided by gravity;
- and
- providing a third torque using at least one actuator, said third torque being opposite the torque provided by gravity, and said third torque being not greater than 25% of the torque provided by gravity, wherein the first torque, the second torque and the third torque are sufficient for rotating the barrier toward the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.